Shayne grinned slowly at Denton’s wrath. “I doubt whether he was after that, but if he’s the guy I think he was, he didn’t intend any good for the girl he was trying to find. You know where I can find Drake?”
“I believe he said he was at the Angelus Hotel if I got anything for him.”
“The Angelus,” Shayne repeated. “And now, how about Soule?”
“Rudy Soule? I thought you’d been out of town for nine years.”
Shayne said, “I have, but I just had a talk with John McCracken.”
“And he told you that Soule and me was like that?” Denton extended his right hand with the first two fingers fitted snugly together.
Shayne shook his head and said placidly, “He mentioned Soule’s name and said this was your precinct.”
“Well, I hear things, of course,” Captain Denton admitted. “Maybe Soule is in the racket. I wouldn’t know.”
“All I want,” Shayne explained, “is to get a line on the setup. A word from you in the right direction might help.”
“The hell you say,” Denton snarled. His heavy features were suddenly contorted with rage. “The chief sent you, huh? And I’m supposed to fall for that. I’ve had enough of his stoolies trying to hang something on me. Get out — and stay out of my precinct, Shayne. Think up a better story than the one you just handed me before you come back.” Denton jabbed a button on his desk. He was breathing hard and his face was very red.