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“I’m looking at it. What about it?”
“You gave it to me.”
“I give one to all my apprentices.”
“The man who got the drop on me in the Tombs cellar was packing the same knife.”
“Shows he knows his business. It’s a good one.”
“It was identical.”
“I get them from a cutler in Connecticut. His craftsmen turn out thousands. What are you up to, Isaac?”
Bell said, “This man knows a lot about me. He knew about my sleeve gun.”
Joseph Van Dorn looked amused. “Isaac, if you were a stranger and I ran up against you in a dark cellar, I’d check for a sleeve gun so quick it would make your head spin.”
“He also knew about the one-shot in my pocket.”
“You can bet I’d look for one of those, too. Though, first, I’d inspect your shoulder holster — remove the heavy artillery.”
“He did that, too. First.”
“Like I say, everything you reported about him suggests a fellow who can handle himself.”
Bell picked up his throwing knife. He balanced it on one finger and flicked it gently with another to make the light play on it.
“Mr. Van Dorn, do you remember who taught me how to throw a knife?”
Van Dorn laughed. “I tried. But you were so damned bullheaded, you insisted on that overhand throw they taught you in the circus.”
“It’s got more power. The knife travels farther and hits harder.”
“Overhand looks fancy,” Van Dorn shot back. “But it’s slower and not as accurate.”
“Than what?”
“Than what? You know what. What are you talking about?”
“Say it, please.”
Van Dorn gave him a puzzled look. At length, quizzical wrinkles furrowed his brow as it dawned on him that his young detective was asking for a reason. “Sidearm. Overhand is slower than a sidearm. And, in my experience, less accurate.”
“Speaking of accurate, his main artillery is a Colt Bisley.”
A peculiar look flickered across Van Dorn’s face. He tugged reflexively at his beard.
“Yes,” he said slowly. “As I said, a professional through and through.”
“Mr. Van Dorn, you know this man.”
“If I know him, I’ll get him. Who is he?”
“I don’t know his name.”
“What does he look like?”
“Big fellow. Broad in the shoulders. Light on his feet.”
