Of course, they know about the collection being for sale, and
Rivers's offering to buy it."
"They do?" Dunmore asked sharply. "Did you tell them that?"
"Naturally. I had to account for my presence at Rivers's shop, this
morning," Rand replied. "I don't know if the idea has occurred to them
that somebody might have killed Rivers to eliminate a rival bidder for
the collection or not; I wouldn't say anything, if I were you, that might
give them the idea."
The extension phone rang shrilly. Walters picked it up, spoke into it,
and listened for a moment.
"Yes, Miss Lawrence; he's right here. You wish to speak to him?" He
handed the phone across the desk to Rand. "Miss Karen Lawrence, for you,
Colonel Rand."
Rand took the phone. Before he had time to say "hello," the antique-shop
girl demanded of him:
"Colonel Rand, you must tell me the truth. Did you have anything to do
with Pierre Jarrett's being arrested?"
"_What?_" Rand barked. Then he softened his voice. "No; on my honor, Miss
Lawrence. I knew nothing about it until this moment. Who did it? Olsen?"
"I don't know what his name was. He was a State Police sergeant," she
replied. "He and another State Policeman came to the Jarrett house about
half an hour ago, charged Pierre with the murder of Arnold Rivers, and
took him away.
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