The Avenger 34 - The Glass Man by Kenneth Robeson Read Free Book Online Page B

jacket Montez clumsily tugged a pistol. “You’re not going to get me,” he said, looking around at the night, trying to see the invisible man. “I know you got Price and Ted. I know why you want me. But this dog will kill you if you come closer.”
    The dog’s claws scraped on the tiles as he pawed at them, anxious.
    Very carefully Lamont took a few steps closer.
    The guard dog barked a chesty, angry bark.
    “Stay away,” warned Montez, pointing the gun at a spot fifty feet to Lamont’s right.
    Damn it. He hadn’t calculated the dog in his plan. Here was Montez, and yet he couldn’t get at him.
    Better retreat. Save Montez for later. Get him at his office maybe. Let him think he’s safe and then strike.
    Because Montez must not escape justice.
    Lamont began to back away.
    With a barking snarl the German shepherd, unable to wait any longer for the order to attack, acted. He came bounding around the wide pool, straight for the invisible Lamont.
    Nothing to do but run. Lamont leaped a low hedge and bolted across the vast lawn.
    The guard dog was at his heels, barking steadily.
    There was the wall up ahead. Lamont, chest aching, leaped for it.
    The dog leaped too. Its angry teeth sank into his ankle, tearing the invisible skin.
    Lamont’s fingers held the top of the wall. Kicking back as hard as he could with his free leg, he connected with the snarling animal’s snout.
    The dog yowled and let go of Lamont’s ankle.
    Lamont boosted himself over the wall and dropped to the street below.
    “Damn that dog!” He felt at the wound. It was fairly deep. Worse, it was bleeding. And when the drops of blood hit the sidewalk they became visible again.
    He couldn’t go back to the project like this. He’d have to get himself patched up somehow. He’d only be invisible for another few hours.
    Lamont went limping along the dark street. He passed two parked automobiles. The third one had the keys dangling from the ignition.
    He stole that one.

CHAPTER XII

City of Darkness
    The desert-colored pueblos rose against the side of the mesa. Square, squatty towers and rooms made of adobe. A few rough-hewn wooden ladders led from tier to tier of the many-leveled dwelling area. It reminded Nellie of wood-block cities she’d built as a child.
    The moon had not yet risen. The abandoned Indian city stood in darkness.
    “Homemade skyscrapers,” remarked Agent Pike. “Well . . . now what?”
    “Alan Lamont’s brother died very near here,” she said, “fifteen years ago. The car that was borrowed the night of Dr. Dean’s disappearance may have come here.”
    Surveying the pueblos, Pike said, “You think maybe Dean’s stashed in one of them?”
    “It’s worth a search.” The little blonde took a flashlight from her purse and clicked it on.
    After fumbling in his pockets Pike produced a pencil-flash. “Hunk of stairs over there.” He indicated the spot with the thin beam of his light.
    Nellie went up first, stopping on the first terrace. She played her light along the adobe roofs. “Nobody’s used these two nearest ladders . . . Ha, but that one over there is another story!”
    The ladder leaning against the wall of a rounded tower building had definitely been moved recently. The marks on the earthen bricks indicated that.
    “Somebody must have climbed up to that terrace up there.” Pike pointed with his light.
    “Let’s have a look.” Nellie tested the ladder; it felt sturdy. She climbed up.
    One of the buildings on this higher level had most of its doorway tumbled down.
    Scampering over the ancient rubble, Nellie began to explore the room beyond. “In here, Pike.”
    “I’m coming, I’m coming.”
    When the puffing agent joined her Nellie showed him a circular stone trap door in the floor. “This lid’s been recently moved.”
    “Rope handle’s new, too,” said Pike, reaching for it.
    “Hold off.” Nellie stopped him.
    “Huh?”
    On her knees, she carefully examined the trap door. “Might as well make