“It is,” replied Cardona grimly.
The millionaire sat down suddenly. He rubbed his beaded forehead. He looked at Joe Cardona rather sheepishly.
“I’m worried,” he admitted. “I don’t mind dying. I can lose a million. But to be threatened and blackmailed by a crazy man! Killed, perhaps—”
Cardona was solemn. He wanted to promise Matthew Wade protection; but he knew too well the power of Double Z. Only on rare occasions— months ago — had Double Z failed in his predictions. Now that the unknown man had become a killer — Cardona thought of Caulkins and Farmington and was silent.
“We’ve got to beat him,” declared Wade emphatically. “It’s worth money to me if you can help me, Cardona.”
“It’s my duty to help you,” replied the detective.
“This man must be shrewd,” said Wade. “Shrewd, even though he is a maniac. He’s a killer. He murdered Farmington — a good friend of mine. You know, Cardona” — Wade’s voice became thoughtful — “I wouldn’t be surprised if he had hounded Judge Tolland!”
The statement brought a gasp from Cardona. His mind went back to what Joel Caulkins had told his city editor over the telephone just before the reporter met his strange death.
Until now Cardona had considered it a hoax. But with the statement coming from Matthew Wade, the case was different.
“Judge Tolland was a friend of mine,” added Wade. “I know that he was honest. There were cases of gangsters coming up before him. Perhaps one of them might have concerned Double Z. I have never been able to understand Tolland’s disappearance until now. But with this threat hovering over me, I can see why any man would wish to flee.”