The Mystery of the Kidnapped Whale - Marc Brandel [14]
“It’s funny the way he told us that,” Jupe said. “He made such a point of it. He wanted us to know it. But that still doesn’t explain why he pretended to be Constance’s father, unless …”
He was silent for a minute, thinking hard. He remembered the way the man had come out of the office, locking the door behind him, and the startled surprise on his face when he saw the boys standing there.
“Unless he had been snooping around Captain Carmel’s office,” Jupe went on. “Maybe even searching the whole house.”
“What for?” Bob asked. “I mean, I don’t think the guy was a thief, do you? What do you figure he was searching for?”
“Information,” Jupe said. “Maybe he went to San Pedro for the same reason we did. To see what he could find out about Constance and Captain Carmel. Then, when he came out and saw us watching him, he said the first thing that came into his head to explain what he was doing there. He said he was Captain Carmel.”
The First Investigator stood up. “Okay,” he said. “Let’s saddle and ride.”
Pete took his feet off the file drawer and stood up too.
“We’re not going to bike all the way up to Slater’s house, are we?” he asked plaintively. “Because if we are, I vote we take some supplies with us. A couple of Aunt Mathilda’s sandwiches. I could go for a ham and Swiss cheese on rye –”
“No.” Jupe was already lifting the trap door that led down into Tunnel Two. “We’re not going to Slater’s. We’re going back to Ocean World to talk to Constance Carmel.”
He paused before stepping down into the tunnel.
“It’s time for a showdown,” Jupiter said.
The Three Investigators had plenty of time to cycle up to Ocean World before it closed. They were waiting beside the white pickup truck in the parking lot when they saw Constance Carmel come out through the gates.
It was a chilly evening. She was carrying a terry-cloth robe folded over her arm, but apart from that she seemed as indifferent to the cold as a penguin. She was wearing her usual swimsuit and open sandals.
“Hi.” She stopped when she saw the three boys. “You looking for me?”
“Miss Carmel.” Jupe stepped forward. “I know it’s kind of late and you’re probably tired. But I wonder if you could spare us a few minutes.”
“I’m not tired.” She looked down at Jupe as he stood in front of her. She was a good six inches taller than he was. “But I am rather busy. I’ll tell you what. Why don’t you come back tomorrow?”
“We’d sooner talk to you now.” The First Investigator drew himself up to his full five feet four. “It’s about –”
“Tomorrow,” she repeated. “Say around noon.” She walked forward as though expecting Jupe to move out of her way.
The First Investigator stood his ground. He took a deep breath and said a single word. He said it loud and clear.
“Fluke.”
Constance Carmel stopped. She put her hands on her hips, staring down at Jupe in a rather threatening way.
“Why are you after Fluke?” she asked.
“We’re not after him.” Jupe tried to smile. “We’re very glad he’s safe in Mr. Slater’s pool. And we know you’re taking good care of him. But there are a few things we’d like to talk to you about.”
“We want to help you, Miss Carmel,” Bob put in politely. “Honestly we do.”
“How?” Constance Carmel turned on him with that same challenging stare. “How can you help me?”
“We think somebody’s been spying on you,” Pete told her. “We saw a man come out of Captain Carmel’s office in San Pedro today, and when he saw us watching him he pretended to be your father.”
“And he couldn’t be your father, could he?” Jupe pointed out. “Because your father lost his boat in the storm last week and he’s in the hospital.”
Constance Carmel hesitated. She seemed to be thinking it all over, making up her mind. Then she smiled.
“Well,” she said. “You really are investigators, aren’t you?”
“Like it says on our card.” Pete smiled back at her.
“Okay.” Constance Carmel felt in the pocket of her robe and found her car keys. “Why don’t we take a ride and talk it all over?”
“Thank you, Miss Carmel,” Jupe agreed. “That’s very kind of you.”
“Constance,” she told him, unlocking the door. “Just call me