Murder at Bridge | Page 9

had a good hard look at her," Strawn gibed, his grey eyes twinkling, and his harsh, thin-lipped mouth pulling down at one corner in what he thought was a genial smile.
"I did," Dundee retorted. "Well, conceding that she was neither deaf nor half-blind, she would necessarily have heard and seen her assailant before he shot her."
"What's the other explanation?" Strawn was becoming impatient.
"That the person who killed her was so well known to her, and his--or her--presence in this room so natural a thing that she paid no attention to his or her movements and was concentrating on the job of powdering her very pretty face."
"You mean--one of that gang of society folks in there?" and Strawn jerked a thumb toward the left side of the house.
"Very probably," Dundee agreed.
"But where's the gun?" Strawn argued. "I tell you my men--"
"This was a premeditated murder, of course," Dundee interrupted. "The Maxim silencer--unless they are all lying about not hearing a shot--proves that. Silencers are damned hard to get hold of, but people with plenty of money can manage most things. And since the murder was premeditated, it is better to count on the fact that the murderer--or murderess--had planned a pretty safe hiding place for the gun and the silencer.... Oh, not necessarily in the house or even near the house," he hastened to assure Strawn, who was trying to break in.... "By the way, how long after Mrs. Selim was killed was her death discovered? Or do you know?"
"I haven't been able to get much out of that bunch in there--not even out of Penelope Crain, who ought to be willing to help, seeing as how she works for the district attorney. But I guess she's waiting to spill it all to you, if she knows anything, so you and Sanderson will get all the credit."
"Now, look here, chief," Dundee protested, laying a hand on Strawn's shoulder as he reverted to the name by which he had addressed the head of the Homicide Squad for nearly a year, "we're going to be friends, aren't we? Same as always? We know pretty well how to work together, don't we? No use to begin pulling against each other."
"Guess so," Strawn growled, but he was obviously pleased and relieved. "Maybe you'd better have a crack at that crowd yourself. I hear Doc Price's car--always has a bum spark plug. I'll stick around with him until he gets going good on his job; then, if you'll excuse me for butting in, I'll join your party in the living room.... And good luck to you, Bonnie!"
Dundee took the door he knew must lead into the central hall, but found himself in an enclosed section of it--a small foyer between the main hall and Nita Selim's bedroom. There was room for a telephone table and its chair, as well as for a small sofa, large enough for two to sit upon comfortably. He paused to open the door across from the telephone table and found that it opened into a closet, whose hangers and hat forms now held the outdoor clothing belonging to Nita's guests. Nice clothes--the smart but unostentatious hats and coats of moneyed people of good taste, he observed a little enviously, be甀爀渀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 眀栀攀渀 猀栀攀 栀攀愀爀搀 礀漀甀爀 最甀渀洀愀渀 挀氀愀洀戀攀爀椀渀最 甀瀀 琀漀 栀攀爀 眀椀渀搀漀眀Ⰰ 漀爀 攀瘀攀渀 眀栀攀渀 栀攀 栀愀搀 挀爀漀甀挀栀攀搀 椀渀 椀琀⸀ 䤀 搀漀渀✀琀 猀攀攀 栀漀眀 猀栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 栀攀氀瀀 猀攀攀椀渀最 栀椀洀℀∀਀∀圀攀氀氀ⴀⴀ眀栀愀琀 搀漀 礀漀甀 琀栀椀渀欀㼀∀ 匀琀爀愀眀渀 愀猀欀攀搀 猀漀甀爀氀礀Ⰰ 愀昀琀攀爀 栀攀 栀愀搀 琀攀猀琀攀搀 琀栀攀 瘀椀猀椀戀椀氀椀琀礀 漀昀 琀栀攀 眀椀渀搀漀眀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 搀爀攀猀猀椀渀最ⴀ琀愀戀氀攀 洀椀爀爀漀爀⸀਀∀䤀✀洀 愀昀爀愀椀搀Ⰰ 䌀愀瀀琀愀椀渀 匀琀爀愀眀渀Ⰰ 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀爀攀 愀爀攀 漀渀氀礀 琀眀漀 攀砀瀀氀愀渀愀琀椀漀渀猀 瀀漀猀猀椀戀氀攀⸀ 吀栀攀 昀椀爀猀琀Ⰰ 漀昀 挀漀甀爀猀攀Ⰰ 椀猀 琀栀愀琀 一椀琀愀 匀攀氀椀洀 眀愀猀 焀甀椀琀攀 搀攀愀昀 漀爀 瘀攀爀礀 渀攀愀爀猀椀最栀琀攀搀⸀ 䤀 栀愀瀀瀀攀渀 琀漀 欀渀漀眀 昀爀漀洀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 洀攀琀 栀攀爀 琀漀搀愀礀ⴀⴀ∀਀∀夀漀甀 洀攀琀 栀攀爀 琀漀搀愀礀㼀∀ 匀琀爀愀眀渀 椀渀琀攀爀爀甀瀀琀攀搀 椀渀挀爀攀搀甀氀漀甀猀氀礀⸀਀䐀甀渀搀攀攀 攀砀瀀氀愀椀渀攀搀 戀爀椀攀昀氀礀Ⰰ 琀栀攀渀 眀攀渀琀 漀渀㨀 ∀䄀猀 䤀 眀愀猀 猀愀礀椀渀最 䤀 栀愀瘀攀 最漀漀搀 爀攀愀猀漀渀 琀漀 欀渀漀眀 猀栀攀 眀愀猀 渀漀琀 搀攀愀昀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 䤀 挀愀渀✀琀 猀愀礀 愀猀 琀漀 栀攀爀 戀攀椀渀最 渀攀愀爀猀椀最栀琀攀搀Ⰰ 攀砀挀攀瀀琀 琀栀愀琀 椀琀 椀猀 洀礀 漀戀猀攀爀瘀愀琀椀漀渀 琀栀愀琀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 眀栀漀 愀爀攀 攀砀琀爀攀洀攀氀礀 渀攀愀爀猀椀最栀琀攀搀 搀漀 渀漀琀 栀愀瘀攀 瘀攀爀礀 眀椀搀攀 攀礀攀猀 愀渀搀 渀漀 挀爀攀愀猀攀猀 戀攀琀眀攀攀渀 琀栀攀 戀爀漀眀猀⸀ 䤀 愀洀 昀愀椀爀氀礀 猀甀爀攀 猀栀攀 搀椀搀 渀漀琀 眀攀愀爀 最氀愀猀猀攀猀 愀琀 愀氀氀Ⰰ 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 最氀愀猀猀攀猀 眀漀爀渀 攀瘀攀渀 愀 昀攀眀 栀漀甀爀猀 愀 搀愀礀 氀攀愀瘀攀 愀 洀愀爀欀 愀挀爀漀猀猀 琀栀攀 渀漀猀攀 漀爀 猀栀漀眀 瀀椀渀挀栀攀搀 爀攀搀 猀瀀漀琀猀 漀渀 攀愀挀栀 猀椀搀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 戀爀椀搀最攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 渀漀猀攀⸀∀਀∀夀漀甀 洀甀猀琀 栀愀瘀攀 栀愀搀 愀 最漀漀搀 栀愀爀搀 氀漀漀欀 愀琀 栀攀爀Ⰰ∀ 匀琀爀愀眀渀 最椀戀攀搀Ⰰ 栀椀猀 最爀攀礀 攀礀攀猀 琀眀椀渀欀氀椀渀最Ⰰ 愀渀搀 栀椀猀 栀愀爀猀栀Ⰰ 琀栀椀渀ⴀ氀椀瀀瀀攀搀 洀漀甀琀栀 瀀甀氀氀椀渀最 搀漀眀渀 愀琀 漀渀攀 挀漀爀渀攀爀 椀渀 眀栀愀琀 栀攀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 眀愀猀 愀 最攀渀椀愀氀 猀洀椀氀攀⸀਀∀䤀 搀椀搀Ⰰ∀ 䐀甀渀搀攀攀 爀攀琀漀爀琀攀搀⸀ ∀圀攀氀氀Ⰰ 挀漀渀挀攀搀椀渀最 琀栀愀琀 猀栀攀 眀愀猀 渀攀椀琀栀攀爀 搀攀愀昀 渀漀爀 栀愀氀昀ⴀ戀氀椀渀搀Ⰰ 猀栀攀 眀漀甀氀搀 渀攀挀攀猀猀愀爀椀氀礀 栀愀瘀攀 栀攀愀爀搀 愀渀搀 猀攀攀渀 栀攀爀 愀猀猀愀椀氀愀渀琀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 栀攀 猀栀漀琀 栀攀爀⸀∀਀∀圀栀愀琀✀猀 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 攀砀瀀氀愀渀愀琀椀漀渀㼀∀ 匀琀爀愀眀渀 眀愀猀 戀攀挀漀洀椀渀最 椀洀瀀愀琀椀攀渀琀⸀਀∀吀栀愀琀 琀栀攀 瀀攀爀猀漀渀 眀栀漀 欀椀氀氀攀搀 栀攀爀 眀愀猀 猀漀 眀攀氀氀 欀渀漀眀渀 琀漀 栀攀爀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 栀椀猀ⴀⴀ漀爀 栀攀爀ⴀⴀ瀀爀攀猀攀渀挀攀 椀渀 琀栀椀猀 爀漀漀洀 猀漀 渀愀琀甀爀愀氀 愀 琀栀椀渀最 琀栀愀琀 猀栀攀 瀀愀椀搀 渀漀 愀琀琀攀渀琀椀漀渀 琀漀 栀椀猀 漀爀 栀攀爀 洀漀瘀攀洀攀渀琀猀 愀渀搀 眀愀猀 挀漀渀挀攀渀琀爀愀琀椀渀最 漀渀 琀栀攀 樀漀戀 漀昀 瀀漀眀搀攀爀椀渀最 栀攀爀 瘀攀爀礀 瀀爀攀琀琀礀 昀愀挀攀⸀∀਀∀夀漀甀 洀攀愀渀ⴀⴀ漀渀攀 漀昀 琀栀愀琀 最愀渀最 漀昀 猀漀挀椀攀琀礀 昀漀氀欀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀爀攀㼀∀ 愀渀搀 匀琀爀愀眀渀 樀攀爀欀攀搀 愀 琀栀甀洀戀 琀漀眀愀爀搀 琀栀攀 氀攀昀琀 猀椀搀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 栀漀甀猀攀⸀਀∀嘀攀爀礀 瀀爀漀戀愀戀氀礀Ⰰ∀ 䐀甀渀搀攀攀 愀最爀攀攀搀⸀਀∀䈀甀琀 眀栀攀爀攀✀猀 琀栀攀 最甀渀㼀∀ 匀琀爀愀眀渀 愀爀最甀攀搀⸀ ∀䤀 琀攀氀氀 礀漀甀 洀礀 洀攀渀ⴀⴀ∀਀∀吀栀椀猀 眀愀猀 愀 瀀爀攀洀攀搀椀琀愀琀攀搀 洀甀爀搀攀爀Ⰰ 漀昀 挀漀甀爀猀攀Ⰰ∀ 䐀甀渀搀攀攀 椀渀琀攀爀爀甀瀀琀攀搀⸀ ∀吀栀攀 䴀愀砀椀洀 猀椀氀攀渀挀攀爀ⴀⴀ甀渀氀攀猀猀 琀栀攀礀 愀爀攀 愀氀氀 氀礀椀渀最 愀戀漀甀琀 渀漀琀 栀攀愀爀椀渀最 愀 猀栀漀琀ⴀⴀ瀀爀漀瘀攀猀 琀栀愀琀⸀ 匀椀氀攀渀挀攀爀猀 愀爀攀 搀愀洀渀攀搀 栀愀爀搀 琀漀 最攀琀 栀漀氀搀 漀昀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 眀椀琀栀 瀀氀攀渀琀礀 漀昀 洀漀渀攀礀 挀愀渀 洀愀渀愀最攀 洀漀猀琀 琀栀椀渀最猀⸀ 䄀渀搀 猀椀渀挀攀 琀栀攀 洀甀爀搀攀爀 眀愀猀 瀀爀攀洀攀搀椀琀愀琀攀搀Ⰰ 椀琀 椀猀 戀攀琀琀攀爀 琀漀 挀漀甀渀琀 漀渀 琀栀攀 昀愀挀琀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀 洀甀爀搀攀爀攀爀ⴀⴀ漀爀 洀甀爀搀攀爀攀猀猀ⴀⴀ栀愀搀 瀀氀愀渀渀攀搀 愀 瀀爀攀琀琀礀 猀愀昀攀 栀椀搀椀渀最 瀀氀愀挀攀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 最甀渀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 猀椀氀攀渀挀攀爀⸀⸀⸀⸀ 伀栀Ⰰ 渀漀琀 渀攀挀攀猀猀愀爀椀氀礀 椀渀 琀栀攀 栀漀甀猀攀 漀爀 攀瘀攀渀 渀攀愀爀 琀栀攀 栀漀甀猀攀Ⰰ∀ 栀攀 栀愀猀琀攀渀攀搀 琀漀 愀猀猀甀爀攀 匀琀爀愀眀渀Ⰰ 眀栀漀 眀愀猀 琀爀礀椀渀最 琀漀 戀爀攀愀欀 椀渀⸀⸀⸀⸀ ∀䈀礀 琀栀攀 眀愀礀Ⰰ 栀漀眀 氀漀渀最 愀昀琀攀爀 䴀爀猀⸀ 匀攀氀椀洀 眀愀猀 欀椀氀氀攀搀 眀愀猀 栀攀爀 搀攀愀琀栀 搀椀猀挀漀瘀攀爀攀搀㼀 伀爀 搀漀 礀漀甀 欀渀漀眀㼀∀਀∀䤀 栀愀瘀攀渀✀琀 戀攀攀渀 愀戀氀攀 琀漀 最攀琀 洀甀挀栀 漀甀琀 漀昀 琀栀愀琀 戀甀渀挀栀 椀渀 琀栀攀爀攀ⴀⴀ渀漀琀 攀瘀攀渀 漀甀琀 漀昀 倀攀渀攀氀漀瀀攀 䌀爀愀椀渀Ⰰ 眀栀漀 漀甀最栀琀 琀漀 戀攀 眀椀氀氀椀渀最 琀漀 栀攀氀瀀Ⰰ 猀攀攀椀渀最 愀猀 栀漀眀 猀栀攀 眀漀爀欀猀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 搀椀猀琀爀椀挀琀 愀琀琀漀爀渀攀礀⸀ 䈀甀琀 䤀 最甀攀猀猀 猀栀攀✀猀 眀愀椀琀椀渀最 琀漀 猀瀀椀氀氀 椀琀 愀氀氀 琀漀 礀漀甀Ⰰ 椀昀 猀栀攀 欀渀漀眀猀 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀最Ⰰ 猀漀 礀漀甀 愀渀搀 匀愀渀搀攀爀猀漀渀 眀椀氀氀 最攀琀 愀氀氀 琀栀攀 挀爀攀搀椀琀⸀∀਀∀一漀眀Ⰰ 氀漀漀欀 栀攀爀攀Ⰰ 挀栀椀攀昀Ⰰ∀ 䐀甀渀搀攀攀 瀀爀漀琀攀猀琀攀搀Ⰰ 氀愀礀椀渀最 愀 栀愀渀搀 漀渀 匀琀爀愀眀渀✀猀 猀栀漀甀氀搀攀爀 愀猀 栀攀 爀攀瘀攀爀琀攀搀 琀漀 琀栀攀 渀愀洀攀 戀礀 眀栀椀挀栀 栀攀 栀愀搀 愀搀搀爀攀猀猀攀搀 琀栀攀 栀攀愀搀 漀昀 琀栀攀 䠀漀洀椀挀椀搀攀 匀焀甀愀搀 昀漀爀 渀攀愀爀氀礀 愀 礀攀愀爀Ⰰ ∀眀攀✀爀攀 最漀椀渀最 琀漀 戀攀 昀爀椀攀渀搀猀Ⰰ 愀爀攀渀✀琀 眀攀㼀 匀愀洀攀 愀猀 愀氀眀愀礀猀㼀 圀攀 欀渀漀眀 瀀爀攀琀琀礀 眀攀氀氀 栀漀眀 琀漀 眀漀爀欀 琀漀最攀琀栀攀爀Ⰰ 搀漀渀✀琀 眀攀㼀 一漀 甀猀攀 琀漀 戀攀最椀渀 瀀甀氀氀椀渀最 愀最愀椀渀猀琀 攀愀挀栀 漀琀栀攀爀⸀∀਀∀䜀甀攀猀猀 猀漀Ⰰ∀ 匀琀爀愀眀渀 最爀漀眀氀攀搀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 栀攀 眀愀猀 漀戀瘀椀漀甀猀氀礀 瀀氀攀愀猀攀搀 愀渀搀 爀攀氀椀攀瘀攀搀⸀ ∀䴀愀礀戀攀 礀漀甀✀搀 戀攀琀琀攀爀 栀愀瘀攀 愀 挀爀愀挀欀 愀琀 琀栀愀琀 挀爀漀眀搀 礀漀甀爀猀攀氀昀⸀ 䤀 栀攀愀爀 䐀漀挀 倀爀椀挀攀✀猀 挀愀爀ⴀⴀ愀氀眀愀礀猀 栀愀猀 愀 戀甀洀 猀瀀愀爀欀 瀀氀甀最⸀ 䤀✀氀氀 猀琀椀挀欀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 眀椀琀栀 栀椀洀 甀渀琀椀氀 栀攀 最攀琀猀 最漀椀渀最 最漀漀搀 漀渀 栀椀猀 樀漀戀㬀 琀栀攀渀Ⰰ 椀昀 礀漀甀✀氀氀 攀砀挀甀猀攀 洀攀 昀漀爀 戀甀琀琀椀渀最 椀渀Ⰰ 䤀✀氀氀 樀漀椀渀 礀漀甀爀 瀀愀爀琀礀 椀渀 琀栀攀 氀椀瘀椀渀最 爀漀漀洀⸀⸀⸀⸀ 䄀渀搀 最漀漀搀 氀甀挀欀 琀漀 礀漀甀Ⰰ 䈀漀渀渀椀攀℀∀਀䐀甀渀搀攀攀 琀漀漀欀 琀栀攀 搀漀漀爀 栀攀 欀渀攀眀 洀甀猀琀 氀攀愀搀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 挀攀渀琀爀愀氀 栀愀氀氀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 昀漀甀渀搀 栀椀洀猀攀氀昀 椀渀 愀渀 攀渀挀氀漀猀攀搀 猀攀挀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 椀琀ⴀⴀ愀 猀洀愀氀氀 昀漀礀攀爀 戀攀琀眀攀攀渀 琀栀攀 洀愀椀渀 栀愀氀氀 愀渀搀 一椀琀愀 匀攀氀椀洀✀猀 戀攀搀爀漀漀洀⸀ 吀栀攀爀攀 眀愀猀 爀漀漀洀 昀漀爀 愀 琀攀氀攀瀀栀漀渀攀 琀愀戀氀攀 愀渀搀 椀琀猀 挀栀愀椀爀Ⰰ 愀猀 眀攀氀氀 愀猀 昀漀爀 愀 猀洀愀氀氀 猀漀昀愀Ⰰ 氀愀爀最攀 攀渀漀甀最栀 昀漀爀 琀眀漀 琀漀 猀椀琀 甀瀀漀渀 挀漀洀昀漀爀琀愀戀氀礀⸀ 䠀攀 瀀愀甀猀攀搀 琀漀 漀瀀攀渀 琀栀攀 搀漀漀爀 愀挀爀漀猀猀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 琀攀氀攀瀀栀漀渀攀 琀愀戀氀攀 愀渀搀 昀漀甀渀搀 琀栀愀琀 椀琀 漀瀀攀渀攀搀 椀渀琀漀 愀 挀氀漀猀攀琀Ⰰ 眀栀漀猀攀 栀愀渀最攀爀猀 愀渀搀 栀愀琀 昀漀爀洀猀 渀漀眀 栀攀氀搀 琀栀攀 漀甀琀搀漀漀爀 挀氀漀琀栀椀渀最 戀攀氀漀渀最椀渀最 琀漀 一椀琀愀✀猀 最甀攀猀琀猀⸀ 一椀挀攀 挀氀漀琀栀攀猀ⴀⴀ琀栀攀 猀洀愀爀琀 戀甀琀 甀渀漀猀琀攀渀琀愀琀椀漀甀猀 栀愀琀猀 愀渀搀 挀漀愀琀猀 漀昀 洀漀渀攀礀攀搀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 漀昀 最漀漀搀 琀愀猀琀攀Ⰰ 栀攀 漀戀猀攀爀瘀攀搀 愀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 攀渀瘀椀漀甀猀氀礀Ⰰ 戀攀urn around when she heard your gunman clambering up to her window, or even when he had crouched in it. I don't see how she could help seeing him!"
"Well--what do you think?" Strawn asked sourly, after he had tested the visibility of the window from the dressing-table mirror.
"I'm afraid, Captain Strawn, that there are only two explanations possible. The first, of course, is that Nita Selim was quite deaf or very nearsighted. I happen to know from having met her today--"
"You met her today?" Strawn interrupted incredulously.
Dundee explained briefly, then went on: "As I was saying I have good reason to know she was not deaf, but I can't say as to her being nearsighted, except that it is my observation that people who are extremely nearsighted do not have very wide eyes and no creases between the brows. I am fairly sure she did not wear glasses at all, because glasses worn even a few hours a day leave a mark across the nose or show pinched red spots on each side of the bridge of the nose."
"You must have had a good hard look at her," Strawn gibed, his grey eyes twinkling, and his harsh, thin-lipped mouth pulling down at one corner in what he thought was a genial smile.
"I did," Dundee retorted. "Well, conceding that she was neither deaf nor half-blind, she would necessarily have heard and seen her assailant before he shot her."
"What's the other explanation?" Strawn was becoming impatient.
"That the person who killed her was so well known to her, and his--or her--presence in this room so