"Carey, M.V. - The Three Investigators 15 - The Mystery of the Flaming Footprints" - читать интересную книгу автора (Carey M.V)

"That can't be the Wilshire Boulevard Beautification Committee already," exclaimed Bob. "He wouldn't have had time to do his stuff."

But it was Worthington. "I am sorry, Master Jupiter," the chauffeur reported, "but no one lives at 2901 Wilshire Boulevard. It is a small business building, and at this hour it is locked."

"Oh," said Jupiter.

"However, there was a light in the outer lobby, and I could read the building directory," Worthington announced brightly. "I made a list of the companies occupying the building. They are the Acme Photostat Service, a Dr H. H. Carmichael, the Jensen Secretarial Bureau, the Lapathian Board of Trade, Sherman Editorial--"

"Wait a minute!" cried Jupiter. "What was that last?"

"Sherman Editorial Bureau," said Worthington.

"No, the one before that? Did you say Lapathian--?"

"Lapathian Board of Trade," said Worthington.

"Worthington," declared Jupiter, "I think you have told us exactly what we want to know."

"I have?" Worthington sounded astonished. "There was no Mr Demetrieff listed," he reminded Jupiter.

"Well, if you were to ask for him at the Lapathian Board of Trade," said Jupiter, "they might tell you that he's vacationing in Rocky Beach. Then again, they might not. Thanks, Worthington. And good night."

Jupiter put down the telephone. "Our new tenant at Hilltop House hails from the Lapathian Board of Trade," he told Bob. He looked again at the picture of the crown. "The scarlet eagle was the device of Lapathia, and a favourite symbol with The Potter. And a man from the Lapathian Board of Trade leases a house overlooking The Potter's shop. This suggests a number of interesting possibilities."

"Like The Potter is really a Lapathian?" said Bob.

"Also, that we might pay a visit to Hilltop House, tonight," said Jupe firmly.





9

Hilltop House



BOB and Jupe slipped out of The Jones Salvage Yard through Red Gate Rover and hurried towards the place where a hiking trail meandered in a series of switchbacks to the top of Coldwell Hill.

"We could take the coward's way out," said Bob, looking up towards the top of the hill. "We could take our bikes up to The Potter's and leave them there and walk up the lane to Hilltop House."

"That would scarcely be the coward's way out," said Jupiter. "We do not know what brought those two men to Hilltop House. I would prefer to approach the place without being seen. It is unlikely that they are watching the path, but they might easily spot us if we attempted to walk up their lane from the main road."

"You're right," admitted Bob. He turned to look back towards the sea. The sun had already disappeared behind a bank of fog that lurked offshore. "It'll be dark before we can get back here."

"We should have no difficulty," said Jupiter Jones. "The moon will be up shortly."

"You checked the almanac?" asked Bob.