  Detective Lieutenant Silas Berry of the New York Homicide Squad was fine-tooth-combing Romany’s room for possible clues. “Mr.—Inspector—Lieutenant Berry.” Julian was inclined to embarrassment. “Can you spare me a few minutes? I want to talk.” Berry laid his magnifying glass on the dresser. “Nothing would please me more, boy,” he said cheerfully, folding his arms and leaning against the bed post. “As you have undoubtedly observed, we detectives just sit around waiting for someone to be kind enough to confess and save our faces with a critical public. What’s on your mind? I think it was you, Prentice,” he continued without interruption, “who thought there were two shots fired at Whittaker this morning. Not that he didn’t deserve a dozen to judge by the shambles he’s made Julian was filling his pipe with unsteady fingers in an effort to cover his excitement and pleasure at Berry’s tone of easy, natural camaraderie! “Yes, Mr. Berry. I am. But I admit my willingness to be proved mistaken by anyone but Mr. Belknap.” “I’ve remarked that you and Mr. Belknap don’t exactly see eye to eye.” Berry’s lips twitched in a half-smile. “Or is it that you’ve sighted identically, to the point of interference—had you hit on the Dorn solution too? You don’t fancy such a formidable rival, is that it?” “Perhaps. Yes, Dorn was my original suspicion, and begins to look like my last. Do you really think he’s Mr. Belknap’s, though? Isn’t Mr. Belknap afraid of the woman in the case?” “You mean Miss Mdevani, I suppose. Hold on now, you shouldn’t be asking me questions, young man.” Berry caught himself up. “You’re here to answer them. Don’t misunderstand me and think I’m taking you on as a Watson.” But severe as the tone was, a quick glance at Berry’s face revealed a twinkle behind it, and Julian was thrilled down to his bootstraps at the intimate badinage. “I promise not to flatter myself too much, Mr. Berry,” Julian smiled shyly. “Now about those shots, sir,—and then I have a clue or two I’ve been hoarding just for you. I heard two shots, unless my hearing had gone double. I was tired, but I hadn’t been drinking. However, I’m wrong by the facts; the Colt had been fired but once. So my testimony doesn’t signify.” “Amateur reasoning, Prentice. Try to figure out why after you go to bed tonight—I hope you are going to bed—and the effort will put you to sleep better than sheep-counting. Or come and tell me if you do find the nigger in your wood pile. All right, give us your clues. I’m all excited.” Julian produced his slip of thin white paper with its cryptic message. “You see Colonel Blake was tagged and numbered,” he said. “I’m surprised you knew the code. Very keen of you. Where did you find this?” “On the stairs, after Mrs. Crawford screamed.” “Is that the sum total of your knowledge of its antecedents, birthplace, and purpose in life. Then we’re about as well off as we were a month ago.” Julian looked quenched. “Can’t it be traced?” he murmured. “What with—a stencil? Never mind. Don’t let it worry you. Oh, I’ll keep it,” he added, as Julian extended a hand. “Our friend Stebbins will enjoy it. If I show it to him. He hasn’t a flare for motives, but he eats up clues. Have you others?” “No, not exactly. But I thought I’d better mention that Miss Lacey just remembered the name she was trying to recall. You know, the name mentioned by Romany. It’s Violet Mowbray. Does it mean a blessed thing to you? It doesn’t to me.” Berry’s eyes were intent on the pattern in the rug. Again Julian could make nothing of his face. Then Berry clicked his tongue, with a sound like a miniature gunshot, and for the startled Julian it registered the click of an idea. “Uhmmm?!” Berry prolonged the interrogatory exclamation with exaggerated softness. “Rraather.” Belknap always went his English ancestors one better in accent whenever his dignity was endangered. “Shall I retire?” “By no means. I’m sure even the untutored Prentice will agree that in matters of codes and Violet Mowbrays three heads are better than two. There’s no such thing as too many detectives, is there?” “Violet Mowbray!” Belknap showed sudden and marked interest and for a man who rarely showed any it was remarkable. He closed the “We don’t know. It was the name Miss Lacey couldn’t remember and has remembered.” “Let’s see. How was it Miss Video mentioned her. ‘Revelation for revelation, with Violet Mowbray thrown in?’ Was that it? It might mean anything. After all, Violet Mowbray did have a past. However, we’d better look into it.” “Yes, Miss Lacey wasn’t the only prowler last night.” Berry squinted at Julian, who stood looking bewildered but pleased at the response to at least one of his hopeful suggestions. “The remark may have meant more to another than it did to her. And it can do no harm to look up Violet, poor girl. One of your cruel cases, Belknap. Brilliantly executed, of course, and justified in consequence I suppose, but sinfully cruel. I’m surprised she’s living. Though this doesn’t prove she is.” “It was a sad affair. I regretted it myself. But Blake was a close friend, and I saw my way to be able to clear his name. Shall I give the prison a ring? One of us could see her tomorrow—or we could send a man out.” “Do. But cast your mind’s eye over this before you go.” Belknap took the coded message, scarcely glancing at it. “Oh yes. I wondered when I’d see this again. Where did you find it?” “Prentice recovered it on the stairs.” “I must have dropped it there. I really hadn’t wanted to enter it as evidence unless it was necessary. Particularly since I am convinced it has no bearing. I received it from Miss Mdevani. She was in a trap, as you can see. She brought me this to show me in how desperate a trap. It was to her advantage under the circumstances, to prevent murder here last night. Though if it had been just between the two of them with the world well lost I’m sure she would have blown Whittaker’s brains out and considered he escaped lightly for his damned treachery. Mind, I’m holding no brief for her character. This would rise up to deny me.” He smiled ironically, lifting the paper at them. “She is no angel. But I shall have to be shown about the present case. If you think, on this account, I shall be less help than hindrance to “Not for a minute, old man. Don’t dream of deserting me and the ship. In fact I wouldn’t, I couldn’t, get on without you. I’m not as cold-blooded as you; and I don’t in the least relish being left alone by night, in a fog, with the rats either dead or deserted. No, I guess I could bear up as far as that’s concerned. But I do look to you to provide the missing link to what seems to me a pretty bad tangle. Which reminds me I have an important question to put to you. Run along, Prentice, will you, like a good fellow? The powers that be want to confer.” Julian, having just congratulated himself on the fact that they seemed to have completely forgotten him, was sadly disappointed. He left them with their heads together. |
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