He looked at it incredulously. He had just entered his room. He grabbed up the receiver. “Thank you for calling.” From the other end of the telephone connection came difficult breathing, the wet sound of blubbering, and what was most likely a woman’s voice saying something about “Inspector Flynn.” “Elsbeth?” Flynn asked the phone. “Is that you?” Not Elsbeth. Flynn had never heard his wife blubber but was pretty sure, if she took to blubbering, her blubbering would not sound like this. “Operator? Don’t hang up.” “It’s real urgent. Inspector Frank Flynn.” “Whoever you are, don’t hang up. Is this one of the operators? One of the operators at Timberbreak Lodge?” “Inspector Flynn?” “Yes, this is Flynn. Don’t hang up.” “Thank God! You’ve got to help us.” “I’ll do anything I can. Just don’t hang up.” “They’ve come and taken Willy away. In handcuffs!” “Willy. I’m sorry to hear it. Who’s Willy?” “My husband. Is this Frank Flynn?”
