In a Lonely Place Page #2

- No, and I don't think I'm going to.

Go ahead.

Then come the dreamy weeks.

Go on. I can hear you.

They're always together.

She wants him to marry her,

but what Channing's after is bacteria.

Bacterogolist.

She throws herself into

her lawyer's arms....

All you have to do is

follow the book.

--and that does the trick.

He won't speak to her.

She tries everything,

and I do mean everything.

Then she gets desperate.

She wants him so terribly...

...and since there's no other way,

one stormy day she swims way out...

...and she starts to scream:

" Help, help, help, help!"

Honey, I have neighbours!

Channing won't swim after her

because he thinks it's a trick.

Alathea goes on screaming, and suddenly

he realizes she's in danger.

He swims out so fast

he hardly even touches the water.

But by the time he gets there,

she's gone.

She's joined her husband

Lester in the sea.

- lt's a powerful story.

- What you call an epic.

What did I tell you?

There are lots of things

I didn't even mention.

Thank you.

- What time is it?

- lt's 12:
30.

Oh, is that all?

I'm sorry I acted so stupid. About you

taking off your shoes and all.

- lt was nice of you to break your date.

- I can see Henry anytime.

Is Henry...? Is he in love with you?

I guess so. He's nice and substantial.

The easy- going type.

He lives with his folks

and has a good job.

- So you don't love him.

- Are you a mind reader?

Most writers like to think they are.

Are you going steady with anybody?

You don't have to say. I just wondered.

Look, Mildred, it's late and I'm tired

and I have to get up early.

Well, that's all right.

Would you mind

if I don't drive you home?

There's a taxi stand

right around the corner.

Not at all. That'll be fine.

All right. Here you are

and thank you very much.

Well, thank you.

- Good night, Mildred. And thanks a lot.

- Likewise, I'm sure.

- Brub! Hey, what's the idea?

- Hi, Dix.

- Do you know what time it is?

- About 5:
00.

Don't cops sleep?

Get out of here.

That an order, major?

You make me homesick for some

of the worst years of our lives.

- Have you been drinking?

- No. Have you?

No. No, I've been asleep for hours.

With your clothes on?

What is this?

Hey, where's your uniform?

You in trouble, Brub?

Yeah, they made a mistake

and promoted me to detective.

- That's good, I guess.

- lt's not a social call, Dix.

I get it. That blabbermouth Junior

filed a complaint.

That son- in- law....

Just because I pushed him around.

I'll get you a punching bag

for Christmas. Get dressed.

- Capt. Lochner wants to talk to you.

- I'm sorry I didn't really beat him up.

- lt's got nothing to do with Junior.

- Then what is it?

My boss will tell you.

- You wanna make yourself coffee?

- No, thanks.

- You know, I got married.

- Why?

She had a couple bucks

to spare.

Besides, I like her.

You will too, when you meet her.

Here, you read any good books lately?

- I guess you were asleep, at that.

- ls that a felony in Beverly Hills?

Wouldn't taking a checkroom girl home

to hear a story be an odd thing to do?

I'd say it was very practical.

She'd read the book and I hadn't.

If you only wanted a story,

why'd you take her to your place?

I work at home.

You had no other reason?

- If so, I didn't do anything about it.

- Did she have a drink at your house?

She had a glass of ginger ale

with a twist of lemon in it.

It's known as a horse's neck.

The glass is still on my desk...

...complete with fingerprints.

I was too tired to wash dishes.

You gave her 20 dollars.

Quite a large sum for cab fare.

- Well, she'd given me valuable service.

- Was it two 10s?

Yes, but don't ask me

to identify the bills.

Why didn't you call for a cab? Isn't

that what a gentleman usually does?

I didn't say I was a gentleman.

I said I was tired.

You're told the girl you were with

last night was found murdered...

...dumped from a moving car.

What's your reaction?

Shock, horror, sympathy?

No, just petulance

at being questioned...

...a couple of feeble jokes.

You puzzle me, Mr. Steele.

The jokes could have been better, but

I don't see why the rest worries you.

Unless you plan to arrest me

for lack of emotion.

- What else did she say about her date?

- No more than I've told you.

- Some more coming.

- Any marks on the neck?

Dr. Jackson said the killer

used his arm, not his hands.

How you fellows recording this?

Tape or wire?

Tape.

Here's the mike.

- How long have you known Mr. Steele?

- He was my C.O. Three years overseas.

- See each other much? After the war?

- About a year ago I called him.

He promised to call back.

I'm still waiting.

When I found out he was a cop,

I lost interest.

Send the parking attendant and the

other checkroom girl home.

- Wanna see some pictures?

- I don't mind.

It'd help us if it could be

established that she left...

...of her own volition and you spent

the rest of the night at home.

Did anybody drop in or call you?

No, nobody called.

Poor kid.

Nobody dropped in.

Phone rang once but I didn't answer it.

- You just let it ring?

- I often do. You can ask my neighbours.

Hey, wait a minute....

Miss Gray.

Good morning, Miss Gray.

Please sit down.

I'm Capt. Lochner.

This is Sgt. Nicolai.

- Hello.

- How do you do?

I'm sorry. No more coffee.

Miss Gray, do you know this gentleman?

No.

- Did you ever see him before?

- Yes, a few times.

Where?

The Patio Apartments.

We both live there.

Do you know who he is?

Yes. When I moved in a few days ago,

Mr. Steele was pointed out to me...

...by the manager. She's very proud

of having a celebrity tenant.

- Did you see Mr. Steele last night?

- As I came home...

...I saw him go into his apartment

with a girl.

That girl was Mildred Atkinson.

She was murdered between

- Murdered?

- Yes. Strangled...

- ...by the vice- like grip of an arm.

- You know. Mugged.

What time did you get home

last night?

Shortly after midnight.

Did you see Mr. Steele after

he and the girl entered his apartment?

Yes, about a half an hour later.

I saw him at his door

saying good night.

- How do you know it was a half- hour?

- lt takes me that long...

- ...to get ready for bed.

- Can you see his door from your room?

She was standing on her balcony

in a negligee.

It was warm.

My apartment was stuffy.

- Sure he didn't leave with the girl?

- Positive.

- What was he doing?

- He was looking at me.

For never meeting Mr. Steele,

you've paid good attention to him.

I have, at that.

- Usually pay attention to neighbours?

- No.

Were you interested

because he's a celebrity?

Not at all. I noticed him

because he looked interesting.

I like his face.

I guess that will be all for now.

Goodbye, Miss Gray.

Goodbye, Capt. Lochner.

Oh, Barton?

Do attractive young women

often admire your face, Mr. Steele?

If they do, they aren't usually as

outspoken as Miss Gray. We finished?

Yes, for the time being.

Try to make it later next time.

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