"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 117 - Vengeance Is Mine" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

"I get it," nodded Cardona. "Your idea is that Zanwood's murderer is
trying to throw us off the trail. Don't worry about that, Mr. Mook. I'm not
classing you as a suspect. I'm just wondering if you're due for trouble, like
Zanwood was."
Mook's droopy face quivered. The suggestion made the man shaky, as
Cardona
had intended it. The room key rattled against its tag as Mook gripped it in
his
trembling hand. With an effort, Mook gave his head a violent shake of denial.
"No, no," he insisted. "It couldn't be that! I have no enemies. I don't
want to be mixed in this."
"You won't be," promised Cardona, "if you tell what you know about
Zanwood."
"I'll make a statement. I'll give the few details that I can. But I must
have time to think; to recall Zanwood, when I knew him, years ago. If we go to
my room, inspector -"
"That's just where we are going. We'll talk there, Mr. Mook."


CARDONA knew that the corridor was clear, for he had looked along it. He
wanted to be certain on one other point; namely, that the afternoon's visitor
had not entered 2549. To assure himself on that, Cardona turned again to the
clerk.
"You're positive that the young man knocked steadily?" asked Joe. "He
didn't stop a while, so that he could try to unlock the door?"
"The knocking was steady," affirmed the girl. "As I said before, he never
paused longer than a dozen seconds; just as anyone would do if expecting a
response."
The repeated testimony settled it for Cardona. Since the visitor could
not
have entered 2549; since he had left nothing in the corridor, the place was
certainly clear.
Turning about, Cardona started to tell Mook to accompany him, then
blinked
when he saw that the stoop-shouldered man was no longer beside him. Joe shot a
quick glance toward the elevators, as if suspecting that Mook, had tried to
give him the slip. The girl clerk smiled.
"Mr. Mook went to his room," she said. "I saw him start while you were
speaking to me. The carpets on these floors are so thick that it is impossible
to hear footsteps."
"Thanks," returned Cardona, gruffly. "I'll join Mr. Mook in his room. If
anyone calls up, put it through. I'll want to talk to them."
Stepping away from the low desk, Cardona started quick strides toward the
short corridor where Mook's room was located.
As Joe stepped away, the door of an elevator slid smoothly open. Cardona
did not hear it; he was too anxious to overtake Mook. Hence Joe did not see
the
two arrivals who stepped forth - both persons whom he would immediately have
recognized.
The first was Commissioner Ralph Weston. Close behind him was The Shadow,