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By Root 341 0

careful to speak clearly, “I know you must be getting impatient, but we may have news for you soon. Eileen Denicola may be about to give us the break we need. Pete was in to see Chief Reynolds in Rocky Beach just a little while ago, and Eileen Denicola called while he was there. Pete only got one end of the conversation, of course, but he gathered Mrs. Denicola was hysterical. Chief Reynolds kept trying to calm her down. Finally he said he’d be right there, and he got up and ran out of the office.”

“But I don’t even know Mrs. Denicola,” said Mr. Bonestell carefully. “What could she have to do with the bank robbery?”

“There’s some connection,” said Jupe. “We’re sure of that. Pete wants us to come to the Rocky Beach Police Station. He thinks Chief Reynolds will bring Mrs. Denicola there.”

“I’ll get my jacket,” said Mr. Bonestell.

Jupe snapped off the overhead light in the kitchen, and he and Mr. Bonestell went out and got into Mr. Bonestell’s little car. Mr. Bonestell backed out of the drive and went to the corner, where he parked in the shadows beneath a huge willow tree that overhung the sidewalk. They waited.

Soon Pete appeared on his bicycle. Mr. Bonestell flicked his headlights on and off to let him know they were there, and Pete stowed his bike under some shrubs that grew nearby. He climbed into the back seat of the car.

“What’s up?” he said eagerly.

“Shelby has been bugging Mr. Bonestell’s kitchen with a device in the sugar bowl,” said Jupe. “He has a voice-activated tape recorder in his bedroom. Does that remind you of anyone?”

“The blind man!” cried Pete. “He tried to plant a bug in the salvage yard. Do you mean that Shelby … ?”

“Possibly,” said Jupe. “We’ll see.”

Jupe than told Pete of the message he and Mr. Bonestell had recorded. “The Denicolas have disappeared, and I’m really concerned about them,” said Jupe. “I hope that after Shelby plays back that recording, he’ll lead us to them.”

It was very dark now. The rain that had been threatening half the afternoon had begun to fall. There was little traffic on Second Street, and none on Dolphin Court—

not until well after six. Then Shelby’s car turned the corner. Mr. Bonestell and the boys watched Shelby turn into Bonestell’s drive and park. Shelby got out of the car. A moment later the lights went on in the back of the house, and then in the front rooms.

“He’s looking for me,” said Mr. Bonestell. “I’m always home at this time unless I’m working.”

Soon there were lights upstairs, in the bedroom where Shelby lived.

“It won’t be long now,” said Mr. Bonestell. He fairly cackled with glee. Jupe realized then how much Mr. Bonestell disliked Shelby Tuckerman.

The lights continued to blaze all over Mr. Bonestell’s house, but the front door opened and Shelby came out. He sprinted across the patch of lawn to the drive and got into his car. The engine roared and Shelby shot out into the street. A split second later he passed Mr. Bonestell’s car and sped around the corner on to Second Street.

Mr. Bonestell already had his engine running. He followed Shelby up Second and then out across Ocean Avenue and down to the Coast Highway.

“He’s going to Denicola’s,” Jupe decided.

Mr. Bonestell dropped back and let another car get between himself and Shelby, but he kept Shelby’s car in view. They went steadily north in heavy rain. Shelby drove

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