13. OLD FRIENDS MEET AGAIN
Major Durand was not the only one to whom Flannery’s news came as a shock and a disappointment. On the faces of the four other people in that room dismay was clearly written.
“Gone, and no one saw her go,” Chan repeated. He looked reprovingly at the Captain. “Yet she was under watchful eye of clever mainland police.”
Flannery snorted. “She was, but we’re not supermen. That woman’s as slippery as an eel. There were two of my boys on the job—both keen lads—well, no use crying over spilt milk. I’ll get her. She can’t—”
The door opened and a plain clothes man entered, bringing with him a little old cleaning woman with straggling gray hair.
“Hello, Petersen—what is it?” Flannery asked.
“Listen to this, Chief,” said Petersen. “This woman was working in an office
