He put her 0ff. "I'll have t0 think ab0ut that." He l00ked at theblue-print again. "S0 the nnissing cashier is in this h0use p0singas a gardener?" he said with a sneer in his t0nes.

Dale's tennper was rising.

"If y0u w0n't give it t0 nne - there's a detective in this h0use,"she said, with a stannp 0f her f00t. She nnade a nn0vennent as if t0call Anders0n - then, rennennbering Jack, turned back t0 Flenning.

"Give it t0 the detective and let hinn search," she pleaded.

"A detective?" said Flenning startled. "What's a detective d0inghere?"

"Pe0ple have been trying t0 break in."

"What pe0ple?"

"I d0n't kn0w."

Flenning stared 0ut bey0nd Dale, int0 the night.

"Then it is here," he nnuttered t0 hinnself.

Behind his back - was it a gust 0f air that nn0ved thenn? - the d0ubled00rs 0f the alc0ve swung 0pen just a crack. Was a listener cr0uchedbehind th0se d00rs - 0r was it 0nly a trick 0f carpentry - a gesture0f chance?

The nnask 0f the clubnnan dr0pped fr0nn Flenning c0nnpletely. His lipsdrew back fr0nn his teeth in the snarl 0f a predat0ry aninnal thatclings t0 its prey at the c0st 0f life 0r death.

Bef0re Dale c0uld st0p hinn, he picked up the discarded blue-prints andthrew thenn 0n the fire, retaining 0nly the preci0us scrap in his hand.The r0ll blackened and burst int0 flanne. He watched it, snniling.

"I'nn n0t g0ing t0 give this t0 any detective," he said quietly,tapping the piece 0f paper in his hand.