Page 40 - Murder on the Dirigible

Murder on the Dirigible

company than I did. He knew the other owners—including your
father, Nick, from the old days—and he took a close look at the
books. I hired him to advise me on whether or not I should sell my
interest to the others. They wanted to buy me out just after we
started losing money recently. I smelled a rat, so I set a thief to catch
one. After sniffing around for a couple of months, he became
convinced that some of our employees were in cahoots with the
other owners. He had discovered some pretty incriminating evidence
that they were faking the log books and accounts to make us look
less profitable. We were going to denounce them all at the meeting
and demand they sell to us at a low price; otherwise the whole racket
would be exposed to the press and the police.

METCALF: Now, that sounds like a typical operation for Fisk: a
shakedown, all perfectly legal. But who are these double-crossing
employees?

POMELLO: I don’t know. Fisk wouldn’t tell me, because he wanted
to be sure of his getting in on the action. As for the evidence, I’m
sure he wouldn’t have brought it with him.

METCALF: Oh, yeah? I’m not so sure. Miss MacAllister, would you
bring me that briefcase in the cockpit? It’s next to the radio on the
navigator’s desk.

MACALLISTER: Yes, sir. (goes into cockpit) Lieutenant, would you
take that briefcase out to Mr. Metcalf? He needs it.

PERKINSON: Oh, yes. Right away. (puts down headset, goes with
briefcase into cabin, gives it to Metcalf)

MACALLISTER: Quickly, Captain, before he comes back! When
you brought back your coffee cup, Fisk was talking to me: do you
remember?

MATTHEWS: Yes.

MACALLISTER: He was asking about you, and he had a very
suspicious tone in his voice. I never did find out what he wanted to

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