The Case of the Vanishing Boy by Alexander Key Read Free Book Online Page A

guards spotted him. They were trying to get away from him when I—left.”
    â€œIf they spotted him,” said the lawyer, “then they probably got away. Bill’s a top investigator, but tailing cars isn’t his strong point. I’m sure he took their license number, but I doubt if that would help us.”
    â€œIt wouldn’t,” Jan told him. “They’d switched plates. I heard them talking about it.”
    â€œWhat else did you hear?” Heron Rhodes said eagerly.
    â€œThey—they were taking me to what they called the Center. It seems I escaped from there.”
    â€œDid you get any idea of its location?”
    â€œNo, sir. But someone they called Big Doc is in charge.”
    Hecuba, returning, said, “Not another word till he eats. The snacks are ready, and the cook’s gone.”
    As they filed into the beamed kitchen with its big round table, Jan heard Heron Rhodes mutter, “Big Doc. Hm. Big Doc. I’ve never heard anyone called that, but somehow it strikes a bell. It makes me very uneasy.”
    â€œWhy, Pops?” said Ginny.
    â€œBlessed if I know, pet. But this thing’s bigger than I thought. A lot bigger.”
    â€œPops, if those people find out Jan is back here with us, what do you think they’ll do?”
    â€œThey’ll try to kidnap him—but they’ll make sure he’s drugged so he can’t get away.”

6
    HIDING
    They had finished eating and were going over the details of Jan’s account for the third time when Otis slid off his chair and started out of the room.
    Hecuba Rhodes said, “What is it, Otis?”
    â€œBill’s comin’,” said the small boy. “Gonna let ’im in.”
    Jackson Lane looked blankly around the table. “How the dickens does that little fellow know someone’s outside?”
    â€œHe just knows,” said Ginny.
    â€œAnd he can find people,” Jan put in. “He found me last night after I’d run away from the train. I was hiding in a shed ’way over on the other side of town.”
    The lawyer frowned, then the creases in his square face deepened. “I don’t believe in this sort of thing,” he rumbled. “Never did, in spite of what I’ve seen. But why couldn’t Otis help us locate that Center where Jan was being taken?”
    â€œOh, I’m sure he could find it in time,” Heron Rhodes answered. “But it might take him months. You see, the boy’s range is only about a mile. Last night we had to circle around half of Westlake before Otis picked up the scent—if you want to call it that.”
    â€œPops,” said Ginny, “what makes you think this thing about Jan is so much bigger—”
    They were interrupted by Otis coming back into the room with a pale, studious-looking young man in tow. The young man nodded politely to those at the table, then shook his head at Heron Rhodes.
    â€œSorry, sir. I did my best, but I goofed it. They got away.”
    â€œNever mind, Bill,” Jackson Lane told him. “Their victim, er—escaped.” He motioned to Jan. “Here he is, back with us.”
    Bill Zorn blinked at Jan. “But—but this is impossible, sir! Soon as I lost them, I drove back here as fast as I could. How—”
    â€œHe used a dif’rent route,” small Otis said, with a perfectly straight face. “An’ quite speedy.”
    â€œIt’s rather involved,” Heron Rhodes added quickly, “so we’ll explain it to you later. Right now, Bill, we need answers to some questions, and we need ’em fast. Pour yourself a cup of coffee, and draw up a chair.”
    â€œAnd Bill,” cautioned the lawyer, “not a word about Jan to anyone, not even Milly. No one is to know that he’s here. Understand?”
    â€œOf course, sir.” Bill Zorn looked curiously at Jan, shook his head, then poured his coffee and sat down.