I dropped the receiver back on its cradle and lit a cigarette.
‘While you’re about it, I’d let my stockings down if I were you. It always gives a more authentic picture,’ I said gently.
‘You’ll be sorry you didn’t take the money, you stupid fool,’ Serena said. ‘They’ll give you two years for this.’
‘Pity you scratched yourself,’ I said, shaking my head at her. ‘Rather a wasted effort. They won’t find your skin under my nails, and they always look.’
A car drew up outside with a squeal of brakes. Serena gave a wild, piercing scream and went staggering out on to the veranda.
I didn’t move.
Feet pounded up the garden path.
‘All right lady. We’re here,’ a man bawled.
Sergeant MacGraw loomed in the doorway, a snarl on his face and a gun in his hand.
‘One move and you get it!’ he bellowed, glaring at me.
‘Don’t be dramatic,’ I said, tapping ash on to the floor. ‘She’s kidding.’
‘Yeah? She looks like it. Stand up and put your hands up!’
I stood up and put my hands up. He came in cautiously.
‘Well, well, a sex-maniac, huh? I always thought you were a screw.’
A uniform cop came in supporting Serena, who collapsed into a chair. Her scratches were bleeding now, and blood ran over her white brassiere and on to her dress. She looked the part all right.
‘Holy cow!’ MacGraw gasped. ‘It’s Mrs. Dedrick! Here you, put the cuffs on that punk.’
The cop came over and snapped handcuffs on my wrist. He gave me a light punch on the chest.
‘It’s going to be an awful long time before you see another woman, Bud,’ he said in an undertone.
MacGraw was fussing over Serena. She was crying and trembling. He got her a drink and stood over her, his heavy face red and embarrassed, and every so often he kept muttering. ‘Holy cow!’ and scratched his jaw.
‘Give me my wrap,’ she said suddenly. ‘I’m all right now. I came here to talk to him about my husband. Without warning he—he flew at me like an animal.’
‘No animal would fly at you, baby,’ I said gently. You’d be surprised how fussy animals are.’
MacGraw spun round and hit me across the mouth with the back of his hand.
‘Wait till I get you to the station,’ he snarled. I’ve been waiting years just for this moment.’
‘Enjoy yourself,’ I said. ‘It’s not going to last long.’
‘Do you feel like coming down to Headquarters, ma’am?’ MacGraw asked. ‘You needn’t if you don’t feel like it.’
‘Of course. I wish to see Captain Brandon. This man must be taught a lesson.’
‘He will,’ MacGraw said and showed his teeth. ‘Well, if you’re ready, ma’am, we’ll go.’
The cop grabbed me by the arm and shoved me to the door.
‘Bend your nightstick over his skull if he tries anything funny,’ MacGraw said.
The cop and I got in the back of the police car; Serena and MacGraw got in the front.
Paula’s small convertible flashed past us as we turned the bead into Orchid Boulevard.
V
Mifflin was going off duty as we all tramped into the charge-room. He had his hat and coat on, and was leaning up against the desk, giving the sergeant in charge his final instructions.
When he saw the handcuffs on my wrists, his eyes grew round. He looked from me to MacGraw.
‘What’s buzzing?’ he demanded. ‘What have you got this guy here for?’
MacGraw puffed himself out with righteous indignation.
‘Charge of rape, Lieutenant,’ he said. ‘This rat assaulted Mrs. Dedrick. I got there just in time.’
Mifflin’s face was a study. His eyes grew to the size of doorknobs.
‘Is that right, ma’am?’ he said, gaping at Serena. ‘You’re charging Malloy?’
‘Yes,’ she said curtly. ‘Where is Captain Brandon?’
‘He’s off duty tonight,’ Mifflin said, and there was a note of relief in his voice. ‘Get Mrs. Dedrick a chair.’
As she sat down, she let her wrap fall open and both Mifflin and the desk sergeant had a view of the damage. Mifflin sucked in his breath and looked at me in reproachful horror.
‘Did you do that?’ he demanded.
I said I didn’t do that
MacGraw swung his fist at me, but Mifflin, moving much faster than I expected a man of his size to move, shoved MacGraw away, sending him reeling.
‘Cut it out!’ he said sharply. ‘What do you think you’re doing?’
MacGraw snarled at me.
‘I want to get this rat downstairs.’
‘Shut up!’ Mifflin said. He turned to Serena. ‘What happened?’
‘I went to talk to him about finding my husband,’ Serena told him, her voice level and hard. ‘I hadn’t been in his place more than five minutes, when he suddenly caught hold of me. There was a struggle. I managed to get to the ‘phone and call for help. Then he tore my dress and scratched me. Fortunately the officer arrived as he was overpowering me.’
Mifflin pushed his hat to the back of his head and mopped his forehead with his handkerchief. He looked stricken.
‘Don’t get worked up,’ I said smoothly. ‘She’s lying. I suggest we go somewhere private. She, you and me. This isn’t anything she’ll want the Press to get hold of.’
‘I want the Press in here!’ Serena said. ‘I intend to ruin him. I want the widest publicity possible. He’s to be charged and imprisoned and forced out of business!’
Paula came in at this moment, carrying a leather-bound box She was breathing quickly, and for the first time in her life she looked disheveled. Her hair was all over the place, the light overcoat she was wearing was wrongly buttoned up, and the legs of her trousers looked like twin concertinas.
‘I couldn’t get Francon,’ she said, trying to get her breath. ‘He wasn’t in. They haven’t charged you yet?’
MacGraw caught hold of her arm.
‘You’ve no right in here. Get out!’
‘Lay off!’ Mifflin said. ‘What do you want?’ he went on to Paula as MacGraw reluctantly released her.
Paula put the box on a nearby table, opened it to reveal the small gramophone on which was a record.
‘You may remember, Mrs. Dedrick,’ I said quietly, ‘that just before we had our interesting conversation I turned down a switch, telling you it was a telephone extension switch. Actually it set a recording machine into motion. When I entertain wealthy women alone and at night, I take care they don’t bring an assault charge against me.’
Serena looked as if she could kill me.
‘He’s lying!’ she said. ‘Charge him! What are you waiting for.’
‘Go ahead and play it,’ I said to Paula.
Paula set the turn-table spinning and lowered the needle on the record.
Everyone was transfixed when my voice came out of the box with a clearness that was almost painful.
When Serena’s voice said: You can name your price, she started out of her chair and made a dart at the gramophone but Paula blocked her off.
‘Stop it!’ Serena cried. ‘I don’t want to hear any more! Stop it!
I nodded to Paula, who lifted the needle.
‘Better let it run through, Mrs. Dedrick,’ Mifflin said gently. ‘Or are you withdrawing the charge?’
She drew herself up. She made quite a regal figure. For a couple of seconds she stared right at me, her eyes glittering dangerously, then she walked to the door, opened it and went out, leaving the door open.
No one moved or said anything until her footfalls died away down the stone passage.
‘Take the cuffs off,’ Mifflin said shortly.
MacGraw took them off, looking like a tiger who had lost its dinner.