mg.dictatorofcrime-第7章
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hat credited Murk Wessel with a high degree of shrewdness。
The very system by which the police had confined the crooks to Miami Beach was now aiding the getaway！
That system involved the drawbridges。 They had been lifted to prevent an escape by road。 But the criminals had taken to water； instead； and the draws were still lifted。 Therefore； instead of being boxed between causeways； the fugitive craft would find whatever outlet it required！
No use to call headquarters and explain that situation。 Before anything could be done about it； the crook…manned boat would have passed the hazards。
The Shadow had gauged the speed of the craft。 Murk Wessel wasn't risking ten million dollars on an old hulk。 The getaway was actually acplished。
The police would realize it； soon enough； and order a hunt； by boat； across the entire expanse of Biscayne Bay。 They would probably carry it to a greater extent； searching everywhere from ocean to Everglades。
Having spoiled The Shadow's chance to stop the flight before it actually began； the police were wele to all the bother that a widespread hunt would produce。 They had more means toward such a quest than did The Shadow。
Besides； there was something else that the police had either overlooked； or forgotten； but which was quite important in The Shadow's estimate。 Something that he might still have time to trace； as he had hunted down Murk's outfit after their transfer from armored truck to speedboat。
That something was Margo's roadster； which she had driven away under the mand of Colin Nayre； a young man who might； at least； disclose some of the underlying clues to the movements of Murk Wessel and his gang of killers。
Those crooks had acted with a prearranged precision； and Nayre might afford some answer to the matter； even though his loyalty was unquestioned in The Shadow's mind。 Having seen Margo's roadster head northward； The Shadow was quite sure that it had sped for the neck of land that led from Miami Beach。
Dropping his cloak from his shoulders and removing his slouch hat； The Shadow picked up a cap that the cabby had neglected to take when he bolted。
Police certainly wouldn't question an empty cab； driven by a man who wore a uniform cap； when it came to the northern barricade。 The Shadow would simply claim that he was answering a call from Golden Beach； a few miles north； along the strip of land that separated the ocean from the bay。
Again； The Shadow laughed； this time in anticipation of a task that might amend the opportunities that freakish luck had turned to crime's advantage。
CHAPTER VI
MARGO TAKES A TRIP
THE roadster was making rapid time along the beach road leading north。
Nayre was insistent upon speed； and Margo wasn't in a mood to disagree； not while the pressure of a cold gun muzzle was so constant。
Nayre had a casual way of easing pressure and applying it again。 Sometimes he shifted the muzzle； so that Margo wouldn't merely imagine that she felt it。
How many miles they'd gone； Margo couldn't guess。 She was just beginning to think about the speedometer； for future reference； when Nayre gave another nudge with the gun。 Coolly； yet with a tone of politeness； he said：
〃Turn in there。〃
By 〃there；〃 Nayre meant a sand road at the left of the highway。 Margo applied the brakes and made the turn。
As she did； she saw a building that looked something like an office； though it was in ramshackle condition。 It was topped by a sign that could be read in the moonlight； even though the painting was faded。 The sign read： FIVE DOLLARS AND UP。
Nayre told Margo to stop the car as they rounded the building。 Obeying； the girl saw another ancient structure； that looked something like an airplane hangar。
Nayre turned off the ignition； but left the key in the lock； though it wasn't any help。 As he opened the door on his side； he beckoned with his revolver and said：
〃e along。〃
At least； the sand was thick underfoot； and therefore soft to her bare feet； as Margo walked to the old office building； Nayre keeping close beside her。 There； Nayre knocked； and the door was opened by a dull…faced man who held a lantern。 Nayre didn't introduce himself。 He merely questioned：
〃Where's Brady？〃
〃Over at his cottage；〃 the man drawled sleepily。 〃Want me to get him？〃
〃Yes。 Hurry。〃
Hanging the lantern on a beam； the dull…faced man took a dim flashlight in its place and departed。 Margo could scarcely see the flashlight's beam in the moonlight。 She was watching the man walk over toward the beach； when Nayre's revolver supplied another reminder。 Again； his order was brief：
〃e inside。〃
The room they entered was an office； as Margo expected。 Nayre motioned her to a cushioned chair； the only one of its sort； and sat down on the desk。
Pocketing the revolver； Nayre eyed Margo quite steadily。
〃If you don't know who I am；〃 he said； 〃my name is Colin Nayre。 I came in with the bunch from Centralba。〃
Margo nodded。 Nayre quizzed：
〃And your name？〃
Margo gave it； wherewith； Nayre furnished a reassuring smile。
〃Sorry I had to inconvenience you； Miss Lane；〃 he declared； 〃but I was in a big hurry。 There was a lot of shooting going on； and the police seemed to think that I'd taken a hand on the wrong side。〃
〃Which side was that？〃 queried Margo。 〃I really don't know very much about it。〃
〃Let me explain what happened；〃 suggested Nayre。 〃A crowd of crooks showed up and grabbed the cash that we'd brought in from Centralba。〃
〃And you sided with your friends； of course。〃
〃Yes； with my friends。〃 Nayre's clear eyes took a meditative expression。
〃If you can call them such。 Anyway； they're all dead； Jose Durez and his friends。 I suppose I'll e in for blame； because they lost their cash before they died。〃
QUITE apparently； Nayre was watching for Margo's reaction。 Inwardly； she was rather shocked to learn that murder had been acplished。 However； Margo was able to feign indifference。
She asked Nayre if he had a cigarette； remarking that she'd left her own in a pocket of her bathing robe。 Nayre produced cigarettes； gave Margo one； and took another for himself。
〃You've heard about this Centralba business；〃 said Nayre dryly； 〃or you wouldn't take it so indifferently。 Tell me： does it strike you oddly？〃
Margo nodded。 She admitted that she couldn't understand why a dictator like Luis Castenago had allowed an opponent of Jose Durez's caliber to go free； with his friends； and take along the profits from their previous concession。 Her stress of the word 〃friends〃 caught Nayre's attention。
〃I suppose you're wondering why I was tied up with Durez and his crowd；〃
remarked Nayre。 〃The answer is simple： I wasn't。 To answer another question that may be in your mind； I'm not a double…crosser； and never was。〃
〃Then how…〃
〃How did I get mixed in it？〃 interposed Nayre。 〃Very easily。 I was the man who organized the presidential guards under the old regime； when Centralba really was a republic。 I mean when Francisco Peridor was president。〃
〃So you stayed when Castenago took over？〃
〃Yes。 Peridor suggested it。 He said that Castenago's election was legal； which it happened to be； the way they run elections down there。 The first man who gets to the polls has the privilege of counting the votes； and Castenago had his men first； everywhere。
〃Castenago wanted me to keep my job as captain of the guard； and when Peridor advised it； I did。 I hated it the longer it continued； and was ready to quit when the Durez faction bobbed up。 When everything smacked of revolution； they suddenly showed up at the presidential palace； bringing Peridor with them。
A really fine gentleman； Francisco Peridor。〃
Nayre was staring into space； so ardently that Margo felt sure she could reach the door without him noticing her departure。 The opportunity tempted her；
but she didn't take it。 Nayre had spoken frankly； and said enough to convince her that he was quite as decent a chap as she supposed。
Therefore； she wasn't worried； and by remaining； she might learn some real inside facts that Lamont Cranston would like to kno
