With a snort, Weston tossed over the other report. It concerned Claude Older and stated that he had been met by a very reliable business acquaintance outside the Lookout Cafe. Said business acquaintance had driven Older to Grand Central Station, so he could take a suburban train to visit friends in the country. Older hadn’t been seen since.
“A business acquaintance doesn’t know a man too well,” declared Cranston, “particularly in the dark. I would say that somebody else came out of the cafe and took the ride to Grand Central in the blue coupe.”
Cardona shot a query:
“How did you know it was a blue coupe?”
“Most coupes are,” rejoined Cranston. “A roadster would be flashy, a sedan somber. A coupe is generally between.”
It reminded Cardona of flat tires being more common on the West Side than the East Side. Nevertheless, Joe had to admit that Cranston was right. That applied to minor matters only, for Cardona was still in accord with Weston on the matter of Central Park.
“A hansom cab runs away,” gruffed Weston, “and a man on a bicycle steers himself into a pond. We’ve checked both matters and they concern neither Winslow nor Older.”
That was Cranston’s cue to bow out politely from Weston’s office. At the door, he paused to toss back a query.
“About those missing men, commissioner,” asked Cranston. “What did you say their occupations were?”
“Winslow was buying commercial plastics,” called the commissioner. “Older was studying the South American market for synthetic rubber. If you want to know what the chap who fell in the pond was doing, ask him. He’s waiting outside and you may as well tell him he can go. We’re not holding him.”