McCann recognized the danger signals.
“She’s an out-of-work movie extra. She checked out of her room on Glendale Avenue on the night of the murder. The Central Casting Agency haven’t her new address.”
“Did she know Miss Arnot?”
“She worked with her on her last picture: a bit part.”
“You’re looking for her now?”
“Yeah. We should turn her up in a few hours.”
Maurer nodded.
“Got a photograph of her?”
McCann took out a print from his inside pocket.
“I got this from the C.C.A.”
Maurer took the photograph, looked at it, then put the photograph face down on the arm of his chair. He looked up suddenly and smiled.
“You’ve finished your drink, Captain. Help yourself.”
“No, thanks,” McCann said.
He wasn’t fooled by the smile. The atmosphere in the room affected him like
the pressure of an approaching electric storm.
Maurer got up and walked across the room to a door near the casement windows. He opened the door and went into the room that McCann knew Seigel used as an office.
McCann sat still, his cigar gripped tightly between his teeth. He was aware that his heart was beating unevenly and his mouth was dry.
Maurer returned from the office carrying a long white envelope. As he crossed the room, McCann got to his feet and faced him.
“I have been meaning to give you this for some time,” Maurer said, smiling. “A little investment I made in your name came out pretty well.”
McCann took the envelope.
“Fifteen thousand bucks,” Maurer said in a voice scarcely above a whisper.
McCann drew in a slow deep breath. He slid the envelope into his hip pocket.
“Perhaps I can return the favour,” he said woodenly.
“Well, yes,” Maurer said, and moved over to the empty fireplace. “I should like to be the first to know where Miss Coleman is to be found. Could that be arranged?”
McCann became aware that sweat was running down his face.
“She may not have seen anything,” he said thickly. “The chances are she didn’t. Miss Arnot wouldn’t have let her come up to the house. She probably left her name and then went away.”
“Could it be arranged?” Maurer repeated.
“I guess so. I’ve told my men to report direct to me as soon as they have found her, and to take no action until I give instructions. I’ve promised to contact the D.A.’s office. They want to see her: they’ll take charge of her.”
’I think I should see her first. When you have found her address, please telephone here. Louis will be waiting.”
“The D.A. will be waiting too,” McCann said quietly. “I have to be careful about this, Mr. Maurer. There mustn’t be much of a time lag. I can’t give you more than half an hour.”
Maurer smiled. He reached out and patted McCann’s shoulder.
“A half-hour will do splendidly.”
“Can’t you give me this straight?” McCann said hoarsely. “Has Conrad got a case? You — you didn’t…?”
Maurer put his hand on McCann’s arm and led him to the door.
“He won’t have a case, Captain,” he said softly. “I promise you that.”
He opened the door and waved McCann to the passage.
“Good night, Captain, and thank you for your co-operation. We shall wait to hear from you.”
It wasn’t until McCann was driving down the narrow dark lane away from the club that he gave vent to his pent-up feelings. He swore vilely and obscenely for as long as it took him to reach the bright lights of the sea front
II
Gollowitz came into the room, closed the door, and walked slowly over to where Maurer was sitting.
There was a long silence. Neither of the men looked at each other. Maurer continued to smoke his cigar, his face thoughtful. Gollowitz waited, his hands clasped behind his back, his mouth hard and set.
“I shouldn’t have used Paretti,” Maurer said suddenly. “That was a mistake. I always thought he was the best man I had. Imagine leaving that sketch-plan where it could be found.”
Gollowitz shut his eyes, opened them and drew in a deep breath.
“Are you telling me you killed that woman — yourself?” he said huskily.
Maurer looked up, his heavy eyebrows lifting.
“It gave me a lot of pleasure. I warned her. I told her to keep away from Jordan. She promised, but all the time she was seeing him: a dirty, mugglesmoker like him!”
“Why the hell did you have to do it yourself?” Gollowitz said fiercely. “Don’t you realize this is just what Forest has been waiting for? For years you’ve kept in the clear. You’ve never given him an opening. You don’t imagine he’s going to pass up such an opportunity, do you? If you wanted to get rid of her, why didn’t you let Louis handle it?”
Maurer smiled.
“It was a personal tiling, Abe,” he said patiently. “It gave me a lot of satisfaction. You should have seen her face when she saw me. She knew. For all her looks, her poise, her fame, she had no courage. You should have seen her. You should have seen her eyes.” He smiled again; a smile that sent a chill down Gollowitz’s fat spine. “You should have heard her scream. It was a personal thing: I wouldn’t have missed doing it for anything in the world.”
Gollowitz rubbed his hand over his sweating face.
“This could sink the organization, Jack,” he said feverishly. The Syndicate won’t like it.”
“—the Syndicate!” Maurer said, his voice suddenly vicious. “I’ve had about enough of the Syndicate! They’re not going to tell me what to do!”
Gollowitz turned away, walked over to an armchair and sat down. He didn’t let Maurer see the shocked, startled expression that showed for a moment in his eyes. “If this Coleman girl saw you…”
“You don’t have to worry about her,” Maurer said indifferently “She’ll be taken care of. Without her, Forest hasn’t a case. He can start trouble, but he won’t get anywhere. You can handle this, if she’s out of the way?”
“Sure. But she’s got to be out of the way!”
“She will be. McCann will let us know where she is. He’s going to give us half an hour before the police move in.”
Gollowitz thought for a moment.
“We can’t take any chances, Jack,” he said abruptly. “We’ll have the yacht stand by. There’s going to be a hell of a stink when this girl dies. You’d best be out of the way. A fishing trip where you can’t be reached would be an idea. Just until the heat dies down.”
Maurer shrugged.
“I’ll have Louis take care of it. The yacht’s all ready. I’ll go aboard as soon as McCann calls.”
“Who’s going to take care of the girl?”
“Get Louis in here. That’s his job.”
Gollowitz got up, crossed the room, opened the door near the bar and beckoned to Seigel.
Seigel came in as if he were walking on egg-shells. He was no fool. From what he had heard he knew Maurer had handled June Arnot’s killing himself, and he was appalled at the possible consequences. He knew one slip now might upset the whole of the carefully built-up kingdom. He had clawed his way up the ladder during the past ten years until he was now in the highest position he could ever hope to attain, with plenty of money, plenty of women, and every conceivable luxury within reach. The thought of losing what he had gained filled him with a sick, vicious rage.
“Louis, this girl’s got to be hit,” Maurer said, coming immediately to the point. “McCann will let you know where she is. You’ve got to move fast. We have half an hour before Conrad moves in.”
Seigel stared at him.
“It’ll have to be a crude job, Mr. Maurer,” he said. “We shan’t have time to case the joint, and that’s bad.”