Part 12 (1/2)
”It's here!” he exclaimed. ”It fits!”
”What's that?” quizzed Weston.
”Dorrington's activities in handling estates,” replied Markin. ”I told Tharxell to look up the records.
Dorrington is a criminal lawyer. Estates are not ordinarily in his line. During the past five years he has not handled more than a dozen of any consequence.
”It occurred to me, commissioner, that I had opened Rufus Gilwood's safe deposit box less than one week after the old millionaire had died. Verbeck did the same with Torrence Dilgin's box. Tell me”- Markin turned to Cardona- ”what about Durton's key? What about Keith's? Did you find out when they were used at their respective banks?”
”Yes,” returned Cardona. ”The banks told me the particular dates on which each of those keys were brought with papers of ident.i.ty. Keith's is there in the report, commissioner-”
”Twelfth of December, two years ago,” announced Weston.
” And Durton's was used in June of the same year,” recalled Cardona. ”June the ninth, as I remember it.”
”Let's see,” chuckled Markin, running his forefinger down the list. ”Ah! Here we have them. Parkinson Watts, the importer, died on the fifth of June that year. Hector Mell, Wall Street wizard, died on the seventh of December.”
”Then Watts,” exclaimed Weston, ”was the man who gave the key to Durton. Mell was the dupe who handed one to Keith!”
”It appears so.” Markin pa.s.sed the list to Weston. ”It seems more than mere coincidence, commissioner.
”There are not many estates in Dorrington's list.”
”A lucky point,” decided Weston. ”It looks like malice aforethought. A criminal lawyer-like Dorrington-handling a few choice estates. Why would millionaires have gone to him?” Weston's nod was the answer to his own question. ”This is a useful point, Markin. It bears out your beliefs regarding Dorrington.”
Handing the list to Cardona, the commissioner arose and paced the floor. He made no objection to George Tharxell's presence. Since Markin had taken his partner into confidence, Weston did the same.
”Your visit was a bull,” said Weston, to Cardona. ”Nevertheless, it has done no harm. I should like to talk to that man, Dorrington. I should like to hear him speak.”
”Why not call on him, commissioner?” questioned Markin. ”He is crafty enough to know that he is under suspicion.”
”Never invade the enemy's terrain,” declared the commissioner, ”until you are sure that his defense isweakened. Make him come to you.”
”Request him to come to your office.”
”No. He would be too well prepared.”
”Meet him somewhere then. Place him in a position where he is at a disadvantage. If you could only force him to join you at one of those places where crime was done at his bidding!”
”Verbeck's or Keith's!” exclaimed Cardona. ”Say-there's a real idea. I'd like to talk to Dorrington like I would to any crook-”
”To try the third degree, I suppose,” interposed Weston, coldly. ”Very tactless, Cardona. Very. The suggestion is absurd. Nevertheless, it has the germ of an idea. If we could coax Dorrington to talk with some one who could match his cunning, under circ.u.mstances that would hold him at disadvantage in-”
”How about here?” broke in Cardona. ”Get him here to talk with Mr. Markin!”
CARDONA swung toward Markin. The old lawyer's face was a study. It showed eagerness to get at Dorrington; but with the expression came evidence of fear. The latter reaction gained predominance.
”No!” protested Markin. ”No! It is most unreasonable. I am the one man who could testify to Dorrington's undoing. He needs my death more than Verbeck's- more than Durton's-more than Keith's-”
”But his fangs are gone,” interrupted Weston. ”Whitey Calban is dead. So is Ace Feldon.”
”He may have other underworld connections,” warned Markin. ”Should he come here, with a.s.sa.s.sins at his heels to-”
”He would betray his own guilt.”
Markin's trembling ceased at Weston's quiet, emphatic statement. A gleam of prospective hope showed upon the old attorney's face. Sagely, Markin nodded.
”That is true,” he agreed. ”Your men outside are my protection. Yes - Dorrington would enter alone; the others would have to follow. I would like to talk with him. The idea appeals to me-if only you could both be here. That, however, is impossible.”
”Do you want us present?” put in Cardona. ”Or would it do if we were listening in?”
”How would you listen in?”
”With a dictograph.”
”Where?”
”In the bedroom.”
Markin shook his head. He looked toward the closed door at the end of the room.
”Dorrington would suspect,” he protested. ”The bedroom would not do.”
”How about the study?” asked Weston. ”The place where Howland sleeps?”
”It's close enough,” added Cardona. ”We could be in here inside of five seconds if any trouble started.” ”That would do,” agreed Markin, in a thoughtful tone. ”Yes it would be an excellent arrangement. I see merit in the plan. Real merit. There is only one objection.”
”What is that?” questioned Weston.
”The mental hazard,” responded Markin. ”I cannot let Dorrington know that I fear him. I must feel confident that he is not accompanied by thugs.”
”We'll be here; a squad will be outside.”
”I know. But if Dorrington sees that I am virtually in hiding, he will be contemptuous. He must not find me cowering in this room. He must not know that I am afraid to leave the house.
”Suppose, commissioner, that I arrange an appointment with Lester Dorrington. Suppose I managed to bring him here-to this very room. Could you call first and take me out with you? Could we watch the house, to make sure that Dorrington came unaccompanied?”
”Certainly.”
”I could have Tharxell here meet Dorrington. Howland could usher Dorrington into this room. The door is thick. You, commissioner, could enter with and join Inspector Cardona in the study at the end of the hall.”
”That would enable you to overcome the mental hazard?”
”I believe so.”
”Good. Then you are ready to follow our suggestion.”