He had told of a plot to assassinate Signor Galvini, Italian plenipotentiary to the United States. His note had been turned over to the secret service. They had forestalled bomb throwing on the part of anti-Fascists, but had not discovered the men higher up. A few lesser criminals had gone to jail.
Joe Cardona was not a man to place too much faith in impressions. Doubts lurked in his brain, when he tried to identify Double Z as a definite personality. Some smart crook might be using this guise for some unknown purpose. But despite his suspicion of impressions, Cardona had a weakness for hunches. The first had materialized.
Double Z had committed crime and had shown himself to be shrewd, but bungling. He had lured Joel Caulkins, and had then required four shots to kill him, thus proving that Double Z was not so good when it came to gun play. Perhaps, Cardona speculated, Double Z might be an old man.
While the detective still doubted his own impressions, he had experienced another hunch; and in that, he had no doubt. He felt positive that Double Z, once a killer, would now enter crime with boldness.
It was because of this hunch that Wentworth had been placed on watch. The house on Eightieth Street might be a hideout for Double Z, masquerading under the name of Joseph T. Dodd. If so, he might return there. Cardona was sure that the killer would soon be heard from, and awaited that time.
THAT was why the detective registered no surprise when he arrived at headquarters at noon to find Acting Inspector Fennimann anxiously awaiting him. This was on the day after The Shadow’s secret visit to the old house — two days after the murder of Joel Caulkins.
“What is it?” questioned Cardona, when he saw the inspector. “More on Double Z?”
“You guessed it, Joe. He’s sent another note.”
“Here?”
“No. To Philip Farmington, the big banker. A direct threat. Read this.”