Part 4 (1/2)
Cardona beckoned Benzig forward. The a.s.sistant was nervous. Cardona introduced him, then orderedthe man to repeat his story.
”I was in here with Mr. Valdan,” testified Benzig. ”He had just returned from a trip out of town. He was annoyed because he did not find the evening newspaper on his table. So I took the opportunity to go and find Crowder.”
”Why?” quizzed Barth.
”Because it was Crowder's duty to leave the newspaper here, I crossed the outer laboratory. Then I heard the door of this room close. I decided that Mr. Valdan wanted to be alone. In fact, I thought sir - but I can not be quite sure - that I heard Mr. Valdan slide the bolt after he had closed the door.”
”Was that his custom?”
”Yes, sir.”
”Why?”
”Because he had experiments of his own. I never ventured to inquire into their nature. My work was in the outer laboratory. Mere routine, sir.”
”What did you do after the door closed?” inquired Barth.
”I continued upstairs,” resumed Benzig. ”I looked for Crowder. I called but he did not answer. So I went up to the second floor - that is, the third floor, if you count this as the first -”
”I understand. Proceed.”
”When I came down, I found Crowder. He had come from the kitchen, sir. I mentioned the matter of the newspaper. He was quite surprised. He stated that he had placed it in this little laboratory. So he came along with me, to inform Mr. Valdan of the fact.”
”Then you both returned together?”
”Yes, sir. We should have knocked at the door; but I opened it without thinking. I was surprised to note that the light was out. Crowder pressed the switch, sir. Then - then we saw the body.”
BARTH c.o.c.ked his head and studied the mild-faced a.s.sistant. Benzig seemed to shrink under the commissioner's eagle gaze. Barth waved Benzig aside and spoke to Crowder.
”Your story,” ordered the commissioner.
”I was in the kitchen,” stated the solemn servant. ”I was preparing a light supper for Mr. Valdan. I chanced to come out into the hallway; I found Benzig there. He told me that he had been calling for me and that he had looked about on the upper floor.
”Then he mentioned the newspaper, sir. So I came down here with him. Benzig opened the door. I turned on the light. I saw Mr. Valdan's body.”
Barth studied the servant in the same fas.h.i.+on as he had eyed the a.s.sistant. He paced back and forth beside Valdan's body. He swung suddenly to Benzig and snapped a question.
”You think that Valdan bolted the door?” questioned the commissioner.
”Yes,” replied Benzig. ”But it may have been my imagination. You see, sir, Mr. Valdan had spoken aboutthe outer door - the one in the large laboratory - the door that leads to the little alleyway between this house and the next -”
”What did he say about it?”
”He made sure that it was bolted, sir. That was before he came in here.”
”Is that outer door bolted now?” demanded Barth, turning to Cardona.
”No,” replied the detective. ”The bolt is drawn.”
”But I bolted it, sir!” exclaimed Benzig. ”After the delivery men left the box of guinea pigs. I am sure I did so, for Mr. Valdan checked on it.”
”Delivery men?” questioned Barth, of Cardona. ”Who were they?”
”I have Benzig's complete statement here,” declared the detective. ”There was a wrong delivery of equipment yesterday; today the same men brought an unordered crate of guinea pigs. Shall I have Benzig repeat his statements?”
”No,” snapped Barth, suddenly. ”Remove these witnesses. We must examine this room at once.”
POLICEMEN conducted Benzig and Crowder from the room. Barth closed the door and studied the bolt very closely. Cardona remarked that there were no finger prints. Barth shot the bolt and turned to the detective.
”Tell me about the delivery men,” ordered Barth.
”Yesterday,” stated the detective, referring to his notes, ”several men showed up with three boxes that they said contained laboratory equipment. This is according to Benzig's testimony.”
”I understand. Proceed.”
”Benzig says he unbolted the outer door and let them in. Valdan had gone away; he had said nothing about the equipment. So Benzig went upstairs and asked Crowder. The servant knew nothing. Benzig returned and sent the men away with the boxes.”
”I see. And they returned today?”
”Yes. With a crate of guinea pigs. Benzig let them put the crate in here. This is it - over here by the body.”
”Why did Benzig accept the consignment of guinea pigs? Did he say?”
”Valdan used guinea pigs for some purpose. Had them around the laboratory. Benzig thought the s.h.i.+pment was O.K. - so he says.”
Cardona expected another question from the commissioner. It did not come. With one of his abrupt changes of tack, Barth began to pace across the room. He stopped by the table. Cardona joined him, while Cranston remained quietly observant.
”Here's a box with two guinea pigs in it,” declared the detective. ”They're dead ones.”
”Humph,” grunted Barth, disinterested. ”And this big box drawn out from under the table,” added Cardona. ”Nothing in it but a lot of lead pipe.”
”Humph,” repeated Barth.
”Folders in the filing cabinet drawer,” added Cardona. ”They're arranged according to numbers. One of them is missing. Number one hundred and eleven.”
”Ah!” exclaimed Barth. ”Did you question Benzig on that matter?”
”Yes,” replied Cardona. ”He said that Valdan had him arrange folders according to their numbers. That was about a month ago. The only trouble - and I checked on this by examining other drawers - is that a lot of numbers are missing.”
”Why?”
”Benzig says they represented old experiments, formulas and so on. Valdan chucked a lot of them that were no use any more and left the s.p.a.ces blank.”
”Then we can a.s.sume that number one hundred and eleven was destroyed with the others. That is, unless we can positively a.s.sure ourselves that something has been taken from this room. Did you question Benzig on that score?”
”Yes. He looked around while I was watching him. But he couldn't figure anything missing.”