“Precisely. Nor anybody else, Mr. Higgins. I see that. But I also see that if Cub Sterling does not leave his father’s side today and is not questioned until after his death, supposing ... the other ... to be correct ... you will have not lost anything. They must all be checked, automatically, since you believe the murderer is a crazy doctor. Check them today, Mr. Higgins. And if....”
He rose and began to pace the floor, and his figure was more than erect. It was almost illuminated.
“You belong, sir, to that type of man which can appreciate trust between strong men. Between Cub Sterling and his father such a trust has always existed. Within twenty hours it will be broken and ... why, Mr. Higgins, if you wish, I shall sit outside the door of the room in which he is fighting for Bear’s life, from now until you release me.... But my position ... d’y’see?”
“I do, and I respect you for it, Doctor. But the two men who have attended all of the dead patients were the Doctors Sterling. Regarding the questioning, I shall do as you desire, provided, sir, that when the superintendent of nurses takes me to Medicine Clinic, you will insist that Dr. Cub Sterling accompany us over the clinic, in precisely the same manner in which the other men are to do. Thereby I can at least judge the man. Otherwise I throw up the case, here and now. My position would be hopeless, if I were to be denied at least a summary ... not made through the eyes of personal esteem and family fame ... of one of the two chief suspects. Perhaps it is brutal to put it so, but the chief suspect in the eyes of the nursing and menial staffs.”
“I know it, Higgins. I’ll do as you wish.”
His voice and his face were parched and sad.
Their eyes locked again and Higgins said:
“You brought me here to find the criminal. In many things we shall have to fight each other. Mainly because all evidence points to a crazy doctor and you cannot accept the evidence. Somehow I’m glad you can’t, Doctor.”
Higgins stretched out his large hairy hand and Dr. MacArthur gripped it firmly.
Then MacArthur looked at his watch and reached for the telephone.