Page 74 of Puzzle for Two

“Yousleptthrough it?”

Topper raised his chin. “Of course I did. Dragging a man of my age out in the middle of the night. I work hard. I was exhausted.”

“How did you—?” Zach began.

“The cops think I was thrown from the car before it went over the edge.”

Flint said, “You weren’t wearing a seatbelt?”

Topper gave a sharp, short shake of his head. “Never wear ’em. More people are trapped in cars and burned alive than get killed in head-on collisions.”

“That’s not even remotely true,” Flint said.

“Sure, it is. I saw it on YouTube.”

Zach made a point of not looking at Flint. “Can you tell us anything about the phone call Mr. Beacher received?”

“I didn’t take the phone call. He did. It was on his private line.”

“Did he say anything about it?”

“He said he had to get down to his office right away. He said someone had broken into the safe in his office.”

“Did he say who phoned him?”

“I don’t remember. I don’t think so.”

“Did he have any idea about who might have broken into his office?”

“Someone working for Mr. Jordan.”

Flint said, “The owner of Old Timey Fun, Ltd.?”

Topper nodded. “Mr. Beacher and Mr. Jordan were friends but they were also business rivals.”

“The kind of business rivals who break into each other’s offices?”

“Are there any other?” Topper seemed to think the question was rhetorical.

Zach said, “So Alton—Mr. Beacher—had no doubts the call he received was legitimate.”

“He didn’t seem to. He couldn’t get to the office fast enough. That was my impression.”

“And it was just the two of you in the car?”

Topper looked at Zach as though he were an idiot. “Who else would be in the car?”

“We’re asking you,” Flint said.

“Chico?” Zach suggested.

Topper said impatiently, “If Chico had been available, why would Mr. Beacher have dragged me out of bed?”

Flint asked, “How soon after you got in the car did you fall asleep?”

Topper seemed to cast his mind back. “I remember we passed through the gates. Mr. Beacher had put some music on. Kreisler’sLiebesleid.” He shrugged. “The next time I opened my eyes, Mr. Beacher was struggling to control the car.”

“Did he say anything?” Flint asked.

---