“Well,” Hendricks said impatiently. “He looks like the man who took the car from you, doesn’t he?”

“Yes, but as I said, it was dark and I was excited. I really hate to say for certain. Can’t you identify him from fingerprints on the car or something like that?”

Hendricks smiled benevolently. “Only a sap would have left prints on that car. He used it to drive the girl out to the lot where he murdered her, you know. He was smart enough to wipe the steering wheel and the doors clean of prints. Now, look, Dr. Clayton, you saw him, didn’t you? He must have been right close to you if you gave him your money. Why should you have any doubt about it?”

“I don’t know,” Clayton replied irritably. “It’s just that it was dark. People often get false impressions in the dark, especially when they’re excited. This is serious. I don’t want to involve a man who might be innocent.”

“But you will say that he looks like the man who held you up.”

“Yes, he does.”

“O.K. Dr. Clayton, that’s fine.”

“Look here, Captain,” Clayton said sharply. “This isn’t the beginning of a lot of calls to come down here, is it? I haven’t much time, you know, and really I’d rather forget about the whole business.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Hendricks said reassuringly. “We won’t bother you any more than is necessary.”

“I wish you wouldn’t,” Clayton said.

He started for the door, then with his hand on the knob he turned and looked at McKay. Somebody pushed the door open from the outside and Clayton stepped aside and went out past the man who came in. It was Ned Lowry. He smiled genially, then saw McKay and pulled himself up short. McKay grinned feebly at him.

“Hello, Ned,” he said.

Lowry nodded curtly, quickly grasping the inadvisability of establishing friendliness.

“Nothing for you, Lowry,” Hendricks said. “Mosey around somewhere else. We’re busy now.”

“Just as you say, Captain,” Lowry said but he sat down on a chair near the wall. Hendricks gave him a dark glance, then motioned to the detectives to take McKay out. When McKay looked at him again, Lowry raised his eyebrows questioningly. McKay understood and shook his head. The simple message got across. “I don’t know any more about it than you do,” it said to Lowry. Lowry saw Brady watching him and forced a smile. In Brady’s eyes he read a challenge. McKay was led out.

Hendricks made it clear that he intended to ignore Lowry. He bent over a sheet of paper on his desk and proceeded to look busy. The hint was wasted on Lowry.

“Rather special attention you’re giving the drunks these days, Captain,” he said, “or is it just that you’re always nice to celebrities.”

“Who’s a celebrity?” Hendricks growled.