‘If s a fact. I’ve seen them.’
But Perelli didn’t handle the gun.’
‘He says Brandon gave him the gun and asked him if he could identify it. He handled it all right, but he handled it after it was found.’
‘For Pete’s sake! You’re not going to let Brandon get away with that, are you?’
‘It’s Perelli’s word against the Captain of Police. Who do you think would be believed?’
There was a long pause, then he went on, ‘So you see how it stacks up. I’ve got to have something hot and meaty to go into court with, and if I don’t get it, I’m passing up the case. That’s the position. I’ve got to have something to work with. Its up to you to give it to me.’
‘I’ll dig up something if it kills me,’ I said. ‘The only way for us to crack this case is to start right from the beginning and dig until something turns up. I have an idea at the back of my mind that this isn’t just a gang of kidnappers at work. I may be right off the beam, but it’s a hunch that’s growing stronger every day.’
‘I don’t follow you,’ Francon said, frowning at me.
‘I don’t exactly follow myself,’ I said and grinned. ‘I do know that Franklin Marshland’s damn’ pleased that Dedrick is among the missing. I’m going to find out why. He looks a harmless little guy, but every now and then you catch a look in his eyes and you suddenly realize he could be dangerous. The wedding was secret. Why? Suppose Marshland’s at the back of the kidnapping? Suppose he realized that Serena had married a crook who was only after her money? Suppose he decided to get rid of Dedrick and staged a faked kidnapping? I’m not saying this happened, but it’s an idea. Suppose this Mary Jerome is hooked up in some way to Dedrick’s past. You see what I mean? If this is an ordinary kidnapping job, and the kidnappers are just a gang from anywhere, then we’re sunk. But if this is an inside job, if Marshland’s at the back of it, then maybe we can crack it.’
Francon was looking interested now.