I was scared but I reckoned that the best thing to do was put on a show of indignation. "What is this?" I blustered. "I've told you everything I know."
He gave a thin smile. "I don't think so, Mr. Duff."
"I don't care what you think, I've nothing more to say."
He snuffed out his cigarette very carefully in one of Maudie's little mosaic ashtrays and slowly his hand dipped into his pocket. When it came out, the necklace dangled from his fingers.
I could feel my heart lurch but I still tried to bluff it out, complaining about being separated from Isabelle. Onsett didn't say a word, just dangled the chain so that the light from the lamp rippled along its slender surface.
In a few minutes I ran out of words. Onsett gave a deep sigh and rose from his chair.
"Do you want to tell me about this little gift to your mother-in-law?"
I clamped my lips shut. "I'm through. Finished. I'll not say another word."
The quirk of his lips reminded me of Melvin Rosy. He raised the chain over my head and the next thing I knew it was about my throat. My fingers scrabbled for it but I couldn't pry it loose. I gave up and stared at Onsett in stunned silence. His hands were still outstretched and as I looked up at them, I could see the tiny purple flecks in his palms. I couldn't believe it. Not at first. Whoever heard of a Martian making the New York Police force? But when he spoke, his voice had dropped its growl. It was soft and musical, a Martian voice.
He said, "I think you're going to tell me everything I want to know. You'll write it all down too."