Prisoner's Base

"While I was coming up in the elevator. I went to get them from my bag, and they weren't there."

"Why not downstairs on the sidewalk?"

"I didn't look for them there. The night man was there with the door open."

"And Parker didn't go up with you."

"No."

"Okay. Don't ring off. Keep that phone at your ear and mouth."

"Why-what-"

"Nothing. A million to one it's nothing-you lost some keys, that's all. But after what happened Monday night I'm nervous about keys, and you might as well humor me. After the night man let you into the apartment, how long were you there before you phoned me?"

"I called you right away. I wanted to get you before you were asleep. What do you mean, you're nervous about keys? You don't-"

"I mean I like you to some extent in spite of the bum coffee Olga makes, and I'm coming up there right away just to make sure. Where's the phone you're talking from?"

"In the living room."

"That's at the other end from the foyer?"

"Yes. Did you say you're coming up here?"

"Right. Will you take instructions from me?"

"I will if-yes. Of course." Her voice was not steady.

"Then listen. This is almost certainly a false alarm, but listen anyway. Don't ring off. When I say, 'Go ahead,' you say this to me, quote, 'I don't think so, but if you'll hold the line I'll go to the foyer and see if it's there.' Unquote. Do you want me to repeat that?"

"No, you don't need to."

"Sure you've got it all right?"

"Yes."

"Good. As soon as you say that, put the phone down-just put it down, don't ring off-and walk to the foyer, go straight to the outside door, open it and pass through and pull it shut with a bang. Go to the elevator and push the button, and keep your finger pushing the button until the elevator comes. Go downstairs with the elevator man and wait there till I come. Did you get all that?"

"Yes."

"Will you do it just that way?"

"Yes, I-I will."

"That's the girl. Don't forget to bang the door, because I'm going to keep the phone to my ear until I hear the door bang, and then I'll start. After I get there you can have a good laugh at me for being so nervous, and then we'll decide what to do next. For one thing, I'm a better dancer than Nat Parker, and it's only two o'clock. Are you listening?"

"Yes."