Fast Buck

‘Okay,’ the patrolman said. ‘That lets you out,’ he went on to Anita. ‘You’d bet er take a walk until they’ve got him out of here.’

As he went up the stairs, he gave Dallas a slow wink.

‘Just a minute, Miss Jackson,’ Dal as said as Anita began to move away. ‘I’m Ed Dal as of the International Detective Agency. We’ve been trying to find the Chittabad collection since it was stolen.

I’ve been authorised to pay you ten thousand dol ars if you can give me any information that’l lead to the recovery of the jewels.’

She looked up at him, her face expressionless.

‘It’s only fair to warn you,’ he went on, ‘that if you do know what’s happened to them and you tell me, you run the risk of being prosecuted as an accessory.’

‘But you shouldn’t tel me that, should you?’ she said.

‘Maybe not, but I don’t like the way my boss is handling this case. Al he thinks about is what he’s going to get out of it. It’s up to you. If you think ten grand is worth the risk, and you know something, now’s the time to spil it.’

She shook her head.

‘I have no information to give you.’

‘Sure?’

‘Yes, I’m sure.’

‘Is there anything I can do for you?’

She stiffened, and her eyes became hostile.

‘No, thank you.’

He took out his card and slipped it into her hand.

‘You might change your mind. If you do, give me a call. It’s not much fun being on your own after a thing like this. I might be able to help you.’

‘Thank you, but I’l manage.’

She walked past him, down the passage to the street door. Dallas watched her until he lost sight of her in the crowd that stood either side of the entrance. He wondered if he would see her again, and hoped he would.

He went back to the pay booth.

‘You there?’ he asked, as he picked up the receiver.

‘Of course I’m here,’ Purvis said. ‘What did she say?’

‘She doesn’t know. Hater never told her a thing. I’m not surprised. She was only five when he went inside.’

‘You’re sure she isn’t lying?’

‘Not a chance. I can always tell when a woman’s lying. If you ask me the col ection never wil be found.’

‘I’m not asking you!’ Purvis snapped. ‘Come back to the office. Maybe we can figure an angle.’

Dallas watched two white-coated attendants carrying the stretcher down the stairs. They had covered Baird’s face with the blanket.

‘You still there?’ Purvis asked suspiciously.

‘Yeah,’ Dal as said. ‘They’re just carrying Baird out. The crowd’s get ing a big bang out of it.’ He opened the booth door so he could watch the stretcher being carried into the street. ‘Funny how people like to gape at a corpse. I believe he was really fond of that girl.’

‘Wil you stop mutering to yourself,’ Purvis said angrily. ‘Come back here at once. I think I’ve got an angle already.’

‘How you love to kid yourself,’ Dal as said pityingly and hung up.