The Killer

CHAPTER XII

THE THIRD LETTER

“THIS is getting too close, Mullrick.” It was Jerry Herston who spoke from his chair in Mullrick’s living room. He was referring to the news accounts, which told of Burton Blissip’s death. It was the evening following the stir at the Hotel Goliath.

“Close?” Mullrick’s question was a trifle sarcastic. “Close to whom, Jerry?”

“To you!” blurted the ex-detective. “Say, Mullrick, I’ve got the brains to see it, even if you haven’t.”

“Regarding last night,” remarked Mullrick suavely. “I met you shortly before eight o’clock, didn’t I, Jerry?”

“Yes,” agreed Herston.

“That is, by your watch,” added Mullrick. “Your friend Holwell happened to notice the time also. He had no watch of his own. I imagine his testimony will hold.”

“No alibi will hold, Mullrick, if this goes on—”

“Of course, Jerry,” interposed Mullrick, “it was my actual intention to be with you at eight. Therefore your conscience need not be worried. I merely chanced to fall asleep in my chair. Pascual failed to waken me. Hence I might well have been with you at eight o’clock. Stick to what your watch said.”

“Don’t worry about me,” argued Jerry. “Worry about yourself. Cardona’s after the guy with the gray fedora—”

“Who might be anyone—”

“And he’s got another tip. He figures that the bird with the gray hat has been to Mexico. Laugh that one off!”

Mullrick did laugh, but Herston felt that the tone was hollow. The ex-detective got up and walked about the room.

Harland Mullrick quietly picked up the book that dealt with the conquest of the Aztecs. From it, he calmly drew forth the folded paper. While Jerry Herston was staring gloomily from the window, Mullrick looked at the crossed-out name of Roy Selbrig. Beneath it, he wrote the name of Burton Blissip.

Solemnly, he drew a line through the name. He replaced the paper in the book, and put the heavy volume on the table.

“Going out?” queried Herston suddenly. “Or do you want to meet me downtown again?”

“I’ll go out with you,” responded Mullrick. “Just a few minutes, Jerry. I want to write a letter.”

He sat down at the table and folded a sheet of blank paper. He placed it in an envelope which he addressed to himself. Then, in brief, methodical fashion, Mullrick inscribed an actual note. Its wording was as follows: