“Take Peggy into the kitchen, and shut both doors,” I told MacMan. “Holy Joe and I are going to have a real heart-to-heart talk.”
The girl went out willingly, but when MacMan was closing the door she put her head in again to tell Wales:
“I hope he busts you in the nose if you try to hold out on him.”
MacMan shut the door.
“Your playmate seems to think you know something,” I said.
Wales scowled at the door and grumbled: “She’s more help to me than a broken leg.” He turned his face to me, trying to make it look frank and friendly. “What do you want? I came clean with you before. What’s the matter now?”
“What do you guess?”
He pulled his lips in between his teeth.
“What do you want to make me guess for?” he demanded. “I’m willing to play ball with you. But what can I do if you won’t tell me what you want? I can’t see inside your head.”
“You’d get a kick out of it if you could.”
He shook his head wearily and walked back to the sofa, sitting down bent forward, his hands together between his knees.
“All right,” he sighed. “Take your time about asking me. I’ll wait for you.”
I went over and stood in front of him. I took his chin between my left thumb and fingers, raising his head and bending my own down until our noses were almost touching. I said: