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

“If he’s kept hidden here, do you think he’ll be safe?”
    â€œNo,” Heron Rhodes said shortly. “He’s much too valuable to someone. I expect, Jackson, you’d better hire guards. We should have at least two around the clock. They can bunk over at the guesthouse behind the lab.”
    â€œOkay. What do you want me to tell ’em?”
    â€œDon’t mention Jan. Just say I’ve become concerned about my grandchildren, Ginny and Otis, and think it’s time they had protection. And it is time, dadburn it! I’ve almost forgotten what a devilishly wicked world we’re living in.”
    Heron turned and scowled at Bill Zorn. “Haven’t you got a fingerprinting outfit?”
    â€œSure. It’s out in the car.”
    â€œThen get it and take Jan’s prints. I want you to hightail it over to Marysville with them and check them with the prints of someone named Brice Riggs. That was the name given on the court order that Bricker had.”
    â€œBut—but Doctor,” Jan interrupted, “those guards said—”
    â€œâ€”that Big Doc had all the records. I know. I know. But fingerprints are different. I don’t know how Marysville handles their cases, but the criminally insane are often fingerprinted by the receiving officer for later identification in case of trouble or death. See what I’m driving at?”
    â€œOf course. But what if Jan’s prints match the Riggs prints—if they have them?”
    â€œIt’ll prove only that the switch was made somewhere else. Jan is not Brice Riggs. To find out who he really is, you may have to trace Brice Riggs and learn if there really was such a person, and what happened to him. And while you are searching, keep tuned to these leads: Jan was being taken to a place the guards called the Center, run by someone they spoke of as Big Doc. Now hurry and take those prints, then get going.”
    The fingerprinting was done in short order. When finished, Bill Zorn placed them in his case and started away. But at the door he stopped abruptly.
    â€œThere’s one thing bugs me. Why would anyone go to the trouble and expense of trying to make one boy pass for another, and tag him as a dangerous criminal?”
    Heron Rhodes said, “Quite simple, Bill. Before they took Jan away, you were watching the house and van through your glasses?”
    â€œYou bet I was!”
    â€œWhat time did they take Jan out of the house and drive away with him?”
    â€œAbout ten after twelve.”
    â€œWhat time was it when you lost sight of them and gave up the chase?”
    â€œI’d say around twenty to one.”
    â€œBill, Jan was back here before twenty to one. How do you suppose he managed to do that?”
    Bill Zorn stiffened. His mouth came open. “But—but—good lord! That’s impossible. Unless—”
    â€œUnless what?”
    â€œUnless teleportation is a fact.”
    â€œWith Jan it’s a fact. And the people who can control Jan, and make him do their bidding, can become very powerful indeed. You see? It’s rather frightening to realize what we may be up against.”
    Heron shook his head. “On your way, Bill. I want some answers.”
    Jan was given the bedroom off the library for his own, and told to remain in it and keep the door locked when the servants were about their morning duties.
    â€œNot that our help can’t be trusted,” Hecuba Rhodes told him. “They certainly can. They’re all members of Angus McCoy’s family. Angus runs the farm, and he’s been with us twenty years. But so long as they don’t know you are here, they’ll act normally and give the right answers if strangers ask questions.”
    Then Hecuba added thoughtfully, “Now, tomorrow’s Sunday, so only the cook will be here. That’s Aggie, Angus’ sister. But she’ll finish up before ten and leave for the day. So