“Signed,” replied Cardona, handing the inspector the message.
Fennimann scanned the typed words. He became thoughtful as he turned to the detective.
“Looks like he’s gone back to his owl stunt,” he said. “Tipping us off like he did before. I can’t understand it, Joe.”
“It’s kind of puzzling,” admitted Cardona, “but it just shows how the man’s mind turns. He’s gotten wind of something, like he did before. Once in a while he’s wrong. But this time he seems sure of himself.”
“What’s the best way to handle it?”
“Put a bunch of plain-clothes men on the job,” declared Cardona. “Bodine hangs out in the Goliath Hotel. Along with a bunch of friends — so-called friends. Actually his bodyguards. Remember that Bernstein murder? Well, this will duplicate it if it goes through. But it won’t!”
“What about the newspapers?”
Cardona shook his head emphatically.
“Keep it away from them,” he said. “Wait until after tonight. This is either a big hoax — or it is our chance to get on the trail of Double Z!”
BUT while Detective Cardona was planning to maintain silence with the press, one reporter was aiming to get information on the very subject which the detective wished to avoid.