"Carey, M.V. - The Three Investigators 27 - The Mystery of the Magic Circle" - читать интересную книгу автора (Carey M.V)

"What on earth?" said William Tremayne.

Jupiter started forward as the man collapsed in the street. A fireman ran to bend over the fallen man, and two policemen hurried to help him. Gingerly they turned him over on his back, and one of them looked quickly at the wound on his head.

"Say, I know him!" A stout woman pushed her way out of the crowd and went to the policemen. "He works in that film place there." She pointed towards Film Craft Laboratory, a solidly built brick building which was next to the ruins of Amigos Press. "I've seen him come and go lots of times," said the woman.

One of the policemen stood up. "I'll call an ambulance," he told his partner. "Then we'd better check out that film lab. Doesn't look as if this guy's going to be able to tell us anything. He might not wake up for quite a while!"





3

The Double Disaster



THERE WAS a brief account of the fire on the late news that night. Jupiter watched it with his aunt Mathilda and uncle Titus, with whom he lived. The next morning, he was up in time to see the Los Angeles Now show.

"Haven't you had enough of that fire?" said Aunt Mathilda as Jupe put the portable TV on the kitchen counter. "It could have killed you!"

Jupe sat down and began to sip his orange juice. "Maybe there'll be news about that man," he said.

"The one who collapsed in the street?" Aunt Mathilda sat down to watch, and Uncle Titus poured himself a second cup of coffee.

On the television screen, newscaster Fred Stone looked grave. "There was a double disaster in Santa Monica yesterday," he said. "Fire broke out in the historic Amigos Adobe on Pacifica Avenue at approximately six o'clock. The building, which housed the offices of Amigos Press, was empty except for three young mail clerks. They were trapped by the flames, but were rescued unharmed by firemen."

The image of Stone faded from the television screen. It was replaced by scenes of the smoking ruins of Amigos Press. Stone's voice went on narrating. "The adobe building was completely destroyed. Damage is estimated at half a million dollars.

"As the fire burned, police discovered that a robbery had taken place at Film Craft Laboratory, immediately adjacent to the adobe. At some time between five and six, thieves entered the laboratory, which specializes in the restoration of old motion pictures. They made off with almost one hundred reels of film, the negatives of motion pictures made by actress Madeline Bainbridge more than thirty years ago. Miss Bainbridge, who was once a leading star, had just sold the motion pictures to Video Enterprises, which owns this station--Station KLMC--and its affiliates."

Stone appeared again on the screen. "There is a possible witness to the unusual robbery," he said. "Film technician John Hughes was working overtime at the laboratory. He was apparently beaten by the thieves in the course of the crime. He managed to make his way to the street, where he collapsed. Hughes regained consciousness briefly at Santa Monica Hospital this morning, and he is believed to have given a statement to detectives."

There were footsteps on the front porch and the doorbell chimed urgently. Jupe went to the door and admitted Pete and Bob.

"You watching the news?" said Pete. "I saw the early show. Whoever bopped that guy on the head yesterday also swiped a whole bunch of movies from that lab in Santa Monica!"

"And they were Madeline Bainbridge's movies," said Bob. "How's that for a coincidence?"

"Much too coincidental," declared Jupiter.

The boys followed Jupe to the kitchen. On the television, Fred Stone was reporting a late development in the Bainbridge case. "This morning, a telephone call was made to Charles Davie, president of Video Enterprises," he said. "Mr Davie was told that the Bainbridge films would be returned to Video Enterprises upon payment of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to the persons who are holding these films. Mr Davie made no statement as to whether or not Video Enterprises would ransom the pictures, which are considered irreplaceable."

"What a gimmick!" exclaimed Pete. "Swiping old movies and holding them for ransom!"

Fred Stone went on with his newscast. "Following the robbery at the Santa Monica film laboratory last evening, Station KLMC was able to arrange an interview between Jefferson Long, veteran crime reporter for the station, and Marvin Gray, who has been Madeline Bainbridge's business manager for many years. We now bring you a broadcast of that taped interview."

Fred Stone turned to look at the television monitor to his left. A second later, Jupiter and his friends saw a sun-bronzed man with wavy white hair on the screen. He sat on a straight wooden chair in front of a fireplace and held a microphone. A clock on the mantel behind him showed the time as half-past nine.