The Shadow 256 by Maxwell Grant

Author:Maxwell Grant
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

OUTSIDE the Chez Caprice, Glenn Owen suggested that they all go to his apartment and review the evidence concerning Larkin Sparr.

They did, but Weston wasn’t any too convinced when he saw it. Not that Rupe to Larkin to Mart wasn’t the logical answer to the travels of the missing portmanteau. The job was to prove it.

“I’ll prove it,” declared Owen abruptly. “I’ll shed the final clues, commissioner. I’m sure that Cranston will approve, even though we’re working solely on theory. You can’t see a murder motive behind a mere portmanteau. But if that portmanteau should contain a million dollars’ worth of diamonds, it would be worth murder and the price to cover up!”

With that, Owen produced the certified documents that gave him full claim to receive and sell Van Zuyder’s uncut diamonds, with their customs payment already arranged from the Hollander’s frozen funds.

When he saw those papers, Weston didn’t have to be further convinced. He accepted the theory as fact, without waiting for Cardona to urge him. This time, the commissioner was out-hunching his ace inspector.

“So that’s it!” exclaimed Weston. “Why, if Rupe knew what was in that portmanteau - and he must have known - he’d have gone to any limit to get it!”

“He did go the limit,” put in Cardona, “by sending Larkin to murder Branford and grab the portmanteau.”

“And it was to go to Mart,” added Weston, “so there would be no chance of tracing it from the rest of the Van Zuyder collection, which Rupe intended to steal as a blind.”

“No question that Mart knows its value,” completed Cardona, “or has made a good guess at it. That’s why Mart pulled that stuff about a search warrant. He’s going to get that portmanteau yet and stow it in his vault, the only place he can be sure to keep it.”

Nodding, Weston began to speculate further, but Cardona didn’t listen. Stepping out to the hallway, Joe met Rowell and asked the secretary if there was another phone downstairs. When Rowell nodded, Joe closed the door of Owen’s little office and went downstairs.

Since Weston’s further speculations proved nothing but a review of things already said, Cranston inserted a few remarks. He was glancing at a newspaper, the latest copy of the Classic, when he provided his suggestion.

“Since these are Dutch diamonds,” said Cranston, “we might expect some rivalry over them, commissioner.”

Weston frowned; then queried: “What sort of rivalry, Cranston?”

“From persons connected with the Nazi government,” returned Cranston. “They consider all property of an invaded country to be their own. The thought struck me when I noticed this story in the Classic.”

Cranston passed the newspaper to Weston. The story was brief, but pointed. Written by Clyde Burke, it told how the reporter had tried to interview Alexis Ault, but hadn’t been able to locate him.

“An odd chap, Ault,” added Cranston. “A broker friend of mine wanted to handle some of those stocks that Ault is selling. But he couldn’t seem to find Ault, either.”

Staring past Weston’s shoulder, Hargood gave a sudden exclamation when he saw Ault’s picture, boxed in beside Burke’s story.

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