The Key West citizen., 1940-12-18
Chapter %
More Police

I'VE was still inclined to be airy
II in manner. "Are they trying to
be hard-boiled?" she inquired.
Just wait until l take a hand
with them"
eff you really know anything
about what happened last nigh" "
/ said, "for heavens sake, now is
the time to speak up"
But when it came he- turn to
answer questions as to name, ad-
dress, occupation and whether or
not she could shed any light on
the events of the evening hefore,
a Eve Vouchsafed no more in ner
replies than the strict letter of the
law required. Her main concern
seemed to be that the police
should be properly impressed
with her imperSonation of the
Lady We're de We're.
''How terrible" she Shuddered,
fastidiously, when Officer Hend-
ricks announced that we would
all have to be fngerprinted as
soon as somebody arrived with
the proper equipment.
When the names of the servants
were given and the fact came cut
that Lindy was missing, Thomas
was ordered to produce her prom
to. She's probably the one tnat
did it." Patrolman Adams an
nounced to me in a cneerful aside.
It didn't seem at all likely to
Gill fhnrn tho foaf fh Of
Thomas certainly had got himself
tangled up when asked about the
time Indy left home.
I'm going to have to ask you
all to stay right here until
somebody gets here from town"
said Patrolman Hendricks. We'll,
maybe not right in this roCm," as
a wave of protest swept over MN,
''but don't 60 out of the house.
Mr.. Stuart, I suppose you are
willing to vouch for everybody"
Certainly" Bill answered, "but
/ hope we can get it all over as
soon as possible"
Well, that was out of his hands,
Officer Hendricks observed, but
someone would be along shortly,
and meanwhile he would question
the servants in the kitchen. sug-
geSted that they use the breakfast
room and instructed andrew to
serve the two officers not coffee
and cigarettes.
Lieutenant Gregory
HVEN JALLY the second police
Il car arrived, bringing Licut>l-
ant Jim Gregory: his cs-is.@9t, F.
trolman Roberts, 2H1 q finger
print expert. named Ard2r<; 4.
Lieutenant Gregory Immediately
went into a huddle with Patrol
men Hendricks and Adams and
looked very disGuStcd when he
learned they had discovered prac-
tically nothing.
They held their conference in
the office. Bill and l. waiting in
the breakfast room. heard Lieu
tenant Gregor. answer with a
Skeptical "Yeah?" when Patrol
man Adams confided that we
seemed like real nice folks, just
as plain as an old shoe" Then the
door closed. But we smiled at
each other, a little comforted by
this homely compliment, even
though it seemed to make no M
preston on Patrolman Adams'S
superior officer.
Lieutenant Gregory looked more
like an athlete than a policeman.
He was about tnirty-fve years
old, l should say, quite tall in his
well-fitted blue uniform, and had
dark hair and piercing dark eyes.
Gentlemen" said Bill, wnen
the Office door opened again,
you've come long way through
the cold. suggest you have some
coffee before we try to get down
to business"
Lieutenant Gregory looked a
little reluctant. But it was cold
outside and he had come a long
way. Besides, his two companions
were plainly more than willing to
take this little recess. Perhaps,
it wouldn't be a had idea," he
agreed.
Later he and his retinue and
Bill went into the drawing room.
where they stayed for quite a
while. When they came out, |
heard him tell Patrolman Roberts
to order an ambulance. Then he
went back into the room alone,
after which he and the other two
officers went out to inspect the
back passage.
Following final consultation
with Hendricks and Adams. the
latter were dismissed and told
they could go back on patrol duty.
Anderson was instructed TO IS
semble fingerprintS. make photo
graphs and gather up any evil
dence he might discover.
"And now," said Lieutenant
Gregory to my husband, with
Roberts lowering behind him Ike
an anxious shadow, Il should ike
to talk to you and Mrs. Stuart.
Later we can take the guests and
servants in turn"
We settled ourselves in .he Of
flee, behind closed doors, a fairly
small room furnished somewhat
after the manner of the library,
except that my grandfather's desk
and my grandmother's sewing
table give it a more intimate air.
And the books are newer.
Roberts found himself a chair
near his superior officer and took
out notebook and fountain pen.
Then Lieutenant Gregory said
something which strllck me at the
time as being quite tactful, put
which ! later recognized as mere
ly a part of his technique.