CHAPTER SIX
The scene of the third murder, which was either the first or the second chronologically, was similar to the original Embry scene. Margot and Lamont stood in the entryway of a large bedroom and watched as Commissioner Weston directed his scurrying officers who were investigating the area.
The room was in the home of the President of City University, the oldest such institution in the region and the most revered. The University President, Franklin Edwards, and his wife, Samantha, were lying on the bed, with blood soaked sheets laying over them. Piercing the sheets and sticking out of the bodies were large ornamental knives. The image was all the more shocking because a portrait of the two with their young son was hanging over the bed, a contrast of happier times.
The pair stood in silence, watching the bustling activity for some time. Margot glanced at Lamont after some minutes had passed, and he seemed to be deeply concentrating. She decided to not interrupt his thoughts.
Naturally Weston was not so considerate.
"Still holding to this robbery theory, Cranston?" Weston harrumphed. "It doesn't seem like anything has been taken from here. Edwards' wife is even still wearing her wedding ring."
"Yes, I had noticed that, Commissioner." Lamont replied, wearily. "Have you discovered any similarities with the other two scenes beyond the use of bladed weapons?"
"No forced entry is all. I think maybe the fiend is gassing them or something." Weston turned abruptly and left.
Lamont turned to Margot.
"We are not accomplishing anything following behind our prey, Margot. We must anticipate his next move somehow."
With that, he took her arm and let her out of the house. They spent the cab ride back to Cranston Manor talking about details of the three crimes.
"It seems like the only thing all the crimes have in common is the use of blades, Lamont," Margot said.
"Yes," he replied. "That and ease of entry. Also, we shouldn't discount the excessive violence we've seen. Even if the scenes are meant to distract us somehow, the gruesome nature of the crimes still points to some sort of mania or mental disease..." he drifted off. Margot waited a moment for him to continue, and then said:
"But how does knowing any of that help us find the killer, Lamont?"
He turned his head to look directly into her eyes, a cold smile crossing his face.
"These crimes started suddenly, Margot. Perhaps our killer has been recently released from prison or from a sanitarium. He may even have committed similar crimes in the past and been committed or incarcerated. That assumption combined with my partial description of the murderer's height and build might be enough to find him."
"It's too bad his face was obscured by that ski mask, Lamont, or we'd have found him already," Margot commented.
"Yes, it is. But the Shadow shall still find him. If this clue doesn't help us, the next one will. Our criminal will eventually make a mistake."
"Driver-" he spoke to the cabbie, "take us to the Riverview Sanitarium."
As the cab turned right towards its new destination, Margot said:
"I hope he does make a mistake soon. I hate to think that more people will be killed so cruelly."
Lamont nodded.
"He will, Margot. The weed of crime bears bitter fruit...crime does not pay--"
"--The Shadow knows!"
The room was in the home of the President of City University, the oldest such institution in the region and the most revered. The University President, Franklin Edwards, and his wife, Samantha, were lying on the bed, with blood soaked sheets laying over them. Piercing the sheets and sticking out of the bodies were large ornamental knives. The image was all the more shocking because a portrait of the two with their young son was hanging over the bed, a contrast of happier times.
The pair stood in silence, watching the bustling activity for some time. Margot glanced at Lamont after some minutes had passed, and he seemed to be deeply concentrating. She decided to not interrupt his thoughts.
Naturally Weston was not so considerate.
"Still holding to this robbery theory, Cranston?" Weston harrumphed. "It doesn't seem like anything has been taken from here. Edwards' wife is even still wearing her wedding ring."
"Yes, I had noticed that, Commissioner." Lamont replied, wearily. "Have you discovered any similarities with the other two scenes beyond the use of bladed weapons?"
"No forced entry is all. I think maybe the fiend is gassing them or something." Weston turned abruptly and left.
Lamont turned to Margot.
"We are not accomplishing anything following behind our prey, Margot. We must anticipate his next move somehow."
With that, he took her arm and let her out of the house. They spent the cab ride back to Cranston Manor talking about details of the three crimes.
"It seems like the only thing all the crimes have in common is the use of blades, Lamont," Margot said.
"Yes," he replied. "That and ease of entry. Also, we shouldn't discount the excessive violence we've seen. Even if the scenes are meant to distract us somehow, the gruesome nature of the crimes still points to some sort of mania or mental disease..." he drifted off. Margot waited a moment for him to continue, and then said:
"But how does knowing any of that help us find the killer, Lamont?"
He turned his head to look directly into her eyes, a cold smile crossing his face.
"These crimes started suddenly, Margot. Perhaps our killer has been recently released from prison or from a sanitarium. He may even have committed similar crimes in the past and been committed or incarcerated. That assumption combined with my partial description of the murderer's height and build might be enough to find him."
"It's too bad his face was obscured by that ski mask, Lamont, or we'd have found him already," Margot commented.
"Yes, it is. But the Shadow shall still find him. If this clue doesn't help us, the next one will. Our criminal will eventually make a mistake."
"Driver-" he spoke to the cabbie, "take us to the Riverview Sanitarium."
As the cab turned right towards its new destination, Margot said:
"I hope he does make a mistake soon. I hate to think that more people will be killed so cruelly."
Lamont nodded.
"He will, Margot. The weed of crime bears bitter fruit...crime does not pay--"
"--The Shadow knows!"
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