The Golden Circle (15 page)

Then came three shots in rapid succession.

"They've shot Beth!" gasped Connie.

Lt. Coma came down the stairs from above. "What happened?"

"Old lady heard somebody cough up there and got wise. She took a shot at me," explained VerPoorten. "Then she tried to get by Lenzer out in" the alley."

Colma nodded, heading toward the library. He entered the room with caution. One of the floor lamps had been used to batter out the window glass. Its bulbs had popped, its base was twisted.

The lieutenant crossed to the window. "Lenzer, you got her?"

No reply came.

Colma frowned out into the rain. "Damn," he said. Detective first class Lenzer was sprawled out there on liis back. Rain was beating down on the bloody front of his overcoat.

"How's the old lady?" said VerPoorten.

"Long gone," answered Colma.

The Renault raced along the Long Island Expressway. There were cars all around them, each showing through the night and heavy rain only as a collection of blurred colored lights.

"It could have been Helga herself," Mara was saying. "She could very well be the one who set us up."

Beth, her suit and hair rainsoaked, shook her head. '1 know that girl. It was I who brought her into the organization well over a year ago. She's straight."

"Very well, Beth," said Mara. "Let's assume it

wasn't Helga. I don't see how that leads you to suspect Mimi."

The gaunt woman held up one hand, tapping the fingers as she made her points. "First, she refused to go on the job tonight. Second, she's very thick with Walker. Walker, despite what the schoolgirl side of your nature may tell you, is a spy. I'm convinced he talked little Mimi into doing what I prevented him from doing. She told Lt. Colma where to trap us."

Mara's hands grew white as she gripped the wheel. "We have no proof...."

"How much else has to go wrong before you believe me?" demanded Beth.

Mara said, "Let's forget about Mimi and Walker for a moment. We've got to worry about getting everyone cleared out of the house."

"Not to mention the loot we have stashed in the basement," said the gaunt woman. "The police may already know where our headquarters are, though when I called home from the last gas station there was no indication of any trouble. And I don't think Helga is going to tell them about the house on the Sound."

"She told them about the red kerchief signal."

"Yes, but she'd try to keep back as much information as she could."

"Even so, we'll have to be very careful when we get near the house," said Mara. "I think Nita and Connie will stall as long as they can."

"There's always the possibility Mimi has already told them where our headquarters is located," said Beth. "'Somehow, though, I don't think she'll do that until she and her precious Walker are away safe. And before we left I took the precaution of having guards set to watch both of them." She watched the windshield wipers sweeping back and forth. "Speaking of

Walker, Mara dear, we'll have to get rid of him tonight."

"What do you mean?"

"We're moving out, remember?"

"He can be left where he is, locked in that cell."

"'No," insisted Beth, "that simply won't do. He knows, and I won't bother to remind you how much of this is your fault, he knows much too much about all of us; I can't afford to let the police get hold of him. He has to die."

"You can't...."

"I want to have the pleasure of seeing that man sink into the waters of the underground river before I vacate our house."

Mara's fingers squeezed the wheel even tighter, then they relaxed. She said, "Very well, I guess you're right."

"Of course I am."

CHAPTER
TWENTY
-
FOU
r

The two women were making their way, as quietly as they could, through the woods which bordered their old Victorian house. The rain had turned to a prickly drizzle; mist was spilling off the black ocean and swirling around them.

"No sign of any cops," said Beth. "None of the agreed on danger signals visible at the house." They were a thousand feet from the place.

"There weren't any danger signals at the Easton townhouse either," Mara reminded her. "We'll approach from the rear and use a window to enter."

"You're being overly cautious, Mara dear. I'm absolutely sure I've thwarted Mimi's plans. She won't blow the whistle on our headquarters until she and her boyfriend, Walker, are miles from here. And I've made sure she can't get away."

Mara said nothing more until they had worked their way around to the back side of the sprawling house. "Nobody stationed around here."

Already at a window and easing it up, Beth said, "We could probably have walked right in the front door."

A moment after the pair stepped into the dim back hallway a voice said, "Put your hands up, please!"

Beth said angrily, It's us, you ninny.'"

"Oh. I'm sorry, Beth," said the chubby girl who was leveling a rifle at them. "You alerted us to be on guard for trouble and...."

"Yes, yes," said Beth. "Very admirable, keep it up."

"I take it," asked Mara, "that no police have shown
up?"

"Not yet," replied the chubby girl. "But we're packing and loading up the cars and the pickup truck, just as Beth ordered over the phone."

"Commendable," said Beth. "Now to get into some dry clothes and then pay a visit, my last visit, to Walker."

Mara got to him first.

By the time Beth stalked into his cell, wearing a suit of coveralls, the Phantom's hands were already securely bound behind him. "Very good, Mara," she said. "Don't tie his feet yet. He's going to have to walk to the trapdoor." She went over and pressed one palm to his chest. "You're much too big to carry."

"I should think," he told her, "you wouldn't have time for another murder right now."

"So you do know about the police raid. When is it going to...."

"I told him what happened," cut in Mara. "He doesn't know anything."

"So he says to you." Beth's hand reached up and slapped the Phantom's face hard. "When are they coming?"

"From what Mara tells me, it won't be long," he answered. "You'd be a lot better off turning me loose."

"Not a chance, buddy boy," said Beth. "I've promised myself your death. Bring him along, Mara."

Guided by the blonde, the Phantom was led, followed by an armed escort of three other golden arrow girls, through the winding passages of the vast old basement.

When they entered a low musty room, Mara exclaimed, "What's Mimi doing here?"

The dark girl was standing a few feet from the closed trapdoor. Her hands and feet were tightly bound with greasy ropes. Two more girls with guns were watching her. The underground river could be heard rumbling by below. "You must know why I'm here, Mara," Mimi said. "Didn't you order this?"

"No, I "

"Get Walker finished first," ordered Beth. "Tie his legs up good and tight. It won't matter if you cut off his circulation. Mr. Walker has taken his last walk."

Mara let go of the Phantom's arm to face Beth. "You never said anything about Mimi. I can't let you go ahead with...."

"She's a traitor! I have positive proof she was down here in the middle of the night, on several occasions, plotting with this man."

"Mimi has nothing to do with your troubles," said the Phantom. "She's completely loyal, unfortunately for her, to your cause."

"The time for special pleading is long passed," said Beth. She was in a dusty coiner, selecting two large shroudlike cloth sacks. "This one should do nicely for you, buddy boy. May be a bit tight across the shoulders, but you won't mind that."

"Why add two more murders to your list?" the Phantom asked as she came toward
him
with the sacking.

"These aren't murders, they're executions."

The Phantom's feet were tightly bound now. Beth shooed the two girls who'd done the job aside and, with a lunge, dropped the sack over his head. An instant later, she kicked out at his legs, making him topple over and slam into the plank flooring.

The two girls were already bringing large stones from a pile against one wall.

"Stuff a nice heavy supply in there with him," said

B
ETH.

Mara told her, 'I won't let you do this to Mimi, too!"

From a pocket in her overcoat, Beth took a pistol. "These two are going to be dead before I leave this house tonight, Mara. I'd prefer the river, but if you !bother me I'll shoot the two of them right here and now."

"You mustn't..." began Mara. She stopped, touched one slender hand to her face. "Very well, very well."

"Nice try anyway," said Mimi. "And I always had the idea you didn't much care for me, Mara.*"

"Brave little Mimi," sneered Beth. "A jest on her lips to the very end."

"As for you," Mimi started to say.

Beth threw a sack down over the girl's head and body. "You won't need as many stones for this one."

Shaking her head, Mara moved back toward the doorway. "Good-bye, Walker. I'm sorry." She left the room.

The Phantom felt the large heavy stones being packed in all around him. Next the rough sack was tugged down hard, its open end clutched tight together over his feet.

"You'll appreciate this domestic touch," said Beth, planting a sharp kick in his ribs. "You're being sewn in by one of our young ladies. We don't have time for any fancy stitching. I'm sure you won't mind."

He heard the gaunt woman's footsteps echoing on the planking. A creaking, wrenching sound followed. The hidden river roared louder, its rushing sound rising to fill the room.

"No need to be gentle with him," Beth was saying.

She started kicking him toward the open trapdoor. One, or possibly two, of the other girls joined her.

When he was on the edge of the opening, Mimi called out, "So long, Walker. I really liked you." Then he was falling.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

The big radio in the Easton library was still playing. A chill wind was pouring in through the broken window, scattering rain on the thick rug.

It was almost fifteen minutes after Beth had shot the detective and made her getaway. There were noises out in the alley, muttering and grunting. A flashbulb went off.

Nita sat in a large low leather armchair. "My elbow hurts," she said, rubbing it

Lt. Colma was leaning against a dark wood table, one blunt finger toying with the golden chain on the table lamp. "How long have you been with the golden arrow gang?"

The black girl made her eyes go wide. "Never heard of them, chief," she said. "Besides which, I don't have to say anything to you until I've got my lawyer handy." She frowned toward the window. "Can't you give me the third degree somewhere else. This draft bothers my elbow."

Boosting himself up to sit on the table, Colma asked, "Know a guy called Sweeney Todd?"

"You must know I do," replied Nita. "I work for him part time, down in the Village."

"Did you also know we have him in custody?"

She rubbed harder at her arm. "Nope, thafs a new one on me. What'd he do?"

"For one thing, he's part of your gang."