Officer Manners sensed the change immediately and made up his mind to get all the pertinent facts and get away from here; you could feel the hostility in the air in the Barrett home. And whatever its source, he wanted no part of it; the Barrett money was a dozen times what it took to get a policeman fired. «Yes, ma'am,» he said with a regulation smile. «You were about to tell us what happened before your call. According to what we have already, you called the switchboard at the Valley Farms substation at eleven past four and reported a break-in progress, is that correct?»

«Correct. Lucy and I both heard the noise. Our bedrooms are on the same hallway and both of us knew it came from the back door in the kitchen. Actually, it's in the laundry room, but it adjoins the kitchen. It's only a few feet from the bedrooms on the back of the house.»

«Then you were both in bed?»

«Yes, for hours. But would you like to see the backdoor for yourselves?»

«Yes, ma'am, I was about to ask you.»

«Actually, I think I'll excuse myself and try to get some more sleep. I'm sure whoever he was, he won't be back around tonight with you gentlemen on duty.» She was all teeth and eyes, but both the policemen felt her fangs plainly enough. «Lucy will show you the door and the grounds, won't you dear? Thank you very much for your prompt, uh, attention. And good-night.» Officers Manners and Jackson rose as the older Barrett woman got up to leave, and mumbled their courtesies as she hurried off without a look back. It was a clear case of dismissal; Kate Barrett was not accustomed to vying for attention. She would rather make her exit a memorable one than play second-fiddle to Lucy's spectacular endowments.

«Well, I guess the queen has retired to her chambers,» Lucy said bitterly when her mother was out of earshot.