"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 043 - The Crime Clinic" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

CHAPTER II. THE SHADOW BEGINS
LATE the next afternoon, Detective Joe Cardona was seated at his desk in headquarters. The place was
deserted. Cardona, alone, was giving vent to his feelings by means of a sullen scowl. The chief object of
Cardona's annoyance seemed to be the evening newspaper that was lying on the desk before him.

Leaning back in his chair, Cardona spent a few minutes in reflective thought. Then, in a decisive manner,
he arose, picked up the newspaper, and strode into another office.

He sat down in a chair on the opposite side from a gray-haired man who was busily engaged in
completing a report sheet. This was Inspector Timothy Klein, Cardona's superior.

Klein did not appear to notice Cardona's arrival. When he had finished his report sheet, however, the
grizzled inspector looked up and greeted the detective with a friendly smile.
"What's the matter, Joe?" he inquired.

"Plenty," admitted Cardona. "This, for one thing."

He pointed to the newspaper as he spoke. Klein looked at the item indicated and shook his head.

"Why does this bother you?" he questioned. "A couple of small-fry mobsters killed - that's all. There have
been other shootings in that neighborhood."

"Listen, inspector." Cardona's voice was serious. "I've got a hunch that there's trouble coming. There's
something big behind this. I'll tell you why. I was using this fellow Scoffy. Just breaking him in as a
high-grade stool pigeon."

Inspector Klein arched his eyebrows. The statement aroused his immediate interest.

"Last night," went on Cardona, "I went down there to see him. He told me about this fellow, Bennie
Lizzit. Scoffy was afraid of Lizzit. More than that, he told me Lizzit was hooked up with a big game. I
told Scoffy to keep an eye on Lizzit. Then what happens? This. Lizzit kills Scoffy; and someone gets
Lizzit."

Inspector Klein began to nod thoughtfully.

"Which leaves me out," declared Cardona. "My stool's dead; so is the man he was watching. That's why
I think the game is going to break."

"What do you think it's all about, Joe?"

"I know what it's about," asserted Cardona. "You know the trouble we had with those swell society
robberies. You know how little we learned. Some rumors about a smart crook they called 'The
Jackdaw.' Whether he was a gentleman burglar or a gang leader, we didn't find out. The only way we
figured that he'd ducked out was when he quit operating.

"Well, last night Scoffy tipped me that Bennie Lizzit had worked for The Jackdaw. With Bennie back in
town, Scoffy figured The Jackdaw might be back. Now that Scoffy and Bennie are both dead, I figure
The Jackdaw is back."

THE statement brought a frown from Inspector Klein. Cardona knew the reason. He spoke before Klein