But I haven’t seen her.
You know who it is, I suppose?”
“Yes.
But she is not in my employ any longer.”
I thought he looked disappointed, but certainly not suspicious.
He had however little more to tell.
The precinct men had arrived before.
He had come from headquarters in the side car of a motorcycle which had dropped him at the street, so that he was afoot when he overtook her.
I slept not at all that night.
I was remembering a conversation I had had with the Inspector the morning after Joseph was shot, and following that examination he had made of the hillside.
“Just what do you know about Joseph, Miss Bell?
His private life, I mean.”
“I don’t believe he had any.”
“He’d never seemed in any fear, had he?
For himself, I mean.”
“Not that I know of.”
“Never took any precautions, I suppose?
Didn’t act like a man with anything hanging over him?”
“Not at all.
He had looked very tired lately, and I had asked him if he wanted to go away.
I have never seen him show any fear, except that last night as we went through the pantry he had the windows all closed.
I spoke about it, and he said it was ‘safer.’
Or he felt safer.”
“What about women?
I suppose you wouldn’t know about that?”
“I am sure there was nothing of the sort.”
“Well, I’m not.
I’ll come to that later.
But there are some things about this shooting that make it just a little different from the others.
In the first place, the method’s different.
There’s no attempt to camouflage the crime, and no attempt at even ordinary care against detection.
In the others care was taken.
I’ll go further and say that I’ve never seen a case where such steps were taken, during and later, to cover every possible trail.
“But look at this.
You’re around the corner, only fifty feet away. You’ve got a dog, two dogs.
Except for the fact that you held the terrier that night he’d have made a row that would have awakened the neighborhood.
The house is fully lighted.
Joseph is awake, or was until a moment or so before the shot. If he was asleep the criminal can’t know it.
The shades are drawn.
“Then again, why shoot him in the house?
He must have been in and out.
He goes to the garage sometimes, he is not always shut up at night.
Since Walter’s disappearance he’s been out at all hours and in all sorts of places.
“But he’s shot right here, in a bright light.
The psychology’s different, that’s all.
Look at this: I’ve just shot Joseph back there.
I’ve got the revolver in my pocket, and so far I’ve got away with it.
I’ve been watching the place, so I know you three are outside and may come in at any moment.
The front door is open; the hall is brightly lighted.
You may come in that way, walk right in on me.