Larkin grabbed Herbie by the collar with his free hand.Bring the papers, he said. Thanks, Betty. I really appreciate the call. Are Ruth and the children here? Mason said,In the first place, I dont think fifty thousand dollars worth of jewelry was taken. I dont think any jewelry was taken. You keep lobbing legal softballs at me. Your motive is she decided to call your blackmail bluff and threatened to expose you. So you silenced her. Do you have an alibi? Bacchetti, he said. Sally, she said. Youre going to have to tell the police about Sally, arent you? A moment ago the district attorney was contending that it was not a conversation, Mason said. As late as it takes. Ill text you my address. Its not far from here. What is big deal about this Locust thing? asked the Russian. You can see how the coils of circumstantial evidence began to tighten around George Alder—and when I began to realize how he was trapped by circumstances, I began to study the letter more carefully, and when I saw how cunningly it had been constructed for the purpose of putting him in just such a situation, I began to wonder just who had written that letter and why. Were not blue bloods and my familys not rich. My father worked on the Chiltons Rolls-Royces and Bentleys, and my mother cleaned their house and took care of their kids. I was the wild and fun daughter of the hired help who lived on the premises. Dino, didnt you hear me tell the motorcycle guy to tell him were at Clarkes? Just as one of the family? Mason asked. Wades act. The friendly, helpful type. Hes the sharpest detective on the force and the best interrogator because hes so quiet and polite. I enjoy watching him work. It’s like watching a great athlete.’ She looked at him closely.I dont necessarily expect you to answer this, but were you the father? You probably told her exactly what he wanted to know. Of course. That was what interested us. That was the sixty-four dollar question, but there werent any answers, I was inclined to think it was Elkins. Daddy Lutts thought it had to be an outsider. Then some idea came to him, and Daddy Lutts went to make a phone call. He learned something he didnt see fit to pass on to me..