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

"I'll be glad to explain, Mrsа.а.а. Mrsа.а.а."

"Dobson," said the woman.

Jupiter got to his feet. "I am Jupiter Jones, Mrs Dobson," he said.

"How do you do," she said, in spite of herself.

"Not too well at the moment," confessed Jupiter. "You see, I came here looking for The Potter, and someone knocked me down and locked me in his office."

Mrs Dobson's expression indicated that she did not think this a likely story. The wail of a police siren sounded on the highway.

"Rocky Beach doesn't have too many emergencies," said Jupiter calmly. "I am sure Chief Reynolds's men are happy to have a chance to use their siren."

"You're too much!" snorted Tom Dobson.

The siren faltered and died outside the house. Through the open front door, Jupiter saw a black-and-white patrol car come to a stop. Two officers leaped out and hurried up the path.

Jupiter sat down again on the stairs, and young Mrs Dobson--her first name was Eloise--introduced herself to the policemen in an absolute avalanche of words. She had, she said, driven all the way from Belleview, Illinois, to visit her father, Mr Alexander Potter. Mr Potter was not at home at the moment, and she had found thisа.а.а. this juvenile delinquent climbing out of a window. She pointed an accusing finger at Jupe, and suggested that the police might wish to search him.

Officer Haines had lived in Rocky Beach all his life, and Sergeant McDermott had just celebrated his fifteenth year on the force. Both men knew Jupiter Jones. Both men were also well acquainted with The Potter. Sergeant McDermott made several brief notations on a pad he carried, then said to Eloise Dobson, "Are you prepared to prove that you're The Potter's daughter?"

Mrs Dobson's face went red, then white. "I beg your pardon?" she cried.

"I said, are you prepared--"

"I heard you the first time!"

"Well, ma'am, if you'll just explain--"

"Explain what? I told you, we came and found thisа.а.а. this cat-thief.а.а.а."

Sergeant McDermott sighed. "Jupiter Jones may be a pain in the neck," he admitted, "but he doesn't steal things." He favoured Jupe with a resigned stare. "What happened, Jones?" he asked. "What were you doing here?"

"Shall I begin at the beginning?" asked Jupiter.

"We've got all day," said McDermott.

So Jupiter began at the beginning. He told of the appearance of The Potter at the salvage yard, and of the purchase of furniture for the expected guests.

Sergeant McDermott nodded at that, and Officer Haines went into the kitchen and brought out the chair, so that Mrs Dobson could sit down.

Jupe then reported that The Potter had simply walked away from the salvage yard, leaving his truck behind, and had taken to the hills behind Rocky Beach. "I came up to see if he had returned home," said Jupe. "The front door was open and I came in. I did not find The Potter, but someone was hiding in the office. He must have been standing behind the door. When I went in and saw that The Potter's desk had been forced open, whoever it was tripped me from behind and shoved me down. He then ran out and locked the door behind him. Thus it became necessary for me to climb out through the window when Mrs Dobson and her son appeared and rang the bell."

Sergeant McDermott waited a moment, then said, "Huh!"

"The Potter's office has been searched," Jupe insisted. "You will see that his papers are upset."

McDermott stepped to the office door and looked in at the files spread on the desk, and at the desk drawer sagging open.