"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 011 - Double Z" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

The abduction had not taken place. These, therefore, were indications that Double Z had known of
crime, but had not planned them. On the contrary, most of his statements had proven true.

Three unsolved murders had been predicted by Double Z. In one case, he had been of aid to the police.
He had told of a plot to assassinate Signor Galvini, Italian plenipotentiary to the United States. His note
had been turned over to the secret service. They had forestalled bomb throwing on the part of
anti-Fascists, but had not discovered the men higher up. A few lesser criminals had gone to jail.

Joe Cardona was not a man to place too much faith in impressions. Doubts lurked in his brain, when he
tried to identify Double Z as a definite personality. Some smart crook might be using this guise for some
unknown purpose. But despite his suspicion of impressions, Cardona had a weakness for hunches. The
first had materialized.

Double Z had committed crime and had shown himself to be shrewd, but bungling. He had lured Joel
Caulkins, and had then required four shots to kill him, thus proving that Double Z was not so good when
it came to gun play. Perhaps, Cardona speculated, Double Z might be an old man.

While the detective still doubted his own impressions, he had experienced another hunch; and in that, he
had no doubt. He felt positive that Double Z, once a killer, would now enter crime with boldness.

It was because of this hunch that Wentworth had been placed on watch. The house on Eightieth Street
might be a hideout for Double Z, masquerading under the name of Joseph T. Dodd. If so, he might return
there. Cardona was sure that the killer would soon be heard from, and awaited that time.

THAT was why the detective registered no surprise when he arrived at headquarters at noon to find
Acting Inspector Fennimann anxiously awaiting him. This was on the day after The Shadow's secret visit
to the old houseтАФtwo days after the murder of Joel Caulkins.

"What is it?" questioned Cardona, when he saw the inspector. "More on Double Z?"

"You guessed it, Joe. He's sent another note."

"Here?"

"No. To Philip Farmington, the big banker. A direct threat. Read this."

Cardona received a paper. Its words were poorly typewritten. The detective recognized the battered M
and the weakly struck A. Double Z sometimes scrawled; on other occasions he typed. Always, he
inscribed, at the foot of the note, those twin letters that served as his signature. The message read:

You are making a mistake. Stop at once or you will hear from me. Death will come to you!

The detective was contemplative for a few moments. Then he turned to Fennimann:

"When did Farmington get this?" was his question.

"This morning," replied the acting inspector. "Sent it down by messenger. Called up to make sure it came
in. I told him you would come up to see him. He will be home at one o'clock."

Joe Cardona glanced at his watch.