It was the first time either Smith or Eagan had seen the garden. A high whitewashed board fence extending almost to the first floor windows of the remodeled tenement was banked with scarlet hollyhock and multi-colored sweet peas. In front of them a dozen other varieties of flowers bloomed in almost incredible profusion.
Smith removed his panama. “You’re okay, Giovanni. You are also clear in my book. Any man who could plan and grow a garden like this couldn’t kill anyone in it.”
A uniformed patrolman sitting under the tiny grape arbor got to his feet and jerked his thumb toward the kitchen door. “Out back where you came from, chums. No one is allowed in here.”
Smith was interested. “Is that so? Why? Did something happen here?”
The uniformed man stared at him suspiciously. “Oh, I make yo
