One bottle was empty, and the glass.
Frost sat down. Wolfe wiped his lips.
“You were saying, Miss Mitchell, Miss Lauck spoke of taking the taste out of her mouth.”
The blonde nodded.
“Yes. And then-well-all of a sudden she straightened up and made a noise.
She didn't scream, it was just a noise, a horrible noise.
She got off the table and then leaned back against it and her face was all twisted…it was…twisted.
She looked at me with her eyes staring, and her mouth went open and shut but she couldn't say anything, and suddenly she shook all over and grabbed for me and got hold of my hair…and…and…”
“Yes, Miss Mitchell.”
The blonde gulped.
“Well, when she went down she took me with her because she had hold of my hair.
Then of course I was scared. I jerked away. Later, when the doctor…when people came, she had a bunch of my hair gripped in her fingers.”
Wolfe eyed her.
“You have good nerves, Miss Mitchell.”
“I'm not a softy.
I had a good cry after I got home that night, I cried it out.
But I didn't cry then.
Helen stood against the wall and trembled and stared and couldn't move, shell tell you that herself.
I ran to the elevator and yelled for help, and then I ran back and put the lid on the box of candy and held onto it until Mr. McNair came and then I gave it to him.
Molly was dead, I could see that.
She was crumpled up. She fell down dead.” She gulped again. “Maybe you could tell me. The doctor said it was some kind of acid, and it said in the paper potassium cyanide.”
Lew Frost put in,
“Hydrocyanic.
The police say-it's the same thing.
I told you that. Didn't I?”
Wolfe wiggled a finger at him.
“Please, Mr. Frost.
It is I who am to earn the fee, you to pay it. – Then Miss Mitchell, you felt no discomfort from your two pieces, and Miss Lauck ate only one.”
“That's all.” The blonde shivered. 'It's terrible, to think there's something that can kill you that quick.
She couldn't even speak.
You could see it go right through her, when she shook all over.
I held onto the box, but I got rid of it as soon as I saw Mr. McNair.”
“Then, I understand, you ran away.”
She nodded.
“I ran to the washroom.” She made a face. 1 had to throw up. I had eaten two pieces.”
“Indeed. Most efficient.” Wolfe had opened another bottle, and was pouring. “To go back a little.
You had not seen that box of candy before Miss Lauck took it from under the coat?”
“No. I hadn't.”
“What do you suppose she meant when she said she had swiped it?”
“Why-she meant-she saw it somewhere and took it.”
Wolfe turned.
“Miss Frost. What do you suppose Miss Lauck meant by that?”
“I suppose she meant what she said, that she swiped it. Stole it.”
“Was that customary with her?
Was she a thief?”
“Of course not. She only took a box of candy.
She did it for a joke, I suppose.
She liked to play jokes-to do things like that.”
“Had you seen the box before she produced it in that room?”
“No.”