John Blaine - Rick Brant 07 by Smugglers' Reef

Author:Smugglers' Reef [Reef, Smugglers']
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2012-06-05T11:15:57+00:00

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[118]

CHAPTER XIII

The Tracker

“We can drop your pictures off at the office, then I’ll drive you in to New York, if that’s okay,” Jerry remarked, as the car sped up the road to Whiteside.

“That will be fine,” Rick said. “I’ll phone Spindrift, too, and let Mom know we won’t be home for lunch. We can pick up a hamburger at a roadstand on the way in.”

Jerry slowed down to a more moderate pace and Rick looked at him, surprised. “Thought we were in a hurry.”

“Trying something,” Jerry said. His eyes were on the rearview mirror. After a moment he spoke. “The car behind us slowed down, too. I think he’s following us.”

Cap’n Mike started to look back, but Scotty said warningly, “Don’t! If they’re really following, we don’t want to let them know they’ve been spotted.”

“There’s a curve up ahead, Jerry,” Rick said. “Keep your eyes on that car as we round the curve and let me know when they’re out of sight.”

“Okay.”[119]

The curve loomed. Jerry took it smoothly, then glanced up at the mirror. “Now,” he said.

Rick reached up and readjusted the mirror so he could see, then settled back. In a few seconds the other car was in sight, too far back for him to see the figures on the license plate, but not so far that he couldn’t see clearly that the plate was from New York, or that the car was the same make and model as the one they had seen in Kelso’s garage. Reflection of light on the windshield made the occupant hazy, but Rick had a good idea who it was.

“Looks like Kelso’s car,” he told the others. “Listen, Jerry, don’t go to the paper. Drop us in front of Dean’s Department Store, then go around the block. Go slowly to give us time to find out who this bird is. No, I’ve got a better idea. Park the car. He’ll have to park his if he intends to follow us.”

Jerry nodded agreement. “There’s a parking lot next to the store. I’ll swing in there.”

Cap’n Mike was grinning from ear to ear. “I’ll be dadblamed if this ain’t just like something I read once,” he said. “I knew if I got you two interested we’d have some excitement!”

Jerry chuckled. “What do you think I want to take them into New York for? I usually go swimming on Saturday afternoon.”

They were at the outskirts of Whiteside now. Jerry slowed speed again, and three minutes later he swung into the parking lot next to Dean’s, in the busiest part of the town. Through the rearview mirror Rick saw the other car go by, heading for a vacant space at the curb, probably. He had noticed one a half block down.[120]

The four got out of the car and Jerry took the parking check from the attendant. “Now what?” he asked.

“We walk down the street,” Rick directed, “and if we haven’t spotted him by the time we get to Mark’s Supermarket, turn into the store. It has two entrances.

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