That was weak enough. I said, “All right, why not?” indifferently, offered him a cigarette, and took one myself. Then I added: “My guess is that Whisper did it.”

“Was he there?” For once McGraw cheated his nose, snapping the words off his teeth.

“Was he where?”

“At Brand’s?”

“No,” I said, wrinkling my forehead. “Why should he be⁠—if he was off killing Noonan?”

“Damn Noonan!” the acting chief exclaimed irritably. “What do you keep dragging him in for?”

I tried to look at him as if I thought him crazy.

He said:

“Dinah Brand was murdered last night.”

I said: “Yeah?”