The Mystery of the Magic Circle - M. V. Carey [43]
Bob smiled and handed a file folder to Mr. Hitchcock.
“Excellent,” said the director. “The accounts in the press of the recovery of the money paid for the Bainbridge films were interesting enough, but I have looked forward to learning more about the part you lads played in the whole affair.”
Mr. Hitchcock began to read, and he did not speak again until he had perused the last sheet of paper in the folder. “Fascinating!” he said at last. “A woman victimized by her own guilt — a woman who hid herself away from the world and trusted no one.”
“No one but the wrong man,” said Pete. “He could have gone on swindling her, too, if we hadn’t taken the bull by the horns and gone in that afternoon to find her drugged and asleep. The accountants are going through her affairs now, to see exactly how much Gray took from her. Gray’s in the prison ward at the County Hospital. The district attorney will bring charges when he has more complete information.”
“He’s fortunate to be alive,” said Mr. Hitchcock. “Ramon Desparto did not survive when his brakes failed on that road. Of course I can’t believe that Miss Bainbridge really caused either of those accidents. I admire mystery inordinately, but believing that a witch can cause a car accident is … well, a bit much, wouldn’t you say?”
Jupiter smiled. “We’ll never really know, I guess,” he said. “Beefy Tremayne is convinced that Gray hit the tree simply because Gray took Beefy’s car, and Beefy and all of his possessions are doomed to malfunction.”
“That should be of some comfort to Madeline Bainbridge,” said Mr. Hitchcock.
“She seemed distressed at the thought that she might actually have harmed both Desparto and Gray.”
“She’s trying to get over the idea that she’s to blame,” said Bob, “and she’s trying to use her magical powers to help Beefy overcome his clumsiness. Actually, he doesn’t seem to be tripping over so many things or knocking over so many things as he used to, so maybe the magic works.”
“Also, his uncle isn’t giving him such a hard time,” Pete reported. “Having William Tremayne around would upset anybody and make them drop things.”
“Tell me,” said Mr. Hitchcock, “did the police really find Jefferson Long’s fingerprints on that wrecked automobile? The one in which Pete was shut up?”
The boys grinned. “That was Jupe bluffing,” said Bob. “He was hoping Long would say something and give himself away. Actually, it was Thomas who cracked and ran — or tried to run. That was just as well. Thomas had all those keys in his pocket, and they included the keys to Beefy’s apartment and the keys to that pharmaceutical firm where Thomas used to work. So Jupe was right when he guessed where the magnesium came from.”
“Even without that bit of evidence,” said Jupe, “the police have plenty on both Long and Thomas. The ransom money for the Bainbridge films was in the trunk of Long’s car. He’d been so sure of himself that he hadn’t even bothered to move it. He was promptly arrested. Now he’s out on bail, and finding that his long friendship with law enforcement people is dead. They know now that he was just using them and they’re furious.
“As for Thomas, whose real name actually is Goodfellow — he’s served time for a number of things, including grand larceny and arson. He tried to go straight and keep an honest job, but he simply couldn’t. The pharmaceutical firm where he used to work has had an audit, and there are shortages in the accounts there. Thomas simply couldn’t keep from stealing, no matter what.”
“How fortunate that he is no longer in circulation,” said Mr. Hitchcock.
“But Madeline Bainbridge is in circulation again,” reported Bob. “She’s decided that it’s dangerous to be a hermit, so she’s giving a party next Friday evening. She’s inviting the local members of her old magic circle.”
“Are they coming?” asked Mr. Hitchcock. “You state in your report that the ladies seemed to dislike Madeline Bainbridge.”
“They do, but they’re also curious,” said Jupiter. “They want to see what she looks like after all these years, so they’re