CHAPTER XIIIShe almost ran into Losee, who was standing facing the door of the office, stiff and immobile.
“Do you happen to know where Mr. Fernandez is?” he asked.
“He was here a moment ago—”
“Quite!” he said. “But I’d like very much to know where he is at the present moment.”
His tone was ominous, and, very unreasonably, she resented that. She felt an impulse to make light of Mr. Fernandez’s absence.
“He can’t have gone very far,” she observed.
“Possibly not,” said Losee. “The point is, however, that I’d like to see him.”
Miss Peterson was silent for a moment.
“Has Mrs. Fish come back, Superintendent?” she asked.
“She has not,” he said.
“Then,” said Miss Peterson, “I have something to tell you.”
It was going to be like an avalanche; the first word she spoke would start it. She
