The Paw in the Bottle

‘Perhaps you don’t think so? Maybe you’ve got something up your sleeve that’ll save him?’

‘I haven’t.’

‘Sure? Anyone withholding evidence in a murder case can get into a whale of a lot of trouble. You still think Harry didn’t do it?’

‘Did you want me, Inspector?’ Wesley asked from the doorway.

Dawson sighed, turned.

Wesley, his eyes hidden by the dark glasses, was standing looking towards Dawson. There was a stillness about him that betrayed his tension.

‘I did.’ Dawson moved slowly across the room. ‘I was just having a word with Miss Holland. But now you’re here—’

‘Come into the sitting-room. You’ll find it more comfortable. And Julie, you’d better change. When the Inspector has gone we have an appointment, if you remember.’

As soon as Dawson and Wesley had gone into the sitting-room Julie fled to her bedroom, thankful Wesley had given her the excuse not to see Dawson again.

Alone, she began to work herself into a panic. Would she get into trouble for not telling the police about Wesley? Was Dawson bluffing? There was such a thing as being accessory to murder, although she had only the vaguest idea what it meant. Could they send you to prison? Should she tell Dawson the truth? If she did perhaps he wouldn’t take any action against her. But he might. He didn’t like her. He might be glad of the chance to get her into trouble.

She thought of Harry. It was cruel and beastly of Dawson to have told him she was living with Wesley. And it wasn’t true. Not in the way Harry would think they were living together. But why was she getting into such a state about Harry? She didn’t love him, or did she? Thinking about him she knew she would rather have Harry with her than Wesley. What fun they would have had! She was always thinking about Harry now. Because she couldn’t have him, she wanted him, and it wasn’t long before she believed she was once again in love with him. She began to make plans. There was no reason why Harry and she shouldn’t get together when Wesley had given himself up and the money was hers. With the money Wesley had promised to settle on her, she and Harry could go to America. She supposed they would send Harry to prison for breaking into Blanche’s flat, but it couldn’t be for long and she would wait for him. Suddenly all the old feeling for him was back. She realized now she had always loved him, and he loved her. He had said so. Hadn’t he pleaded with her to join up with him again? And, like a fool, she had turned him down for Wesley.

Dawson’s deep voice in the passage outside interrupted her thoughts. She heard him walk to the front door. A moment or so later Wesley came into her room. He stood just inside the door looking pale and tired.

‘He’s gone, but it was a near thing, Julie; a very near thing.’

She started to her feet.

‘Why? What did he want?’

‘Asking questions. I wasn’t quite as clever as I thought. But he’s satisfied now.’

‘What questions?’

‘Checking my statement. I avoided the obvious trap, but if he hadn’t been so sure I was blind I might have been in a mess.’ He ran his fingers through his hair. Julie hadn’t ever seen him look so anxious. ‘I don’t feel like doing any more work to-night. This has unsettled me. Let’s go somewhere and enjoy ourselves.’

But Julie was worrying about herself.

‘Dawson said I could get into trouble if I held hack any evidence. I want to know what he means. I’m not going to get into trouble for anyone.’

‘You do worry about yourself, don’t you? They can’t do anything to you unless you talk. There’s nothing to be alarmed about.’

‘It’s all very well for you, but suppose they find out?’

‘How can they unless you tell them? For goodness’ sake stop worrying about yourself. I have enough worries of my own without having to listen to your selfish little problems. Now get changed and we’ll go out.’

Julie flared up.

‘You don’t think of me for a moment! I’m sick of being treated like a servant. You’re always sneering and jeering at me.’

‘You have only yourself to blame,’ he said quietly. ‘You don’t have to stay here.’

‘And give up everything? I’m not that much of a fool!’

‘I’m afraid you’re ruled by greed, Julie. As soon as you have one thing, you want something else. You are never satisfied, and I’m afraid you never will be.’

‘Are you calling me greedy?’ she said furiously. ‘How dare you! I’m not! I never have been, so there!’

Wesley laughed.

‘You’re quite hopeless, Julie. Don’t be angry. Get changed and let’s go out.’

‘I won’t go out with you! I hate you! Get out and leave me alone! I hate you! I hate you!’

She threw herself on her bed and began to cry.