The blonde gulped. “Well, when she went down she took me with her because she had hold of my hair. Then of course I was scared. I jerked away. Later, when the doctor... when people came, she had a bunch of my hair gripped in her fingers.”
Wolfe eyed her. “You have good nerves, Miss Mitchell.”
“I’m not a softy. I had a good cry after I got home that night, I cried it out. But I didn’t cry then. Helen stood against the wall and trembled and stared and couldn’t move, she’ll tell you that herself. I ran to the elevator and yelled for help, and then I ran back and put the lid on the box of candy and held onto it until Mr. McNair came and then I gave it to him. Molly was dead. I could see that. She was crumpled up. She fell down dead.” She gulped again. “Maybe you could tell me. The doctor said it was some kind of acid, and it said in the paper potassium cyanide.”
Lew Frost put in, “Hydrocyanic. The police say — it’s the same thing. I told you that. Didn’t I?”
Wolfe wiggled a finger at him. “Please, Mr. Frost. It is I who am to earn the fee, you to pay it. — Then Miss Mitchell, you felt no discomfort from your two pieces, and Miss Lauck ate only one.”
“That’s all.” The blonde shivered. “It’s terrible, to think there’s something that can kill you that quick. She couldn’t even speak. You could see it go right through her, when she shook all over. I held onto the box, but I got rid of it as soon as I saw Mr. McNair.”
“Then, I understand, you ran away.”
She nodded. “I ran to the washroom.” She made a face. “I had to throw up. I had eaten two pieces.”
“Indeed. Most efficient.” Wolfe had opened another bottle, and was pouring. “To go back a little. You had not seen that box of candy before Miss Lauck took it from under the coat?”
“No. I hadn’t.”