“Did you see Miss Lauck swipe the box of candy at the drug store?”
“Of course I didn’t. She wouldn’t do that.”
“Did you get it at the drug store yourself and bring it back with you?”
Miss Mitchell stared at him. She said, disgusted, “For the Lord’s sake. No.”
“You’re sure Miss Lauck didn’t get it somewhere while out for lunch?”
“Of course I’m sure. I was right with her.”
“And she didn’t go out again during the afternoon?”
“No. We were working together until half past three, when there was a let-up and she left to go upstairs, and a little later Helen and I came up and found her here. There in the restroom.”
“And she ate a piece of candy and died, and you ate two and didn’t.” Wolfe sighed. “There is of course the possibility that she had brought the box with her when she came to work that morning.”
The blonde shook her head. “I’ve thought of that. We’ve all talked about it. She didn’t have any package. Anyway, where could it have been all morning? It wasn’t in the restroom, and there wasn’t anyplace else...”