Grant, Maxwell - The Shadow 170 - The Vindicator by Maxwell Grant

Author:Maxwell Grant
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Detective, Mystery, Crime, Suspense, Adventure, Thriller
Publisher: Street & Smith Publications
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

THE call finished, Trigger darted a shrewd look at Jeeper. With a wise nod, he decided to take this capable lieutenant into his confidence. Jeeper was no ordinary mobbie. He was smart like Trigger; and smart guys worked better for persons who knew their stuff. Trigger could tell Jeeper something that would make his eyes pop, and it seemed good policy to do it.

“That was the bigshot,” informed Trigger. “This Vindicator guy that I told you all about.”

“Except who he is,” reminded Jeeper. “You didn’t put me wise to that.”

“Because I’m not supposed to know. Only, I’m not as dumb as the bigshot figures.”

Strolling across the room, Trigger faced about, to resume in steady tone:

“Listen. Up to the time that castle blew itself apart, I had a hunch that the bigshot was this Dana Brye. If he wasn’t, what was the idea of me having the mob out there?”

“Maybe,” put in Jeeper, “the bigshot didn’t want nobody to get in and see Brye. Or he could have wanted to keep Brye there.”

“And maybe it was Brye who wanted us to keep guys away. That makes sense, don’t it?”

“It did make sense, maybe. But not any longer, now that Brye’s cashed in his checks.”

Trigger smiled. This was where the smart stuff came. He watched Jeeper’s face to see how the theory struck him. “This is the fifth time the Vindicator called up,” reminded Trigger, nudging toward the telephone. “He’s always got two questions: Am I sure that Brye was in the joint when it blew? And have they found the body yet?

“He asks the first one over again, right now, after I tell him that they found the body, the way the papers said. Still, he don’t seem satisfied. He acts like he thinks I’m wise to something; at least, that’s the way that funny voice of his sounded.

“Maybe I am wise. Listen, Jeeper. None of the mob even saw Brye, from the time we covered the place. He never went out to get his mail. It’s still laying at the Vreekill post office. Suppose Brye wasn’t in that castle at all!”

Jeeper showed the interest that Trigger expected. Before he could put a question, Trigger intervened.

“I know what you’re going to ask,” said Trigger. “What about the body? Well, what about it? Maybe it was a stiff that Brye lugged in there and left. He could have set those bombs of his way ahead. And that’s how” - Trigger spread his wolfish lips in a wide smile - “Brye could have been around to croak old Grennel.”

There was a nod from Jeeper. Seeing the fellow’s increasing interest, Trigger spat a warning.

“Nobody’s to know this, not even Slink. We’re playing in with the bigshot, see? It means dough, so it would be bum stuff to let him know we’ve guessed who he is, because he don’t want it that way. Brye’s using this Vindicator gag to cover up. If nobody knows who you are, you’re better off. Take, for instance, The Shadow

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