The Mystery of the Rogues' Reunion - Marc Brandel [42]
Jupe sensed what Pete was thinking. He raised his hand in a gesture of caution.
“Come on, Mr. Lomax,” he said in his most persuasive voice. “You don’t want to shoot anybody. You’re not a killer. You’re a great director. You—”
“Don’t count on it,” Bonehead interrupted curtly. “He’s crazy enough to do anything. I know him better than you do. You know what he was going to do with his share of that quiz money? Throw a big party! Invite all those other has-beens he’s got up on the walls. The ones who are still alive anyway. Hire a gypsy orchestra. Call in the press and —”
“Quiet!” The director raised his left hand in a commanding way. “Quiet on the set!” he shouted. “Now, all four of you. Get in line. Put your hands on top of your heads.”
Bonehead was the first to obey. The others fell in line beside him.
“Now!” Lomax was still shouting. “Right turn, and when I say ‘March,’ you march straight ahead to that archway there. And down those stairs. Ready?”
Again Bonehead was the first to respond. The Three Investigators nodded too.
“Lights,” the director called in his ringing tone, “camera, action. March.”
The archway was at the back of the hall. Jupe could see the stone steps leading down from it. They seemed to go a long way down before they turned out of sight. There was probably an old cellar down there, he thought. If Lomax locked them into it, he might be just crazy enough to lose the key, or forget to feed them. And there were no neighbours or
employees to hear their screams. Their best chance might be to make a break for it now. He could feel Pete just behind him.
The First Investigator slowed his pace.
“Get on with it,” Bonehead called to him in a pleading voice from the back of the line. “Do what he tells you before he shoots me.”
Jupe reached the archway and started down the steps.
“March!” Lomax was shouting. “March! March! March —”
His voice broke off. Jupe heard a gasp of fear. Something thudded to the floor with a dead, heavy sound. From long practice the Three Investigators had learned to coordinate their movements like a basketball team. In a second they had scattered out of the line and formed a wide-spaced ring around the back of the hall.
The first thing Jupe saw was the black automatic lying on the floor a few feet from the open front door. Then he saw Lomax. He seemed to be swimming in the air, treading water, his pumping legs and feet well off the ground. A pair of burly arms was holding him up from behind. Two strong black hands were locked together around his waist.
Gordon Harker was very gentle with the elderly director. He was obviously being careful not to hurt him as he carried him across the hallway and sat him down in a canvas chair.
“Now you just sit there quietly, Mr. Lomax,” the chauffeur said, holding him down firmly, but still gently, by the shoulders. “Pick up the gun, Jupe. Make sure the safety’s on and then put it in your pocket.”
Jupe did as he was told. He looked at Bonehead. The young actor was leaning against the wall. His face was very pale and he was trembling slightly.
“Thank you, Mr. Harker,” the First Investigator said.
“Think nothing of it,” the chauffeur told him. “When I saw that young guy creeping up here and remembered what you had told me about him, I thought I’d better find out what was going on.”
“I’m very glad you did.” Jupe looked at Bonehead. “Come on. Where’s Peggy?”
Still obviously shaken, the young actor led the Three Investigators up the stairs and down to the end of a long dusty corridor. The key was in the outside of the door. Jupe turned it in the lock and stepped into the room.
Peggy was sitting in a chair beside the boarded-up window. There was a wadded handkerchief in her mouth, held there by another handkerchief tied around her head. Her hands were bound behind the back of the chair and her ankles were tied to the chair legs.
Bonehead gave a gasp when he