“I suppose the banshee would have gotten him,” interrupted Weston. “Only it didn’t, because there isn’t any banshee and Ames didn’t go to Central Park.”
Cardona added an opinion.
“We’re covering the park like a blanket,” the inspector claimed. “The only cab that gave us any trouble was a fellow with a flat at the entrance to a transverse. He fixed the flat and went through.”
Cranston nodded.
“Eastbound, of course.”
“That’s right,” rejoined Cardona. “When he came out the east side, he stopped to report to an officer stationed there” - Joe paused - “say what made you think he went from west to east? Do they get more flat tires on the West Side?”
“It was just a guess,” replied Cranston. “At what time was this reported?”
“The fellow started to fix the flat just before Ames left the hotel,” said Cardona, referring to a long list of reports, “so he couldn’t have had anything to do with the case. Central Park is out.”
Thus discouraged, Cranston naturally couldn’t be expected to press his theory regarding Central Park. It was after they left the Cobalt Club that Margo asked him:
“How did you know that the cab went from west to east?”