herself cravenly. There's no time now, I mustn't be late. Mrs. Ferris probably goes to bed at sunset.
However, before she could leave the house the telephone rang. Karen had been thinking about the letters from the lawyer; it came as something of a shock to hear the speaker identify himself as a member of the same profession.
"I don't suppose you remember me, miss-I beg your pardon, it's Mrs., isn't it? I'm afraid I can't recall your married name."
"Nevitt. But it won't be my name long."
"I beg your pardon?"
"That's why you called, isn't it? About my divorce? I do remember you, Mr. Bates, and I had planned to call you, but I must say I'm surprised Ruth would take it upon herself to talk to you without consulting me first."
"You refer, I presume, to the younger Mrs. MacDougal?"
"You are her lawyer, aren't you?"
"Our firm represents Mr. and Mrs. Patrick MacDougal, yes. We also represent Mrs. MacDougal senior." He waited just long enough for Karen to realize that she had jumped to conclusions. Then he went on in tones of freezing politeness, "I assure you that no one has approached me on the matter of your domestic difficulties. I called about another matter entirely."
"I'm sorry," Karen muttered. "I'm a little upset, Mr. Bates, or I wouldn't have said that. Please excuse me."
"Certainly." The lawyer's voice thawed slightly. "I understand. Ordinarily we don't handle divorce cases, but if you would like me to recommend someone…"
"I would appreciate that. Perhaps I might call you one day next week. I do hope nothing has happened to Mrs. MacDougal?"
"So far as I know, she is winging her way westward," the lawyer replied poetically. "It is not Mrs. MacDougal but her automobile that is the object of my concern."
"The Rolls? What's happened to it?"
That, Mr. Bates explained, was the problem. The car had not been delivered to the garage at the appointed time. The owner of the garage had not become concerned for several hours. He had been busy, and like everyone else in Washington, he considered traffic delays part of the normal scheme of things. Mr. Bates had not been notified until midafternoon, and it had taken several more hours to convince the alarmed lawyer that the car had indeed been stolen.
"But that's impossible," Karen exclaimed. "The Rolls is unique. How could anyone make off with it?"
"How
it was done is still unknown.
That
it was done is, unfortunately, beyond any shadow of doubt. The chauffeur's quarters have been cleared out and the man himself has vanished. A Virginia state trooper saw the car heading south on Route 95 shortly after one p.m. The Virginia police are presently making inquiries along all the local routes leading off 95 between Occoquan and Fredericksburg, but they hold little hope of success. It is likely that the automobile was driven into a large closed van, which may now be well on its way to… anywhere."
"Oh, dear."
"You may well say so," remarked Mr. Bates morosely.
"Joseph-poor Joseph! How is he taking it?"
"Very badly indeed. He blames himself. Quite unnecessarily; it is no one's fault. All precautions were taken."
"Yes, I'm sure they were. Is there anything I can do? Look at mug shots, or-"
"No, no, certainly not. The young man had no local criminal record. I hired him myself; you can hardly suppose I would neglect to check that."
"I'm sure you did everything you could."
"I hope Mrs. MacDougal shares your sentiments," said Mr. Bates. "I telephoned you only to inquire whether you have in your possession any of Mrs. MacDougal's property."
"Well, really, Mr. Bates!"
"Pray don't misunderstand. I expressed myself badly; I am, I confess, somewhat distraught." Karen could almost see the lawyer mopping his brow. She didn't blame him; Mrs. MacDougal might not hold him responsible, but she could certainly be annoyed, and she was not in the habit of mincing words.
The lawyer went on, "It is necessary to assume that this was not, in police parlance, a one-man job. Whether the
However, before she could leave the house the telephone rang. Karen had been thinking about the letters from the lawyer; it came as something of a shock to hear the speaker identify himself as a member of the same profession.
"I don't suppose you remember me, miss-I beg your pardon, it's Mrs., isn't it? I'm afraid I can't recall your married name."
"Nevitt. But it won't be my name long."
"I beg your pardon?"
"That's why you called, isn't it? About my divorce? I do remember you, Mr. Bates, and I had planned to call you, but I must say I'm surprised Ruth would take it upon herself to talk to you without consulting me first."
"You refer, I presume, to the younger Mrs. MacDougal?"
"You are her lawyer, aren't you?"
"Our firm represents Mr. and Mrs. Patrick MacDougal, yes. We also represent Mrs. MacDougal senior." He waited just long enough for Karen to realize that she had jumped to conclusions. Then he went on in tones of freezing politeness, "I assure you that no one has approached me on the matter of your domestic difficulties. I called about another matter entirely."
"I'm sorry," Karen muttered. "I'm a little upset, Mr. Bates, or I wouldn't have said that. Please excuse me."
"Certainly." The lawyer's voice thawed slightly. "I understand. Ordinarily we don't handle divorce cases, but if you would like me to recommend someone…"
"I would appreciate that. Perhaps I might call you one day next week. I do hope nothing has happened to Mrs. MacDougal?"
"So far as I know, she is winging her way westward," the lawyer replied poetically. "It is not Mrs. MacDougal but her automobile that is the object of my concern."
"The Rolls? What's happened to it?"
That, Mr. Bates explained, was the problem. The car had not been delivered to the garage at the appointed time. The owner of the garage had not become concerned for several hours. He had been busy, and like everyone else in Washington, he considered traffic delays part of the normal scheme of things. Mr. Bates had not been notified until midafternoon, and it had taken several more hours to convince the alarmed lawyer that the car had indeed been stolen.
"But that's impossible," Karen exclaimed. "The Rolls is unique. How could anyone make off with it?"
"How
it was done is still unknown.
That
it was done is, unfortunately, beyond any shadow of doubt. The chauffeur's quarters have been cleared out and the man himself has vanished. A Virginia state trooper saw the car heading south on Route 95 shortly after one p.m. The Virginia police are presently making inquiries along all the local routes leading off 95 between Occoquan and Fredericksburg, but they hold little hope of success. It is likely that the automobile was driven into a large closed van, which may now be well on its way to… anywhere."
"Oh, dear."
"You may well say so," remarked Mr. Bates morosely.
"Joseph-poor Joseph! How is he taking it?"
"Very badly indeed. He blames himself. Quite unnecessarily; it is no one's fault. All precautions were taken."
"Yes, I'm sure they were. Is there anything I can do? Look at mug shots, or-"
"No, no, certainly not. The young man had no local criminal record. I hired him myself; you can hardly suppose I would neglect to check that."
"I'm sure you did everything you could."
"I hope Mrs. MacDougal shares your sentiments," said Mr. Bates. "I telephoned you only to inquire whether you have in your possession any of Mrs. MacDougal's property."
"Well, really, Mr. Bates!"
"Pray don't misunderstand. I expressed myself badly; I am, I confess, somewhat distraught." Karen could almost see the lawyer mopping his brow. She didn't blame him; Mrs. MacDougal might not hold him responsible, but she could certainly be annoyed, and she was not in the habit of mincing words.
The lawyer went on, "It is necessary to assume that this was not, in police parlance, a one-man job. Whether the
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