Read Online A Handy Death by Robert L. Fish - Free Book Online

the sandwiches on one plate, the Danish on another, and placed the drinks on the center of the cloth. Ross picked up a sandwich, discovered it was roast beef, and opened it. He took a big bite, chewed, and swallowed.
    â€œCertainly not the Sign of the Dove.”
    â€œVacation’s over,” Sharon said. “We’ve got an urgent case now. Remember?”
    Ross smiled. “You mean, shut up and eat?” He became serious, turning to Steve. “And what was Dupaul’s explanation?”
    Steve was searching the pile for a corned-beef sandwich. He finally managed to unearth one by scattering the other sandwiches over half the table. Sharon, sitting quietly to one side, put down her sandwich, straightened the pile, and went back to eating.
    â€œAbout the gun? He didn’t have any,” Steve said, and unwrapped the sandwich. “No mustard? Oh, well …” He shrugged philosophically, took a bite and chewed. “Not the Sign of the Dove? It isn’t even Lindy’s. Lindy’s isn’t even Lindy’s!”
    â€œBut he must have said something.”
    â€œHe just swore it was impossible.”
    â€œHe denied the gun was his?”
    â€œNo, he couldn’t very well deny that, nor did he try to. He said when his grandfather died, he just took over the old man’s guns. I guess there’s nothing so rare about that. People are supposed to transfer registrations, but few do. The gun was one of a pair of twenty-two caliber target pistols, S&W brand. Billy Dupaul claimed he only brought the one to New York with him.”
    â€œAnd the second gun of the pair?”
    â€œIt’s still up in Queensbury, I imagine.”
    â€œI don’t suppose Ballistics were able to do much with the shattered bullet?”
    â€œNothing,” Steve said. “They weighed the fragments and came up with the idea it was a twenty-two but that was about all.”
    â€œEven with a fragment missing? Hogan should have been able to tear them apart on that.”
    â€œExcept that Dupaul admitted shooting the man. And the gun was his.”
    â€œBut he claimed he didn’t have it with him that night?”
    â€œHe swore up and down he had left it at the hotel. He said—repeatedly—that he had gone out on the binge without the gun.”
    â€œAnd no explanation on his part to explain how the gun could have gotten there?”
    â€œNone.”
    â€œAny fingerprints on the gun?”
    â€œThe barrel had some unidentifiable smears; the grip was corregated and didn’t take prints. But, as I said, there was never a question as to Dupaul firing it.”
    â€œHe fired a gun, then dropped it. The police found a gun. In the meantime Dupaul had left the room …” Ross thought a moment and then shook his head. “No, maybe in court I would have pushed that a bit, but I doubt I’d have gotten very far. I’d have to admit here in the privacy of our office that in all probability Dupaul’s twenty-two was the gun used and that he used it. Still, did they do a nitrate test on him?”
    â€œNo. I imagine they didn’t feel it was necessary.”
    â€œProbably not. Still, they should have. Hogan might have gotten him to change his story. However—What was his explanation for failing to recognize his own gun when it was given to him? After all, he must have used it many times. You’d think he would have recognized the feel.”
    â€œHe was in no shape to identify guns. I doubt he could feel much of anything at that stage.”
    Ross finished his sandwich, wiped his fingers on a paper napkin and tossed it aside. He frowned.
    â€œDid the boy ever admit to carrying the gun since coming to New York? Or was it always left in his room?”
    â€œHe finally admitted carrying it on a few occasions. At first he denied it—after all, he had no New York City permit for it, and the Sullivan law is still a tough one—but a