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said, “Murdered? Good God ! Littlejohns murdered?”

It wasn’t particularly convincing, and I could see it didn’t convince

Corridan.

“I warned you, Harmas, the next time you were connected with a

murder it was going to be unpleasant for you. Well, you know what to

expect, don’t you?”

“Now don’t let’s forsake our sense of humour,” I said. “You can’t

scare me, Corridan, or can you? I’ve nothing to do with Littlejohns’

death, and you know it.”

“I think you have,” he said, watching me closely.

I stared at him, and experienced a little difficulty in meeting his

penetrating eyes.

“Now wait a minute. You aren’t serious about this?” I asked,

managed a laugh. It sounded pretty ghastly even to me, so I cut it out.

“You’re kidding, aren’t you?”

“I’m not,” Corridan replied. “I’d advise you to be serious about

this, too.”

“All right, let’s be serious. Suppose you explain what you’re

talking about?”

“When did you last see Netta Scott?” he shot at me.

I wasn’t quite prepared for that one, and hesitated. He was quick

to spot that, and I saw his face tighten.

“I guess it must have been two years ago,” I said slowly. “You

didn’t see her last night?”

“Last night?” I repeated. “You crazy or something? She’s been

dead a week. Or do you mean you’ve found her body?” He wandered

to the arm-chair, sat down.

“Look, Harmas, this won’t do,” he said quietly. “We both know

that Netta’s alive.”

I looked down at my hands, saw they weren’t too steady, shoved

them in my trouser pockets.

“I haven’t seen Netta for two years,” I said steadily.

He studied me, nodded. “Where were you last night?”

“That’s something I can’t very well tell you,” I said, looking away.

“It involves a question of honour.”

Corridan control ed his temper with an effort. “Look, Harmas, if

you don’t tell me where you were last night, I’ll have no alternative

but to take you to the station. I don’t want to be official about this,

but if you’re going to act the fool and lie to me I damn well will be!’ ‘

“You’re not seriously suggesting that I killed Littlejohns, are you?”

I asked, staring at him.

“If you want me to caution you, and make this official, I will,”

Corridan said. “At the moment I’m treating you like a friend. If you can

convince me that you couldn’t possibly have been on the scene of the

crime, then- I shall be satisfied. If you can’t convince me, I’m going to

arrest you.”

I sat down, pretended to be shocked.

“Well, if it’s like that,” I said, “I suppose I’l have to tell you. I was

with Crystal Godwin.”

His face hardened. “Oh, were you? What time did you meet her

and what time did you leave her?”

I considered the question, said, “I picked her up outside the Blue

Club at-now, what time was it?-at ten-ten. I remember looking at my

watch when she turned up. We’d arranged to meet at ten, and I was

impatient because she was late. Then we went on to her flat.”

“What time did you leave?” Corridan snapped.

“Now this puts me in a difficult position. Strictly between you and

me, I left this morning.”

He studied me for an uncomfortable moment. “A very obvious

alibi, Harmas. That girl would tel any lie to save your skin.”

“I believe she would,” I returned, hoisting a stiff smile to my face.”

After all, I did give her six pairs of silk stockings. I’d expect her to

repay me somehow. All the same, Corridan, it’s an alibi. If you think

your old pal would tell a lie like that, then I’m sorry. I’m more than

that — I’m hurt.”

“We’ll see about that,” Corridan returned grimly. “I might be able

to shake that young woman. It’s not the first time I’ve persuaded

someone against perjury. Perhaps I’ll succeed again.”

I hoped that Crystal had more backbone than I thought she had,

mentally crossed my fingers.

“Well, if you don’t believe me,” I said, shrugging, “you’d better

talk to Miss Godwin. She’ll convince you even if I don’t. Look me up

after you’ve seen her and apologize nicely. It’ll cost you a bottle of

champagne.”

“I don’t think it will,” Corridan said, leaning back in the chair. “You

once said Netta Scott’s favourite perfume was lilac,” he went on,

changing the subject abruptly. “Do you remember?”

“Did I?” I said. “I say a lot of things and don’t mean half of them.

Why bring Netta’s perfume into this sordid topic?”

“There was a strong smell of lilac in the flat where Littlejohns was

murdered,” Corridan returned. “You know, Harmas, you’d be advised

to tell the truth. We know for certain that Netta Scott’s alive. We’re

looking for her now, and it won’t be long before we catch her. We

know she’s connected with the Allenby robbery, that she was present

when her sister was murdered, and that makes her an accessory. We

know too that she was in the flat when Littlejohns was murdered.”

I raised my eyebrows, didn’t say anything, but I was badly shaken.

I’d thought Corridan had been running around in circles, but it now

seemed that he knew as much as I did about this case.

“What do you know about a yellow and black Bentley?” he

suddenly shot at me.

He’d got that from Merryweather, I decided, lifted my shoulders.

“Only that Littlejohns reported that it was seen outside the

cottage at Lakeham. Why?”

“We’re looking for the car,” Corridan said. “The owner we think is

connected with Anne’s murder. Do you know where the car is?”

I hesitated, then decided it’d be too dangerous to tell him about

Peter French. I could have only got the information from Netta, and it

was the kind of trap he’d’ve liked to see me walk into.

“No idea,” I said.

He grunted. “I think, Harmas, you are behaving like a blind fool,”

he said. “You’re trying to protect Netta Scott because you and she

were lovers in the past. I’m sure you were trying to protect her last

night when Littlejohns surprised you both. And what is more, you hit

him, and killed him. How do you like that?”

I was beginning to sweat. “I love it,” I said, with a fixed grin.

“What an imagination you’ve cultivated.”

He waited hopefully to see if I was going to say anything more,

then, seeing I wasn’t, went on, “This is a serious matter for you,

Harmas. You could also be tied to the Kennitt murder.”

“Could I?” I said, startled.

“Yes, the motive’s there all right. You could have killed Madge

Kennitt because she knew Netta Scott was alive. You were the last

one to see her, and if I can find Julius Cole he might be able to tell me

what happened while you and Madge were together. I only want one

good witness, Harmas, and your goose is cooked.”

I finished my whisky. I felt I needed it. This had turned out far

worse than I expected.

“You’d better have your head examined, Corridan,” I said, a little

feverishly. “You’ve been working too hard or something.”

“Don’t worry about my head,” Corridan returned coldly. “You’d