Page 33 - Murder on the Dirigible

Murder on the Dirigible

to is simple blackmail. There is indeed no honor among thieves, even
among those who have reformed. After Fisk moved his legitimate
enterprises to California, he happened to see me one day on
Hollywood Boulevard, helping the poor benighted youth of this
country lost in a modern Gomorrah. From that day I have had to pay
him a rather excessive retainer for legal services I do not need.

METCALF: I get it. Another one of his rackets inside the law. Well,
that certainly gives you a motive, Louie.

VISHNANDA: Please do not call me by that name. While it is true
that this physical body is not the symbols others would attach to it,
my work will be destroyed if what you know is made public. I must
ask you and the captain not to divulge this information.

METCALF: Are you kidding? This is the biggest break I’ve had yet in
this case. The newspapers are going to love it! I can see the headlines:
“Ex-con Swami Kills Renegade Lawyer”.

VISHNANDA: But what if I am innocent? You will have tried and
condemned me in the press without any evidence.

MATTHEWS: He’s got a point, there, Metcalf. I thought you had
some other likely prospects for the killer.

METCALF: Yeah, well, maybe you’re right. I can’t leave loose ends.
All right, Louie—or Swami whatever—you go back and sit down. I
won’t blow your cover unless we land before I find out that someone
else rubbed out Fisk. (Vishnanda leaves, returns to seat) Speaking of
land, Captain, now that you know where we are, how long before we
get to Frisco?

MATTHEWS: Assuming we have no further navigational problems,
we ought to arrive at Sutro Field around ten o’clock, about three
hours behind schedule. Our fuel won’t last much longer than that, so
it will be a little tight. I’d feel better if I had Perkinson back in here so
I could turn over the radio to someone else.

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