The Monegasque police chief nodded. “I doubt very much that Vaxilis will give himself up. With a fortune in gold and priceless art, why should he risk a trial that might cost him his life or freedom? A financial genius like Vaxilis could always find ways to cash in his holdings secretly, while remaining undercover.”
“But wait a minute,” Tom broke in excitedly. “If the butler was shot getting away from the villa,
VANISHED EVIDENCE 151
Vaxilis won’t know for sure whether he lived to talk to the police. He doesn’t even know whether I reached shore alive.”
The police officials regarded Tom with a stir of interest.
“Exactly what are you suggesting, monsieur?”
“Suppose we keep Vaxilis in the dark by not revealing that I survived or that the butler talked,” Tom said. “If Vaxilis thought there was no one to testify against him, maybe he would risk showing up and try to bluff his way out!”
Ames, his associates, and the European police officials were impressed.
After talking it over, they agreed Tom’s plan offered the best hope of bringing Vaxilis out in the open. As yet, the Monaco police had given no hint to the press that the butler’s accident might be connected with a sensational crime.
Tom immediately taxied back to the Sea Hound, which then put to sea beyond reach of reporters. Meanwhile, a news story was given out that Vaxilis’
butler had been mysteriously wounded and involved in a car accident and was still unconscious.
When police went to inform his master, the story went on, they found Vaxilis’
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