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

Bob shrugged. "He's about the same size, and I guess he's about the same age, but there must be a million guys like that."

"Very well," said Jupe. Suddenly he was brisk and businesslike. "I'm going in there."

"What are you going to do?" asked Pete. "Go in and buy a hamburger?"

"I may," said Jupe. "Or I may simply ask for directions. But one way or another, I'll find out who that man is. Bob, you had better keep out of sight. If that man was outside the bank in Santa Monica last night, he might recognize you--and he might get nasty."

"I'll wait with Bob," said Pete. "I'm allergic to guys who might get nasty."

"Chicken!" Bob taunted.

"I'm only ambitious," said Pete. "My ambition is to live until I am very, very old."

Jupe chuckled. Leaving his friends standing beside the road, he pushed his bicycle into the parking area of Charlie's Place. He leaned the bike against the wall of the building and went up the steps. He crossed the little porch, put his hand on the screen door, and pulled. The door opened.

Jupe stepped out of the sunlight into a place that was dim. He saw polished hardwood floors and dark wood panelling. Straight ahead through a wide doorway was a large, empty room. Its front wall was made entirely of windows, which looked out through the trees to the sparkling ocean beyond. Jupe guessed this room had once been the main dining room of a restaurant. The restaurant was clearly out of business now.

Jupe was standing in a wide passageway that was really a sort of lobby outside the huge room. To the left of the lobby was an area that was a dusty jumble of coffee urns and counters and stools and booths. Jupe realized that this had once been a coffee shop. He looked to the right and saw a wall with several doors in it. There were cartons and crates piled in the coffee shop and more cartons piled up in the lobby. Several crates stood on the hardwood floor of the big room. One crate was open, and packing material overflowed and drifted down its side.

Jupe moved forward slowly. He was about to call out when he heard the sound of a telephone being lifted from its cradle. He stood still and listened. Someone out of sight in the big, bright room ahead of him dialled a number.

There was a pause, and then a man said, "This is Sebastian."

After another pause the man spoke again. "Yes," he said, "I know it will be expensive, but everything has its price. I'm prepared to pay for it."

At that moment something small and hard pressed into Jupe's back just above his belt.

"Please to reach for the sky," said a soft voice. "If you move I make you in two pieces!"





3

A Man of Mystery



JUPITER RAISED HIS HANDS above his head. He could feel his scalp prickle.

"I only wantedа.а.а." he began.

"Please to be quiet!" said the person behind him.

There were footsteps on the hardwood floor. The grey-haired man who had driven up a few minutes before appeared in the doorway to the big room. He stood leaning on his cane, looking at Jupe with his head slightly to one side, as if he were puzzled.

"What is it, Don?" he said. "Who is this?"