“Have to go back down to Headquarters,” Bauer said. “Never a minute’s peace.”
“Something up?”
“Yeah — I think they picked up another round-shouldered guy with a dark suit. I’ll drop you home.”
Conway waited for the sergeant to bring up the subject of the waitress and his suspicions. But nothing was said, and Conway realized it was too much to expect the detective to acknowledge himself wrong a second time. I wish he’d stop getting these ideas, Conway thought; a few more bum deductions and he may start not liking me so much.
They rode home in a silence so unusual that Conway knew Bauer must be feeling very dejected indeed. “Thanks for the dinner, Sergeant,” he said as they stopped in front of the house.
“And thanks for the chance to try out my will power,” Betty said.
“Don’t mention it.”
“I’ll take you out some night when we all have better appetites,” Conway said.
“That’ll be after I’m off this case,” Bauer said. “Be seeing you,” he mumbled as he drove off.
“Maybe you’ll appreciate my cooking now,” Betty said as Conway unlocked the door. She headed straight for the icebox. “You didn’t eat enough of that wood-pulp to affect your appetite, did you?”