On the night of Mr. Melvyn's murder, Eckmann hired Freddy Pom-Pom to steal two paintings from a gallery downtown.    Eckmann needed the money badly, seeing that Sir Jasper Ippenstitch III had called him and said that he wanted all his money before the fight started. Eckmann had tried to complain and had said that the due date was still two months in the future, but Ippenstitch had been merciless.     Eckmann knew what would happen if he failed to deliver the money on time.