No Business of Mine

“If you did have a sense of humour you’d be a truly great man. Take me for example,” I said, as we walked along the corridor to my room. “Where should I be if I couldn’t crack a gag now and then? I’ll tell you. I’d be in the depths of despair. And why? Because I’d think you were going to arrest me.”

He shot me a sharp look. “What makes you say that?” he demanded, pausing outside my door while I unlocked it.

“You have the appearance of a well-meaning flatfoot about to make an arrest,” I returned. “Only you’re going to be disappointed.”

“We’ll see about that,” he said, entered the room, took off his hat, faced me.

I noted the livid bruise on his temple where I had hit him with the table leg, hoped he hadn’t any proof to connect me with the assault.

“Hello, hello,” I said, eyeing him. “My turn to gloat now. How did you get that bruise? Trying to beat your head against a brick wall, I suppose.”

“We’ll cut out this fooling if you please,” Corridan said. I had never seen him so serious before. “Where were you last night?”

Here it comes, I thought, and wandered over to where I kept a bottle of whisky.

“That is no business of yours,” I returned gently. “Have a drink?” I unscrewed the cap, poured whisky into a glass.

He shook his head. “It is my business, and you’d better realize that this is a very serious matter for you.”

I sipped the whisky, eyed him.

“Now I wonder what’s got into your head, Corridan?” I asked. “In other words, what the hell’s biting you?”

“Ever heard of Henry Littlejohns?”

I nodded. “Sure. He’s a private dick. Why?”

“You employed him, didn’t you?”

“Well, yes. I still employ him for that matter. What’s it to do with you?”

“Quite a lot. He was murdered last night.”

I gave what I hoped was a surprised start, put down my whisky, said, “Murdered? Good God! Littlejohns murdered?”

It wasn’t particularly convincing, and I could see it didn’t convince Corridan.

“I warned you, Harmas, the next time you were connected with a murder it was going to be unpleasant for you. Well, you know what to expect, don’t you?”

“Now don’t let’s forsake our sense of humour,” I said. “You can’t scare me, Corridan, or can you? I’ve nothing to do with Littlejohns’ death, and you know it.”

“I think you have,” he said, watching me closely.

I stared at him, and experienced a little difficulty in meeting his penetrating eyes.

“Now wait a minute. You aren’t serious about this?” I asked, managed a laugh. It sounded pretty ghastly even to me, so I cut it out. “You’re kidding, aren’t you?”

“I’m not,” Corridan replied. “I’d advise you to be serious about this, too.”

“All right, let’s be serious. Suppose you explain what you’re talking about?”

“When did you last see Netta Scott?” he shot at me.

I wasn’t quite prepared for that one, and hesitated. He was quick to spot that, and I saw his face tighten.

“I guess it must have been two years ago,” I said slowly.

“You didn’t see her last night?”

“Last night?” I repeated. “You crazy or something? She’s been dead a week. Or do you mean you’ve found her body?” He wandered to the armchair, sat down.

“Look, Harmas, this won’t do,” he said quietly. “We both know that Netta’s alive.”

I looked down at my hands, saw they weren’t too steady, shoved them in my trouser pockets.

“I haven’t seen Netta for two years,” I said steadily.

He studied me, nodded. “Where were you last night?”

“That’s something I can’t very well tell you,” I said, looking away. “It involves a question of honour.”

Corridan controlled his temper with an effort. “Look, Harmas, if you don’t tell me where you were last night, I’ll have no alternative but to take you to the station. I don’t want to be official about this, but if you’re going to act the fool and lie to me I damn well will be!”

“You’re not seriously suggesting that I killed Littlejohns, are you?” I asked, staring at him.

“If you want me to caution you, and make this official, I will,” Corridan said. “At the moment I’m treating you like a friend. If you can convince me that you couldn’t possibly have been on the scene of the crime, then-I shall be satisfied. If you can’t convince me, I’m going to arrest you.”

I sat down, pretended to be shocked.

“Well, if it’s like that,” I said, “I suppose I’ll have to tell you. I was with Crystal Godwin.”

His face hardened. “Oh, were you? What time did you meet her and what time did you leave her?”

I considered the question, said, “I picked her up outside the Blue Club at — now, what time was it? — at ten-ten. I remember looking at my watch when she turned up. We’d arranged to meet at ten, and I was impatient because she was late. Then we went on to her flat.”

“What time did you leave?” Corridan snapped.

“Now this puts me in a difficult position. Strictly between you and me, I left this morning.”

He studied me for an uncomfortable moment. “A very obvious alibi, Harmas. That girl would tell any lie to save your skin.”