The car turned into the deserted Star loading dock. Few lights were visible in the building, for the day staff had gone home and only the scrub women were at work. Penny could not see the windows of her father’s office from the street. Nor did she observe a man who slouched against a wall, not far from where the car had stopped.
Old Horney stepped from the running board, thanking Penny for the ride.
“Guess I’ll amble up the street and get a cup of coffee.”
“You’ll be sure not to mention the letter?” Penny reminded him.
“I won’t tell a soul. You know, I was thinkin’ about it as we rode downtown. Peter Fenestra came into the office a couple of times just before Judson closed the plant. He was a dirty blackmailer, all right! Wouldn’t that letter I gave you be enough to send him up?”
“I should think so, Horney. But the problem is how to take care of him without ruining Mr. Judson.”
“Better show the letter to your father,” advised the pressman. “Maybe he’ll have some ideas.”
Tipping his hat, Old Horney moved briskly away.
Penny entered the rear vestibule, speaking to three scrub women who were locking up their cleaning equipment before leaving the building. Not even the elevator man was on duty, so she climbed the stairs. Switching on a light in the newsroom, she passed through it to her father’s office.
The room was dark.