background. There was Tim Mifflin, leaning against the wall, motionless, thoughtful, and as
quiet as a centenarian taking a nap. There was me in the guest of honours chair before the
desk, and, of course, there was Captain of the Police Brandon.
The room was big and airy and well furnished. There was a nice Turkey carpet on the floor,
several easy chairs and one or two reproductions of Van Goghs country scenes on the walls.
The big desk stood in the corner of the room between two windows that overlooked the
business section of the city.
I had been in this room before, and I had still memories of the little unpleasantness that had
occurred then. Brandon liked me as much as Hiroshima liked the atomic bomb, and I was
expecting unpleasantness again.
The interview hadnt begun well, and it wasnt improving. Already Brandon was fiddling
with a cigar: a trick that denoted his displeasure.
All right, he said in a thin, exasperated voice, lets start from the beginning again. You
had this letter… He leaned forward to peer at Janet Crosbys letter as if it had been infected
with tetanus. He was careful not to touch it. Dated May 15th, 1948.
Well, at least that showed he could read. I didnt say anything.
With this letter were five onehundred-dollar bills. Right?
Check, I said.
You received the letter on May 16th, but put it unopened in a coat pocket and forgot about
it. It was only when you gave the coat away the letter was found. Right?
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Check.
He scowled down at the cigar, then rested his broad fat nose on it.
A pretty smart way to run a business.
These things happen, I said shortly. I remember during the Tetzi trial, the police mislaid
…
Never mind the Tetzi trial, Brandon said in a voice you could have sliced ham on.
Were talking about this letter. You went up to the Crosbys estate with the idea of seeing
Miss Maureen Crosby. Right?
Yeah, I said, getting a little tired of this.
But you didnt see her because she isnt well, so you had to stick your nose still further
into this business by calling on Miss Janet Crosbys personal maid. Right?
If you like to put it like that I dont mind.
Is it right or isnt it?
Oh, sure.
This woman Drew said she wanted five hundred dollars before she talked. Thats your
story, and Im not sold on it. You watched the house, and after a while an olive-green Dodge
arrived and a big fella went in. He remained in there for about ten minutes, then came away.
Then you went in and found her dead. Right?
I nodded.
He removed the band from the cigar, groped for a match. All the while his beer-stopper
eyes stared moodily at me.
You claim the Dodge belongs to Dr. Salzer, he said, and scraped the match on the sole of
his shoe.
Mifflin says it does. I asked him to check the registration number.
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Brandon looked over at Mifflin who stared with empty eyes at the opposite wall.
A half an hour after Malloy telephoned you, asking you who owned this car, you received
a report from Dr. Salzer that the car had been stolen. Thats right, isnt it?
Yes, sir, Mifflin said stonily.
Brandons eyes swivelled in my direction.
Did you hear that?
Sure.
All right. Brandon applied the burning match to his cigar and sucked in smoke. Just so
long as you understand, and just so long as you dont get any fancy ideas into your head
about Dr. Salzer. You may not know it, but Dr. Salzer is a very respectable and eminent
citizen of this city, and Im not going to have him bothered by you or anyone like you. Do
you understand that?
I pulled thoughtfully at my nose. This was unexpected.
Sure, I said.
He blew smoke across the desk into my face.
I dont like you, Malloy, and I dont like your itsy-bitsy organization. Maybe it has its
uses, but I doubt it. Im damned sure you are a trouble maker. You stirred up enough trouble
with that Cerf case some months ago, and if you hadnt been so damned smooth, you would
have been in a lot of trouble yourself. Miss Janet Crosbys dead. He leaned forward to peer
at the letter again. The Crosbys were and still are a very wealthy and influential family, and
Im not standing for you stirring up trouble for them. You have no legal right to the five
hundred dollars Miss Crosby sent you. That is to be paid back to her estate immediately.
You are to leave Miss Maureen Crosby alone. If she is in trouble with a blackmailer which
I doubt she will come to me if she needs help. This business has nothing to do with you,
and if I find you are making a nuisance of yourself Ill take steps to put you where you wont
trouble anyone for a very long time. Do you understand?
I grinned at him.
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Im beginning to, I said, and leaned forward to ask, How much does Salzer pay into
your Sports Fund, Brandon?
The fat pink and white face turned a dusky-mauve colour. The beer-stopper eyes sparked
like chipped flint.
Im warning you, Malloy, he said, a snarl in his voice. My boys know how to take care
of a punk like you. One of these nights youll get taken up a dark alley for a beating. Lay off
the Crosbys and lay off Salzer. Now get out!
I stood up.
And how much does the Crosby estate pay into your welfare fund, Brandon? I asked.
How much did old man Crosby slip you for hushing up that auto-killing Maureen performed
two years ago? Respectable and eminent? Dont make me laugh. Salzers as respectable and
eminent as Delmonicos chucker-out. How come he signed Macdonald Crosbys death
certificate when he isnt even qualified?
Get out! Brandon said very quietly.
We stared at each other for perhaps the best part of four seconds, then I shrugged, turned
my back on him and made for the door.
Come on, Paula, lets get out of here before we suffocate, I said, and jerked open the
door. Remember that little crack about taking me up a dark alley. Its just as much fun
sueing the Captain of Police for assault as it is anyone else.
I stamped down the long passage behind Paula. Mifflin came after us walking like a man in
hob-nailed boots treading on eggs.
He caught up with us at the end of the passage.
Wait a minute, he said. Come in here, and he opened his office door.
We went in because both Paula and I liked Mifflin, and besides, he was too useful to fall
out with. He shut the door and leaned against it. His red rubbery face was worried.
That was a sweet way to talk to Brandon, he said bitterly. Youre crazy, Vic. You know
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as well as I do that kind of stuff wont get you anywhere.
I know, I said, but the rat got me mad.
I would have tipped you off, only I hadnt time. But you ought to know Brandon hates