A High Altitude Hijack
RAY: Here's the answer. The authorities knew that he needed one parachute for the money, and they knew that he needed one parachute for himself, and they had to assume the third parachute was for a hostage. Therefore, they could not run the risk of rigging the parachutes. Otherwise, they'd give him two parachutes that had holes in them.
TOM: Of course!
RAY: And he'd put the money in one and himself in the other, and plunge to his death. They couldn't take the chance that's why he asked for the extra parachute. The authorities didn't know who would get it so they couldn't foil his plan.
TOM: Wasn't he clever!
RAY: Yes, he was.
[ Car Talk Puzzler ]
