mg.dictatorofcrime-第5章

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　　They　saw　a　scared　driver　at　the　wheel；　both　hands　raised。　He　lowered　one　when　the　officers　beckoned；　and　opened　the　front　door。　Springing　into　the　truck；　the　police　found　it　empty。
　　Murk　Wessel　and　the　remaining　members　of　his　picked　crew　were　gone；　to　a　man；　and　the　coffers　containing　millions　had　vanished　with　them！
　　Shakily；　the　driver　was　explaining　things。　Gunmen　had　told　him　to　keep　looking　ahead。　Generally；　they　had　said：　〃Keep　going！〃　But　occasionally　they　had　ordered　halts；　when　a　hiding　policy　seemed　preferable。　He　remembered　that　the　last　stop　had　been　somewhere　near　one　of　the　many　canals　that　made　a　veritable　Venice　of　the　western　section　of　Miami　Beach。
　　They'd　told　him　to　wait　about　a　minute　and　then　start　for　the　boulevard；　to　head　straight　for　Miami。　He　had　an　idea　that　they'd　gone　out　the　rear　of　the　truck　during　that　wait；　but　he　hadn't　been　too　sure。　He'd　feared　that　at　least　one　lurking　crook　had　stayed　on　board；　to　make　sure　instructions　were　obeyed。
　　By　the　time　the　truck　driver　reached　that　stage　of　his　story；　the　cops　were　no　longer　interested。　They　realized　how　they　had　been　duped。　Murk　and　his　tribe　had　dropped　off；　swag　and　all；　to　take　a　water　route；　sending　the　police　along　on　a　blind　chase！
　　Only　The　Shadow　had　guessed　the　ruse。　Alone；　he　was　returning　in　the　cab　that　he　had　mandeered　to　hunt　down　Murk's　band　of　murderers。　Why　The　Shadow　had　undertaken　that　quest　single…handed；　was　soon　to　be　proven。
　　Recalling　the　most　likely　spot　where　mobsters　could　have　disembarked　from　the　armored　truck；　The　Shadow　was　guiding　the　cab　driver　to　it。　They　reached　a　park；　where　the　moonlight　glimmered　on　the　waters　of　a　curving　canal…one　of　those　serpentine　waterways　where　aquaplaners　frequently　disported　for　the　benefit　of　newsreel　photographers。
　　Neither　aquaplanes　nor　cameramen　were　in　sight。　Through　the　fringing　palms；　The　Shadow　saw　the　hulk　of　a　low…lying　boat；　which　might　belong　to　Murk　and　his　panions。　Stealthily；　The　Shadow　skirted　toward　a　better　vantage　point。　He　was　planning　to　reach　an　ornamental　bridge　and　make　a　quick　drop　into　the　craft　that　carried　the　crooks；　before　it　could　really　get　under　way。
　　Then　came　the　thing　The　Shadow　didn't　want　to　hear。
　　It　was　the　wail　of　an　approaching　siren；　the　same　whistly　trill　that　every　police　car　had　used　while　on　the　chase。　The　sound　proved　that　the　police　had　learned　their　error　and　were　ing　back；　making　an　even　greater　mistake　by　proclaiming　their　return。　The　give…away　howl　of　those　sirens　was　the　very　reason　why　The　Shadow　had　sent　the　patrols　in　the　other　direction。
　　Crooks　heard　the　sirens；　too。　A　motor　coughed；　and　the　lurking　craft　was　off。　Low；　beneath　the　level　of　the　palm…lined　shore；　it　was　where　The　Shadow　couldn't　reach　it　with　bullets。　The　boat　was　roaring　beneath　the　bridge　as　The　Shadow　reached　the　scene　on　foot。
　　Springing　to　the　center　of　the　short　bridge；　he　stabbed　shots　after　the　fugitives；　and　they　fired　back。　Palms　that　obscured　the　moonlight　made　the　speedy　boat　no　more　than　a　low…lying　streak　of　black；　which　The　Shadow　took　as　a　general　target。
　　In　their　return；　Murk's　gunners　were　shooting　only　at　the　stone　rail　of　the　bridge；　from　which　a　weird；　taunting　laugh　acpanied　the　gun　bursts。　Then　a　turn　in　the　canal　carried　the　swift　boat　from　sight；　as　well　as　gun　range。　The　roar　of　a　powerful　motor　echoed　back　along　the　wave…washed　waterway；　while　sirens；　rising　in　their　pitch；　howled　a　rapid　approach。
　　
　　
　　HIS　own　ruse　spoiled；　The　Shadow　hurried　back　to　the　cab；　to　find　that　it　had　no　driver。　The　fellow　was　blocks　away　by　this　time。　He　hadn't　even　waited　to　snatch　the　keys　from　the　ignition　lock；　so　The　Shadow　used　the　cab　for　his　own　departure。
　　He　was　around　a　bend　in　the　road　that　swung　through　the　park；　when　he　heard　the　sirens　halting；　back　where　he　had　been。
　　Any　chase　along　this　driveway　would　be　futile；　for　by　this　time；　the　fugitive　speedboat　had　reached　the　broad　waters　of　Biscayne　Bay。　The　laugh　that　The　Shadow　gave　was　grim；　signifying　a　ing　problem　which　he　could　definitely　foresee　because　the　police　had　overlooked　it。　It　was　something　that　credited　Murk　Wessel　with　a　high　degree　of　shrewdness。
　　The　very　system　by　which　the　police　had　confined　the　crooks　to　Miami　Beach　was　now　aiding　the　getaway！
　　That　system　involved　the　drawbridges。　They　had　been　lifted　to　prevent　an　escape　by　road。　But　the　criminals　had　taken　to　water；　instead；　and　the　draws　were　still　lifted。　Therefore；　instead　of　being　boxed　between　causeways；　the　fugitive　craft　would　find　whatever　outlet　it　required！
　　No　use　to　call　headquarters　and　explain　that　situation。　Before　anything　could　be　done　about　it；　the　crook…manned　boat　would　have　passed　the　hazards。
　　The　Shadow　had　gauged　the　speed　of　the　craft。　Murk　Wessel　wasn't　risking　ten　million　dollars　on　an　old　hulk。　The　getaway　was　actually　acplished。
　　The　police　would　realize　it；　soon　enough；　and　order　a　hunt；　by　boat；　across　the　entire　expanse　of　Biscayne　Bay。　They　would　probably　carry　it　to　a　greater　extent；　searching　everywhere　from　ocean　to　Everglades。
　　Having　spoiled　The　Shadow's　chance　to　stop　the　flight　before　it　actually　began；　the　police　were　wele　to　all　the　bother　that　a　widespread　hunt　would　produce。　They　had　more　means　toward　such　a　quest　than　did　The　Shadow。
　　Besides；　there　was　something　else　that　the　police　had　either　overlooked；　or　forgotten；　but　which　was　quite　important　in　The　Shadow's　estimate。　Something　that　he　might　still　have　time　to　trace；　as　he　had　hunted　down　Murk's　outfit　after　their　transfer　from　armored　truck　to　speedboat。
　　That　something　was　Margo's　roadster；　which　she　had　driven　away　under　the　mand　of　Colin　Nayre；　a　young　man　who　might；　at　least；　disclose　some　of　the　underlying　clues　to　the　movements　of　Murk　Wessel　and　his　gang　of　killers。
　　Those　crooks　had　acted　with　a　prearranged　precision；　and　Nayre　might　afford　some　answer　to　the　matter；　even　though　his　loyalty　was　unquestioned　in　The　Shadow's　mind。　Having　seen　Margo's　roadster　head　northward；　The　Shadow　was　quite　sure　that　it　had　sped　for　the　neck　of　land　that　led　from　Miami　Beach。
　　Dropping　his　cloak　from　his　shoulders　and　removing　his　slouch　hat；　The　Shadow　picked　up　a　cap　that　the　cabby　had　neglected　to　take　when　he　bolted。
　　Police　certainly　wouldn't　question　an　empty　cab；　driven　by　a　man　who　wore　a　uniform　cap；　when　it　came　to　the　northern　barricade。　The　Shadow　would　simply　claim　that　he　was　answering　a　call　from　Golden　Beach；　a　few　miles　north；　along　the　strip　of　land　that　separated　the　ocean　from　the　bay。
　　Again；　The　Shadow　laughed；　this　time　in　anticipation　of　a　task　that　might　amend　the　opportunities　that　freakish　luck　had　turned　to　crime's　advantage。
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　VI　
　　　MARGO　TAKES　A　TRIP　
　　THE　roadster　was　making　rapid　time　along　the　beach　road　leading　north。
　　Nayre　was　insistent　upon　speed；　and　Margo　wasn't　in　a　mood　to　disagree；　not　while　the　pressure　of　a　cold　gun　muzzle　was　so　constant。
　　Nayre　had　a　casual　way　of　easing　pressure　and　applying　it　again。　Sometimes　he　shifted　the　muzzle；　so　that　Margo　wouldn't　merely　imagine　that　she　felt　it。
　　How　many　miles　they'd　gone；　Margo　couldn't　guess。　She　was　just　beginning　to　think　about　the　speedometer；　for　future　reference；　when　Nayre　gave　another　nudge　with　the　gun。　Coolly；　yet　with　a　tone　of　politeness；　he　said：
　　〃Turn　in　there。〃
　　By　〃there；〃　Nayre　meant　a　sand　road　at　the　left　of　the　highway。　Margo　applied　the　brakes　and　made　the　turn。
　　As　she　did；　she　saw　a　building　that　looked　something　like　an　office；　though　it　was　in　ramshackle　condition。　It　was　topped　by　a　sign　that　could　be　read　in　the　moonlight；　even　though　the　painting　was　faded。　The　sign　read：　FIVE　DOLLARS　AND　UP。
　　Nayre　told　Margo　to　stop　the　car　as　they　rounded　the　building。　Obeying；　the　girl　saw　another　ancient　structure；　that　looked　something　like　an　airplane　hangar。
　　Nayre　turned　off　the　ignition；　but　left　the　key　in　the　lock；　though　it　wasn't　any　help。　As　he　opened　the　door　on　his　side；　he　beckoned　with　his　revolver　and　said：
　　〃e　along。〃
　　At　least；　the　sand　was　thick　underfoot；　and　therefore　soft　to　her　bare　feet；　as　Margo　walked　to　the　old　office　building；　Nayre　keeping　close　beside　her。　There；　Nayre　knocked；　and　the　door　was　opened　by　a　dull…faced　man　who　held　a　lantern。　Nayre　didn't　introduce　himself。　He　merely　questioned：
　　〃Where's　Brady？〃
　　〃Over　at　his　cottage；〃　the　man　drawled　sleepily。　〃Want　me　to　get　him？〃
　　〃Yes。　Hurry。〃
　　Hanging　the　lantern　on　a　beam；　the　dull…faced　man　took　a　dim　flashlight　in　its　place　and　departed。　Margo　could　scarcely　see　the　flashlight's　beam　in　the　moonlight。　She　was　watching　the　man　walk　over　toward　the　beach；　when　Nayre's　revolver　supplied　another　reminder。　Again；　his　order　was　brief：
　　〃e　inside。〃
　　The　room　they　entered　was　an　office；　as　Margo　expected。　Nayre　motioned　her　to　a　cushioned　chair；　the　only　one　of　its　sort；　and　sat　down　on　the　desk。
　　Pocketing　the　revolver；　Nayre　eyed　Margo　quite　steadily。
　　〃If　you　don't　know　who　I　am；〃　he　said；　〃my　name　is　Colin　Nayre。　I　came　in　with　the　bunch　from　Centralba。〃
　　Margo　nodded。　Nayre　quizzed：
　　〃And　your　name？〃
　　Margo　gave　it；　wherewith；　Nayre　furnished　a　reassuring　smile。
　　〃Sorry　I　had　to　inconvenience　you；　Miss　Lane；〃　he　declared；　〃but　I　was　in　a　big　hurry。　There　was　a　lot　of　shooting　going　on；　and　the　police　seemed　to　think　that　I'd　taken　a　hand　on　the　wrong　side。〃
　　〃Which　side　was　that？〃　queried　Margo。　〃I　really　don't　know　very　much　about　it。〃
　　〃Let　me　explain　what　happened；〃　suggested　Nayre。　〃A　crowd　of　crooks　showed　up　and　grabbed　the　cash　that　we'd　brought　in　from　Centralba。〃
　　〃And　you　sided　with　your　friends；　of　course。〃
　　〃Yes；　with　my　friends。〃　Nayre's　clear　eyes　took　a　meditative　expression。
　　〃If　you　can　call　them　such。　Anyway；　they're　all　dead；　Jose　Durez　and　his　friends。　I　suppose　I'll　e　in　for　blame；　because　they　lost　their　cash　before　they　died。〃
　　
　　
　　QUITE　apparently；　Nayre　was　watching　for　Margo's　reaction。　Inwardly；　she　was　rather　shocked　to　learn　that　murder　had　been　acplished。　However；　Margo　was　able　to　feign　indifference。
　　She　asked　Nayre　if　he　had　a　cigarette；　remarking　that　she'd　left　her　own　in　a　pocket　of　her　bathing　robe。　Nayre　produced　cigarettes；　gave　Margo　one；　and　took　another　for　himself。
　　〃You've　heard　about　this　Centralba　business；〃　said　Nayre　dryly；　〃or　you　wouldn't　take　it　so　indifferently。　Tell　me：　does　it　strike　you　oddly？〃
　　Margo　nodded。　She　admitted　that　she　couldn't　understand　why　a　dictator　like　Luis　Castenago　had　allowed　an　opponent　of　Jose　Durez's　caliber　to　go　free；　with　his　friends；　and　take　along　the　profits　from　their　previous　concession。　Her　stress　of　the　word　〃friends〃　caught　Nayre's　attention。
　　〃I　suppose　you're　wondering　why　I　was　tied　up　with　Durez　and　his　crowd；〃
　　remarked　Nayre。　〃The　answer　is　simple：　I　wasn't。　To　answer　another　question　that　may　be　in　your　mind；　I'm　not　a　double…crosser；　and　never　was。〃
　　〃Then　how…〃
　　〃How　did　I　get　mixed　in　it？〃　interposed　Nayre。　〃Very　easily。　I　was　the　man　who　organized　the　presidential　guards　under　the　old　regime；　when　Centralba　really　was　a　republic。　I　mean　when　Francisco　Perid