It was addressed to Thomas Sutton, and was signed “Roy.”
“There is Dana’s handwriting,” stated Richard. “Firm — not shaky. I always admired the old man’s penmanship.”
Cardona nodded in agreement. He looked at Biscayne, then at Commissioner Weston, who was standing by with anxious eyes.
Then the detective stood erect and faced Richard Sutton.
“Sutton,” he said, “your father was murdered! Yes, murdered — not by any one who entered here, but by the man who sent this message.
“It led Thomas Sutton to the closet; it caused him to enter there with only one thought — to look on that shelf at the back. The door closed upon the unfortunate victim just as effectively as if some one had stood there to push it shut!
“Perhaps you have read of two deaths in the newspapers — Silas Harshaw and Louis Glenn.
“We have been notified of a third death. It has occurred. The murderer chose your father as victim.
“I have already given information to the newspapers. I am going to tell them that your father, too, was murdered.
“We cannot afford to neglect a single chance. Outside of the death messages, this letter is all that we have.