"Lawrence Watt - Evans - One of the Boys" - читать интересную книгу автора (Watt-Evans Lawrence)

The Captain saw Red’s smile, but he wasn’t exactly sure why it was there. Was Morguson’s remark
funny? Or did Red find it satisfying, maybe, that their reputation was so formidable?

The Captain wasn’t sure just which was the natural human reaction. His own response wouldn’t have
been a smile at all.

He couldn’t let Red know that, of course.
Then he was distracted by the reporter’s voice.

“This is Deborah Hatch, on the scene as three of our more famous citizens convince a wanted criminal to
surrender to police. The three mystery men who call themselves Captain Cosmos, the Red Rover, and
Mr. Swift have apprehended a suspect who may be the so’Called Electrothief, the person responsible for
the recent rash of high-tech break-ins and killings plaguing the city.” She had been facing directly into the
camera; now she stepped aside and turned slightly, so that her viewers could see the four people
approaching, Stan Morguson with his hands up, Red Rover smiling, Mr. Swift grinning, Captain Cosmos
strutting proudly.

“Hey, baby,” Mr. Swift called to her.

The Captain threw him a quick frown. That was no way to talk to the press. Swift couldn’t seriously be
making a pass at a reporter in front of the camera! That was something to be done in private. It didn’t fit
the heroic image.

“Down, boy,” Red muttered.

Swift grinned even more broadly, but he didn’t say anything more; instead he waved at the camera.

An officer came up, gun drawn, and took Morguson’s arm. “He’s all yours, boys,” Red said, releasing
his hold. “His gun’s back in the house there. Pat him down, read him his rights, and take him away!”

Other police arrived, and proceeded to do just that. Deborah Hatch was still talking into her microphone,
but nobody was really listening. Mr. Swift was watching her closely, though; the Captain noticed that.

A plainclothes officer was approaching; Captain Cosmos straightened up, trying to look his best. He still
had concrete dust on his sleeves, he noticed; he brushed at it.

“You boys want to come on down to the station and give us some statements?” the plainclothesman
asked.

The Captain puffed out his chest, but before he could say, “Certainly, sir,” Red had replied, “Hell of a
way to spend a Friday night, but I guess we could stop by.”

“That’d be good of you, I’m sure,” the cop said sardonically. “I suppose you’ll give us the usual grief
about not using your real names?”

Before any of the three could reply, another car pulled up, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Oh, Christ,” the plainclothesman muttered.

“What is it?” Captain Cosmos asked, instantly alert.