"Carey, M.V. - The Three Investigators 23 - The Mystery of the Invisible Dog" - читать интересную книгу автора (Carey M.V)

The sergeant and the patrolmen emerged from the church. The sergeant scanned the crowd on the pavement. "Okay!" he called. "Where's the guy who's supposed to be in charge here?"

"He's having a cup of tea with the pastor," volunteered the man who had spoken to the Investigators. "I'll get him."

The police helicopter made one last pass above the neighbourhood, then disappeared towards the north.

The lieutenant who had been talking to Mr Prentice's friend came down the street.

"Nothing in the church," reported the sergeant.

The lieutenant sighed. "Beats me how he got out of the neighbourhood so fast," he said. "The helicopter usually spots them, unless they've got a place to go to ground. Okay. We can't do anything more tonight."

Earl the caretaker bustled up from the parish house and stamped into the church, slamming the door behind him.

In a few minutes, the police cars had pulled away. The spectators drifted back to their homes.

Jupiter, Pete, and Bob walked back to the apartment house. Fenton Prentice was still there talking to the grey-haired man.

"Mr Prentice," said Jupiter, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but--"

"It's quite all right." Mr Prentice looked very weary. "I have just learned from Charles--from Mr Niedland here--what this furor is about."

"My brother's home was broken into," said Prentice's friend. "He had a house on Lucan Court. That's the next street over."

"I'm very sorry, Charles," said Mr Prentice. "This must be especially painful for you."

"For you, too," said Charles Niedland. "Don't let it upset you too much, Fenton, and try to get some rest. I'll talk to you in the morning."

Charles Niedland went in through the courtyard and out through the rear passageway which led, Jupe supposed, to an alley and to the buildings on the street behind Paseo Place. Fenton Prentice sat down on the steps as if he were too exhausted to stand any longer. "What a desecration!" he exclaimed.

"The burglary?" asked Bob.

"Edward Niedland was my friend," explained Prentice. "My friend, my protege, and a very fine artist. He died two weeks ago, of pneumonia."

The boys were silent.

"A great loss," said Fenton Prentice. "Very hard for me to accept, and very hard for his brother Charles. And now to have his home broken into!"

"Was anything taken?" asked Bob.

"Charles doesn't know yet. He is going to check the contents of the house right now, with the police."

There were brisk steps on the pavement behind the boys. Bob and Pete turned. A hearty, robust-appearing man in a beige sweater strode jauntily to the flagstone stairs. At the sight of Prentice sitting there, and the boys hovering near him, the man stopped and stared.

"Anything the matter?" he asked.

"There has been a burglary in the neighbourhood, Mr Murphy," said Prentice. "The police have been searching."

"Oh," said the newcomer. "I thought there were a lot of squad cars around. Did they get the guy?"