The Mystery of the Flaming Footprints - M. V. Carey [44]
“I think that is the only way we will ever discover the purpose behind all of this –
your father’s disappearance, the search of the house which occurred the day you arrived, the flaming footprints — everything.”
Eloise Dobson frowned up at Jupiter. “Chief Reynolds told me about you,” she said. “And you, too, Bob. And Pete. He said, if I remember correctly, that your talent for stirring up trouble is only exceeded by your knack for figuring things out.”
“A mixed compliment,” said Jupiter.
“All right.” Mrs Dobson stood up. “Tom and I pack and move out, with all the fuss possible. Then you boys hide someplace and watch the house. I’ll go along with you partway. We’ll even leave the door open so that the nut — whoever he is — can get in. Although he doesn’t seem to have had any trouble doing that so far, and whenever he wants to. But unless the guy is really hung up on ceramics, I don’t see what he expects to find. This place is full of nothing.”
“Perhaps it is not,” said Jupiter. “We will see.”
“One thing,” said Mrs Dobson. “I would like to know what this big, dark secret is that is hidden on my father’s family tree.”
“Mrs Dobson, we really do not have time to explain,” said Jupiter. “It will be dark in half an hour. Please, let’s hurry and get you moved out!”
“Okay. But there’s another thing.”
“Yes?” asked Jupiter.
“The minute Tom and I get into town, I’m going straight to that police chief and tell him what you’re doing,” announced Mrs Dobson. “If somebody starts to play rough, you’re going to need help.”
The Three Investigators paused. Then, “That might be a wise idea,” said Jupiter.
“Hey, Jupe, it will wreck everything if a police car comes roaring up here!”
protested Pete.
“I am sure Mrs Dobson will be able to persuade Chief Reynolds not to come roaring,” said Jupiter. “We will ride partway back to Rocky Beach on our bikes,” he told Mrs Dobson. “When we are out of sight of the house, we will stop, conceal the bicycles in the undergrowth beside the road, and return here. The scrub growth on the hillside is especially thick right now. No one on the road will see us, and we will not be seen from Hilltop House, either. Tell Chief Reynolds that we will be keeping watch from just beyond the oleander hedge behind the house.”
“Say, can we move now?” pleaded Bob. There was a note of urgency in his voice.
“It’s getting dark!”
“Come on, Tom,” said Mrs Dobson.
The two went up the stairs, two steps at a time, and The Three Investigators, waiting in the kitchen, heard drawers open and close and wardrobe doors bang and suitcases thump on to the floor.
In four minutes Eloise Dobson came swiftly down the stairs carrying a square cosmetic case and a small suitcase. Tom followed her with two larger bags.
“A record!” Jupiter applauded. “Did you bring everything—toothbrushes–everything?”
“Everything,” said Mrs Dobson. “But it’s going to be a mess when I unpack.”
“That can always be straightened out later,” said Jupiter. He took the small suitcase from Mrs Dobson, and Pete relieved Tom of one of the bigger bags. Jupe looked round. “Let’s go,” he said.
They started down the hall towards the front door. As they passed the office, Mrs Dobson suddenly stopped. “Wait!” she cried. “Tom, get the box!”
“What box?” asked Pete.
“I went through my father’s things,” said Mrs Dobson. Her tone was a bit defiant.
“I wasn’t snooping. I just was wondering – you know – and I found a box with some personal things in it. Nothing important. A picture of my mother and father taken on their wedding day, and a bunch of letters from my mother and some from me, and –
Jupiter, I don’t want anybody pawing through that stuff.”
“I understand, Mrs Dobson,” said Jupiter. He took the second suitcase from Tom Dobson, and Tom ducked into The Potter’s office and emerged with a cardboard box about a foot square. “My grandfather seems to have saved everything,” he said.
Pete got the front door open, and the procession filed out past the two urns towards Mrs Dobson’s car,