“If you didn’t, it’s a good time to say so.”

“Going to put the finger on me?” I asked.

He pulled his lips back over his teeth. His face changed from tan to buff.

I said:

“Go back to San Francisco, Dick. I’ve got enough to do without having to watch you.”

He put his hat on very carefully and very carefully closed the door behind him when he went out.

At four o’clock I had some lunch, cigarettes, and an Evening Herald sent up to me.

Dinah Brand’s murder, and the newer murder of Charles Proctor Dawn, divided the front page of the Herald , with Helen Albury connecting them.