The Case of the Russian Diplomat: A Masao Masuto Mystery (Book Three)

Read The Case of the Russian Diplomat: A Masao Masuto Mystery (Book Three) for Free Online

Book: Read The Case of the Russian Diplomat: A Masao Masuto Mystery (Book Three) for Free Online
Authors: Howard Fast
Tags: Fiction, General, Suspense, Humorous, Thrillers, Mystery & Detective, Crime, Hard-Boiled, Police Procedural
tell him that we’ll cooperate to keep a lid on this if he’ll just bottle up the loudmouths at the hotel.”
    â€œI’m in Jack Stillman’s room.”
    â€œChrist, he couldn’t listen in?”
    â€œNo, Captain. He’s dead.”
    â€œWhat!”
    â€œSomeone shot him through the back of the head while he was shaving.”
    â€œYou’re putting me on.”
    â€œI’m afraid not.”
    â€œDead?”
    â€œDead.”
    â€œMurdered?”
    â€œIt would seem so. The back of his head and no gun in sight.”
    â€œAnyone else there?”
    â€œJust me. I thought I’d talk to him again. I waited too long.”
    â€œGellman will truly have a fit when he hears about this.”
    â€œI think I hear him knocking at the door,” Masuto said. “I told him to meet me here.”
    â€œAll right. Keep him there until I get there. I’ll call Baxter and have him meet us there. Christ, Masao, what about the Russian?”
    â€œHe can’t get to L.A. before another hour. No way. I have to answer the door.”
    Masuto hung up the telephone and went to the door.

3

    THE
SOVIET
MAN
    Masuto opened the door, and Gellman slipped into the room, closing the door behind him.
    â€œAre you alone?” he whispered.
    Masuto nodded.
    His voice rose. “Masao, you are putting me in one hell of a position. It’s not enough that I got a drowning on my hands and the owners are threatening me and my wife thinks I’m shacking up here and I haven’t slept in two days, but on top of all that you got to search a guest’s room. Jessam ought to be fired for giving you the key. You can’t do it. Do you have a warrant?” he asked as an afterthought.
    Masuto shook his head.
    â€œThen you’re out of your mind. It’s a violation. You know that. If Stillman finds out, he could sue us to hell.”
    â€œHe won’t find out.”
    â€œHow do you know? He could walk in right now.”
    â€œI wish he could, but he can’t,” Masuto said gently. “He’s dead.”
    â€œHe is what?”
    â€œDead. He’s lying in the bathroom with a bullet in his head.”
    â€œNo. No. Look,” Gellman said, his hand trembling, “I got ulcers and before this is over I’m going to have a coronary to go with it. So cut out the gags.”
    â€œSit down,” Masuto said, pointing to a chair. “Sit down and pull yourself together.”
    Gellman collapsed into a chair. “Do you know what this is going to do to the hotel?”
    â€œIt’s even worse for Stillman. It happened. Now take it easy. I’m going to call Fred Comstock. Is he in his office?”
    Gellman nodded, got to his feet and started to reach for the brandy bottle on top of the chest of drawers.
    â€œDon’t touch anything!” Masuto snapped at him. “Just sit down and pull yourself together.” He picked up the phone, dialed the operator, and asked for Comstock.
    â€œI got to see what’s in that bathroom,” Gellman said weakly.
    â€œFirst pull yourself together.” Into the phone, “Fred, this is Masuto. I’m in room three-twenty-two with Gellman. Get up here. It’s important.”
    â€œHe had to kill himself,” Gellman moaned. “That inconsiderate son of a bitch! Masao, suicide is the goddamned most inconsiderate thing a person can do. They never think of anyone but themselves.”
    â€œHe didn’t kill himself, Al. He was murdered.”
    â€œMurdered?”
    â€œThat’s right. Someone shot him in the back of the head.”
    â€œOh, God. I thought it was bad, but this-”
    â€œYou might as well know, Al, the fat man was also murdered.”
    â€œThey said he was drowned.”
    â€œDrugged and then drowned.”
    â€œOh, brother, this is one stinking nightmare. Masao, for God’s sake, can we keep a lid on this?”
    â€œMaybe on the fat man,

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