Over My Dead Body

"You realize, I suppose, that without that alibi you would probably now be under arrest, charged with murder?"

"Yes."

"Did you know that Ludlow was an agent of the British Government?"

"Yes."

"And that Faber is an agent of the German Government?"

"Yes."

"Are you a government agent, or is Miss Lovchen?"

"No."

"Do you know who killed Ludlow?"

"No."

"Have you any idea?"

"No."

His eyes darted aside. "Did you kill Ludlow, Miss Lovchen?"

"No, sir."

"Have you any idea who did?"

"No, sir."

Wolfe sighed. "Now. Take those others. Mr and Mrs Miltan, Driscoll, Gill, Barrett, Miss Reade, Madame Zorka. Do you know whether they were involved with Ludlow, either politically or personally?"

Neya's eyes shifted to Carla and then returned to Wolfe. She opened her mouth, closed it, and then spoke. "I don't know how much involved. They all knew each other. We haven't been there very long ourselves."

"Did you first meet Ludlow and Faber at Miltan's?"

"Yes."

"How did you learn they were government agents?"

"Why… they told me."

"Indeed. Just told you to make conversation?"

"They… well, they told me." She smiled at him. "Under certain conditions-I mean, a man is apt to tell a girl things if the conditions are such that he feels like it."

"Were you intimate with Mr Ludlow? Are you intimate with Mr Faber?"

"Oh, no." Her nose seemed to go up. "Not intimate."

"Yet they told you-never mind. You say you are not a government agent. Are you a political agent? Did you come to this country on a political mission?"

"No."

"Did you, Miss Lovchen?"

"No, sir."

"You're both lying."

They stared at him. Neya's chin went up. Carla's eyes narrowed, which left them still wide enough for ordinary purposes.

Wolfe snapped, "As an intriguante, Miss Lovchen, you are incredibly maladroit. Twice since you entered this room you have glanced at the place on the bookshelves where my copy of United Yugoslavia stands. I know you put that paper there. I've removed it and put it somewhere else."

Neya merely continued to stare, but Carla jumped up, with her face white, and started to sputter at him, "But I-I only meant-"

"I know." He showed her a palm. "You only meant to leave it there a while for safe keeping. It's even safer where I put it. The reason I mention it-"