Death from Nowhere Read Online Free PDF Page A

did you kill Hagenbaugh? ” 3
    â€œI see,” Don said. “You always get your man. All you need is a red uniform and a horse. But what brought you here just now? Why did you think that because I came to see Hagenbaugh there was anything in the wind important enough for your personal supervision? It looks fishy to me.”
    â€œIt looks fishy to— Say! What makes you think you’re conducting this investigation? Why did you kill—”
    Don cut in. “Don’t do that, Inspector. I heard you the first time. I don’t like to answer because it’s going to be a big disappointment to you. I’m very sorry to have to tell you that you don’t have a nice straightforward no-nonsense murder case on your hands. It’s another of those now-you-see-it now-you-don’t things. And a ripsnorter.”
    The Inspector’s voice had dropped to below zero and ice was forming around the edges. Incredulously he demanded, “Do you intend to stand there and tell me—”
    â€œThat I did not kill Hagenbaugh?” Diavolo asked. “Yes, I do. Just that. I knows it looks bad, but—”
    â€œ Looks bad!” Church thundered. “Great Scott, man! What more do you think I need? If you aren’t guilty who the blue, blazing hell am I supposed to think—”
    â€œThat,” Diavolo said seriously, “is something I wish I knew.”
    He turned to Lieutenant Brophy who was examining Hagenbaugh’s body. “What killed him, Lieutenant? Those scratches on his face don’t seem quite adequate. Find anything else?”
    But Brophy wasn’t giving out information. “Schultz,” he ordered. “Get Doc Pepper started over here.”
    Church gave the body an inspection of his own, looked closely at the cuts along the side of the face, and then turned to the two detectives who stood watchfully beside Diavolo. “Frisk him, boys. See if you can find anything that might have done that.”
    The boys gave the magician a thorough going over. They didn’t find anything.
    The Inspector took a quick look around the room. When he saw the open window he said, “Gianelli, you take a look downstairs. He could have pitched whatever it was out the window. And check to see if all the street exits to this building are guarded like I ordered. This guy has a nasty habit of vanishing. But this time I’m going to make it really hard for him.”
    He faced Diavolo again. “Be reasonable, won’t you? Hagenbaugh was alive when you walked in here. Even if you didn’t kill him you’d have to know what hap—”
    Don shook his head. “But he wasn’t alive when I came in.”
    â€œYeah? The secretary, Miss Skinner, heard him speak to you on the interoffice communicator.”
    Don groaned. “I’ve been waiting for that. That’s what Blondie thinks she heard, but it was me doing an impromptu imitation of Hagenbaugh. I clicked the switch of the communicator and then immediately snapped it off again, keeping my hand over it so she wouldn’t notice. I pretended to ask R.J. if I could come in and then threw out a little ventriloquism that made her think he was answering.” Somewhat ruefully Diavolo added: “Maybe I should be more careful where I throw my voice. I seem to have talked a little too much this time.”
    â€œI wish to heaven,” Church implored, “that you’d try saying something that makes sense. Ventriloquism! Applesauce! You’d better start practicing to throw your voice at the foreman of the jury when he comes in with the verdict. Then what?”
    â€œWell,” Diavolo continued, “I got to the door and I found it locked. And just then someone on the inside unlocked it!”
    â€œI thought you said Hagenbaugh was dead,” Church caught him up.
    â€œI did. Hagenbaugh didn’t unlock the door. He was sitting at his desk right where he is now and