“That’s right. Just the one wound which entered in the back on an angle. That probably was the shot which was fired into him as he was balanced on the rail.”
“Wait a minute,” Mason said, “there were two shots fired. Aileen Fell says she heard two shots, and there were two exploded chambers in the gun.”
“That’s right,” Drake said. “But the bullets from that gun didn’t kill Carl Moar. He must have been killed by a bullet fired from another gun.”
“Then there should have been three explosions,” Mason said.
Drake nodded.
Mason abruptly got to his feet, pushed his thumbs through the armholes of his vest and started pacing the floor. After several minutes, he turned to stare thoughtfully at them.
“I know what may be a solution,” he said. “It makes sense, and it’s the only thing which does make sense. But I can’t unscramble it until I can get Eves and Evelyn Whiting into court.”
“Well, you can’t get them into court,” Drake said. “I’ve had men running down every clue, Perry. It’s hopeless. Eves is no amateur. He knows the ropes, and he’s gone into hiding. It would take the concerted efforts of an organized police force to land him.”
Della Street said, “Chief, couldn’t you go to the district attorney and tell him what you have in mind and have him put the police on the job?”
“Not so you could notice it,” Mason said. “If Scudder thought he could help me dig up witnesses to prove Mrs. Moar innocent, his lack of enthusiasm would be utterly astounding.”