“Very correctly,” Lowry said. “Places like the kind Carrol runs can’t do business without official sanction. First because they sell lousy liquor, second because of the girls they keep, third because they run a racing book. As a matter of fact, that place has an involvement in almost every angle that would make it necessary for Carrol to pay the cops off and for them to leave him be. Even so, the likelihood that Carrol killed the girl isn’t very great.”

“Why not?”

“Well, for one thing, Carrol’s a lot too smart and a lot too hard to have gotten himself entangled with one of the girls who worked for him. Maybe he takes a grab at them now and then, but he doesn’t get mixed up seriously with them. They were strictly business.”

“But this one was supposed to be pretty, wasn’t she? A lot more than most.”

“Rather.”

“Then mightn’t he have forgotten his business principles just this one time?”

“What are you getting at, Terry?”

“I’m not sure I know. I’m just punching in the dark. What about the Filipino? Do you think maybe he did it?”

“Not a chance.”

“Positive? He was on the spot.”

“He’s innocent and he’s scared silly. That’s how he happened to identify Bob, I’m sure. He’s just anxious to say anything that’ll take the spotlight off him, because he doesn’t know what the hell this whole thing is all about.”

Terry puffed rapidly at her cigarette. After another few moments of silence, during which she considered and rejected several wild ideas, she said, “You couldn’t find out anything at Carrol’s when you were there, could you, Ned. They know you too well at places like that.”

“That’s right. They shut up like clams when I come in.”

“But I might hear something.”

“You mean—”

“Exactly. I’m at least as attractive as the girls who work there, or don’t you think so?”

“Much more.” Lowry shook his head. “But it’s a nasty job, baby. It’s like swimming through a cesspool to spend an hour in a place like that. Do you think you’ll make it?”

“I’ve got to,” she answered evenly. “We can’t let them execute Bob for a crime he didn’t commit. Do you think Carrol will give me a job?”

“It’s likely. You work on a percentage there, you know, so he has nothing to lose on your lack of experience.” He tightened his jaws unhappily. “I don’t like the idea, though. Are you sure you want to do it, Terry? It might become very unpleasant.”