"And who is Betty?"
"Betty Southard, his personal assistant; she works in his office at the studio."
"What were you doing immediately before you spoke to Geraldo?" the doctor asked.
"I was cutting flowers in the garden," she said.
"And what did you do after you finished cutting the flowers and speaking to Geraldo?"
Her shoulders sagged. "I don't remember. I suppose I must have gone back into the house, but I can't remember doing it."
"What jewelry had you planned to wear Saturday night?" Stone asked.
"Diamonds," she replied. "It was black tie."
"Who was the host?"
"What?"
"The host of the dinner party?"
"What dinner party?"
"The one on Saturday night."
She looked lost. "I don't remember."
"Did you take your jewelry out of the safe?"
"I don't know."
"What is the last thing you remember Vance saying to you?" Judson asked.
"He said I should wear the diamonds. He was taking his jewelry box out of the safe; I remember that."
"What else was in the safe?"
"I remember who was having the dinner party," she said. "It was Lou Regenstein."
"Did you enjoy the party?" Judson asked.
"I don't remember the party," she said.
"Arrington," Stone said, "does Vance own a gun?"
"I think so," she replied. "At least, he said he did. I've never seen a gun in the house."
"Do you know how to fire a gun?" Stone asked.
"My father taught me to fire a rifle, a twenty-two, when I was sixteen."
"Did he teach you to fire a pistol, too?"
She shook her head. "I don't think I've ever even held a pistol."
"Well," Dr. Judson said, "I think we've covered about enough for now."
"Is Peter all right?" Arrington asked.