But/cc the/at police/nns have/hv dropped/vbn the/at case/nn ./.
I/ppss want/vb you/ppo to/to go/vb to/in Pearson/np-tl City/nn-tl and/cc find/vb out/rp why/wrb --/-- first-hand/jj stuff/nn for/in your/pp$ modern/jj crime/nn series/nn ./.
Take/vb the/at same/ap train/nn Diana/np Beauclerk/np took/vbd and/cc get/vb there/rb at/in the/at same/ap time/nn ./.
Go/vb to/in the/at same/ap hotel/nn and/cc occupy/vb the/at same/ap suite/nn --/-- 1105/cd ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Will/md the/at hotel/nn rent/nn it/ppo so/ql soon/rb after/in the/at crime/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Why/wrb not/* ?/. ?/.
The/at police/nns have/hv finished/vbn with/in it/ppo ./.
Besides/rb ,/, the/at number/nn of/in the/at suite/nn hasn't/hvz* been/ben published/vbn in/in any/dti newspaper/nn ./.
To/in the/at hotel/nn people/nns ,/, you'll/ppss+md just/rb be/be an/at innocent/jj tourist/nn who/wps happens/vbz to/to ask/vb for/in that/dt particular/jj suite/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Still/rb ,/, they/ppss may/md not/* want/vb to/to rent/vb it/ppo ''/'' ./.


	``/`` That's/dt+bez your/pp$ headache/nn ./.
Once/rb inside/rb ,/, keep/vb your/pp$ eyes/nns open/vb ''/'' !/. !/.


	``/`` For/in what/wdt ''/'' !/. !/.
Alec/np was/bedz growing/vbg more/ql and/cc more/ql skeptical/jj ./.
``/`` The/at police/nns will/md have/hv gone/vbn over/in every/at square/nn inch/nn of/in the/at place/nn with/in a/at fine-tooth/nn comb/nn ./.
The/at hotel/nn people/nns will/md have/hv scoured/vbn and/cc vacuumed/vbn it/ppo ./.
Ten/cd to/in one/cd ,/, it's/pps+hvz even/rb been/ben redecorated/vbn ''/'' !/. !/.


	``/`` There's/ex+bez always/rb a/at chance/nn they/ppss may/md have/hv overlooked/vbn something/pn ''/'' ,/, returned/vbd the/at chief/nn ./.
``/`` I'm/ppss+bem betting/vbg on/in that/dt chance/nn ./.
Interview/vb the/at bellboy/nn and/cc chambermaid/nn who/wps waited/vbd on/in Beauclerk/np ./.
Study/vb the/at topography/nn of/in the/at suite/nn ./.
Soak/vb up/rp local/jj color/nn ./.
Reenact/vb everything/pn Beauclerk/np did/dod ./.


	Try/vb to/to imagine/vb you're/ppss+ber going/vbg to/to be/be murdered/vbn yourself/ppl --/-- between/in eleven/cd p.m./rb and/cc one/cd a.m./rb the/at night/nn you/ppss arrive/vb ''/'' ./.


	Alec/np smirked/vbd ./.
``/`` Cheerful/jj way/nn to/to spend/vb an/at evening/nn ''/'' !/. !/.
A/at sudden/jj thought/nn wiped/vbd the/at smirk/nn from/in his/pp$ face/nn ./.
``/`` Suppose/vb the/at murderer/nn should/md return/vb to/in the/at scene/nn of/in the/at crime/nn ''/'' !/. !/.


	The/at chief's/nn$ eyes/nns gleamed/vbd ./.
He/pps spoke/vbd softly/rb ./.
``/`` That/dt is/bez exactly/rb what/wdt I'm/ppss+bem hoping/vbg for/in ./.
After/in all/abn ,/, the/at murderer/nn is/bez still/rb at/in large/jj ./.
And/cc the/at key/nn to/in the/at suite/nn is/bez still/rb missing/vbg ''/'' ./.




On/in the/at train/nn Alec/np refreshed/vbd his/pp$ memory/nn of/in the/at Beauclerk/np case/nn by/in reading/vbg teletype/nn flimsies/nns --/-- spot-news/nn stories/nns about/in the/at crime/nn sent/vbn out/rp by/in the/at Pearson/np-tl City/nn-tl Star/nn-tl ,/, a/at member/nn of/in the/at Syndicate/nn-tl Press/nn-tl ./.


	Diana/np Beauclerk/np was/bedz a/at second-rate/jj actress/nn living/vbg in/in New/jj-tl York/np-tl ./.
Two/cd weeks/nns ago/rb she/pps had/hvd gone/vbn west/nr to/in Pearson/np-tl City/nn-tl ./.
Daniel/np Forbes/np ,/, her/pp$ divorced/vbn husband/nn ,/, lived/vbd there/rb ./.
So/rb did/dod the/at firm/nn of/in lawyers/nns who/wps had/hvd got/vbn her/ppo the/at divorce/nn ,/, Kimball/np and/cc Stacy/np ./.


	She/pps reached/vbd Pearson/np-tl City/nn-tl at/in nine/cd p.m./rb and/cc went/vbd straight/rb to/in the/at Hotel/nn-tl Westmore/np-tl ./.
She/pps telephoned/vbd the/at junior/jj partner/nn of/in her/pp$ law/nn firm/nn ,/, Martin/np Stacy/np ,/, and/cc asked/vbd him/ppo to/to call/vb at/in her/pp$ hotel/nn that/dt evening/nn ./.


	At/in the/at time/nn of/in her/pp$ divorce/nn Forbes/np had/hvd promised/vbn to/to pay/vb her/ppo a/at lump/nn sum/nn in/in lieu/nn of/in further/jjr alimony/nn if/cs she/pps remarried/vbd ./.
According/in to/in Stacy/np ,/, she/pps told/vbd him/ppo she/pps was/bedz planning/vbg to/to remarry/vb and/cc she/pps wanted/vbd him/ppo to/to ask/vb Forbes/np for/in the/at lump/nn sum/nn ./.
Stacy/np replied/vbd that/cs it/pps would/md bankrupt/vb Forbes/np ,/, who/wps had/hvd just/rb sunk/vbn all/abn his/pp$ money/nn in/in a/at real/jj estate/nn venture/nn ./.


	Stacy/np said/vbd he/pps left/vbd her/pp$ suite/nn at/in nine/cd forty-five/cd p.m./rb ./.
She/pps was/bedz in/in good/jj health/nn and/cc spirits/nns ,/, but/cc still/rb determined/vbn to/to get/vb the/at money/nn from/in Forbes/np ./.
No/at one/pn saw/vbd Stacy/np leave/vb ./.
No/at other/ap visitor/nn inquired/vbd for/in her/ppo that/dt evening/nn ./.


	Next/ap morning/nn she/pps was/bedz found/vbn dead/jj in/in her/pp$ suite/nn with/in a/at bullet/nn from/in a/at 


Colt/np revolver/nn in/in her/pp$ brain/nn ./.
According/in to/in the/at medical/jj examiner/nn ,/, she/pps was/bedz shot/vbn between/in eleven/cd p.m./rb and/cc one/cd a.m./rb ./.
Her/pp$ door/nn was/bedz locked/vbn and/cc the/at key/nn was/bedz missing/vbg ./.
So/rb was/bedz the/at gun/nn ./.


	When/wrb Alec/np finished/vbd reading/vbg he/pps was/bedz sure/jj that/cs either/cc Forbes/np or/cc Stacy/np had/hvd killed/vbn Diana/np Beauclerk/np ./.
Forbes/np had/hvd motive/nn and/cc Stacy/np had/hvd opportunity/nn ./.
Find/vb a/at motive/nn for/in Stacy/np or/cc an/at opportunity/nn for/in Forbes/np and/cc the/at case/nn would/md be/be solved/vbn ./.




The/at Hotel/nn-tl Westmore/np-tl proved/vbd to/to be/be one/cd of/in the/at older/jjr hotels/nns in/in Pearson/np-tl City/nn-tl ,/, and/cc definitely/rb second-rate/jj ./.
Alec's/np$ first/od impression/nn of/in the/at lobby/nn was/bedz gloomy/jj ,/, Victorian/jj dignity/nn --/-- black/jj walnut/nn and/cc red/jj plush/nn ,/, a/at black/jj and/cc white/jj tiled/vbn floor/nn ,/, and/cc Persian/jj rugs/nns ./.


	He/pps studied/vbd the/at night/nn clerk/nn as/cs a/at man/nn measures/vbz an/at adversary/nn ./.
``/`` I'd/ppss+md like/vb the/at room/nn I/ppss had/hvd the/at last/ap time/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Certainly/rb ,/, sir/nn ''/'' ./.
The/at clerk/nn was/bedz young/jj and/cc limp/jj ,/, with/in a/at tired/vbn smile/nn ./.
``/`` Do/do you/ppss recall/vb the/at number/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` It/pps was/bedz 1105/cd ''/'' ./.


	The/at clerk's/nn$ smile/nn congealed/vbd ./.
``/`` That/dt suite/nn is/bez taken/vbn ''/'' ./.


	Alec's/np$ glance/nn went/vbd to/in a/at chart/nn of/in guest/nn names/nns and/cc room/nn numbers/nns hanging/vbg on/in the/at wall/nn behind/in the/at clerk/nn ./.
Opposite/in the/at number/nn 1105/cd stood/vbd one/cd word/nn :/: Unoccupied/jj ./.


	The/at clerk's/nn$ glance/nn followed/vbd Alec's/np$ ./.
``/`` We/ppss have/hv better/jjr rooms/nns vacant/jj now/rb ''/'' ,/, he/pps babbled/vbd ./.
``/`` Larger/jjr and/cc more/ql comfortable/jj ./.
At/in the/at same/ap rate/nn ''/'' ./.


	Alec's/np$ face/nn was/bedz dark/jj ,/, blunt/jj ,/, and/cc sulky/jj ./.
He/pps always/rb looked/vbd impertinent/jj and/cc he/pps could/md look/vb dangerous/jj ./.
He/pps was/bedz looking/vbg dangerous/jj now/rb ./.
He/pps raised/vbd his/pp$ voice/nn ./.
``/`` Anything/pn wrong/jj with/in the/at plumbing/nn in/in 1105/cd ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	There/ex was/bedz a/at sudden/jj stillness/nn in/in the/at lobby/nn ./.
Two/cd women/nns ,/, who/wps had/hvd been/ben chattering/vbg like/cs parrots/nns ,/, were/bed struck/vbn dumb/jj ./.
A/at man/nn ,/, lighting/vbg a/at match/nn for/in his/pp$ cigar/nn ,/, paused/vbd until/cs the/at flame/nn burned/vbd his/pp$ fingers/nns ./.
Even/rb the/at bellboys/nns on/in their/pp$ bench/nn were/bed listening/vbg ./.


	The/at clerk's/nn$ eyes/nns flickered/vbd ./.
``/`` Of/in course/nn not/* ''/'' !/. !/.


	``/`` Anybody/pn with/in a/at contagious/jj disease/nn been/ben in/in there/rb ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` No/rb ''/'' !/. !/.
The/at clerk/nn was/bedz almost/ql hysterical/jj ./.
``/`` It's/pps+bez just/rb that/cs --/-- well/uh ,/, 1105/cd is/bez being/beg redecorated/vbn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` I/ppss don't/do* believe/vb it/ppo ''/'' ./.
Alec/np leaned/vbd on/in the/at desk/nn ,/, holding/vbg the/at clerk's/nn$ eyes/nns with/in his/pp$$ ./.
``/`` Suppose/vb you/ppo tell/vb me/ppo the/at real/jj reason/nn ''/'' ,/, he/pps drawled/vbd ./.
``/`` There/ex might/md be/be a/at story/nn in/in it/ppo ''/'' ./.


	``/`` St-story/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` I'm/ppss+bem with/in the/at Syndicated/vbn-tl Press/nn-tl ,/, Feature/nn-tl Service/nn-tl ./.
Either/cc I/ppss get/vb the/at story/nn --/-- or/cc I/ppss get/vb the/at suite/nn ''/'' ./.


	It/pps was/bedz blackmail/nn and/cc the/at clerk/nn knew/vbd it/ppo ./.
``/`` There/ex is/bez no/at story/nn ''/'' ,/, he/pps piped/vbd tremulously/rb ./.
``/`` Front/nn-tl !/. !/.
Show/vb this/dt gentleman/nn to/in 1105/cd ''/'' !/. !/.


	The/at stillness/nn persisted/vbd as/cs Alec/np followed/vbd a/at bellboy/nn across/in the/at lobby/nn to/in the/at elevator/nn ./.
He/pps could/md feel/vb eyes/nns on/in his/pp$ back/nn ./.
He/pps wished/vbd it/pps had/hvd not/* been/ben necessary/jj to/to announce/vb the/at number/nn of/in his/pp$ suite/nn quite/ql so/ql publicly/rb ./.


	The/at corridor/nn on/in the/at eleventh/od floor/nn was/bedz dimly/rb lighted/vbn by/in electric/jj globes/nns at/in intervals/nns of/in thirty/cd feet/nns ./.
A/at thick/jj ,/, crimson/jj carpet/nn muffled/vbd every/at footfall/nn ./.
At/in the/at end/nn of/in the/at corridor/nn Alec/np noticed/vbd a/at door/nn marked/vbn :/: Fire/nn-tl Stairs/nns-tl ./.
It/pps was/bedz a/at neat/jj setup/nn for/in murder/nn ./.


	The/at bellboy/nn unlocked/vbd a/at white/jj door/nn numbered/vbn 1105/cd ./.
The/at room/nn was/bedz dark/jj but/cc a/at neon/nn sign/nn flashed/vbd and/cc faded/vbd beyond/in the/at window/nn ./.
A/at few/ap snowflakes/nns sifted/vbd down/rp through/in that/dt theatrical/jj red/jj glow/nn ,/, languid/jj as/cs falling/vbg feathers/nns ./.
Hastily/rb the/at boy/nn switched/vbd on/rp a/at ceiling/nn light/nn ./.


	The/at room/nn looked/vbd normal/jj and/cc even/rb commonplace/jj ./.
There/ex was/bedz no/at hint/nn of/in a/at violent/jj struggle/nn now/rb ./.
Deal/nn furniture/nn with/in a/at mahogany/nn finish/nn was/bedz neatly/rb arranged/vbn as/ql if/cs it/pps stood/vbd in/in the/at window/nn of/in a/at department/nn store/nn ./.
The/at blue/jj rug/nn was/bedz suspiciously/rb bright/jj and/cc new/jj ./.
It/pps had/hvd never/rb been/ben stained/vbn with/in blood/nn ./.
Table/nn covers/nns and/cc towels/nns were/bed clean/jj ,/, ashtrays/nns empty/jj and/cc supplied/vbn with/in fresh/jj matches/nns ./.
The/at mirror/nn over/in the/at bureau/nn was/bedz a/at blank/nn eye/nn ,/, round/jj and/cc innocent/jj ./.


	Alec/np played/vbd the/at part/nn of/in an/at innocent/jj tourist/nn ./.
``/`` Is/bez there/ex anything/pn wrong/jj with/in this/dt room/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` N-no/rb ''/'' ./.
The/at boy/nn dropped/vbd his/pp$ eyes/nns ./.


	``/`` Afraid/jj you'll/ppss+md lose/vb your/pp$ job/nn if/cs you/ppss don't/do* keep/vb your/pp$ mouth/nn shut/vbn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	The/at boy/nn raised/vbd his/pp$ eyes/nns ./.
``/`` Listen/vb ,/, mister/np ./.
If/cs you/ppss want/vb my/pp$ advice/nn ,/, pack/vb up/rp and/cc take/vb the/at next/ap train/nn back/rb to/in New/jj-tl York/np-tl ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Were/bed you/ppss on/in duty/nn here/rb two/cd weeks/nns ago/rb ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	The/at boy/nn hesitated/vbd ./.
Then/rb ,/, ``/`` I'm/ppss+bem not/* talking/vbg ./.
But/cc I/ppss wouldn't/md* spend/vb a/at night/nn in/in here/rb for/in a/at million/cd bucks/nns ''/'' !/. !/.


	He/pps was/bedz in/in a/at hurry/nn to/to get/vb out/in of/in the/at room/nn ./.
Alec/np gave/vbd him/ppo a/at tip/nn and/cc let/vb him/ppo go/vb ./.


	Alone/rb ,/, Alec/np examined/vbd the/at doors/nns ./.
There/ex were/bed three/cd --/-- one/cd leading/vbg to/in a/at bathroom/nn ,/, one/cd to/in the/at hall/nn ,/, and/cc one/cd to/in the/at room/nn next/ap door/nn which/wdt was/bedz immovable/jj --/-- locked/vbn or/cc bolted/vbn on/in the/at other/ap side/nn ./.
Alec/np locked/vbd the/at hall/nn door/nn and/cc put/vbd the/at key/nn with/in his/pp$ watch/nn on/in the/at bedside/nn table/nn ./.
It/pps was/bedz just/rb quarter/nn of/in nine/cd ./.


	As/cs he/pps ranged/vbd his/pp$ belongings/nns on/in the/at bureau/nn he/pps noticed/vbd a/at film/nn of/in white/jj dust/nn on/in the/at dark/jj surface/nn of/in the/at wood/nn beyond/in the/at linen/nn cover/nn ./.
Not/* gray/jj like/cs the/at dust/nn that/wps collects/vbz in/in an/at unused/jj room/nn ,/, but/cc white/jj ./.
Women/nns didn't/dod* use/vb white/jj face/nn powder/nn nowadays/rb ,/, he/pps recalled/vbd ./.
They/ppss used/vbd pink/jj ,/, tan/jj ,/, or/cc cream/jj powder/nn ./.


	Alec/np glanced/vbd into/in the/at bathroom/nn ./.
Blood/nn in/in the/at bathtub/nn where/wrb the/at murderer/nn appears/vbz to/to have/hv washed/vbn his/pp$ hands/nns ./.
It/pps seemed/vbd clean/jj now/rb ,/, but/cc Alec/np decided/vbd against/in a/at bath/nn ./.
He/pps crawled/vbd into/in bed/nn and/cc switched/vbd off/rp the/at light/nn ./.


	In/in the/at darkness/nn he/pps could/md see/vb the/at rosy/jj reflection/nn of/in the/at neon/nn sign/nn on/in the/at wall/nn opposite/in the/at window/nn ./.
It/pps winked/vbd as/ql steadily/rb as/cs a/at metronome/nn --/-- on/rp ,/, off/rp --/-- on/rp ,/, off/rp ./.
In/in less/ap than/in five/cd minutes/nns Alec/np was/bedz asleep/rb ./.


	He/pps never/rb knew/vbd just/rb what/wdt woke/vbd him/ppo ./.
Yet/rb suddenly/rb he/pps was/bedz wide-awake/jj ./.
There/ex was/bedz no/at sound/nn and/cc apparently/rb no/at movement/nn in/in the/at room/nn except/in the/at noiseless/jj pulsation/nn of/in the/at red/jj light/nn on/in the/at wall/nn ./.


	He/pps lay/vbd still/rb ,/, listening/vbg to/in the/at silence/nn ,/, watching/vbg the/at light/nn ./.
Somewhere/rb in/in the/at city/nn a/at big/jj clock/nn sounded/vbd twelve/cd solemn/jj notes/nns --/-- midnight/nn ./.
According/in to/in the/at medical/jj examiner/nn she/pps was/bedz shot/vbn between/in eleven/cd p.m./rb and/cc one/cd a.m./rb ./.


	Alec/np heard/vbd a/at faint/jj sound/nn ./.
His/pp$ heart/nn seemed/vbd to/to swell/vb and/cc knock/vb against/in the/at wall/nn of/in his/pp$ chest/nn ./.
For/cs the/at sound/nn was/bedz inside/in the/at room/nn ./.


	He/pps let/vbd his/pp$ eyelids/nns droop/vb and/cc breathed/vbd heavily/rb ,/, feigning/vbg sleep/nn ./.
The/at sound/nn was/bedz coming/vbg nearer/rbr ./.
A/at monstrous/jj shadow/nn fell/vbd across/in the/at illuminated/vbn wall/nn ,/, distorted/vbn and/cc indefinable/jj ./.


	When/wrb the/at neon/nn sign/nn faded/vbd out/rp ,/, the/at shadow/nn disappeared/vbd ./.
When/wrb the/at neon/nn sign/nn flashed/vbd on/rp ,/, the/at shadow/nn was/bedz still/rb there/rb ./.
It/pps stretched/vbd to/in an/at impossible/jj height/nn ,/, climbing/vbg the/at wall/nn to/in the/at ceiling/nn ./.
That/dt meant/vbd that/cs something/pn between/in the/at light/nn and/cc its/pp$ reflection/nn on/in the/at wall/nn was/bedz moving/vbg closer/rbr to/in the/at source/nn of/in the/at light/nn --/-- in/in this/dt case/nn ,/, the/at window/nn ./.


	Cautiously/rb Alec/np tensed/vbd his/pp$ muscles/nns ,/, ready/jj to/to jump/vb ./.
The/at bedsprings/nns betrayed/vbd him/ppo with/in a/at creak/nn ./.
The/at shadow/nn vanished/vbd ./.
Someone/pn had/hvd moved/vbn beyond/in the/at range/nn of/in the/at light/nn from/in the/at window/nn ./.


	Abandoning/vbg caution/nn ,/, Alec/np leaped/vbd out/in of/in bed/nn and/cc groped/vbd for/in the/at light/nn switch/nn ./.
Before/cs he/pps could/md snap/vb it/ppo on/rp ,/, a/at stinging/vbg blow/nn caught/vbd him/ppo in/in the/at ribs/nns ./.
He/pps lashed/vbd out/rp blindly/rb with/in his/pp$ right/nn ./.
There/ex was/bedz a/at thick/jj ,/, squashy/jj crack/nn of/in fist/nn on/in flesh/nn ./.


	Something/pn hard/jj grazed/vbn his/pp$ knuckles/nns ./.
He/pps put/vbd everything/pn he/pps had/hvd into/in the/at next/ap and/cc aimed/vbd down/rp where/wrb the/at stomach/nn ought/md to/to be/be ./.
Rough/jj cloth/nn rasped/vbd his/pp$ fist/nn ./.
There/ex was/bedz a/at grunt/nn ,/, curiously/rb inarticulate/jj ,/, like/cs that/dt of/in an/at animal/nn in/in pain/nn ./.
Something/pn heavy/jj shook/vbd the/at floor/nn as/cs it/pps dropped/vbd ./.


	Alec/np waited/vbd a/at moment/nn ,/, on/in guard/nn ./.
Nothing/pn happened/vbd ./.
Again/rb he/pps groped/vbd for/in the/at light/nn switch/nn ./.


	The/at blue/jj rug/nn had/hvd been/ben rolled/vbn up/rp and/cc stacked/vbn in/in one/cd corner/nn of/in the/at room/nn ./.
On/in the/at bare/jj floorboards/nns a/at man/nn lay/vbd face/nn down/rp ./.
He/pps had/hvd a/at short/jj ,/, heavy/jj ,/, powerful/jj body/nn ./.


	Alec/np turned/vbd him/ppo over/rp and/cc discovered/vbd a/at round/jj ,/, lumpy/jj face/nn with/in narrow/jj ,/, slanting/vbg eyes/nns --/-- a/at primitive/jj Tartar/np face/nn from/in Russia/np or/cc the/at Balkans/nps ./.
The/at man's/nn$ shoes/nns were/bed too/ql pointed/vbn ,/, his/pp$ overcoat/nn too/ql broad/jj at/in the/at shoulders/nns and/cc too/ql narrow/jj at/in the/at waist/nn ./.


	There/ex was/bedz a/at slight/jj bulge/nn under/in the/at left/jj armpit/nn --/-- a/at shoulder/nn holster/nn ./.
Alec/np promptly/rb removed/vbd the/at gun/nn ./.
He/pps was/bedz familiar/jj with/in this/dt type/nn ./.
He/pps had/hvd seen/vbn it/ppo in/in the/at lineup/nn at/in Police/nns-tl Headquarters/nn-tl in/in New/jj-tl York/np-tl ,/, in/in Broadway/np night/nn clubs/nns and/cc Seventh/od-tl Avenue/nn-tl pool/nn rooms/nns ,/, in/in the/at criminal/nn courts/nns ./.
But/cc he/pps was/bedz surprised/vbn to/to meet/vb it/ppo here/rb ./.
Diana/np Beauclerk/np had/hvd no/at connection/nn with/in the/at underworld/nn ./.


	A/at professional/jj gunman/nn would/md not/* have/hv killed/vbn her/ppo with/in a/at weapon/nn of/in such/jj small/jj caliber/nn as/cs a/at 


./.
Nor/cc would/md he/pps choose/vb a/at respectable/jj hotel/nn as/cs the/at scene/nn for/in a/at killing/nn when/wrb it/pps would/md be/be so/ql much/ql safer/jjr to/to take/vb his/pp$ victim/nn for/in a/at one-way/nn ride/nn on/in a/at lonely/jj country/nn road/nn ./.


	The/at man's/nn$ eyelids/nns fluttered/vbd ./.
He/pps opened/vbd his/pp$ eyes/nns ./.


	``/`` What/wdt are/ber you/ppss doing/vbg here/rb ''/'' ?/. ?/.
Demanded/vbn Alec/np ./.


	The/at man/nn made/vbd no/at reply/nn ./.
His/pp$ eyes/nns were/bed dazed/vbn ./.
His/pp$ lips/nns were/bed bruised/vbn and/cc swollen/vbn where/wrb Alec/np had/hvd hit/vbn him/ppo ./.


	``/`` Did/dod you/ppss kill/vb Diana/np Beauclerk/np ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	Alec/np expected/vbd an/at indignant/jj denial/nn ,/, but/cc there/ex was/bedz no/at response/nn at/in all/abn ./.


	``/`` Oh/uh ,/, come/vb on/rp ,/, snap/vb out/in of/in it/ppo !/. !/.
Or/cc I'll/ppss+md turn/vb you/ppo over/rp to/in the/at police/nns ''/'' !/. !/.
The/at silence/nn was/bedz getting/vbg on/in Alec's/np$ nerves/nns ./.


	The/at man/nn opened/vbd his/pp$ mouth/nn ,/, but/cc no/at words/nns came/vbd ./.
Only/rb that/dt curious/jj ,/, animal/nn grunting/nn Alec/np had/hvd heard/vbn during/in their/pp$ fight/nn ./.


	``/`` Don't/do* you/ppo speak/vb English/np ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	The/at man/nn opened/vbd his/pp$ mouth/nn wider/jjr ./.
A/at forefinger/nn pointed/vbn toward/in his/pp$ gullet/nn ./.
Alec/np leaned/vbd forward/rb to/to look/vb ./.
There/ex were/bed hideous/jj scars/nns inside/in the/at throat/nn and/cc the/at palate/nn was/bedz mutilated/vbn ./.