Before Midnight

I had forgotten that her lips moving at right angles to their slant, and her jaw moving straight up and down, made an anomalous situation, and I had to jerk my attention to her words. "You must admit one thing, Miss Frazee," I said earnestly. "I didn't try to spoil your press conference, did I? I kept out of it, and when they came at me what did I do? I refused to tell them a single thing, because I thought it wouldn't be fair to you. It was your conference and I had no right to horn in."

She didn't thaw any. "What do you want?"

"Nothing now, I guess. I was going to explain why I thought you might want to come to the meeting this evening at Mr. Wolfe's office, but now I suppose you wouldn't be interested."

"Why not?"

"Because you've already got your lick in. Not only that, you've spilled the beans. Outsiders weren't supposed to know about the meeting, especially not the press, but now those reporters will be after everybody, and they're sure to find out, and they'll be camping on Mr. Wolfe's stoop. I wouldn't be surprised if they even got invited in. The others will know they've heard your side of the story, and naturally they'll want to get theirs in too. So if you were there it might get into a wrangle in front of the reporters, and you wouldn't want that. Anyhow, as I say, you've already got your lick in."

With her unique facial design nothing could be certain, but I was pretty sure I had her, so I finished, "So I guess you wouldn't be interested and I've made the trip for nothing. Sorry to bother you. If you care at all to know what happens at the meeting, see the morning papers, especially the Times." I was turning to go.

Her voice halted me. "Young man."

I faced her.

"What time is this meeting?"

"Nine o'clock."

"I'll be there."

"Sure, Miss Frazee, if you want to, but under the circumstances I doubt--"

"I'll be there."

I grinned at her. "I promised my grandmother I'd never argue with a lady. See you later then."

Leaving, I took the door along, pulling it shut gently until the lock clicked.