The Parachute Murder by Lebbeus Mitchell

Author:Lebbeus Mitchell [Mitchell, Lebbeus]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Phocion Publishing
Published: 2019-10-31T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XVI — VIDA LATTERBY DECIDES TO TALK

THE newspapers carried scareheads over the arrest of Giulio Vanuzzi for the murder of Chadwick Morne, recounting his history and the fact that the dead actor had been a silent partner in the Happy Hours night club. The District Attorney’s office had evidently given out enough information to the press to justify the arrest of the Italian. Miss Vane’s sudden fright when Vanuzzi confronted her with such an ugly look on the airplane, the threat she had received over the telephone, were recounted publicly for the first time. Mrs. Delano’s account of the kidnapping was repeated.

As a “follow” to the arrest of Vanuzzi, under a Carlstown, O., date line, was an account of the arrest of Rolf Perkin, charged with the murder. Editorially, the newspapers were inclined to poke fun at the small town police. Yet, even though Perkin had stoutly maintained his innocence, a bit of evidence had been discovered which seemed to point to his guilt. A revolver had been found in a pasture not a quarter of a mile from where the body of the actor had landed. It was an army automatic .38, the same calibre as the gun with which Morne had been shot. It had been flung carelessly on the ground where the first chance passer-by would see it.

Kemerson could not make the guilt of Perkin fit in with the evidence he had discovered. The revolver might have been fired by Vanuzzi and hurled through the open door of the airplane. If Perkin had fired the mortal shot and then robbed the body he would have had cunning enough to conceal the gun.

Vanuzzi, if he were not innocent, had cleverly blocked every attempt to glean information” from him. He must have been infatuated with Vida Latterby, Kemerson thought, to have taken her back after she had left him for Morne. An interview with the young woman might throw some light on the quarrel between the two men. He called Mr. Brixton on the telephone.

“The time has come for an interview with Vida Latterby. She was with Vanuzzi last night in his apartment, and it’s possible she knows something about the kidnapping of Miss Vane. I suppose your men know where she can be found?”

“Dugan has interviewed her,” replied the District Attorney, “but he might as well not have questioned her for all the information he got. She is a very self-contained, calculating young woman. I’ll have her here at eleven o’clock if that suits you.”

“I’ll be there. You might have Dugan check up on Vanuzzi’s movements at the Happy Hours night club last night.”

“That has been done. Vanuzzi was there until half past two this morning. Have you any clue as to Miss Vane?”

“None at all. I am in hopes the Latterby woman may be of help to us there. Vanuzzi may have told her enough to give’ us some clue to work on—if it is not already too late.”

“The Commissioner has assigned twenty detectives and a large force of uniformed men to search for her.

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