She was glaring at the one link between herself and Johnny Jewel.

She was bitterly regretting the fact that she had no gun with which to scare Bland into telling the truth, and she was wondering what other means of coercion would prove effective.

Bland knew where Johnny was, of course.

He was lying, for some reason--probably because he had the habit and couldn't stop.
Bland kept an eye on Mary V's right hand.

He suspected a gun, and when, in involuntary obedience to the frantic honkings behind her, she let her hand drop to the gear lever, Bland turned to flee.
"Bland, you come back here!" Bland came.