THE NEW, bright blue convertible was standing there in the drive. The door was open but the screen hooked. He raised his hand to press the bell when he heard the phone ringing, and stopped when he heard the maid’s voice that did not sound like a maid’s voice.
“Baltimore calling Mr. Charles Sudley. Is Mr. Charles Sudley there? Baltimore calling.”
He heard her then in an apparent aside, “Who’s calling, please?” Then she said, “Lorton’s Used Car Sales calling Mr. Charles Sudley.”
Spig understood then. It was a country line shared by the Ashtons and the Sudleys. To get the other party on the line you had to dial a code number and hang up for the ring. The O’Learys did that when they called Miss Fairlie.
The maid, still in the character of a long distance operator, said, “Mr. Charles Sudley
