VANISHED EVIDENCE 147
tarpaulins covering the lifeboats. But there was no trace of the Naiad’s crew or passengers.
“What do you make of it, skipper?” Hank asked.
“Looks as if Vaxilis has pulled another fast one.” Tom’s voice was grim.
“Wherever he and his crew have gone, let’s hope Bud’s with them!”
Back on the Sea Hound, Tom radioed Enterprises. He told the operator to contact Harlan Ames at once and also Admiral Hopkins in Washington.
“This is urgent,” Tom said. “Arrange a three-way hookup with scramblers and call me back as soon as Ames and Admiral Hopkins are ready to talk.”
While waiting for the radio call, Tom made a quick check of the waters around the yacht with his aquatomic tracker. But he found no sign that any other surface vessel or submarine had rendezvoused with the Naiad.
Presently a voice crackled from the radio speaker: “Enterprises calling Sea Hound!”
Tom hurriedly responded and was soon exchanging greetings with Harlan Ames and Admiral Hopkins. The young inventor told them all that had happened at Vaxilis’ villa and aboard the Naiad.
“This is awful, Tom,” Hopkins said. “I know how you feel. Even the recovery of the Apollo won’t make up for any harm to your friend.”
“I’ll get a CIA man and fly over in the Sky
148 AQUATOMIC TRACKER
Queen immediately,” Ames promised. “Incidentally, Tristan Carlow has disappeared.”
Tom frowned at this unexpected development. Was Carlow in league with Vaxilis? “We’d better not tip our hand for the time being,” he said after a moment’s thought. “If possible, I’d like it to appear the Naiad was discovered in a routine search by some vessel other than the Sea Hound.”