“I didn’t sleep a wink on the plane, and it’s suddenly hit me,” she said. “I’m so sleepy I could die. I’ll just take a little catnap and then I’ll be fine, and I can get going.” Conway started to remonstrate, but the door closed, and a moment later he heard the door of Helen’s room being shut.
At least she had agreed to leave, he thought. She was in no hurry about it, and he might have to be firm, or rude again, but he was certain he could have her out of the house by tomorrow. That was not the entire solution to the problem, but it was something. It was so much, in fact, that he was even able to start working on a story idea which had come to him the night before.
When the doorbell rang, he looked at his watch and was astonished to discover that it was almost five o’clock. His surprise was succeeded by anger that he had allowed Betty to sleep away the afternoon, and he rapped sharply on her door before going downstairs. He was not unprepared to find that his caller was Sergeant Bauer.
“I was right near here, so I thought I’d drop in and see if you could save me some trouble on something,” the detective said.
“Anything I can.”
“You wouldn’t happen to have any beer on ice, would you?”
“Sure thing. Be with you in a minute.” But the sergeant followed him into the kitchen.
“Has she gone?” he asked in a stage whisper.
“Not yet. She’s been asleep.”
“What!”