Chapter 7 Chapter Seven: Introducing the King into the Urn
half past five.I wandered the streets, found a hotel with an unlit sign, the Crawford Hotel, climbed a flight of stairs to the second-floor office, checked in, and asked them to wake me up at ten.I was taken to a shabby room, I had some whiskey poured into my stomach, and then I went to bed with my gun and a check for ten thousand from old Elihu.
ten o'clock.I dressed and went to the First National Bank, found young Aubrey, and asked him to guarantee Wilson's check for me.He made me wait for a while.I guess he called the old guy's place to see if the check was all right.In the end he returned the check to me, with a decent signature on it.
I took an envelope, put the old man's letter and check in it, addressed San Francisco Branch, put a stamp on it, went out and dropped it in the post box on the corner.
Then I went back to the bank and said to the young man, "Now, tell me why you killed him?"
He smiled and asked, "Or President Lincoln?"
"You're not going to admit right away that you killed Donal Wilson, are you?"
"I didn't want to contradict you," he said, still smiling, "but I really didn't."
"This is terrible," I complained. "We can't stand here arguing forever without being interrupted. Who's that fat guy with glasses walking this way?"
The young man blushed and said, "Mr. Triton, cashier."
"Give us an introduction."
The young man looked uncomfortable, but called the teller anyway.Triton was a large man with a smooth pink face and a ring of white hair around his pink bald head, and he wore a pair of rimless pince-nez.He came towards us.
The cashier's assistant introduced the two of us with a grunt.I shook hands with Triton, my eyes still on the young man.
"I'm saying," I said to Triton, "that we should talk somewhere a little more private. If I don't work hard, I'm afraid he won't confess. And I don't want everyone in the bank to hear me say He yelled."
"Confession?" The teller's tongue stuck between his lips.
"Yes." I remained calm, imitating Noonan's tone, "Don't you know that Aubrey is the murderer of Donna Wilson?"
The teller smiled politely, eyes hidden behind glasses that suggested he thought it was a silly joke.But when his gaze turned to his assistant, it changed to puzzlement.The boy's face was flushed, and the forced smile from the corner of his mouth was horrible.
Triton cleared his throat and said sincerely, "It's really a beautiful morning, the weather is very good."
"And don't have a private room where we can talk?" I still wouldn't give up.
Triton jumped up nervously, and asked the boy: "This—what's going on?"
Young Aubrey muttered something that no one could understand.
I said, "If there's no room here, then I'll have to take him to City Hall."
Triton grabbed the glasses that had slid down the bridge of his nose, snapped them back into place, and said, "Come with me."
We followed him through the hall and a door into an office marked "Chairman"—old Elihu's.No one is inside.
I suggested that Aubrey sit down, and pulled a chair for myself.The teller leaned his back on his desk restlessly, facing the two of us.
"Well, sir, can you explain what's going on?" he said.
"Soon," I said to him, and turned to the young man, "you are Dinah's ex-boyfriend, and you're the one in charge. You're the only person close to her who knew about the guaranteed check in the first place, and was able to Call Mrs. Wilson and Thaler's people. Wilson was shot with a .32, the type Banks likes. Maybe you didn't use the bank's gun, but I don't think it's wrong .Maybe you didn't put the gun back and the bank lost one. Anyway, I'm going to get a gun expert to use his microscope and micrometer to examine the bullet that killed Wilson and all the bullets fired by the bank's gun. "
The young man looked at me calmly and said nothing.He steadied himself again, but it didn't help, I had to be hard.
I said, "You're crazy about that woman, you told me it was only because she couldn't take it that you didn't—"
"Stop it—please stop it." He gasped, flushing again.
I looked at him sarcastically until he lowered his eyes.I went on, "Son, you talk too much. You're too fucking eager to show me your whole life. You amateur criminals are like that, always too open, too eager to be public."
He looks at his hands.I gave him another shot.
"You know very well that you killed him; you know very well that if you had used the bank's gun and put it back afterwards, you would have been arrested, no suspense. A gun expert would take care of that. Even if you If it is not released, I still want to arrest you. Well, there is no need for me to tell you whether there is still a chance, you know it very well.
"Nonan wants to lay the blame on Thaler the Whisperer. There's no evidence to sentence him, but the ropes are tight enough. If Thaler is killed for resisting arrest, the Chief will be clean. That's his plan - to kill Thaler outright. Thaler has been hiding from the police at his liaison office on King Street all night and is still hiding - unless they have him already. As long as the police come near He, Thaler is out.
"If you think you've got a shot at getting away with it and want someone else to take the scapegoat, that's your business. But if you know there's no chance—if the gun is found, you're doomed—look at the old man. For God's sake, give Thaler a chance to clear his name."
"I would." Aubrey said in an old man's voice.He looked up from his hands, looked at Triton, said "I do" one more time, and stopped.
"Where's the gun?" I asked.
"In Harper's cupboard," said the young man.
I frowned at the teller and asked him, "Can you go and get it?"
He went out right away, as if happy to be gone.
"I didn't mean to kill him," said the young man, "I didn't mean to."
I nodded encouragingly, trying to look serious and sympathetic.
"I didn't mean to kill him," he repeated, "although I had a gun. You're right, I was crazy about Dinah--was. The day the check came in was a bad day. All I could think about was I lost her because I had no money and he went to her with five thousand dollars. It was all about that check, can you understand? I already knew about her and Thaler - you know what I mean. Even if I knew she had something to do with Wilson, I wouldn't have done anything if I hadn't seen that check. I guarantee it. Both Because of seeing that check—I know, I'm going to lose her because I'm out of money.
"I was watching her house that night and I saw him walk in. I was terrified I was going to do something because it was such a bad day and I had a gun in my pocket. Honestly, I didn't want anything Do. I'm scared. I can't think about anything but the check and why I lost her. I know Wilson's wife is jealous, everyone knows it. I figured if I called her and told... I don't know what the hell I was thinking. I ran to the corner store and called her and then Thaler. I wanted them to come over. If I could think of anything else with Dinah or Wilson at the time I'll call anyone I'm interested in.
"Then I went on to spy on Dinah's house. Mrs. Wilson came, and Tarrell came, and they both stayed put and stared at the house. I'm glad that with them, I don't have to worry about Something happened. After a while, Wilson came out into the street. I looked at Mrs. Wilson's car, and the porch where Thaler was hiding, but neither of them did anything, Wilson Going further and further away. That's when I understood why I wanted them to come over. I was counting on them to do something so I wouldn't have to. But they didn't do anything and he was going to go far. If they One of them could walk up to him and say something, or stalk him, and I wouldn't do anything.
"Unfortunately they didn't. I remember I took the gun out of my pocket. Everything suddenly blurred, like I was crying. Maybe I did cry. I don't remember the moment the shot was fired - I Meaning I don't remember aiming and pulling the trigger - but I do remember the sound of the bullet being fired and I know it came from the gun in my hand. I don't remember Wilson's expression or whether he was I collapsed before I could escape into the alley. As soon as I got home, I cleaned and reloaded the pistol and put it back in the teller's locker the next morning."
On the way to the town hall with the young man and the pistol, I apologized to him for my earlier country trick.I explained, "I had to piss you off and I couldn't think of a better way to do it. Your acting when you talk about that woman is amazing, and straight questions just can't break someone like you of." He grinned and said slowly, "It wasn't all acting. When I was in danger, about to face the gallows, she didn't seem—not so important anymore. I couldn't—now Can't - fully understand - why I did things like that. You know what I mean? It made everything - including myself - cheap and tacky. I mean from the beginning to the end. " I was speechless and could only say random nonsense, like: "It's always like this." In the chief's office, I spotted a member of last night's raid—a red-faced officer named Biddle.His gray eyes stared at me dully, but he didn't ask about the excitement of King Street. Biddle called in a young lawyer named Dart from the D.A.'s office.Aubrey repeated the story for Biddle, Dart, and a stenographer.As he was speaking, the Chief of Police arrived, looking as if he had just gotten out of bed. "Gee, I'm so glad to see you!" Noonan said, shaking my hand up and down and patting me on the back, "Jesus! You were lucky last night--damn Rats! I thought they were going to eat you, but kicked open the door and found the den empty. Tell me how those bastards got out?" "Two of your men helped them escape through the back door - took them through the back room and drove them away in the bureau's car. They kept me with them so I couldn't tip you off .” "Two of my men did it?" he asked back, not looking surprised at all. "Okay, okay! What do they look like?" I described it. "Shor and Riodan," he said, "I should have known. Now what's going on?" He gave Aubrey a little nod of the fat head. I briefly explained, and the young man continued to take notes. The Chief laughed softly and said, "Oops, oops, I was wrong about the Whisperer. I need to find him and make it clear to him. So you caught this kid? That's great. Congratulations and thank you. He shook my hand again, "You don't intend to leave the city right away, do you?" "Not yet." "That's fine," he assured me. I went out for brunch and then got a haircut and shave.I sent a wire back to the agency to send Dick Frye and Mickey Linehan to Bossen, then I went back to my room, changed my clothes, and set off for the client's house. Old Elihu sat in an easy chair by the sunny window, wrapped in several blankets.He held out his stubby hand, thanking me for catching his son's murderer. I was polite enough not to ask how he had heard the news. "That check I gave you last night," he said, "just pays for the work you've done." "Your son's check is more than enough to pay that bill." "Then treat it as my red envelope!" "Continental News Agency stipulates that it is not allowed to accept red envelopes or bonuses." I said. His face started to redden. "Hmph, damn—" "You haven't forgotten that you wrote that check to pay for an investigation into crime and corruption in Bossen?" I asked. "Nonsense!" he snorted. "We were so excited last night. Undo it!" "I don't want to undo it." He swears a lot and then says, "That's my money, and I don't want to waste it on a bunch of goddamn stupid things. If you don't want that money in return for what you're doing, then Give it back to me." "Stop yelling at me," I said. "I'm not going to give you anything but get this city in order. That's what you wanted, and you got it right away. Now you know what killed your son." It's Aubrey, the young man, not your partner. And they also know Thaler didn't sell them out to help you. Your son's dead, and you can assure them the paper won't dig into the scandal, everything. It was beautiful and peaceful again. "Let me tell you, I guessed this long ago. So I designed a trap for you, and you jumped in right away. The check has been certified, and you can't stop paying. That authorization letter may not be as effective as a formal contract, But you also have to go to court to prove that it is invalid. If you want to make things big, please, I can imagine, then you will have more troubles. "Last night, that fat chief of yours tried to plot against me. I don't like it very much, and I happen to be stingy enough to retaliate against him for it. Now it's my turn to have fun with your ten thousand dollars. I will use this money to open up the poison town. I will try my best to let you receive the report in time, I hope you like it." After I finished speaking, I walked out of the room, my head was full of his cursing.
Notes:
On the way to the town hall with the young man and the pistol, I apologized to him for my earlier country trick.I explained, "I had to piss you off and I couldn't think of a better way to do it. Your acting when you talk about that woman is amazing, and straight questions just can't break someone like you of." He grinned and said slowly, "It wasn't all acting. When I was in danger, about to face the gallows, she didn't seem—not so important anymore. I couldn't—now Can't - fully understand - why I did things like that. You know what I mean? It made everything - including myself - cheap and tacky. I mean from the beginning to the end. " I was speechless and could only say random nonsense, like: "It's always like this." In the chief's office, I spotted a member of last night's raid—a red-faced officer named Biddle.His gray eyes stared at me dully, but he didn't ask about the excitement of King Street. Biddle called in a young lawyer named Dart from the D.A.'s office.Aubrey repeated the story for Biddle, Dart, and a stenographer.As he was speaking, the Chief of Police arrived, looking as if he had just gotten out of bed. "Gee, I'm so glad to see you!" Noonan said, shaking my hand up and down and patting me on the back, "Jesus! You were lucky last night--damn Rats! I thought they were going to eat you, but kicked open the door and found the den empty. Tell me how those bastards got out?" "Two of your men helped them escape through the back door - took them through the back room and drove them away in the bureau's car. They kept me with them so I couldn't tip you off .” "Two of my men did it?" he asked back, not looking surprised at all. "Okay, okay! What do they look like?" I described it. "Shor and Riodan," he said, "I should have known. Now what's going on?" He gave Aubrey a little nod of the fat head. I briefly explained, and the young man continued to take notes. The Chief laughed softly and said, "Oops, oops, I was wrong about the Whisperer. I need to find him and make it clear to him. So you caught this kid? That's great. Congratulations and thank you. He shook my hand again, "You don't intend to leave the city right away, do you?" "Not yet." "That's fine," he assured me. I went out for brunch and then got a haircut and shave.I sent a wire back to the agency to send Dick Frye and Mickey Linehan to Bossen, then I went back to my room, changed my clothes, and set off for the client's house. Old Elihu sat in an easy chair by the sunny window, wrapped in several blankets.He held out his stubby hand, thanking me for catching his son's murderer. I was polite enough not to ask how he had heard the news. "That check I gave you last night," he said, "just pays for the work you've done." "Your son's check is more than enough to pay that bill." "Then treat it as my red envelope!" "Continental News Agency stipulates that it is not allowed to accept red envelopes or bonuses." I said. His face started to redden. "Hmph, damn—" "You haven't forgotten that you wrote that check to pay for an investigation into crime and corruption in Bossen?" I asked. "Nonsense!" he snorted. "We were so excited last night. Undo it!" "I don't want to undo it." He swears a lot and then says, "That's my money, and I don't want to waste it on a bunch of goddamn stupid things. If you don't want that money in return for what you're doing, then Give it back to me." "Stop yelling at me," I said. "I'm not going to give you anything but get this city in order. That's what you wanted, and you got it right away. Now you know what killed your son." It's Aubrey, the young man, not your partner. And they also know Thaler didn't sell them out to help you. Your son's dead, and you can assure them the paper won't dig into the scandal, everything. It was beautiful and peaceful again. "Let me tell you, I guessed this long ago. So I designed a trap for you, and you jumped in right away. The check has been certified, and you can't stop paying. That authorization letter may not be as effective as a formal contract, But you also have to go to court to prove that it is invalid. If you want to make things big, please, I can imagine, then you will have more troubles. "Last night, that fat chief of yours tried to plot against me. I don't like it very much, and I happen to be stingy enough to retaliate against him for it. Now it's my turn to have fun with your ten thousand dollars. I will use this money to open up the poison town. I will try my best to let you receive the report in time, I hope you like it." After I finished speaking, I walked out of the room, my head was full of his cursing.
Notes: