esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第28节

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　　Locke　slammed　the　cigarette　to　the　floor　of　the　car。　〃For　God's　sake；　cut　out　that　damned　talk！　I　know　what　you're　trying　to　do；　and　you　know　what　you're　trying　to　do。　You're　trying　to　break　my　nerve　and　get　my　goat。　What　the　hell's　the　use　of　beating　around　the　bush？　You're　trying　to　pin　something　on　me；　and　I　don't　propose　to　stand　for　it。〃
　　〃What　are　you　getting　so　worked　up　for　if　it's　a　frame…up？〃
　　〃Because；〃　Locke　said；　〃I'm　afraid　of　some　of　the　stuff　you　might　bring　up。〃
　　〃You　mean　that　Savannah　stuff？〃
　　Locke　cursed；　turned　his　head　so　that　Mason　couldn't　see　his　face；　and　looked　out　of　the　cab　window。
　　Mason　sat　back；　apparently　entirely　absorbed　in　the　crowds　on　the　sidewalks；　the　fronts　of　the　buildings；　the　window　displays。
　　Locke　started　to　say　something　once；　but　changed　his　mind　and　lapsed　into　silence。　His　milk…chocolate　eyes　were　wide　and　worried。　His　face　had　not　regained　its　color。　It　showed　white　and　pasty。
　　The　cab　drew　up　in　front　of　the　Wheelright　Hotel。
　　Locke　got　out　and　indicated　Mason　to　the　cab　driver；　with　a　gesture　of　his　hand。
　　Mason　shook　his　head。
　　〃No；　Locke；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　your　party。　You　wanted　the　cab。〃
　　Locke　pulled　a　bill　out　of　his　pocket；　tossed　it　to　the　cab　driver；　turned；　and　started　through　the　entrance　of　the　hotel。　Mason　followed。
　　Locke　walked　at　once　to　the　elevator；　said；　〃Ninth　floor；〃　to　the　operator。
　　When　the　cage　stopped；　he　got　out　and　walked　straight　toward　Esther　Linten's　room；　without　bothering　to　see　if　Mason　was　following。　He　knocked　on　the　door。　〃It's　me；　Honey；〃　he　called。
　　Esther　Linten　opened　the　door。　She　had　on　a　kimono　which　opened　in　the　front　sufficiently　to　reveal　pink　silk　underwear。　When　she　saw　Mason；　she　pulled　the　kimono　abruptly　about　her；　and　stepped　back；　her　eyes　large。
　　〃What's　the　meaning　of　this；　Frank？〃　she　asked。
　　Locke　pushed　on　past　her。　〃I　can't　explain　things；　Honey；　but　I　want　you　to　tell　this　fellow　where　I　was　last　night。〃
　　She　lowered　her　eyes；　and　said；　〃What　do　you　mean；　Frank？〃
　　Locke's　voice　was　savage。　〃Oh；　nix　on　that　stuff。　You　know　what　I　mean。　Go　on。　This　is　a　jam；　and　you've　got　to　e　clean。〃
　　She　stared　at　Locke　with　fluttering　eyelids。　〃Tell　him　everything？〃　she　asked。
　　〃Everything；〃　said　Locke。　〃He　ain't　a　vice　squad。　He's　just　a　dumb　boob　that　thinks　he　can　work　a　frame…up　on　me；　and　get　away　with　it。〃
　　She　spoke；　in　a　low　voice；　〃We　went　out；　and　after　that；　you　came　here。〃
　　〃Then　what　happened？〃　pressed　Locke。
　　〃I　undressed；〃　she　muttered。
　　〃Go　on；〃　said　Locke。　〃Tell　it　to　him。　Give　him　the　whole　business。　Speak　up　so　he　can　hear　you。〃
　　〃I　went　to　bed；〃　she　said　slowly；　〃and　I'd　had　a　couple　of　drinks。〃
　　〃What　time　was　that？〃　asked　Mason。
　　〃About　eleven…thirty；　I　guess；〃　she　said。
　　Locke　stared　at　her。　〃What　happened　after　that？〃　he　demanded。
　　She　shook　her　head。　〃I　woke　up　this　morning　with　an　awful　headache；　Frank。　And　I　knew；　of　course；　that　you　were　here　when　I　went　to　sleep。　But　I　don't　know　what　time　you　went　out；　or　anything　about　it。　I　passed　out　after　I　got　into　bed。〃
　　Locke　jumped　away　from　her　and　stood　in　a　corner；　as　though　he　were　guarding　himself　against　a　physical　attack　from　both　of　them。
　　〃You　dirty；　double…crossing。。。〃
　　Mason　interrupted；　〃That's　no　way　to　talk　to　a　lady。〃
　　Locke　was　furious。　〃You　damn　fool。　Can't　you　see　she　ain't　a　lady？〃
　　Esther　Linten　stared　at　him　from　angry　eyes。　〃That's　not　going　to　get　you　anywhere；　Frank。　If　you　didn't　want　me　to　tell　the　truth；　why　the　hell　didn't　you　tell　me　you　wanted　an　alibi？　If　you'd　wanted　me　to　lie　about　it　why　didn't　you　tip　me　off；　and　I'd　have　said　anything　you　wanted　me　to　say。　But　you　told　me　to　tell　the　truth　and　I　did。〃
　　Locke　cursed　again。
　　〃Well；〃　said　the　lawyer；　〃it's　very　evident　that　this　young　lady　is　dressing。　We　don't　want　to　detain　her。　I'm　in　a　hurry　Locke。　Do　you　want　to　go　with　me；　or　do　you　want　to　stay　here　with　her？〃
　　Locke's　tone　was　ominous　as　he　said；　〃I'll　stay　here　with　her。〃
　　〃Fine；〃　Mason　remarked；　〃I'll　put　in　a　telephone　call　from　here。〃
　　He　walked　over　to　the　telephone；　took　down　the　receiver；　and　said；　〃Police　Headquarters。〃
　　Locke　watched　him　with　the　look　of　a　cornered　rat　in　his　eyes。
　　After　a　while　Mason　spoke　into　the　transmitter；　〃Get　me　Sidney　Drumm；　will　you？　He's　on　the　Detective　Force。〃
　　Locke's　voice　rasped　out　in　agony；　〃For　God's　sake；　hang　up　that　receiver；　quick。〃
　　Mason　turned　to　survey　him　with　mild　curiosity。
　　〃Hang　it　up！〃　yelled　Locke。　〃Damn　it；　you've　got　the　whip　hand。　You've　worked　a　frame…up　on　me　that　I　can't　buck。　Not　that　the　frame…up　isn't　crude　as　hell；　but　I　don't　dare　to　have　you　go　into　the　motive。　That's　the　thing　that　cooks　me。　You　put　on　evidence　about　the　motive　and　a　jury　would　never　listen　to　anything　else。〃
　　Mason　slid　the　receiver　back　on　the　hook；　turned　to　face　Locke。
　　〃Now；〃　he　said；　〃we're　getting　some　place。〃
　　〃What　is　it　you　want？〃　asked　Locke。
　　〃You　know　what　I　want；〃　said　Mason。
　　Locke　flung　out　his　hands　in　a　gesture　of　surrender。
　　〃All　right；〃　he　said；　〃that's　understood。　Anything　else？〃
　　Mason　shook　his　head。　〃Not　right　now。　It　might　be　well　to　remember　that　Eva　Belter　is　the　real　owner　of　the　paper　now。　Personally；　I　think　it　would　be　a　good　plan　to　consult　with　her　before　you　publish　anything　which　might　be　distasteful　to　her。　You　e　out　every　two　weeks；　don't　you？〃
　　〃Yes；　our　publication　day　is　next　Thursday。〃
　　〃Anything　may　happen　between　now　and　then；　Locke；〃　Mason　told　him。
　　Locke　said　nothing。
　　Mason　turned　to　the　girl。
　　〃I'm　sorry　we　disturbed　you；　Miss；〃　he　said。
　　〃That's　all　right；〃　she　said。　〃If　the　damn　fool　wanted　me　to　lie；　why　didn't　he　say　so？　What　was　his　idea　in　telling　me　he　wanted　me　to　tell　the　truth？〃
　　Locke　whirled　on　her。　〃You　are　lying；　Esther。　You　know　damned　well　you　didn't　pass　out　when　you　went　to　bed。〃
　　She　shrugged　her　shoulders。
　　〃Maybe　I　didn't；〃　she　said；　〃but　I　can't　remember　anything。　Lots　of　times　when　I　get　plastered；　I　can't　remember　what　happened　all　during　that　evening。〃
　　Locke　said　meaningly；　〃Well；　you'd　better　get　over　that　habit。　It　might　prove　fatal。〃
　　She　flared　at　him。　〃I　should　think　you'd　have　a　bellyful　of　having　friends　who　had　things　fatal　happen　to　them！〃
　　He　went　white。　〃Shut　up；　Esther。　Can't　you　get　the　sketch？〃
　　〃Shut　up　yourself；　then！　I'm　not　a　girl　that　you　can　talk　to　that　way。〃
　　Mason　interposed。　〃Well；　never　mind；　it's　all　settled　now；　anyway。　e　on；　Locke；　let's　get　going。　I　think　you'd　better　e　with　me　after　all。　I've　got　some　more　things　I　want　to　say　to　you。〃
　　Locke　walked　to　the　door；　paused；　looked　at　Esther　Linten　with　his　mild　brown　eyes　gleaming　malevolence；　and　then　stepped　out　into　the　corridor。
　　Mason　stepped　up　behind　him　without　even　looking　back　at　the　girl；　and　closed　the　door。　He　took　Locke's　arm　and　piloted　him　toward　the　elevator。
　　〃I　just　want　you　to　know；〃　said　Locke；　〃that　that　frame…up　was　so　damned　crude　that　it　wasn't　even　funny。　It　was　this　Georgia　business　that　you　mentioned　that　bothered　me。　I　don't　want　to　have　anybody　go　into　that。　I　think　you've　got　the　wrong　idea　about　it；　but　it's　something　that's　a　closed　chapter　in　my　life。〃
　　Mason　smiled；　and　said；　〃Oh；　no；　it　isn't；　Locke。　Murder　never　outlaws；　you　know；　and　they　can　always　bring　you　back　for　another　trial。〃
　　Locke　pushed　himself　away　from　Mason's　side。　His　lips　were　twitching；　and　his　eyes　were　filled　with　panic。　〃I　can　beat　that　case　if　they　try　me　in　Savannah。　But　if　you　spring　it　here　in　connection　with　another　murder　case；　they'd　make　short　work　of　me；　and　you're　just　smooth　enough　to　know　it。〃
　　Mason　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃Incidentally；　Locke；〃　he　said；　〃I　presume　that　you've　been　embezzling　money　from　the　accounts　to　keep　this　thing　going；〃　and　he　jerked　his　thumb　back　toward　the　room　they　had　quitted。
　　〃Well；〃　said　Locke；　〃guess　again。　That's　one　place　where　you　can't　do　a　damn　thing。　Nobody　on　earth　knows　what　my　understanding　was　with　George　Belter；　except　George　Belter。　It　wasn't　in　writing。　It　was　just　an　understanding　between　us。〃
　　〃Well；　be　careful　what　you　say；　Locke；〃　Mason　warned；　〃and　remember　that　Mrs。　Belter　is　the　owner　of　the　paper　now。　You'd　better　have　an　understanding　with　her　before　you　pay　out　any　more　money。　Your　accounts　will　have　to　be　audited　in　court　now；　you　know。〃
　　Locke　swore　under　his　breath。　〃So　that's　it；　is　it？〃
　　〃That's　it；〃　Mason　said。　〃I'm　going　to　leave　you　when　we　get　out　of　the　hotel；　Locke。　Don't　go　back　and　try　to　beat　up　that　woman；　because　anything　she　might　say　wouldn't　make　a　particle　of　difference。　I　don't　know　whether　Sol　Steinburg　is　right　in　identifying　you　as　the　man　who　bought　the　murder　gun　in　this　case　or　not。　But；　even　if　he　isn't；　all　we　need　to　do　is　to　simply　pass　the　word　to　the　Georgia　authorities；　and　you　go　back　for　another　trial。　Maybe　you　beat　the　rap；　maybe　you　don't；　but　you're　out　of　the　picture　here。〃
　　Locke　said；　curiously；　〃Listen；　you're　playing　a　hell　of　a　deep　game。　I'd　like　to　know　what　it　is。〃
　　Mason　looked　at　him　innocently。
　　〃Why　no；　Lo