“Do you know what time that was?”
“Half-past three. Very close to that.”
“Then opportunity is established, and motive. As for the weapon, the published account says it was Karnow’s. Has that been challenged?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Then the formula is complete; but a man cannot be convicted by a formula and should not be charged by one. Have they got evidence? Do you know?”
“I know one thing.” She was frowning at him, concentrated, intent. “They told Paul that one of his business cards was found in Sidney’s pocket — the agency name and address, with his name in the corner — and asked him to account for it. He said he and his salesmen hand out dozens of cards every day, and Sidney could have got one many different places. Then they told him this card had his fingerprints on it — clear, fresh ones — and asked him to account for that.”
“Could he?”
“He didn’t to them, but he did to me later, when they let me see him.”
“How did he account for it?”
She hesitated. “I don’t like to, but I have to. He had remembered that last Friday afternoon, when he went to a conference at Jim Beebe’s office, he had left one of his cards there on Jim’s desk.”