Continental Op Stories · Chapter
V: “Meet Mr. Smith” explained
The Continental Op and O'Gar investigate Creda Dexter's past for a male suitor who might have killed Gantvoort, but find no leads.
What happens
The Continental Op and O'Gar investigate Creda Dexter's past for a male suitor who might have killed Gantvoort, but find no leads. The Op intercepts Madden Dexter on a train from Sacramento, pressing him about his sister's relationships. Dexter denies knowing any other suitor, but the Op suspects he is lying. On the ferry to San Francisco, Dexter introduces a burly man as 'Mr. Smith' and warns him of the Op's identity. Smith pulls a gun and forces the Op onto the foggy deck, where he is attacked.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Identity
Madden Dexter lies about his sister's suitors; Mr. Smith's identity is concealed; the Op uses deception to try to extract information.
Violence and Survival
Mr. Smith threatens the Op with a gun on the ferry; the Op is attacked and thrown into the bay.
Class and Power
The Dexters are fortune hunters; Gantvoort's wealth is a motive; Madden Dexter's weak demeanor contrasts with his power to conceal the truth.
Characters to notice
- The Continental Op
Leads the investigation into Creda Dexter's past, interviews Madden Dexter on the train, and is ambushed by Mr. Smith on the ferry.
- Creda Dexter
Under surveillance; the Op questions her about former lovers but she denies any; her past remains a mystery.
- Madden Dexter
Returns from New York; the Op confronts him on the train; he lies about his sister's suitors and later warns Mr. Smith about the Op.
- Detective Sergeant O'Gar
Works with the Op on the case, described as calling Creda Dexter a 'sleek kitten'.
- Charles Gantvoort
The murder victim; his death is the focus of the investigation; the Op believes a rival killed him.
- Mr. Hook
Introduced as 'Mr. Smith'; a burly man who pulls a gun on the Op on the ferry, forcing him onto the deck.
Key passages
“We stowed all those lovely clues away in a drawer, locked the drawer, and forgot them.”
The detectives set aside the initial clues and focused on finding a male suspect.
The Op describes abandoning the earlier evidence to pursue a new theory.
“I went up against Creda Dexter again, spending an entire afternoon in her apartment, banging away with question after question, all directed toward her former love affairs.”
The Op interrogated Creda Dexter for hours about her past relationships.
Shows the Op's persistent but fruitless questioning.
“Smith's left hand had gone into his overcoat pocket… a snub-nosed automatic in his hand—shielded from everyone's sight but mine—pointing at my waistline.”
Mr. Smith secretly drew a gun from his coat pocket, aiming it at the Op without others noticing.
Key moment of threat and tension on the ferry.
“The entire back of my head burned with sudden fire… tiny points of light glittered in the blackness before me… came rushing toward me.”
The Op was struck on the head and lost consciousness as lights swirled.
Describes the attack that ends the chapter.