"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 042 - Mox" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

supposed telephone message from Inspector Klein was a mere pretext.

Weston thought that Lamont Cranston was serving him. The contrary was the case. Weston was serving
Lamont Cranston. In his guise of an influential millionaire, The Shadow was traveling to find the message
which Schuyler Harlew had left for him.

The Shadow's passport on this unusual mission was the police commissioner of New York City!

CHAPTER III. THE INVESTIGATION
"HERE'S the body, inspector."

Joe Cardona grunted his response to the policeman who spoke the words. The officer had just swung
open the door of the third-floor room. Cardona was staring at the form of Schuyler Harlew, spread upon
the floor.

"We haven't touched anything," declared the policeman. "There's the letter on the table."

"All right," growled Cardona. "Captain Mowry told me all about it. He'll be up here in a minute."

A heavy man in the uniform of a police captain came up the stairs a few moments after Cardona had
spoken. He stopped at the door beside the detective, and stood silently while Cardona studied the body.
This was Captain Mowry, in charge of the precinct where the murder had taken place.

Cardona entered the room. He noted the light still burning in the green-shaded lamp. He saw the little
desk clock. He observed the note that lay on the desk. He began to read it.
He was reaching forward to pick up the paper when he heard the sound of new footsteps on the stairs.
He swung inquiringly toward the captain.

"I left word no one was to come up," announced the police officer. "Go ahead; I'll see who it is."

As the captain looked down the hall, Cardona stepped to the door. He saw the captain salute and step
back a pace.

Peering from the room, Cardona saw the reason. The star detective repressed a scowl as he recognized
Police Commissioner Ralph Weston.

"Hello, Cardona," was the commissioner's greeting. "Just heard from Inspector Klein that you were up
here. You have met Mr. Cranston?"

Cardona nodded. He had met the prominent millionaire, and knew Cranston as a friend of Weston's.
Cardona submitted to the commissioner's intervention with good grace. It paid to be friendly with
Weston, as Cardona had learned, and now that the commissioner was here, there was nothing to do but
accept the fact.

"Go right ahead, Cardona," ordered Weston. "Don't let us disturb you. Mr. Cranston and I are here
purely as interested spectators."

CARDONA resumed his study of the body. He received a sheet of notes from the captain. He referred
to them as he crossed the room, and peered through the narrow space of the window. Carefully noting
the exact position of the hinged sash, he opened it farther and thrust his head through. He peered down a