The Secret 6: The Complete Adventures by Robert J. Hogan

Author:Robert J. Hogan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Action and Adventure
Publisher: Altus Press

Chapter II

Suicide?

AS the Key spoke, he pointed to another headline on the front page.

BANKER POSSIBLE SUICIDE

Strange Circumstances Take Place Before Body Is Found

New York: Horace Mann, president of the International Bank, was thought to have committed suicide early this morning. Blackmail was hinted.

Patrolman Michael Kelly, on his regular beat about the palatial home of the bank president, reported that shortly before midnight a man, well over six feet in height, left the residence. A huge dog came out of the shadows and followed him.

The patrolman says at first he thought the dog was chasing the man, and remembering the giant dog menace, he shot the animal. As the dog fell, the large man broke into a run. The patrolman ordered him to stop, but the man escaped.

It is believed now that this man had a direct connection with the giant dogs, and that the dog was following him as a pet would follow its master.

“I’m afraid,” ventured the Bishop, “the whole thing is a bit vague in my mind.”

The Key snorted. “To me its plain that the whole thing ties up with those records that disappeared from the D. A.’s office. I think this is just the beginning of a swell blackmail racket.”

“I suppose you’ve already made investigation, Key,” the Bishop said, “among your friends in the city?”

“You’re da—darned right,” the Key nodded. “I told the Dummy to keep us posted on anything that turned up at police headquarters. And I got hold of Flo the Fleecer last night and told her to find out all she could about certain citizens of the big dump who are in the blackmail racket. We ought to be getting some info soon.”

King shook his head. “Just how do you figure all this ties together? The dogs and the suicide of Horace Mann and the disappearance of records from the District Attorney’s office?”

“Well, of course, I’m just guessing,” the Key admitted, “but I look at it this way. The cops think that Horace Mann committed suicide because of a blackmail threat made by the big guy who was seen coming out of his house near midnight. Kelly says the huge dog followed the guy away like a pet.

“Well, there ain’t any sweeter proposition for blackmail than those stolen records from the D. A.’s office. And the fact that one of the purps seemed to be a pet of the guy who was blackmailing Mann makes me think the whole layout is tied up together somehow.”

King turned his head so that his keen eyes fell on the little man’s face.

“Key,” he said, “why did you suspect blackmail when those records first disappeared.

“Huh,” growled the Key, “you wouldn’t have to ask that if you knew some of these lugs like I do. Since Prohibition went out, the dough don’t flow like it used to. There is certain citizens who used to make plenty out of the beer and liquor business. Now there ain’t nothing much left for them to do but peddle papers or sell lead pencils.

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