“Then the letter is a hoax!”
“I’m not sure about that,” stated Cardona. “It’s different from the usual crank note. It makes no threats. It gives no warning. It carries no tip-off to any crime that is now being investigated.
“It is simply a statement of something that has happened. The last line is important. One person has died. Another death will follow — if the implication is correct.”
“What have you done about it?” Weston asked.
“Nothing — as yet. It may be a crank note, as you say. If it proves to be otherwise, we’ll investigate it. There’s only one chance in a hundred that the letter means anything, but I have a hunch that that one chance is going to hit.”
“A hunch,” repeated Weston slowly. “Well, Cardona, from what I have ascertained, you attach too much significance to hunches. I prefer to accept the ninety-nine, rather than the one.
“Nearly forty-eight hours have now elapsed since this letter was posted. You believe that it may be important; I believe that it is not. We shall see who is correct.”
Cardona felt a return of resentfulness as the commissioner tossed the letter and the envelope across the desk. He wisely veiled his feeling, but he did not like Weston’s attitude.
It had been a mistake to mention this letter, Cardona felt; and to argue the subject would only make his position worse. So he placed the paper in the envelope and pocketed it.
He looked glumly toward Weston. Before the commissioner had more to say, the telephone rang.