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

"The Potter is extremely orderly," Jupe pointed out. "He would never leave his office in that condition."

McDermott turned back to the group in the hall. "We'll get the fingerprint man up here," he announced. "In the meantime, Mrs Dobson--"

At which, Eloise Dobson burst into tears.

"Hey, Mum!" The boy named Tom moved close and put a hand on her arm. "Hey, Mum, don't!"

"Well, he is my father!" sobbed Mrs Dobson. "I don't care! He is, and we drove all the way to see him and we didn't even stop at the Grand Canyon because I wantedа.а.а. because I can't even rememberа.а.а."

"Mum!" pleaded Tom Dobson.

Mrs Dobson dug into her bag for a handkerchief. "Well, I didn't expect I'd have to prove it!" she cried. "I didn't know you needed a birth certificate to get into Rocky Beach!"

"Now, Mrs Dobson!" Sergeant McDermott folded his notebook and put it into his pocket. "Under the circumstances, it might be best if you and your son did not remain here."

"But Alexander Potter is my father!"

"That may be," conceded the sergeant, "but it looks as if he's decided to make himself scarce--at least for the moment. And it appears that someone has entered the house illegally. I'm sure that Theа.а.а. that Mr Potter will show up, sooner or later, and explain things. But in the meantime, you and the boy would be safer if you stayed in the village. There's the Seabreeze Inn, and it's very nice and--"

"Aunt Mathilda would be glad to have you," put in Jupiter.

Mrs Dobson ignored him. She sniffled and dabbed at her eyes, her hands shaking.

"Besides," said McDermott, "the fingerprint man will be here, and we don't want anything disturbed."

"Where is this Seabreeze Inn?" asked Mrs Dobson.

"Down the road a mile and a half to the village," said McDermott. "You'll see the sign."

Mrs Dobson got up and put on her sunglasses.

"Chief Reynolds may want to talk to you later," said McDermott. "I'll tell him he can find you at the inn."

Mrs Dobson began to cry again. Young Tom hurried her out of the house and down the path to the road, where she got behind the wheel of a blue convertible with Illinois licence plates.

"Now I've seen everything!" said Sergeant McDermott. "The Potter's daughter!"

"If she is The Potter's daughter," said Officer Haines.

"Why would she pretend?" said McDermott. "The Potter's a real kook, and he's got nothing anybody wants."

"He must have something," said Jupiter Jones, "or why would someone go to the trouble to search his office?"





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