The Alibi
“Only on the TV, same story, same picture as this one.”
“Never here in the hotel?”
“No, sir.”
“You’re sure?”
“You know me and faces, Mr. Smilow. I rarely forget one.”
The detective nodded absently as he replaced the photos in his breast pocket. “Did Dr. Ladd look angry or upset when you saw her?”
“Not in particular, but I didn’t study on her that long. I noticed her when she came in ’cause she’s got right nice hair, you know. Old as I am, I still like looking at pretty girls.”
“You see a lot of them coming through here.”
“Lots o’ ugly ones, too,” he said, chuckling. “Anyhow, this one was by herself and minding her own business. She went straight on through the lobby to the elevators. Then in a little while she came back down. Went into the bar over yonder. Little later, I saw her crossing back to the elevators.”
“Wait.” Smilow leaned down closer to the man buffing his shoes. “Are you saying she went upstairs twice?”
“I reckon.”
“How long did she stay the first time?”
“Five minutes, maybe.”
“And the second time?”
“I wouldn’t know. I didn’t see her when she came back down.”
He gave Smilow’s shoes one last whisk. Smilow stepped down and spread his arms to let Smitty go over his coat with a lint brush. “Smitty, have you mentioned to anyone that I got a shoeshine that day?”
“It’s never come up, Mr. Smilow.”
“I’d rather you keep that between us, okay?” As he turned, he slipped Smitty a sizable tip.
“Sure enough, Mr. Smilow. Sure enough. Sorry about the other.”
“What other?”
“The lady. I’m sorry I didn’t see her come back down.”
“You were busy, I’m sure.”
The shoeshiner smiled. “Yes, sir. It was like Grand Central Station through here last Saturday. People coming and going at all times.” He scratched his head. “Funny, isn’t it? All of you being here that same day.”
“All of us?”
“You, that doctor lady, and the lawyer.”
Smilow’s mind acted like a steel trap that had just been tripped. “Lawyer?”
“From the D.A.’s office. The one on the TV.”
Chapter 31
Hammond waited in the corridor until he saw Harvey Knuckle leave his office at precisely five o’clock. The computer whiz conscientiously locked the door behind him, and when he turned around, Hammond was crowding him. “Hey, Harvey.”
“Mr. Cross!” he exclaimed, backing up against the office door. “What are you doing here?”