Various tips on crime that Clyde had dropped in the Jonas office had been apparently ignored, although the reporter had felt sure that The Shadow would respond to them. To date, The Shadow had not, to Clyde’s knowledge, taken the slightest interest in either the disappearance of Judge Harvey Tolland or in the peculiar correspondence that the police had received from a man called Double Z. But this was not disconcerting.
The sudden departure of a crooked jurist — that was the general opinion of Tolland — was not likely to interest The Shadow, who dealt with supercrooks. The strange notes from Double Z, hitherto regarded as the epistles of a madman, were also beneath The Shadow’s notice.
Double Z had predicted certain deaths. Some had occurred; others had not. The few that had transpired had been minor gang killings. Never had the hand of Double Z appeared as that of the actual murderer.
But now the cry was out. Newspapers considered the death of Caulkins to be a gang killing, and at the same time suggested murderous work on the part of Double Z. Cardona’s description of the case as the work of an inexperienced murderer had been played up in the Classic. Double Z had become a menace.
Clyde Burke anticipated action from The Shadow. He felt sure that the Tolland connection would bring it.
WITH his mind occupied on these thoughts, Clyde arrived at the old house on East Eightieth Street. He studied the place from across the street. He noticed the heavily curtained front windows of the third floor.
He sauntered across the street and ascended the steps. The door was locked.
A gruff voice spoke from the sidewalk.
“Hey, there!”
Clyde turned. He found himself staring at the squat, square-shouldered form of Detective Sergeant Wentworth.