“Probably,” Tom agreed. “In the meantime, I’d like you and Arv to build a duplicate model-for the Challenger, It may come in handy.”
On a sudden afterthought, Tom requested that the job be done as soon as possible. “Dole out the subassemblies among the various Enterprises departments.”
“Sure, I’ll have it for you in twenty-four hours,” Hank promised. “Worried about Bud, aren’t you?”
“To tell you the truth, I am, Hank. I’d just like to be ready for anything that comes up. So long.”
“Good-by.”
Presently the telephone rang. Tom scooped up the instrument.
“Tom Swift Jr. speaking.”
“This is Chief Slater,” said the voice at the other end. “We may have a break in this case-Open Door Jack wants to talk to you.”
“Good! I’ll be right over, Chief,” said Tom.
“Another bit of news,” the police chief added. “Our friend Dunstan was definitely the ray-gun sniper who overturned your car.”
154 MEGASCOPE SPACE PROBER
“You mean he has confessed?”
“Not yet. But our lab analyzed the lint from the inside of that hunting boot-and one piece of textile thread matches the fabric of Raymond Dunstan’s trousers.”
“Nice work,” Tom said jubilantly. “Maybe he’ll change his tune when he hears you’ve pinned the attack on him!”
As soon as Chief Slater rang off, Tom dashed excitedly from the lab building and leaped into his car. He headed directly for Shopton.
At headquarters, Tom followed a guard to the locksmith’s cell. Inside, Tunbridge Jackson was slouched on his cot, looking pale and hollow-eyed. The door was unlocked. Tom entered and sat down on a chair facing the prisoner.
Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119