weren’t any secret projects discussed here in the office today.”
Right now, Tom decided, it was important that Marco’s every move be watched. He slipped from the building without being seen and drove home rapidly. He went at once to the attic where he kept a short-wave radio, used for top-secret communication. Another was set up at Radnor’s home.
It was four in the morning when the security officer’s sound sleep was shattered by the squeals of the set’s speaker. Groggy, he felt for the microphone.
“Wh-what is it?” he mumbled.
“It’s Tom. Rad, I’ve traced the security leak!”
“What!” Radnor was wide awake in an instant. Tom explained what he had learned.
“Great going!” Radnor exclaimed. “Marco leaves the plant in another three hours. I’ll have him followed. Security will put one of our night men on the job right away.”
When Tom hung up, his troubled mind was relieved. At last the mystery was taking shape. He fell into bed and drifted off into the first peaceful sleep he had had in days.
While Tom slept, Radnor’s men began to draw the net around the unsuspecting watchman. A series of check points were set up along the route to Marco’s home. His house was placed under immediate surveillance. Less than an hour after Tom’s conversation with Radnor, a plant detective was 102 TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT ROBOT
posted in the corridor to watch Marco’s every move.
When morning came the watchman punched out and left for home. The detective followed as Marco took the expected route, deviating only once, to drop a fat letter in a mailbox.