Later that afternoon, Trask went out again and Lockwood seized his chance.
Calling Anita at the Adams house, he said, “Listen, dear, you needn’t say anything but yes or no, and then no one will understand.”
“I’ve just about come to the conclusion I’ll get a clever detective and put him on the case. I mean a real detective—in fact, Fleming Stone.”
“Oh, no!” Anita’s voice was one of utter dismay.
“So I did. Well, here, I’ll ask questions. Don’t you want me to do this?”
“Because you fear ill effects to yourself?”
“You are sure you’re not overestimating the danger of that?”
“Then there’s no more to be said. Good-by.”
Lockwood hung up the receiver, and turned around to see Trask frowning at him.
“So that’s the way you and Miss Austin whip the devil around the stump!”
“That’s the way,” returned Lockwood, coolly.
“She promised not to see you alone—is this how she keeps the letter of her promise and breaks it in spirit?”
“Leave her out of this. I called her up, she did not call me.”
“All the same. Now, I gather from the interesting talk I overheard that Miss Austin does not wish to have Fleming Stone take up this case.”
“You are at liberty to gather anything you choose.”
“See here, Lockwood, you make a mistake when you try to antagonize me. I’d be a better friend to you than an enemy.”
“I’ve no reason to want you for either.” Lockwood was by no means impertinent, he merely spoke indifferently. Trask noted this, and went on, more suavely:
“Now, my dear Lockwood, what I propose to do now, is to employ Fleming Stone myself.”
Lockwood was astounded. At first he was glad, for he felt sure Stone could solve the whole mystery. But, then, suppose it incriminated Anita, and though Lockwood was sure of her innocence, he was just enough so to realize that his surety was largely because of his affection for her. Suppose Stone should prove her to be the criminal!
He looked up to find Trask smiling broadly.
“You’ve the reputation of being of an impassive countenance, Lockwood, but to me your face is as an open book! However, it’s only because you are up against a difficult problem. You want Stone to come, yet you’re afraid he’ll find out that Miss Austin is pretty deep in this murder mystery. But I’ve made up my mind, and I think you’ll see that any attempt on your part to change my decision would look bad for Miss Austin.”