“That’s possible!” exclaimed Ward.
“Possible, yes,” said Cardona. “But lay off it. Your story is good enough. Caulkins was lured to the old house, after receiving a threat from Double Z. He went there because some one had tipped him that he would give him the real low-down on who Double Z was — and, naturally, Caulkins was anxious to find out, because of the threat.
“There he met Double Z in person, but didn’t know it. He called up, started to say something about Double Z, then came the shots, and— that’s all! Double Z played it right up until the last minute.”
THE city editor became reporter. He began to jot down the theory given by Cardona.
“This is a break for you,” said Fennimann. “I wanted to hold back on the note. This Double Z stuff doesn’t do us any good. Reference to Tolland would be worse.”
“Right,” agreed Ward. He was sold on the capabilities and methods of Joe Cardona.
“Now,” said the detective, “I’ll be glad to have one of your men come up and look for inside stuff. I’ve given you what appear to me to be the real facts. Let’s stick to them. Keep an eye on what your man writes. I want to nail the guy that got Caulkins. That’s my job.”
The city editor of the Classic was thoughtful when he left detective headquarters. He admired the work of Joe Cardona. He saw the fallacy of attempting to revive the Judge Tolland case, even though it fitted in with tabloid ideas.
Joe Cardona was also pleased to have met Dale Ward. He was more pleased when he saw the next day’s Classic. Along with photographs of the martyred reporter and the death house appeared the story that he had arranged. Double Z was in the news again; but now the strange criminal had overshot his mark. The police were obtaining clews. Detective Cardona expected results.
“Double Z,” muttered Joe Cardona as he stared at the newspaper spread upon the desk. “I’ve got the guy’s number now. He’ll boil up because that Tolland stuff didn’t land. He’ll show his hand again— and when he does, it will be too bad for him!”