Part 10 (1/2)

When he returned it was with both Larry Morazzoni and Paul Teeter, Dan Crowley's political adviser. Morazzoni growled, ”What goes on? You squares looking for trouble?”

Patricia said testily, ”I suggest you let us out of here, Mr. Morazzoni.

If you do, we pledge not to press kidnaping charges against you. I believe you are aware of the penalty in this State.”

”You trying to be funny?”

”Definitely not, Mr. Morazzoni,” Patricia said icily. ”Daniel Crowley bragged to us of your plans for tonight.”

The hoodlum muttered a contemptuous obscenity under his breath.

Paul Teeter, the heavy-set southerner said jovially, ”But what has this to do with releasing you, Miss O'Gara? Admittedly Dan is a bit indiscreet but....” He let the sentence fade away.

”Yes,” Patricia said. ”I realize that he is a nonprofessional in your ranks, and have little doubt that eventually you would have surmounted whatever precautions he has taken to keep you in underling positions.

That's beside the point. The point is that by this time Daniel Crowley has, ah, infiltrated the inst.i.tution you expected to burglarize tonight.

He is inside, and you are still outside. There are four guards also inside, whom he is expected to eliminate before you can join him.”

”He told you everything all right, the jerk,” Larry said coldly. ”But so what?”

”So Dan Crowley had us make up a new amount of serum tonight and tested it on a chimpanzee in the lab. If you'll go and check, you'll undoubtedly find the chimp is again visible.”

The gunman looked at Paul Teeter blankly.

The other's reactions were quicker. ”The serum lasts for twelve hours,”

Teeter barked.

”This batch lasts for three hours,” Patricia said definitely. ”Your friend Crowley is suddenly going to become visible right before the eyes of those four guards--and long before he had expected to eliminate them.”

Teeter barked, ”Larry, check that monkey.”

Doc Braun spoke up for the first time since the appearance of the two.

He said dryly, ”You'll also notice that the animal is sound asleep. It seems that I added a slow-acting but rather potent sleeping compound to the serum.”

The gunman started from the room in a rush.