Тайна загадочной лестницы [with w_cat]

[1076] Nancy parked in front of headquarters and the two girls hurried inside the building. Captain Rossland was expecting them and they were immediately ushered into his office. Nancy introduced Helen Corning.

[1077] "I won't keep you in suspense," the officer said, watching Nancy's eager face. "We have arrested Samuel Greenman!"

[1078] "The crinkly-eared man?" Helen asked.

[1079] "That's right," Captain Rossland replied. "Thanks to your tip about the used car, Miss Drew, our men had no trouble at all locating him."

[1080] The officer went on to say, however, that the prisoner refused to confess that he had had anything to do with Mr. Drew's disappearance.

[1081] "Furthermore, Harry the taxi driver—we have him here—insists that he cannot positively identify Greenman as one of the passengers in his cab. We believe Harry is scared that Greenman's pals will beat him up or attack members of his family."

[1082] "Harry did tell me," Nancy put in, "that his passenger had threatened harm to his family unless he forgot all about what he had seen."

[1083] "That proves our theory," Captain Rossland stated with conviction. "Miss Drew, we think you can help the police."

[1084] "I'll be glad to. How?"

Captain Rossland smiled. "You may not know it, but you're a very persuasive young lady. 1 believe that you might be able to get information out of both Harry and Greenman, where we have failed."

[1085] After a moment's thought, Nancy replied modestly, "I'll be happy to try, but on one condition." She grinned at the officer. "I must talk to these men alone."

[1086] "Request granted." Captain Rossland smiled. He added that he and Helen would wait outside and he would have Harry brought in.

[1087] "Good luck," said Helen as she and the captain left the room.

[1088] A few moments later Harry walked in alone. "Oh hello, miss," he said to Nancy, barely raising his eyes from the floor.

[1089] "Won't you sit down, Harry," Nancy asked, indicating a chair alongside hers. "It was nice of the captain to let me talk to you."

[1090] Harry seated himself, but said nothing. He twisted his driver's tap nervously in his hands and kept his gaze downward.

[1091] "Harry," Nancy began, "I guess your children would feel terrible if you were kidnapped."

[1092] "It would cut 'em to pieces," the cabman stated emphatically.

[1093]  "Then you know how I feel," Nancy went on. "Not a word from my father for two whole days. If your children knew somebody who'd seen the person who kidnapped you, wouldn't they feel bad if the man wouldn't talk?"

[1094] Harry at last raised his eyes and looked straight at Nancy. "I get you, miss. When somethin' comes home to you, it makes all the difference in the world. You win! I can identify that scoundrel Greenman, and I will. Call the captain in."

[1095] Nancy did not wait a second. She opened the door and summoned the officer,

[1096] "Harry has something to tell you," Nancy said to Captain Rossland.

[1097] "Yeah," said Harry, "I'm not goin' to hold out any longer, I admit Greenman had me scared, but he's the guy who rode in my cab, then ordered me to keep my mouth shut after that other passenger blacked out."

[1098] Captain Rossland looked astounded. It was evident he could hardly believe that Nancy in only a few minutes had persuaded the man to talk!

[1099] "And now," Nancy asked, "may I talk to your prisoner?"

[1100] "I'll have you taken to his cell," the captain responded, and rang for a guard.

[1101] Nancy was led down a corridor, past a row of cells until they came to one where the man with the crinkled ear sat on a cot.

[1102] "Greenman," said the guard, "step up here. This is Miss Nancy Drew, daughter of the kidnapped man. She wants to talk to you."

[1103] The prisoner shuffled forward, but mumbled, "I ain't goin' to answer no questions."

Nancy waited until the guard had moved off, then she smiled at the prisoner. "We all make mistakes at times," she said. "We're often misled by people who urge us to do things we shouldn't. Maybe you're afraid you'll receive the death sentence for helping to kidnap my father. But if you didn't realize the seriousness of the whole thing, the complaint against you may turn out just to be conspiracy."

[1104] To Nancy's astonishment, Greenman suddenly burst out, "You've got me exactly right, miss. I had almost nothing to do with takin' your father away. The guy I was with—he's the old-timer. He's got a long prison record. I haven't. Honest, miss, this is my first offense.

"I'll tell you the whole story. I met this guy only Monday night. He sure sold me a bill of goods. But all I did was see that your pop didn't run away. The old-timer's the one that drugged him."

[1105] "Where is my father now?" Nancy interrupted.