"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 250 - Death About Town" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

Finding that he could learn no more from Cranston, Weston decided to go across the street. He and
Cranston entered the lobby of the Galba Building and looked at the name board, to find that Laverock's
office was on the fifth floor. While they were buzzing the elevator button, Delmot came up a stairway
from the basement.

"It's no use, commissioner," declared Delmot. "We'll have to use the stairs, like Inspector Cardona did.
The elevator operator has left, and I can't find the janitor anywhere."

While the three were turning toward the stairway, a rumble came from the elevator shaft. They waited,
and soon the elevator arrived, piloted by a man in overalls who turned out to be the janitor. He said that
Cardona had met him on the third floor and had sent him down to get the rest of the party.
The janitor took the group by elevator to the fifth floor, where they found Cardona in Laverock's office,
which he had opened with the janitor's keys. Laverock's office was small and unimposing, but it
represented a profitable business, according to Delmot.

"Laverock handles investments," Delmot explained. "His clientele is small, but select, and I understand
that his customers are well satisfied with the purchases that he suggests. Quite a few of his customers
belong to the Avenue Club."

Weston asked if Orvill belonged to that group, and Delmot gave a sad headshake.

"Laverock and Orvill never did get along," said Delmot. "But I can't understand how personal animosity
would allow Laverock to go so far as to murder Orvill. Perhaps it was impulse, seeing the man he hated
just across the street; or he might have supposed that Orvill was spying on him."

Delmot finished with a shrug of his shoulders, as if to inquire: "Who knows?"

AT least, Laverock's desk and filing cabinets offered some chance of a clue, so Cardona began to dig
through them, though results were small at first. Most of Laverock's files consisted of printed matter,
pertaining to stocks and bonds.

Joe came across some letters that Laverock had received from customers, and took down the names of
the senders, but such letters were comparatively few and, according to Delmot, could represent only a
fraction of the persons who dealt with Laverock.

Then came a real find - a folder marked with Orvill's name. It contained several letters from Orville, with
Laverock's carbon replies. The letters had nothing to do with investments; instead, they pertained to the
Avenue Club.

In one, Orvill suggested bluntly that Laverock resign from the club. Laverock's pointed reply stated that
he would continue to be a member long after Orville was forgotten around the Avenue Club. This, in the
light of Orvill's sudden death, could be interpreted as a murder threat on Laverock's part.

Next, in Laverock's desk drawer, Cardona came across another piece of evidence. It was a permit for a
revolver, listing the make and serial number of the weapon in question. Since the permit had been issued
by the police, Cardona promptly pocketed it, but he left everything else as he had found it.

"I'll put a couple of men on watch outside," declared Cardona, "just in case Laverock decides to come
back here. Meanwhile" - he gestured toward the janitor - "this fellow can keep his eyes open, inside the
building."