“Give me three minutes,” Fine said, “and I’ll go with you.” [FOUR] As Canidy, Fulmar, and Fine walked up from the direction of Tilney Street and crossed Deanery Street, there were half a dozen official limousines and staff cars parked in the small lot between Park Lane and the door to the Dorchester. Their drivers stood, smoking, in a knot by the front fender of a Rolls Royce.
“Excuse me,” Canidy said, and walked toward them.
They all came to attention, and one of them stamped her foot, saluted, and barked,
“Sir!”
“Would you come with me, please, Sergeant?” Canidy said as he crisply returned the salute.
“Sir!” Sergeant Agnes Draper barked and stamped her foot again.
When Canidy marched in a military manner toward the sandbags around the door, she marched in a military manner after him.
Making him more than a liale uncomfortable, Sergeant Draper relieved Lieutenant Fulmar of his luggage. Staggering a little under the weight, she followed the three officers across the lobby into the elevator.
They rode to the fourth floor. At the entrance to one of the corridors there, a man wearing an American uniform with civilian technician insignia dropped his Stars’s Stripes to the carpet beside his upholstered chair and rose at their approach.
“This is Lieutenant Fulmar,” Fine said. “He’ll be staying here on and off.” “Yes, sir,” the man said as he pulled his olive-drab jacket over the snub nosed Colt Detective Special on his belt.
“And you know Major Canidy and the sergeant?” Fine said.
“Oh, yes, sir,” the American said.
“They also serve who sit in hotel corridors reading the Stripes,” Canidy said.
“Better this, Major,” the CIC agent said, smiling, “than standing around in the snow guarding the castle.”
“Virtue, doubtless,” Canidy said, “is its own reward.” Fine unlocked a door. As he pushed it open, the CIC agent called, ZTHE Signal Corps swept it this morning, Captain.”
“Thank you,” Fine said, and motioned the others into the suite ahead of them.
“I wondered where the hell you were,” Canidy said to Agnes.
“Commander Whathisname dismissed me,” Agnes said. “I think he suspected I was going to carry Commander Bitter off before he got to cocktails with Ike. And you told me not to take the Packard to Berkeley Square. I knew you would show up here eventually, so I came here.” “Good thinking, Sergeant,” Canidy said, “you are a credit to the noncommissioned officer corps.”
“Oh, I’m so pleased you think so, “Agnes said. “Do you think I’ve earned a drink of your whisky?”
“Fix us all one while the Sheikh of Araby has his bath,” Canidy said.
“No one,” Fulmar said, beaming at Agnes, zhas seen fit to introduce us, Sergeant. My name is Fulmar.”
“Rein it in, Lone Ranger,” Canidy said. “The lady is spoken for.” Agnes Draper blushed. Both Fine and Fulmar looked at Canidy in surprise.
“I thought Ann was here,” Fulmar blurted.
“Indeed she is,” Canidy said. “She’ll be here, with Eddie Bieer, about five thirty or six. That’s one of the reasons I am being so. indelicate.”
“Dolan told you?” Agnes said. Canidy nodded. “Damn him!”
“I’m sure you’re a big girl, Agnes,” Canidy said. “I’m not so sure about Bitter.”
“You make me sound… predatory, Dick,” Agnes said.
“I didn’t mean to, honey,” Canidy said gently. “I don’t think that. I just wanted to be sure you understand what you’re into. Eddie is liable to erupt in paroxysms of regret. He’s an Annapolis man, you know. And officers and gentlemen_ n
“Particularly married officers and gentlemen,” Agnes interrupted.
“Are you being oblique, Dick? Is this in the nature of a reprimand?”
“Ann is Eddie’s cousin,” Canidy went on. “She went to college with Mrs. Bitter.”
“I didn’t know that, “Agnes said.
“Forewarned, to coin a phrase, is forearmed,” Canidy said.
“Having done my paternal duty as your commanding officer, my dear child, I consider the matter closed.”
“Now that you have managed to let Captain Fine know? And Lieutenant Fulmar?”
“Don’t be a bitch, Agnes,” Canidy flared. “Fine has the need-to-know, and I didn’t want Eric and Eddie getting into anything over the prize of your charms.” He glared at her, then warmed to his subject, “I have enough on my mind without worrying about the impact of your geting the hots for one of my officers.” She glared at him, tight-lipped.