“Sure! When’d you land?”
“Late this evening; I was up to Palura’s when––”
“That ain’t no place fo’ a lady.”
She laughed aloud, as she added, “I was there when Palura was killed by the policeman.”
“Palura killed a policeman!” Despard said. “He’s killed––”
“No, Palura was killed by a policeman. Shot him dead right on the dance-hall floor.” 210
The pirates choked. The thing was unbelievable. They came down to the boat and she described the affair briefly, and they demanded details.
They felt that it would vitally affect Mendova. They whispered among themselves as to what it meant. They learned that a policeman had been stationed in front of the notorious resort and that that policeman had done the shooting during a fight with waiters and bouncers and with Palura himself.
“We hadn’t better get to go up town,” Jet whimpered. “Hit don’t sound right!”
They argued and debated, and finally went on their way, having promised Nelia that they would see and tell Terabon, on the quiet, that she had come into the slough, and that she wanted to see him.