Before Midnight

"What happened to him?" Gertrude Frazee demanded.

"I don't know. But if you want something to occupy your minds, just before Mr. Wolfe entered he was standing by the wall with a glass in his hand and there was liquid in the glass. You heard the glass hit the floor, but I saw no sign of spilled liquid. You might turn that over and see what you think of it."

"It was Pernod in the glass," Patrick O'Garro said. "I saw him pour it. He always drank Pernod. He put the glass down on the table when Hansen called to him, and went--"

"Hold it, Pat," Hansen snapped at him. "This may be --I hope not--but this may be a very grave matter."

"You see," I told the herd. "I advised you to shut up, and Mr. Hansen, who is a lawyer, agrees with me."

"I want to telephone," Heery said.

"The phone's busy. Anyway, I'm just a temporary watchdog. I'll be getting a relief, and you can--"

I broke it off to stretch my neck for a look at the newcomers Fritz was admitting--two city employees in uniform. They came down the hall and headed for me, but I pointed across to the office and they right-angled. From there on it was a parade. A minute later two more in uniform came, and then three in their own clothes, two of whom I knew, and before long one with a little black bag. My herd had more or less settled down, and I had decided I didn't need to catch Doc Volhner on his way out for a look at Younger. Two more arrived, and when I saw one of them was Lieutenant Rowcliff a little flutter ran over my biceps. He affects me that way. He and his pal went to the office, but pretty soon appeared again, heading for the dining room, and I sidestepped to keep from being trampled.

They entered, and the pal closed the door, and Rowcliff faced the herd. "You will remain here under surveillance until otherwise notified. Vernon Assa is dead. I am Lieutenant George Rowcliff, and for the present you are in my custody as material witnesses."