The Farewell Murder - a Continental Op Short Story

Among the last Continental Op stories. In February 1930, 'Black Mask' introduced it short and sweet: "The Continental Op is called in to protect a man and runs into plenty grief." It's a dull and rainy day in the village of Farewell when the Op alights from the train. The only passenger to do so. He's been summoned to the home of a man named Kavalov to investigate threats. The ride from the station, it was a Stutz by the way, is eventful to say the least. At one point the cabby screams and the Op looks back to see "a black man lying on his back in the road, near the left edge," and "a knife handle that couldn't have been less that six inches long stood straight up in the air from the left side of his chest." The driver wouldn't return to the scene, so the Op gives him the boot, takes over the car, and returns to the scene. But there's no body. It's that kind of story. Librarian's note #1: this entry is for the story, 'The Farewell Murder.' Entries for collections of short stories, and the other individual stories, can be found elsewhere on Goodreads. There are a total of 28 short stories plus one incomplete; they can all be found by searching Goodreads for: 'a Continental Op Short Story.' Librarian's note #2: there are also two Continental Op novels, 'Red Harvest' (also known as 'The Cleansing of Poisonville'), and 'The Dain Curse.'