mg.dictatorofcrime-第2章
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here cars awaited them。 She saw the cavalcade roar away； it was paced by motorcycle police。 Then came the cars； and finally an armored truck； carrying the precious coffers。 By the time another motorcycle squad had closed behind the speedy caravan； Margo was on her way to a telephone booth。
The afternoon was late。 Darkness would soon arrive in the sudden way it did in Miami's clime。 As she called the municipal airport； Margo was hopeful that Cranston's plane had arrived。 She learned that it hadn't； though it was expected any minute。 So Margo left a message。
〃Tell Mr。 Cranston that Miss Lane called；〃 she said。 〃I'm stopping at the Hotel Equator； in Miami Beach； and will meet him there。〃
It happened that Margo wasn't stopping at the Equator。 Some of her friends stayed there； and she had guest privileges； but she considered the rates outlandish； even at times when she had money enough to afford them。 Cranston knew all that； and therefore would understand what her message really meant。
It told that Margo had learned the one thing that wasn't in the newspapers； and probably wouldn't be made known for a few hours： namely； that Jose Durez and his party were the persons who would actually be found at the Equator。
There wasn't any reason why Margo shouldn't be there； too。 Hurrying from the airport； she took a cab and managed to get started ahead of the departing sightseers。 Her own car was in a parking lot in Miami； and she was sure that she could get it and drive across the Venetian Way to Miami Beach ahead of Cranston； even if his plane happened to land shortly at the municipal airport。
Perhaps； Margo felt； she might learn even more before Cranston arrived！
Margo was still considering that possibility when she transferred to her car at the parking lot。 She turned on the lights because darkness had actually begun to settle。 However； by that time； her chances of learning much more were being paratively slim。 A plane had just landed at the municipal airport。
Its pilot was Lamont Cranston。
Margo's message was given to him while his bags were being put into a cab。
Cranston stopped the process； he opened one bag； inside the cab； then closed it。
He asked an attendant to keep the bags at the airport。 Then Cranston was in the cab； and away。
The attendant stood watching the departing cab。 He'd never seen anyone who impressed him quite like Cranston。 Calm of manner； with an immobile face that had a hawkish expression； Cranston had shown no signs of hurry； yet had left with surprising speed。 The attendant wondered just what Cranston had taken from the bag。
He'd have known； had not the cab sped away so rapidly on its long trip from the municipal airport over to Miami Beach。 In the rear seat； Lamont Cranston was undergoing a rapid transformation。 He was sliding his arms into a black cloak and clamping a slouch hat on his head。 A pair of automatics； unwrapped from the cloak； went into holsters under his coat。
Amid the thickening darkness； the cab's passenger had vanished； which meant that he had merged with the gloom within the cab itself； for he was still there。 A laugh； too low to be heard by the driver； came whispered from unseen lips。
Lamont Cranston had bee The Shadow！
CHAPTER II
CRIME PREARRANGED
SEATED by an unlighted window in the exclusive Hotel Equator； a bulky man with hard eyes and square jaw was watching the procession that arrived outside。
The bulky man was Murk Wessel； ace of con men； and quite as much a leader as was Jose Durez； head of the recent opposition faction in Centralba。
Murk had stooges； too； a pair of them； right here in the room with him。
There were more planted throughout the hotel； guised as bellboys and servants。
When Murk Wessel went after anything； he did it in a big way。 When he went after something as big as ten million dollars； he did it in a still bigger way。
The same cars that left the Clipper base were in the procession that arrived at the Hotel Equator； even to the armored truck。 The police； however； were wearing blue； and there were less of them。 They represented the Force of Miami Beach； and they had taken over duty from the Miami police at a halfway point on the causeway across Biscayne Bay。
Murk watched Durez alight and gained a good look at him； because the hotel entrance caught the glow from a brightly illuminated swimming pool beyond a hedge。 The pool lay toward the beach； where rows of cabanas awaited bathers； whether they chose pool or surf。 For the ocean came next； and across it； an early moon was promising one of the beautiful nights that made the Miamis famous。
Pool； ocean； and moon meant nothing to Murk。 He watched the armored truck pull into the garage at the rear of the hotel； until its contents had been removed。 He counted the police who carried the coffers inside； and decided there were too many of them…for the present。
From the window； Murk noted two men who looked like bankers； and were。
They went upstairs with the Durez party； and so did two others； who couldn't have been mistaken for anything other than private detectives。
Waiting patiently； Murk counted the police who came out。 He accounted for all of the escort except two。 The fact that some of the cops remained around outside； didn't trouble Murk in the least。
〃Ten minutes more；〃 said Murk to the men who waited with him。 〃Pass the word along to the boys and we'll all be set。 Time the garage job right to the minute we pull ours upstairs。〃
One of the lieutenants spoke。
〃What about the private dicks； Murk？〃
〃They're fixed；〃 returned Murk。 〃They know what they're supposed to do。
They've got it easy。〃
〃I don't trust them guys；〃 put in Murk's other lieutenant。 〃The way I figure it； a guy wouldn't be in their racket unless he was a double…crosser to start with。〃
〃Which means they'll sell for the biggest price；〃 assured Murk； 〃and nobody's able to talk bigger dough than I am。 Not when I'm figuring on taking over ten million bucks！〃
The very size of the amount brought cautious whispers from the lieutenants as they started from the room。 Murk told them to quit acting foolish； that this job was just the same as any other。 He added that it would 〃go the limit；〃
which was the only difference； but that the size of the prize made it worth it； to which the other men agreed。
They went their way； and Murk struck a match to study his watch； used the flame to light a cigarette。
OUTSIDE the hotel； a trim roadster with lowered top pulled up beside the hedge。 Its driver was an attractive girl whose looks brought approving stares from the police； though their sense of duty prevailed。 One cop sauntered over。
Rather pleasantly； he inquired：
〃You're a guest here？〃
〃Why； no；〃 the girl began to explain。 〃Only…〃
〃Sorry； then。 You'll have to move along。 Nobody but guests allowed to stop here； right now。 Strict orders。〃
〃But I have a privilege card。〃
The girl showed the card； and the officer read it。 He checked her driver's license； to make sure that she was Margo Lane； whose name appeared on both cards。
Margo watched him read the back of the privilege card； which stated that it applied to use of beach and swimming pool。 She reached for an overnight bag behind the driver's seat； and opened it as the policeman raised his head。
〃I'm going for a swim in the pool；〃 said Margo。 〃I've brought my bathing things along。 See？〃
The officer saw。 He pared Margo's proportions with those of the bathing suit； and nodded。
〃All right；〃 he said。 〃But I'll be watching to make sure you take that swim。〃
Margo was fuming as she went through the lobby of the Equator and out by the front veranda； to a cabana。 He'd be watching； that cop would。 What he needed was a transfer to beach duty； so he could see all the bathing beauties he wanted。 Right now； he was counting upon Margo as the sole attraction in that line； which meant he'd have an eye on the pool。
It didn't fit with Margo's plans at all。 She hadn't intended to change to bathing attire； let alone be under surveillance。 Her chances of learning anything more about the Durez
