"Arden, William - The Three Investigators 28 - The Mystery of the Deadly Double" - читать интересную книгу автора (Arden William)

"We will," Worthington said, putting his hand on Pete's shoulder, "but we must not follow them. In a kidnapping you must do exactly what the kidnappers say, then call the police immediately."

"Following them could be dangerous for Jupe," Bob explained. "But we can try to see which direction they're going, and tell the police! The kidnappers don't know we have a phone in the Rolls, so they don't think we can alert the police right away. Hurry, we'll climb that hill while Worthington calls Chief Reynolds!"

While Worthington ran to the car to telephone the police chief of Rocky Beach, Bob and Pete scrambled up the steep slope of a nearby hill. Panting, they reached a high ledge in seconds, and looked towards where the dirt road met the highway.

"I see them!" Bob exclaimed.

"Going south towards Rocky Beach!" Pete said. "And driving pretty slowly!"

"They don't want to attract any attention."

"If Chief Reynolds moves fast," Pete cried, "he could get in front of them! Come on!"

They slid and stumbled down the slope to the Rolls-Royce. Worthington was just giving the licence number of the Mercedes, and a quick description of the two men.

"Tell the chief they're driving south on the pass highway towards Rocky Beach," Pete said. "He might be able to block them before they can turn off anywhere."

Worthington repeated Pete's message, and then listened.

"Very good, Chief. We'll remain here until you come."

He hung up, and looked at the boys. "What could they want with Jupiter? You're sure you have no idea who they are?"

"We never saw them before yesterday," Bob said.

"We don't know anything!" Pete wailed.

The three of them looked at each other hopelessly.



Gagged in the darkness under the heavy bag, Jupiter was scared. The Mercedes seemed to be driving slowly, going downhill on what Jupiter guessed was the county highway. Going towards Rocky Beach. What did these men want with him? Who were they? Where were they from with their odd English accents?

He squirmed under the bag in the back seat of the car, and a pistol poked hard in his ribs. One of the men was sitting close beside him.

"Sit still," the man said.

Jupiter tried to speak, to protest, but with the gag tight in his mouth all he could do was gurgle and grunt. "Ummmmffff . . . grrruummmm . . ."

"Keep quiet! Quiet and still, eh? Like a nice, noble little do-gooder."

The unseen man laughed beside him, and the nasty laugh was echoed from the front seat where the other man drove.

But Jupiter tried to talk again, to ask what they wanted with him. Uncle Titus and Aunt Mathilda didn't have any money! Not real money! His grunts and muffled gurglings made him feel like a fish flopping on a beach.

"I said keep quiet! You wouldn't want your father to lose his only son, now would you?"

Under the bag, Jupiter froze. His father? But he had no father! His father had died when Jupe was quite small. Desperately he tried to explain that to his captors.