"Carey, M.V. - The Three Investigators 31 - The Mystery of the Scar-Faced Beggar" - читать интересную книгу автора (Carey M.V)

4

The Investigators Find a Client



"IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE!" said Jupiter. "Hector Sebastian must have more money than he can ever spend! His books are best sellers!"

"Okay!" said Bob. "But if he didn't have anything to do with that bank robbery, why did the security man from the bank go to see him?"

"I don't know," said Jupe.

It was early afternoon, and the Three Investigators were in their secret Headquarters at The Jones Salvage Yard. The boys had waited in the road outside the old restaurant on Cypress Canyon Drive until the security man from the Santa Monica bank had left Hector Sebastian's home and driven away. They had briefly considered talking to Sebastian again, and asking about the visit of the bank guard, but Jupiter vetoed the idea. He was reluctant to intrude a second time on the famous writer for no better reason than curiosity. So the boys had returned to Headquarters to discuss the events of the morning. They were now sitting around the old oak desk in the trailer. Bob was jotting down items in a notebook as he remembered them.

"The beggar limped last night after the accident, and Mr. Sebastian has a limp," he said.

"Mr. Sebastian broke his leg in a dozen places," Jupe pointed out. "His limp is permanent. Did the beggar limp last night before the accident?"

"I'm not sure," said Bob.

"The limp could be a coincidence," said Pete, "but what about the wallet? That's another coincidence. And then the man who actually let the thieves into the bank goes calling on Mr. Sebastian. That's a third coincidence, and three is too many."

"Why don't we go to the police?" said Bob. "It's what Mr. Sebastian said we should do. And why would he say that if he's involved with the robbery?"

"He had to say it," Pete declared. "He'd be afraid not to. It's what grownups always say."

"I think the police would feel that our theories are far-fetched," said Jupiter. "Perhaps they'd be right. It's impossible to believe that Mr. Sebastian helped rob a bank. He has too much to lose. But there must be some connection between him and that event. Perhaps Mr. Bonestell can help us find it."

"Bonestell?" said Bob.

Jupiter unfolded a newspaper which had been lying on the desk. It was the early edition of the Santa Monica Evening Outlook. He had purchased it from a rack when the boys stopped for pizza on their way home.

"Walter Bonestell is the name of the security man who let the robbers into the bank," he said. "It's here in the story on page one." He reached for a stack of phone directories and found the one he wanted. "Hmmmа.а.а. the Santa Monica telephone book lists a Walter Bonestell who lives at 1129 Dolphin Court. That's just a few blocks up from the beach."

"Jupiter!" The call came from outside the trailer. "Jupiter Jones, where are you? I want you!"

Jupe sighed. "Aunt Mathilda sounds annoyed. She hasn't seen me since breakfast. By this time she must have a whole list of things for me to do."

"My mother is probably looking for me, too," said Pete.

"I was going to suggest that we visit Mr. Bonestell," said Jupe. "Perhaps we could do that early this evening. Can you get away then? If we could meet in front of the Rocky Beach Market about seven, we could ride down the coast and see the security man on his own ground."

"Sounds okay to me," said Pete.

Bob grinned. "No school tomorrow. Shouldn't be any problem. See you tonight."