Dulcy was brought in next. She was accompanied by Johnny's attorney, Ben Williams.

This isn't any Communist investigation, Brody said disgustedly.I can hold her as a material witness and let her talk to the Grand Jury, if that's what you want.

Brody left it for a moment and started at the beginning of her career in Harlem. The gist of what he got had already been given.

Oh, a half hour, more or less. I can't be sure. When I looked at my watch it was four-twenty-five, and Reverend Short began knocking on the door right then.

Brody dropped it and repeated the questions about Val's racket, enemies, whether he was carrying a large sum of money when he was killed, and asked her to describe the jewelry he was wearing. The wrist watch, gold ring and cuff links checked with what had been found on the body. She said the thirty-seven dollars found in his wallet would be about right.

Brody showed her the knife. She denied ever having seen it at any time.

The Fifth Amendment, the attorney stated.

Brody dropped it and repeated the questions about Val's racket, enemies, whether he was carrying a large sum of money when he was killed, and asked her to describe the jewelry he was wearing. The wrist watch, gold ring and cuff links checked with what had been found on the body. She said the thirty-seven dollars found in his wallet would be about right.

Why the hell doesn't she? Brody flared.

She laughed sarcastically.Engaged He was just keeping himself regular with that slut.

The Fifth Amendment, the attorney stated.

Ben was a brown-skinned man of about forty, slightly on the fat side, with neatly barbered hair, and a heavy moustache. He was wearing the double-breasted gray flannel suit, horn-rimmed spectacles and conservative black shoes of the Harlem professional man.

He didn't know about it.

Why the hell doesn't she? Brody flared.

She'd left home at twelve midnight with Alamena, who lived in a rented room downstairs in the same building.

She'd left home at twelve midnight with Alamena, who lived in a rented room downstairs in the same building.

Naw, he just slipped him money from his pocket whenever Val asked for a loan, and sometimes he'd let him win in the game. Then I gave him what I could.

Ben was a brown-skinned man of about forty, slightly on the fat side, with neatly barbered hair, and a heavy moustache. He was wearing the double-breasted gray flannel suit, horn-rimmed spectacles and conservative black shoes of the Harlem professional man.

She said Val had left home about ten o'clock. He had said he was going to see a show at the Apollo Theatre- Billy Eckstein's band was doubling with the Nicholas brothers-and had asked to come with him, but she had an appointment with her hairdresser. So he'd decided to drop by the club and come with Johnny to the wake, and said they'd pick her up there.

I ain't blind, she retorted.That's what made me look down to see what he was looking at, and then I saw Val.

Brody left it for a moment and started at the beginning of her career in Harlem. The gist of what he got had already been given.

I ain't blind, she retorted.That's what made me look down to see what he was looking at, and then I saw Val.

Did your husband give him an allowance? Brody asked.

You don't have to answer that, the attorney said quickly.

How long had he been engaged to Doll Baby?

Oh, a half hour, more or less. I can't be sure. When I looked at my watch it was four-twenty-five, and Reverend Short began knocking on the door right then.

The attorney appeared to meditate.Okay, you can answer, he said to Dulcy. After that he kept quiet; he had earned his money.

Ben was a brown-skinned man of about forty, slightly on the fat side, with neatly barbered hair, and a heavy moustache. He was wearing the double-breasted gray flannel suit, horn-rimmed spectacles and conservative black shoes of the Harlem professional man.

Then Brody worked on the time element.