The Shadow - 104 - Murder Town by Maxwell Grant

Author:Maxwell Grant
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Street & Smith
Published: 1936-05-31T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XI. THE FULL REPORT

LATE the next afternoon, a solemn group was gathered in Stephen Fleed’s office. From behind his desk, the bushy-browed D.A. was surveying the witnesses who had first found James Kedley’s body. Clyde Burke and Madge Kedley were seated opposite Fleed. Tilton was leaning against the wall beside the door.

“We are faced with murder,” stated Fleed, soberly. “Vicious, insidious murder. The facts that we have learned have given us a knowledge of the murderer’s methods. Yet our path is blocked by lack of certain information.

“Let me summarize what we have learned. Rufe Rokestone plunged twelve stories from his penthouse.

Lynn Galbray was in his car when it was struck by a locomotive. James Kedley was stabbed by an assassin. Rokestone’s death was suspicious; Galbray’s, more so. Kedley’s fate proves that a murderer dealt with all three.

“That killer struck down Rokestone. He had accomplices to help him hurl the body from the window, or do the job themselves. He also dispatched Galbray; and again, his underlings aided him. These facts seem certain, because the murderer used men to back his crime, when he openly slew Kedley.

“It is probable that he wanted them to help him dispose of the body. The killer was balked of that purpose when you three arrived upon the scene. He was forced to flee; but it is evident that he did not leave Ontranta. This murderer must obviously be some one who lives in this very city—some one close enough to local affairs to have chosen the best times for crime.”

Rising, Fleed paced back and forth across his little office. Clyde Burke, watching him, was sure that the district attorney was considering factors that he did not mention. When Fleed finally paused, he spoke abruptly. Clyde could not tell whether or not he was stating everything that was in his mind.

“Two men fled in an unidentified roadster,” declared Fleed. “Pedestrians saw them speed away. A sedan followed, with four seen aboard. There were others, wounded, left near the parking lot. They, too, had a taxi for a get-away, but could not use it.

“A coupe followed the first two cars. Finally, a police car finished the procession. We have reason to believe that those in the coupe were friends of the law. They wrecked the sedan, which happened to be a local taxi, and enabled the police to capture those who were in the demolished car.”

FLEED paused. His face had soured. “Unfortunately,” he resumed, “the driver of the sedan was killed in the crash. His name was Louie Stargan; he was working in Ontranta as a taxi driver. The others were merely local hoodlums, whom Louie had lined up to work with him. They have been unable to give us any information.”

Seating himself, Fleed drummed the desk while he eyed his listeners. He began a new chain of discussion.

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