“Ah!” Doctor Nolan exclaimed. “I was reasonably sure of it.”
“There is no other evidence worthy of mention,” Nick added. “It may be well, chief, to have an officer inquire at the dwellings in the side street. The crooks possibly were heard, or even seen, without the truth being suspected.”
“I will attend to it,” Hadley nodded, while they returned to the office of the undertaker.
“There is nothing more to be learned here,” said Nick. “I will look deeper into the case, however, and will report to you later.”
“Do so, Nick, by all means.”
“Regarding that vial, Doctor Nolan. I want you to let Chick take it for a few hours,” Nick added, turning to the physician. “I want an analysis of its contents, or the nature of it to be positively determined. I will be responsible for its safe return.”
“That’s good enough for me, Carter,” Doctor Nolan readily assented.
“Chick will call at your office for it later in the day.”
“Very well.”
Nick did not defer his departure to further discuss the matter. He left Chief Hadley and the coroner to proceed as they saw fit, and Herman Fink in quite abject consternation over the gruesome calamity that had befallen him.