Part 37 (2/2)

”Dilemma is putting it mildly,” Malone said.

Dr. O'Connor opened his mouth, shut it, opened it again and said, ”I agree.”

”Well,” Malone said, ”maybe one of us will think of something. If anything does occur to you, let me know at once.”

”I certainly will,” Dr. O'Connor said. ”Believe me, Mr. Malone, I want you to capture those kids just as badly as you want to capture them yourself.”

”I'll try,” Malone said at random. He flipped off and turned with a sense of relief back to Boyd. But it looked as if Henry VIII had been hit on the head with a cow, or something equally weighty. Boyd looked gla.s.sy-eyed and slightly stunned.

”What's the matter with you?” Malone said. ”Sick?”

”I'm not sick,” Boyd said carefully. ”At least I don't think I'm sick.

It's hard to tell.”

”What's wrong?”

”Teleporting!” Boyd said. ”Juvenile delinquents!”

Malone felt a sudden twinge in the area of his conscience. He realized that he had told Boyd nothing at all about what had been going on since the discovery of the notebook two nights ago. He filled his partner in rapidly, while Boyd stood in front of the mirror and rather shakily attempted to trim his beard.

”That's why I had the car search continue,” Malone said. ”I was fairly sure the fault wasn't in the cars, but the boys. But I had to make absolutely sure.”

Boyd said, ”Oh,” chopped a small section out of the center of his beard and added, ”d.a.m.n. My hand's shaky.”

”Well,” Malone said, ”that's the story.”

”It's a h.e.l.l of a story,” Boyd said. ”And I don't want you to think I don't believe it. Because I don't.”

”It's true,” Malone said.

”That doesn't affect me,” Boyd said. ”I'll go along with the gag. But enough is enough. Vanis.h.i.+ng teenagers. Ridiculous.”

”Just so you go along with me,” Malone said.

”Oh, I'll go along,” Boyd said. ”This is my vacation too, isn't it?

What's the next move, Mastermind?”

”We're going down to that warehouse,” Malone said decisively. ”I've got a hunch the kids have been hiding there ever since they left their homes yesterday.”

”Malone,” Boyd said. ”What?”

”You mean we're going down to the warehouse _tonight_?” Boyd said.

Malone nodded.

”I might have known,” Boyd said. ”I might have known!”

<script>