“Esther Witson was being blackmailed and was tired of it. She followed Stanberry from the Rimley Rendezvous, determined to have a showdown. She may even have contemplated murder. She saw Stanberry go to this apartment house. She knew Billy Prue lived there. She put two and two together and waited. Then Billy Prue came out. Stanberry didn’t. That made Miss Witson decide to investigate. She went up to Billy Prue’s apartment. The door was open. She went in and saw a wonderful opportunity to get free of Stanberry once and for all. There was a note in his hand saying Billy had gone to a drugstore. She knew that was a lie. She’d seen Billy drive off, paying no attention to the drugstore on the corner. She saw a wonderful opportunity to free herself of Stanberry once and for all. She looked around for a weapon, found a hand ax and hit Stanberry on the head once, hard. Then she got frightened and in a panic wanted to conceal the murder weapon. She sawed off some of the handle so it would fit into her purse, then ditched it in the first car she came to when she got out of the cab. The police found the short piece she’d sawed off the handle still in her purse.”
Crail listened attentively. “Miss Witson, eh? I was afraid she’d bring my wife into it. And I was afraid someone might — oh well, that’s all finished now. I want to get back to the hospital. Good-by and bless you both. I’ve tried to express some of my gratitude in that check. You’ll never know how deeply I am indebted to you.”
Bertha watched him out the door, then grabbed up the check. I saw her greedy little eyes get big and round. “Fry me for an oyster!” she said in an awed voice. “Can me for a sardine!”
I was halfway across the outer office before Bertha came down to earth.
I heard her scream at me. “Goddamn you, Donald Lam! If you’re headed for the Rimley Rendezvous, remember you can’t charge any more cigarettes on the expense account. The case is closed.”
I paused with my hand on the door. I couldn’t resist a parting shot. “And if I’m not home tonight, don’t worry about it,” I said.
I whipped the door shut before Bertha could think of the answer to that one.