going to be at the diner, and Bradley Porter asks Lucy to meet him there on the same day? Thatâs too much of a coincidence.â
âMaybe.â Anthony leaned back. âIâm not convinced.â
Zack stared at the ceiling while he thought. âSo what have we got? Weâve got John Bradley somewhere in the city with a million and a half in embezzled government bonds. Weâve got Bradley Porter somewhere in the city with an unidentified blonde. Weâve got an unidentified female caller who tips us that John Bradley will be at the diner. Weâve got Bradley Porterâs letter to Lucy telling her to meet him at the diner, or we will have as soon as she remembers what she did with it. And weâve got somebody shooting at Lucy.â
âOr you,â Anthony put in. âDonât underestimate your unpopularity.â
âOr me,â Zack amended. âHell of a coincidence, though, to get shot at when Lucyâs right beside me. So what have we got?â
âWe have nothing.â
âThe two Bradleys have got to be in it together,â Zack said.
âI suppose itâs remotely possible,â Anthony said. âIf Bradley Porter is keeping a blonde on the side, he could probably use a couple of government bonds. But itâs hard to believe that John Bradley would steal the bonds in California and then come clear out here to share with Bradley Porter out of the goodness of his heart.â
âBlackmail?â
âLetâs not make this any more complicated than it already is. Hereâs a good question. Why would somebody try to shoot Lucy?â
âBradleyâs mad at her about the divorce,â Zack said.
âSo he shoots at her on the street? I donât think so.â
âHereâs a better one. Why is somebody trying to break into Lucyâs house?â
Anthony jerked his head up, suddenly interested. âSomebodyâs trying to break into her house?â
âThere are scratches on her locks, and the next-door neighbor saw somebody sneaking around the house. Granted, the next-door neighbor is not totally wired, but even so, if she says she saw somebody, I bet she did.â
âYou interviewed the next-door neighbor?â
âNo.â Zack looked pained. âShe wonât talk to me. She thinks Iâm a punk. I had the patrolman ask her.â
âA punk. Thatâs not so bad.â Anthony grinned at him. âAt least punks are young.â
âThank you.â
âSo you think somebodyâs trying to break in to get Lucy?â Anthony shook his head. âThat doesnât make sense. There are a hundred easier ways to grab somebody than breaking into a house. Hell, you grabbed her on the street today.â Anthony looked at Zackâs lip. âWell, it might not be that easy. She does seem to have a fairly healthy sense of self-preservation.â
Zack gave him a dirty look. âI was trying not to hurt her. If Iâd wanted her, Iâd have had her. Hell, anybody could have grabbed her.â
âSo theyâre breaking in for something else.â Anthony leaned back in his chair. âLike to get a million and a half in government bonds that John Bradley gave to Bradley Porter who put them in the silverware drawer and then forgot to take with him when Lucy kicked him out? I donât think so.â
âWait a minute.â Zack swung his chair around and planted his feet back on the floor. âHe couldnât get in. Tina put locks on. She wouldnât let him in.â
âSo he just went meekly away and left a million and a half there? No,â Anthony said. âI bow to no one in my respect for Tina Savageâs temper, but Iâd walk over her in a minute if it meant a million and a half. Particularly a million and a half that could put me away if somebody else found it. Like my ex-wife. No.â
âSomethingâs in that house, and the two