Lowry glared right back. He was far beyond the pretense of pleasantness.

“And you seem to be doing a very effective job of tailing me, Brady.”

“Maybe so.”

“It’s too bad, you know. I’m not a criminal, friend. You’d have lost me long ago if I were.”

“Don’t be so sure about that, Lowry. And what’s more. I’m not so sure you’re all as pure and simple as you claim.”

“No?”

“What’s McKay know that’s got you so worried, will you tell me that?”

“Meaning what?”

“Meaning the way you’re tearing around the whole goddam county, trying to get him out of the clink and him guilty as hell. I’m not so sure you ain’t afraid he won’t spill a little piece about you.”

“Your imagination is improving by leaps and bounds, Brady. This new wrinkle is a really downright interesting idea.”

“I think so, too. You knew the Blair dame. She was a hot number. Could’ve given even a guy like you a lot of trouble, Lowry.”

“Really?”

“I was thinking maybe she had something you thought you’d better get your hands on before we did. That’s why you were smellin’ around the dump she lived in tonight, Lowry.”

“Brilliant deduction, Brady. I’ll give you the Sherlock Holmes Medal of Honor for that. And maybe you can explain why I took Terry Stafford with me.”

“Why not? The Stafford girl was the best cover you could think of.”

Lowry got up. “You know you’re talking a stream of rubbish, Brady, and you know why.” He pointed to the silent, large-eyed Ramirez. “You’ve got this poor guy here scared out of his wits, and you aim to keep him that way. Unless he sticks to his story, no jury in the state would convict McKay. Do you know where he saw this murderer?” Lowry went to the window and waved his hand in the direction of the darkness outside. “At a distance of over fifty feet in little better than complete darkness. You’re going to look very foolish when this is over, Brady.”

Brady’s face was red with anger. “And you’re going to look a damned sight worse than that in a minute or two, Lowry, if you don’t get your nosy butt right out of here pronto.”

Lowry smiled levelly. “I thought that was what was worrying you. Well, I’m going, Brady. You have the rest of the night to browbeat this helpless chap. Make sure you do a good job.”

He started for the door, then turned to Ramirez and said quietly, “So long, Ramirez. And don’t worry. It won’t hurt you to tell the truth.”