Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 239 by Maxwel l Grant

Author:Maxwel,l Grant
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf

CHAPTER XII. ROUTES REVERSED

MOVING through the darkness, The Shadow did not immediately approach Breckett's car. He hadn't yet learned of its presence, and he was more interested in noting how Belmar and Margo fared, before beginning what might prove to be a useless survey of the surrounding area.

Belmar was ringing the bell at the side door that led up to Quelby's apartment, where lights indicated that the chess fiend was still awake. Since Belmar was getting no results, Margo went around to the front and saw the light in the bookshop. Belmar joined her.

At that moment, The Shadow was quite close at hand. Sensing that matters weren't right, he chose the short route to the apartment, up by a darkened roof. Finding an obscure window, he opened it and slid inside.

Even when he crossed Quelby's living room, The Shadow wasn't observed by watchers outside. He kept away from the lights, avoiding positions where they would cast a shade against the wall when he passed them.

The Shadow reached the door leading to the side stairs and found it bolted on the inside. Obviously, no one could have gone out by that way without Quelby's knowledge and co-operation. Thus, the bookshop was the logical route; the place where Quelby probably was, at present. The Shadow started down the stairs to the shop.

Belmar was pounding intermittently at the front door. Despite the knocks, The Shadow detected other sounds outside, and paused. The sounds were car motors, but they were approaching, not leaping, so The Shadow waited.

Belmar's banging stopped; evidently he was meeting people who had just arrived. So The Shadow glided quickly toward the light in the bookshop.

There, he saw Quelby for the first time.

The man fitted the descriptions of him. His face had a shrewd look. The Shadow recalled a quotation regarding the "scheming minds" of chess players.

Yes, Quelby could have been a schemer, the sort who would line up with crooks, as Brock had. He also looked the type who would talk under pressure. If Brock's lips had needed sealing, so had Quelby's.

That was probably why they had been sealed.

Sprawled by a table, the receiver in his clutch, Quelby was stone-dead. Death had struck him in the midst of the call. He had talked to someone, though, for the furious pounding that began at the front door indicated that summoned help had arrived. The pounding ended in a crash as the door came through.

It wasn't sensible for The Shadow to be found in company with the dead body. Nevertheless, he turned directly toward the men who entered. His purpose was to reach the stairs again, and he gained them in the darkness, though he nearly elbowed the arrivals as he made the turn.

On the stairs, The Shadow paused.

People were heading toward the light where Belmar lay. The Shadow recognized their voices when they found the body. Belmar's, of course, and Haudlin's, along with some others.

Startled at first, the tones changed. The Shadow heard Haudlin question:

"Did he call you, too, Belmar?"

Belmar hesitated, only momentarily.

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