“What happened to that guy?” Bud said impatiently.
“That’s what I’d like to know,” grumbled the security chief. “Unless he’s still in there somewhere.”
Tom had a sudden idea. “Let’s try that trap door. Maybe it’s not locked!”
A BOLD OFFER 65
Eagerly they scrambled up to the opening in the concrete ceiling. The trap door opened freely in response to Tom’s push!
Silently they climbed into the kitchen. The room was shrouded in darkness.
Ames snapped on his flashlight and played it around. Its beam revealed glistening white tile walls, cooking implements, three cooks toves, two long wooden tables, and numerous racks of dishes and silverware.
There certainly was no place for anyone to hide.
“Come on,” Tom whispered. “Let’s try the other rooms.”
One by one, they searched every room in the building. But there was no trace of Podski or anyone else. He had vanished as completely as Bronich had.
“He must have left by the front or side door just before we started watching,”
Tom said.
Bud groaned. “You mean all this guard duty tonight was a waste of time?”
Tom shrugged. “Can’t be helped. I guess the only thing we can do now is notify the police.”
Using one of the club telephones, Ames called the State Police barracks and left a message for Captain Rock, telling him everything that had happened. Then the three friends returned by boat to the spot where the red convertible was parked, and drove home.
Next morning, Tom continued to work on his
66 TOM SWIFT AND HIS ATOMIC BLASTER
new blaster. Quickly he mapped out the details for the built-in cooling system.
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