"satandanced" - читать интересную книгу автора (Barton Gary)

or Nevins!"

"B-but who did?"

"Jaegar!"

Haley whirled on the paunchy club owner. Jaegar's face slowly became a greenish
white and his thick lips trembled violently. "B-but," he stammered, "you know that
isn't possible " He shredded his cigar in nervous fingers. "Why, I was outside with
you when Nevins was shot--"

"No, Jaegar," I said. "You mean you were with me when we heard a shot. You had
killed Nevins before you came outside and had mumed the shot with a pillow. The
shot we hear was this--" I went over to the air register and lifted the metal
grating. Then I pulled out some bits of red paper and a small piece of chewing
gum that had been sticking to the pipe. I said: "You set a fire cracker down here
and attached a long fuse. When the cracker exploded, you had already established
your alibi outside."

Jaegar's pale features turned suddenly red and twisted in maniacal rage. His hand
snaked beneath his coat to his shoulder. But I was ready for the play. I didn't take
time to go for my gun. I drove my fist straight into his pudgy face! It felt good all
the way up my arm, and I let go another for Larry Liegh Jaegar buckled in the middle
then a stiff uppercut stiffened him to almost twice his normal height. I heard him
fall with a crash that shook the room as I turned and walked away. No one could have
stood up under that dynamite; so I hadn't bothered waiting for him to fall.

"That was nice work, Jerry," Haley said. I could see it hurt like hell for him to
say it.

"Thanks, lieutenant, but I can't take the credit. Jaegar planted a frame on June
Eiden's partner"--I nodded to the Latin--"by dragging her across the room and
placing his picture near her hand, as if she were pointing out the identity of her
killer. It even had me fooled till I was in this room awhile."

"But June was coloring her nails when she was attacked, and she left a clue that
perfectly fingered Jaegar. She splashed some polish remover on him where it would
do the most good." I strode across to Jaegar's inert body. and pulled out his white
rayon pocket handkerchief. There were holes burned in the handkerchief. "I noticed
this after I came in here. Apparently, Jaegar didn't notice it. Nail-polish remover
contains acetone, and this is what happened when June dashed some liquid on his
pocket. Ask your wife what happens, lieutenant, when she spills some remover on a
rayon blouse. Acetone burns holes in the cloth--not like cigarette burns, though;
it eats away the fabric."

"I still say you did a fine job, Jerry," Haley said, and he was really smiling.
"We'll check the slug in Nevins ballistically with those taken from Liegh's body."
He looked at Jaegar. "This rat is going to find out what fireworks really are.
He'll be sitting on them."