June 6th, 1.10 a.m.
SADIE HAD just fallen into a light doze when a sound outside her apartment made her sit up, wide awake again.
She listened, her heart beating wildly, the memory of Raven horribly clear−cut in her mind. She wondered if he had returned. For several minutes she lay listening, then, cautiously, she pulled back the bed−clothes and reached for her wrap.
Silently she went to the front door and looked once through the letter−box. The burly figure of a police officer relieved her of all her fears. He was just going into Mendetta’s apartment. She opened the door and stood waiting.
The police officer came out of the apartment in a few minutes. His start of surprise when he saw Sadie puzzled her.
“Isis anythin’ wrong in there?” she asked.
He looked at her suspiciously. “Who are you?” he snapped.
“I’m Mrs. Perminger. I thought I heard someone cry out a little while back and I thought I heard someone fall.” Sadie looked at him with big eyes.
O’Hara could have killed her. He’d gone up on Lu’s instructions just to look around. He had no intention of reporting Mendetta’s death. He had no reasonable excuse for being up there, and now this dame must come and put her oar in.
He said, “I’ll come in your place for a moment, Miss. Don’t want to be seen in the passage; might scare the folks.”
Sadie coloured. “I don’t think you’d better come in. I’mI’m all alone.”
O’Hara nodded. “That’s all right,” he said; “if you’ll just let me stand in the hall.” He was most anxious that nobody else should see him.
Reluctantly Sadie stepped back and let him in.
“Now then, Miss,” he said, taking out his note−book. “You say you heard someone cry out?”
Sadie nodded. There was something about this cop that she didn’t like. She wished he’d go away.
“What time was that?”
“It was just after twelve.”
“Did you see anythin’?” O’Hara looked at her closely.
Sadie hesitated, then she said, “Yes, there was a man who came out of the apartment. He had some papers and a gun in his hand.”
O’Hara felt the sweat break out under his arms. “Yeah?” he said. “You’re sure of that?”
“Of course I’m sure.”
“Would you know him again?”
“I’d know him anywhere,” Sadie said firmly. “He was middle height, dark, dressed in a shabby black suit.
His face was very thin, with thin lips and horrible cold eyes. I don’t think I’ll ever forget him.”
O’Hara hadn’t much time. He knew that Lu must hear about this. Grantham hadn’t picked him for nothing.
He had his head screwed on all right.
“Well, lady,” he said, “there’s been a little accident over there. I guess we’ll be looking for that guy. Now will you get dressed? I’d like to take you down to the station house.”
“What, now?” Sadie’s eyes opened.
O’Hara nodded. “Sure,” he said. “We’ll get you to look through some of the photos we got down there. You might spot the guy right away.”
Sadie wished Benny was there. She felt suddenly extremely helpless and alone. She didn’t want to go, but she supposed she had to. “Will you wait here? I’ll go and dress.”
O’Hara touched his cap. “I’ll meet you downstairs, lady,” he said. “I don’t want you bothered with newshawks. If they saw me leave with you we’d never shake them.”
He went away, walking very rapidly.
Sadie dressed. She felt vaguely uneasy and wished now that she hadn’t told O’Hara anything. Well, they couldn’t do anything to her at the station house. She’d just tell them the truth and then they’d let her go. As she was about to leave the apartment she suddenly thought of something. She ran back to the sitting−room and scribbled a note to Benny. She put it on his pillow, hoping that if he came in he’d find it at once. Then she picked up her bag and went down to the hall.
In the meantime O’Hara met Lu, who was waiting in the street. “Listen, boss,” the cop said quickly, “we’re in a jam. Both Mendetta and the jane are dead, but there’s a little dame up there who saw Raven leave. She can identify him. I thought you wouldn’t like that. She’s on her way down now. I told her I was taking her to the station.”
Lu cursed under his breath. He stood thinking for a moment, then nodded. “Listen, tell her I’m a cop when she comes down. I’ll take her to Grantham’s apartment and he must decide what to do with her. When I’ve got her out of the way, continue your beat. You don’t know anythin’ about the killing, get it? The longer it remains under cover the better. It’ll give Raven a chance to get set.”
O’Hara nodded. “This’ll cost me my job if it comes out,” he said with a sly look.
“Don’t worry your head about that,” Lu said impatiently. “We’ll look after you. I’ll see you get somethin’
extra for this.”
“See that it’s worth havin’,” O’Hara said, and went back into the hall.
Sadie came down as he entered. He touched his cap respectfully. “An officer of the Homicide Squad is outside with a car, lady,” he said. “You go with him. I gotta do some phoning.”
He led her out to Lu, who was standing by his car. Lu raised his hat.
“This is Mrs. Perminger,” O’Hara said with a broad grin. “She’s the little lady who saw the guy I told you about.”
Lu opened the car door. “I’m sorry to get you up at such an hour, Mrs. Perminger,” he said, “but you’re goin’ to be a big help to us.”
Sadie thought he wasn’t at all her idea of a plain−clothes cop, but she got in the car, because she was scared that they’d think she had something to hide. Lu got in beside her.
O’Hara stood watching the car drive away. He spat into the street. “I wonder what they’ll do with her?” he thought. “Nice little dame,” and he turned and resumed his patrol with measured steps.