It was too dark for Penny to read the letter. Stepping to the car, she switched on the headlights and held the paper in its brilliant beam.
The letter read:
Dear Matthew:
Sorry to bother you again, Old Pal, but I know you’re always willing to give an old buddy and cellmate a helping hand. I don’t want to tip off the New York cops where you are, and you can trust me to keep mum if you come through with another six thousand. This is my last request.
Peter F.
“Peter Fenestra!” exclaimed Penny. “And it’s no surprise either! Horney, where did you find this letter?”
“It was in a pile of rubbish down in the basement. I don’t know how it got there.”
“Peter Fenestra has a habit of leaving notes on Mr. Judson’s desk,” declared Penny. “This one may have blown off and been swept out without the publisher seeing it!”
“Don’t you figure it’s a blackmail attempt?”
“Of course it is, Horney. You’ve not shown the letter to anyone?”