24 COSMIC ASTRONAUTS
“Good grief, you’d think I was facing major surgeryl” Tom muttered as he changed into pajamas.
“Quiet, please! No griping allowed,” Bud retorted with a chuckle, “or I’ll call in a surgeon to remove that bump of stubbornness.”
Then Bud became serious. “Tom, did you notice the license number of the truck?”
“No, but I saw the sign on the side. It belongs to the Shopton Truck Rental Company.” Tom shot a questioning look at Bud. “Why?”
“Skipper, has it occurred to you that the crash might not have been an accident?”
Tom nodded thoughtfully, “Frankly, yes, Bud. But I didn’t want to say anything in front of Phyl.”
“Well, I intend to check up and find out,” Bud declared. “That driver might even have run you down, if Phyl hadn’t happened to pick you up!”
Tom agreed this was possible. “See what you can dig up, Bud.”
The following morning, on his way to Enterprises, Bud stopped at the office of the Shopton Truck Rental Company. He explained about the crash and asked for the names and addresses of all persons who had rented trucks from the company the day before.
The manager was only too happy to oblige. Four persons had rented trucks, none of which had yet been returned. Two of the people had left town the morning before on long-distance hauling jobs.
SPACE KITE 25
The third proved to be a construction man who said he had been at the site of a project during the time of Phyl’s accident. After inspecting the rear end of his truck, Bud was satisfied that this was not the one which had been involved in the crash.