The Mystery of the Magic Circle - M. V. Carey [31]
“Fine,” said Jupiter, looking appreciatively at Beefy’s broad shoulders. “We may need all the muscle we can get. Anyone who would put Pete into the trunk of that car and leave him there is bound to be dangerous.”
The Three Investigators and Beefy went up the path and into the vestibule of the little apartment house. There were only four doors. One of them had a nameplate beside the doorbell that said “Harold Thomas.”
Beefy rang the bell firmly. “Thomas?” he called. “Are you there?”
No one answered.
Jupiter put his hand on the doorknob and turned it. “Careful,” said Bob in a low voice. “These guys are dangerous. You said it yourself.”
Jupe pushed the door wide, and the boys and Beefy looked into a living-room that was quiet and orderly to the point of being bare.
“Mr. Thomas?” called Jupe. He walked through the living-room and peered into an immaculate kitchen. The others followed him, and they explored the little square hall between the living-room and the bedroom, then went into the bedroom.
A closet door stood open. Except for a number of empty hangers, the closet was empty.
“Too late!” said Jupe. He went to the dresser and pulled open one drawer after another. They were all empty.
“He’s gone!” said Bob.
Jupe looked at his wristwatch. “It’s almost two hours since Pete saw him drive away. The second man had plenty of time to warn Thomas. Thomas and his confederate hid the films somewhere. Then Thomas came back here, packed up, and left.”
Beefy stood awkwardly and watched while the boys searched the apartment. They found nothing — nothing but immaculate emptiness.
“We knew Harold Thomas was a tidy man,” said Jupe at last. “He’s also extremely well organized. With almost no warning, he’s been able to clear out of here and not leave a trace. Well, that only makes sense. The theft of the Bainbridge films was well organized. It took place on the very day the films were delivered, and at a time when there was no one in the laboratory except one technician. Just by sitting in his office and looking across to the building next door, Thomas could have learned the routine there. But how did he know that the films were going to be sold to Video Enterprises, or that they’d be delivered to that laboratory?”
Jupiter turned to Beefy. “Did Thomas have much contact with Marvin Gray when Gray came into your office?”
“No. None that I know of.”
“Hm!” Jupe’s eyes were fixed on the floor next to the sofa. He bent and picked up something. “Just about the only thing in this apartment to show that Thomas was ever here,” he said, and he held up a matchbook for the others to see. “The table next to the sofa is wobbly. Thomas must have jammed this matchbook under the leg to steady it.”
“Just what you need!” said Bob in a mocking tone. “In the Sherlock Holmes stories, the great detective finds a collar button and immediately he can tell all about the suspect, including the fact that he was born in Ireland and that he likes kippers with his tea. You have a matchbook which is doubtless a priceless clue. Tell us about Harold Thomas!”
Jupe turned the matchbook over in his hands, and there was a strange smile on his face. “It’s from the Java Isles Restaurant,” he said. “From the address, I’d say that’s quite near Amigos Press. In fact, Thomas could have been having dinner there the night of the fire. Except that of course he stopped first to rob the film vault.”
“So?” said Pete.
“The Java Isles is an Indonesian restaurant,” said Jupiter. “And suddenly it all fits together! When Harold Thomas persuaded that man at the car wrecking yard to let him park the van there, he said his name was Mr. Puck. There’s a character in Shakespeare called Puck. He’s a sprite who goes around making trouble, and he has a second name. It’s Robin Goodfellow!”
“Goodfellow?” cried Bob. “Charles Goodfellow was one of Madeline Bainbridge’s magic circle!”
“Right!” said Jupiter. “The missing member of our coven. We know that Charles Goodfellow was raised in Holland, and