No Business of Mine

“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 better start worrying about your neck. Ever since you arrived in this country you’ve been mixed up in murder. I warned you to mind your own business, now perhaps you wish you had.”

“And to think we called each other by our Christian names, and you ate the food I paid for,” I said, shaking my head. “Well, my mother always told me not to trust a policeman. Go ahead, Corridan, and try to hang something on me. I don’t think you’ll succeed, but you can try. The trouble with the British law is that the onus is on you to prove me guilty, not for me to prove myself innocent. Until you have a few reliable witnesses I don’t think you should get too inflated with your cock-eyed theories.”

He got to his feet, turned to the door. “When I lay my hands on Netta Scott and Julius Cole I shall have all the witnesses I want,” he said quietly. “Those two, I think, will talk fast enough for me to get my hands on you. Don’t forget I haven’t yet failed to solve a murder case.”

“The exception always proves the rule,” I said hopefully. “Maybe you’re heading for your first great failure.”