"Daniels, Norman A - Paid To Die - Avenger 4003 backstory" - читать интересную книгу автора (Daniels Norman A)

by day and acting the part of killer by night? Somehow, O'Hara felt that King was not mixed up in
that mob. But how was he going to prove King was innocent? The only possible way was to round up the
killer gang, and eighteen thousand policemen hadn't been able to do that. He sought a quiet bench in
a small park and sat down to think. King had started for Nick the Greek's. He hadn't reached the
lunch cart. Therefore he must have been taken prisoner on his way. But how? King wouldn't meekly
submit to capture, and the streets at that hour had been crowded.

O'Hara's eyes narrowed. He hurried back to the street, hailed a cab and went to the hospital.
The medical examiner had performed an autopsy on Hal King's body. O'Hara scanned the report; his
eyes went wide.

There was no hesitation now. He knew just where this investigation would begin.


Nick the Greek was behind his counter, peeling potatoes. He looked up and flushed as O'Hara
strode in.

"Ha!" his thick lips bared in a smile. "My food is good, eh? You are hungry this time. How's
about a nice steak, eh, sergeant?"

"I think," O'Hara said quietly, "I'll have those mushrooms you were talking about. They're hard
to get, Nick."

Nick bustled about preparing the dish. "Sure, sure! This time of year, not so many on the
market. But I get 'em all right."

"Detective King used to like mushrooms, Nick. He'd walk a dozen blocks out of his way to get
'em."

Nick turned around. "Yeah--poor guy, One of my best customers, too."

"How'd you know he was dead, Nick? The papers haven't carried the story, yet. Who told you? The
truth, now--you lied the last time I was in here. King did have dinner--you served him."

Nick's crimson complexion faded to a jade-green hue. Suddenly he seized a long-bladed butcher
knife and made a wild lunge across the counter. O'Hara ducked the blow, shot one big hand out and
seized Nick's wrist. He turned it expertly; the knife fell to the floor. Then he grimly brought up
his service pistol, which had been concealed in his lap. Nick backed away, raised his hands as high
as he could reach and shivered violently.

"I know nothing!" he shrilled. "Nothing, sergeant. Maybe King was here. I am busy man. Sometimes
I forget."

"Who else was in here with him?" O'Hara barked. He walked around behind the counter and buried
the muzzle of his gun in Nick's trembling paunch. "Speak up, you Iying rat. Who was in here with
him?"

"I don't remember," Nick yelled. "I tell the truth. I do not even remember that he was in here,"

O'Hara shrugged. "O. K., Nick. Get your hat and coat. We're going down to headquarters where I