The Mystery of the Invisible Dog - M. V. Carey [31]
“He got confused in the smoke,” said the fireman soothingly. “It’s the easiest thing to do. By the time the smoke reached him, he wouldn’t know which way was which.”
Jupiter and the others retreated from the firemen, who were pulling the sofa apart to make sure no trace of fire remained.
“That’ll be a fine mess to clean up,” said Hassell.
“Mrs. Bortz will have a fit when she sees it.” Sonny Elmquist looked pleased. “Say, where is Mrs. Bortz?”
“She left in a cab a little while ago,” said Bob.
“Where will the emergency ambulance take Mr. Murphy?” Jupe asked the fire captain.
“The receiving room at Central Hospital. That’s the emergency hospital for this area.
If they decide he can’t be released, he’ll stay there — or be moved to another hospital, if that’s what he wants.”
Jupiter nodded. “Central Hospital,” he repeated. “That’s where Miss Chalmers is.
But … why is Murphy going there?”
“It’s the emergency hospital,” said the fireman.
“That’s not what I mean,” said Jupe, “Mr. Murphy was very careful with cigarettes.
He shouldn’t have had a fire. It just doesn’t make sense!”
Chapter 14
The Wanderers
“THERE’S A JINX on this house!” declared Alex Hassell after the firemen had departed. “First Gwen Chalmers, then Mrs. Bortz, and now Murphy!”
“It all began with the burglary,” said Mr. Prentice. He did not look at Sonny Elmquist, who was slouched on a lounge, his eyes half-closed against the sunlight.
“Things were quite peaceful until three nights ago, when the burglar ran through this courtyard. Since then, nothing has been the same.”
Jupe nodded. “There is one obvious conclusion,” he said. “The Carpathian Hound is here! And the person who stole the Carpathian Hound is most likely here, too!”
“Young man, what are you talking about?” demanded Hassell. “There isn’t any dog here, stolen or otherwise. My cats would know if there was a dog here!”
“It’s a crystal statue of a dog,” explained Fenton Prentice. “I commissioned the Hound from the artist Edward Niedland, and loaned it to him for his show at the Mailer Gallery. It was stolen from Edward’s home on Monday night.”
Alex Hassell gave a short, mocking laugh. “So that’s what Mrs. Bortz meant’! She told me you were going to get a dog, and that I’d better watch out for my cats. A glass dog! Hah!”
Prentice sighed. “She’d been reading my papers. I’m sure she thought I was getting a real dog. So she blabbed it all over the building — and then someone stole the Hound!”
“Well, I didn’t!” snapped Hassell. “What’s more, I’m not going to stay here while somebody’s poisoning people and blowing up cars. I’m going to a motel!”
He hurried to his apartment. In a short time he was out again with a pet carrier in one hand and a suitcase in another. “I’ll be back at five to feed my kitties,” he announced.
“Naturally I’m taking Tabitha with me. If you want to reach me, I’ll be at the Ramona Inn until sanity sets in around here.”
Hassell glared at Mr. Prentice. “You can search my apartment if you wish,” he said,
“but you’d better have a warrant.”
He stalked out. A moment later a car started out front.
“You can search my apartment if you want to,” offered Sonny Elmquist. “I’ve got to go to work at noon, but there’s time before then. You don’t need a warrant.”
“At noon?” said Bob. “I thought you worked nights.”
“Doing the early shift today,” explained Elmquist. “One of the other guys called in sick.”
“I’m sure the Hound isn’t in your apartment,” said Jupiter quietly. “It isn’t in any apartment in this building.”
Sonny Elmquist looked slightly disappointed. He shrugged and returned to his own place.
“How can you be so sure?” asked Prentice.
“For the obvious reason that Mrs. Bortz is a snoop,” Jupe explained, “and she does her snooping here. She pries into the affairs of the tenants and everyone knows it. Until today, she has not been away from here. She has a pass key and can enter any apartment but yours. If I had stolen the Carpathian Hound and I lived in this building, I wouldn’t keep the Hound in my apartment.”
“Yes. I suppose you’re right.”
“But that