Death from Nowhere Read Online Free PDF

looking just like that. I got one good look at him when someone, waiting behind the door, knocked me out — cold.”
    This was too much. The Inspector rumbled like a volcano.
    â€œMaybe you didn’t know,” he barked, “that Miss Skinner says no one came out of this office here after you went in. What do you have to say to that?”
    â€œNothing.” Diavolo’s eyes moved toward the window speculatively. “All I can tell you is that when I came to again you were pounding on the door.”
    â€œAre you actually denying that you jammed that chair under the doorknob?”
    The magician nodded. “I am. The guy who conked me must have put it there before he left.”
    â€œBefore he … before he …” Church gave Diavolo a sharp look. “Oh, I get it,” he said. “Are you handing me this fairy tale so your lawyer can go to work on an insanity defense?”
    â€œYou asked me what happened,” Don replied. “I’m telling you. I warned you you weren’t going to like it. Remember?” Gingerly Don felt the back of his head. There was a sore spot there and a swelling bump. He showed it to Church. “That’s evidence, isn’t it?”
    The Inspector nodded. “Yeah. Evidence of a crack on the head. But how do I know when you got it? And even if you produce witnesses to swear you didn’t have it when you came in here, how do I know you didn’t do it yourself so this fantastic vanishing man story would look plausible? That’s just the sort of trick I’d expect from you.”
    Diavolo protested. “Be reasonable, Inspector. If I had killed Hagenbaugh, do you think I would let you find me and the body together in a locked room? Don’t you think I’d be all set with a lot stronger alibi than a self-inflicted bump on the head?”
    â€œYes, you probably intended to have one. But you had bad luck. For once your sleight-of-hand slipped. I got here too soon. You hadn’t counted on that. So you whacked yourself on the head while we were trying to get in at that door. And now you hand out a yarn about someone else being in this room. You didn’t have time to work out anything any fancier. This time I’ve got you where I want you.”
    â€œI suppose you have,” Don Diavolo admitted. “Provided you can twist all the evidence to fit the answer you’re set on having. But just the same, believe it or not, there was someone else in this room. Someone who isn’t here now.”
    Don rubbed his chin thoughtfully and eyed the open window.
    Church was puzzled. Usually Don Diavolo threw such nice neat pretty answers at his questions. This time they didn’t even limp; they were all stretcher cases. Church didn’t understand it all; but he was beginning to suspect that Diavolo had a fast one up his sleeve. Don, on the other hand, was only wishing that he did have.
    â€œWell,” Church said. “You and your lawyers are going to have to explain how this Mr. Mystery left this room if you want anyone to believe that wild yarn. And don’t you as much as hint that this room is haunted. I won’t have it.”
    â€œWe’d better start investigating that open window then,” the magician said slowly. “From where I am that looks like the only exit. If the murderer was prepared with a length of rope—”
    Church looked at Brophy. “Hold your hat, Lieutenant. Here we go again. He wants us to believe it’s acrobats again.… Sergeant Maurer. Find out who’s in the offices above and below this one. Ask them politely if they noticed anyone climbing in their windows lately. And bring me back witnesses that say no. I’m not leaving any loopholes this guy’s lawyer can wriggle through — not if I know it.”
    â€œHave him try that window across the way, too,” Don suggested. “The face of the building outside makes a right turn.