Over My Dead Body

"You suspect her of lying yourself!"

"Not specifically. Anyone would tell a lie, at least by acquiescence, rather than stand trial for murder. By the way, about this Mr Faber. You are entirely wrong in your suspicion that he wasn't a stranger to me. I never saw him or heard of him in my life before to-day. Is he by any chance another confidential government agent?"

Cramer eyed him. "How did you know that if he was such a stranger to you?"

"I didn't. Mere conjecture. If I had known it I wouldn't have asked. Not British, is he?"

"No."

"Of course not. He might as well display an emblem on an armband. Archie and I don't like him. It's a pity my client's alibi depends on him; I would prefer to establish her i

"I don't suppose. It was a human being murdering a man."

"Yes, it was that, all right." Wolfe glanced up at the clock. "It's well past midnight, and I want to have a little talk with Miss Tormic. Is there anything else you want to ask her?"

"She's an alien. I ought to have her under bond."

"She won't skip, at least not to-night, and we can arrange for the bond to-morrow if you insist on it."

Cramer grunted. "She's important. She had the murder weapon in her possession. I'd like to have her come to my office to-morrow morning at nine o'clock and see Lieutenant Rowcliff."

Wolfe frowned. "Mr Rowcliff is the officer who came here once with a warrant and searched my house."

"Yeah. You don't forget that, do you?"

"No, Neither do you- Come in. Yes, Fritz?" On account of the barricade of chairs, Fritz had to talk over the top of Neya Tormic's head. He was stiffly formal, as was his invariable custom when there were ladies present, not from any sense of propriety but from fear. Whenever any female, no matter what her age or appearance, got inside the house, he was apprehensive and ill at ease until she got out again.

"A gentleman to see you, sir. Mr Stahl. He was here this afternoon."

Wolfe said to show him in.

Chapter Eight

The G-man was wearing the same suit and the same ma

The G-man apologized in his educated voice. "I didn't know you were engaged, Mr Wolfe. I don't want to interrupt-"

"I'll be engaged for some time. Do you need to see me alone?"

That seemed to stump him. He frowned and took a quick survey of the crowd. "Perhaps not," he decided. "It's only. about that statute requiring the registration of agents of foreign principals."

"What about it?"

"Well-it is necessary to make sure that you understand the requirements."

"I think I do understand them."

"Perhaps. Section 5 of the Act says, 'Any person who wilfully fails to file any statement required to be filed under this Act, or, in complying with the provisions of this Act, makes a false statement of a material fact, or wilfully omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein, shall, on conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than two years, or both.'"

"Yes, I understand that."

"Perhaps. Another section of the Act defines an agent of a foreign principal to mean any individual, partnership, association or corporation who acts or engages as agent or representative for a foreign principal, and a foreign principal is defined to mean the government of a foreign country, a person domiciled abroad, or any foreign business, partnership, association, corporation, or political organization."

"Say it again."

He repeated it.

Wolfe shook his head. "I don't know I don't think I need to register under the Act I am agent for a young woman named Neya Tormic. She is foreign. But she is not a business, partnership, association, corporation, or political organization, nor is she at present domiciled abroad."

"Where is she?"

"Right there."

The G-man looked at Neya; in fact, he studied her. Then he switched to Wolfe and studied him. Finally he slowly shook his head. "I don't know either," he declared. "It's a situation I haven't met I'll have to get an opinion from the Attorney-General I'll let you know "

He bowed with perfect aplomb, turned, and departed.

I tittered.

Cramer threw up both hands, pawed the air, and headed for the door. Half-way across he turned to a

She said she would, and he went out with the sergeant at his heels.

Wolfe poured beer and drank I covered a yawn.

Neya Tormic asked, with her forehead wrinkled, "Was it silly of me to admit it like that? I thought-it seemed to be the only thing I could do."

Wolfe wiped his lips, leaned back, and looked at her. "Anyhow, it was one thing to do, and you did it. Was it the truth?"

"Yes."

"Is Faber's story, which you have confirmed, and which gives you both an alibi, also true?"

"Yes."

"You realize, I suppose, that without that alibi you would probably now be under arrest, charged with murder?"

"Yes."

"Did you know that Ludlow was an agent of the British Government?"

"Yes."

"And that Faber is an agent of the German Government?"

"Yes."

"Are you a government agent, or is Miss Lovchen?"

"No."

"Do you know who killed Ludlow?"

"No."

"Have you any idea?"

"No."

His eyes darted aside. "Did you kill Ludlow, Miss Lovchen?"

"No, sir."

"Have you any idea who did?"

"No, sir."

Wolfe sighed. "Now. Take those others. Mr and Mrs Miltan, Driscoll, Gill, Barrett, Miss Reade, Madame Zorka. Do you know whether they were involved with Ludlow, either politically or personally?"

Neya's eyes shifted to Carla and then returned to Wolfe. She opened her mouth, closed it, and then spoke. "I don't know how much involved. They all knew each other. We haven't been there very long ourselves."

"Did you first meet Ludlow and Faber at Miltan's?"

"Yes."

"How did you learn they were government agents?"

"Why. they told me."

"Indeed. Just told you to make conversation?"

"They. well, they told me." She smiled at him. "Under certain conditions-I mean, a man is apt to tell a girl things if the conditions are such that he feels like it."

"Were you intimate with Mr Ludlow? Are you intimate with Mr Faber?"

"Oh, no." Her nose seemed to go up. "Not intimate."

"Yet they told you-never mind. You say you are not a government agent. Are you a political agent? Did you come to this country on a political mission?"

"No."

"Did you, Miss Lovchen?"

"No, sir."

"You're both lying."

They stared at him. Neya's chin went up. Carla's eyes narrowed, which left them still wide enough for ordinary purposes.

Wolfe snapped, "As an intriguante, Miss Lovchen, you are incredibly maladroit. Twice since you entered this room you have glanced at the place on the bookshelves where my copy of United Yugoslavia stands. I know you put that paper there. I've removed it and put it somewhere else."

Neya merely continued to stare, but Carla jumped up, with her face white, and started to sputter at him, "But I-I only meant-"

"I know." He showed her a palm. "You only meant to leave it there a while for safe keeping. It's even safer where I put it. The reason I mention it-"