"Stine, Jean Marie - The Boxoffice Caper" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stine Jean Marie)

I let Mrs. Bracket show me herself.

Rather than hauling them all downtown for questioning, I stalled by pretending to search the two men, then phoning for a female officer to search her..

Then I allowed her and Ackerman to kneel side by side while they pretended to examine the $300.00 they'd planted in Gernsback's locker.

Since Ackerman had already been searched and was no longer a suspect, I figured if he was involved, she would try to pass the money to him before she was searched herself. And she did. Then Ackerman passed it to her husband when they pretended to argue after the theater let out..

The scene he'd caused earlier., at 8:20, had been to give Ackerman an alibi and to set up their encounter after the movie was over. They figured that would minimize suspicion.

I saw them pass the money both times (I interviewed Hazel Held to see if I could find evidence that would positively clear Gernsback and implicate Ackerman or Mrs. Brackett more fully.)

I arranged to have Edmond Brackett driven home, presumably because he was too drunk to trust behind a wheel.

I knew he wasn't that drunk. But Mr. Brackett couldn't refuse without giving himself away.

Of course, I really just wanted an officer near him all the time -- so we could keep an eye on the money. I knew Ackerman and the Bracketts weren't about to trust each other over nearly five grand in cash. They were bound to meet divide it up as soon as Ackerman and Mrs. Brackett returned from signing their perjured statements implicating Gernsback.

No wonder Gernsback was nervous and lied about where the money in his locker came from. He knew he was being framed, though not by who, and he thought no one would believe him.

DISPOSITION: CASE CONCLUDED, SUSPECTS ARRESTED.

ADDITIONAL COMMENT:

Arranged for Hugo Gernsback's release. (Saw the glances he and Robert Olsen exchanged, and the class rings they wore. Imagine those two kids will have happy holiday.)





Copyright й 2000 Jean Marie Stine