Hugunay chuckled and stepped closer so he could be heard above the howling wind.

  “That is more like two questions – but I am in fine spirits tonight, so I will answer them. Jujab, my dear young fellow, does not exist!”

  Jupiter gaped at the thief. “But… but…”

  Hugunay laughed out loud. “Well, he doesn’t exist in any lit-eral sense. The man who played the villainous Jujab is really named David Kogan. He’s a part time pilot and full-time out-of-work actor I found in Hollywood. Of course I knew you would recognize me instantly if I brought you the monkey’s paw, so I needed an unfamiliar, yet sinister, face to put with my inquiries.

  As you’ll recall from our last meeting at Bert Clock’s house, I’m not adverse to hiring actors or renting costumes if it suits my needs. Mr. Kogan’s portrayal of the swarthy Jujab was a bit over-the-top, but effective – wouldn’t you agree?”

  Hans and Konrad stirred nervously at Jupiter’s side, but the stocky boy pressed on – a determined look on his face.

  “And Masher and Croaker?” he shouted.

  “Petty criminals. It is unfortunate that they got carried away with their assignment. As you know, I never condone violence if it can be avoided. I regret greatly that one of the gypsy men was injured by Croaker. He was dealt with severely.

  “Their lot is a dime a dozen in the seedy underworld of Hollywood,” Hugunay continued. “I prefer more elegant help when it is available. But they are reliable. And I often need reliable help to, well… make ends meet while I hunt for the really big prizes – such as the book which you now hold in your hands. The book which will allow me to vanish from the world and grow old on some exotic island. And speaking of the book…”

  www.threeinvestigatorsbooks.com 97

  Hugunay raised his gun once more and stepped closer still to the First Investigator.

  “Now – I trust your questions have been answered to your satisfaction? Very well. I’ve grown fond of you, young Jones. But to the victor go the spoils. I wouldn’t want our transaction to get...

  unpleasant. I shall tell you one more time: hand it over!”

  Jupiter remained still for a moment, as if thinking furiously.

  Hans and Konrad stood firmly by his side as the wind tossed their hair about and rippled their shirts.

  Finally, Jupe’s shoulders sagged and he nodded his head in defeat. He stepped out slowly from between the burly brothers and approached his old enemy.

  When he was five paces from the villain, the round-faced First Investigator stopped and cleared his throat.

  “Before I hand over the DaVinci codex to you, sir, I feel it is my duty as a junior deputy of the Rocky Beach Police Department to inform you that tonight’s operation has just entered phase three.”

  Hugunay threw a sharp glance at Jupiter, his thin, mustached face eyeing him suspiciously.

  “Phase three? I do not understand.”

  Jupiter grinned and pointed over Hugunay’s shoulder.

  “Hugunay – I’d like to introduce you to Chief Samuel Reynolds of the Rocky Beach police force. I believe you’ve met before!”

  98 The Curse of the Mysterious Traveler Chapter Eighteen

  Jupiter Formulates a Plan

  “DROP THE GUN and put your hands where I can see them!”

  Chief Reynolds commanded.

  Lightning arced across the sky and thunder roared as the wind blew a furious gust through the park. Hugunay glanced behind him. Chief Reynolds and a second policeman that Jupiter knew as Officer Carson stood with their guns raised. Hugunay gave Jupiter a look of supreme admiration.

  “Well played, my boy,” the debonair villain smiled. “Very well played, indeed.”

  “You were right,” Jupiter shouted. “When I heard the treasure might be even remotely connected to DaVinci, I had a hunch that Hugunay might be pulling the strings! I immediately suspected Jujab wasn’t all he seemed. His ragged fingernails and use of Spanish and French words tipped me off. I called Chief Reynolds and explained my plan, and then came here with Hans and Konrad, assuming you wouldn’t fall for our diversion with the Rolls Royce. If I was right, I could get the codex uninterrupted –

  but if I was wrong,” he gestured to Chief Reynolds and Officer Carson, “well, it pays to have insurance!”

  Hugunay placed his cigarette between his teeth and raised his gun. Hans and Konrad bravely stepped forward in front of Jupe.

  Chief Reynolds pressed his own gun into the small of Hugunay’s back.

  “This is your last warning,” the Chief growled, “drop the gun and put your hands in the air!”

  Hugunay shrugged and gave a bemused smile. He held the barrel of the pistol up next to his cigarette and pulled the trigger.

  A small flame appeared out of the tip of the gun! The infamous thief puffed until his cigarette glowed red, and then turned to face

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  the Chief.

  “Surely there is no crime in indulging a bad habit? This is a public park after all!” He handed his lighter/gun over to Chief Reynolds. “You’re welcome to examine it. It’s perfectly harm-less.”

  The Chief gave an uncertain look at Hugunay and then took the novelty lighter. He studied it and then handed it to Officer Carson. After a moment he holstered his own gun and then held a hand on top of his head to keep his hat from blowing away.

  “As you can see, we were simply engaging in a little conver-sation between old friends,” Hugunay continued. “I have just as much right to be in this fine park as anyone else, do I not? I have committed no crime – and even if I did, you have no evidence to suggest otherwise.”

  He turned to look at Jupiter, who reappeared from behind Hans and Konrad.

  “And now I really must be flying, my boy. However, feel free to look me up should you decide to turn your considerable mental powers to more profitable endeavors. Until then… I bid you farewell!”

  The art thief plucked his cigarette from its holder and flicked it on the ground, then tucked the holder inside his jacket pocket.

  He was just walking away when Chief Reynolds clamped a hand down on his shoulder.

  “Not so fast,” he said grimly, gesturing toward the discarded butt smoldering in the grass. “Littering in a public park is a violation in Rocky Beach, punishable with a fine of up to one hundred dollars. I’ll have to write you a citation.”

  The Chief paused and winked at Jupiter. He was still holding a hand to his head, trying to keep his hat in place as the wind whistled about.

  “However, since we are standing near trees in the middle of a thunderstorm, I’m afraid I’m going to have to take you downtown

  100 The Curse of the Mysterious Traveler to the station. For your own safety, of course.”

  Hugunay gave the Chief a contemptuous look, and then straightened his jacket in a dignified manner. He turned to look at Jupiter.

  “I have your word that you will never begin smoking cigarettes? It is a foul habit that I should have quit ages ago!”

  Jupiter nodded his head. “I wouldn’t dream of it!” He pinched his bottom lip and grinned. “Besides, I’ve got my own habits!”

  Officer Carson snapped a pair of handcuffs on the art thief, and then conducted a thorough search of his clothing. He suddenly straightened; a small black object was in his hand. He called out to Chief Reynolds.

  “Chief – I think I’ve found something!”

  Chief Reynolds, Jupiter, Hans, and Konrad all came over to have a look. The object in the officer’s hand was a small walkie-talkie! The Chief examined it and then handed the small transmit-ter back to Officer Carson.

  Hugunay looked somewhat surprised.

  “Is it also a crime in Rocky Beach to carry such a device on one’s person? If so, then I am guilty as charged!

  “I’ll bet he uses it to keep in touch with Masher and Croaker,”

  Jupiter said smugly.

  “All right,” the Chief shouted, struggling to be heard above the swirling wind, “read him his rights and then escort Mr.

  Hugunay to the cruiser, Jimmy.”

  Officer Carson dropped the small walkie-talkie into his shirt pocket and nodded. “Yes, sir!”

  “I suppose you’ll want to come down to the station while I call in Hugunay’s report to the F.B.I.?” the Chief asked Jupiter. “There must be ten countries that want to get their hands on him. I only wish we could have rounded up Masher and Croaker. They’ve both got outstanding warrants as long as my arm.”

  Jupiter’s face suddenly lit up.

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  “I know how we can bring the two crooks in, sir!”

  The Chief, his hat now yanked down around his ears, looked at Jupiter in surprise. “How?” he asked.

  “We’ll have Hugunay do it for us!”

  Chief Reynolds frowned. “Somehow I don’t think he’ll be too keen on helping us out.”

  “It might look good in front of a judge if it was known that he cooperated with a police effort to capture two known felons,”

  Jupiter pointed out.

  The Chief rubbed his chin and then nodded. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to try.”

  An excited gleam was shining in Jupe’s eyes. Still holding the small metal box to his chest, he pinched his bottom lip and frowned. A plan was taking shape in his mind!

  “Let’s go back to the salvage yard – Masher and Croaker will know by now that we’ve fooled them. They’ll be expecting Hans, Konrad, and me to return with the box. We’ll have Hugunay call them on his walkie-talkie. When they come to rendezvous with their boss, we’ll nab them!”

  The Chief thought for a moment, and then agreed. “Okay. But I want you boys to stay out of the way. These are dangerous men we’re dealing with. They won’t hesitate to resort to violence once they realize they’ve been trapped. Leave everything to Officer Carson and me!”

  “Yes, sir!” Jupiter grinned – his heart racing a mile a minute.

  Hugunay was finally in police custody, the DaVinci codex was found, and Masher and Croaker would soon be behind bars. Not a bad night’s work for The Three Investigators!

  102 The Curse of the Mysterious Traveler Chapter Nineteen

  What’s That Sound?

  “WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?” Pete cried.

  It was nearly ten thirty when Jupiter had returned to the salvage yard. Jupiter deduced that Masher and Croaker, realizing they had been led on a wild goose chase, might be watching the salvage yard. He instructed Chief Reynolds to park his cruiser around back so that they might reach his workshop undetected.

  He led the Chief, Officer Carson, and the handcuffed Hugunay through Red Gate Rover, and then through the dark pathways of the salvage yard.

  A nearby streetlight provided just enough light to see by in the workshop. Bob, Pete, and Allie hid under the printing press when they heard the party coming.

  “Don’t be alarmed,” Jupe hissed. “It’s just us.”

  The three crawled out from under the press. Bob looked curiously at Hugunay and the police officer.

  “Say, who’s with you First?” Bob asked.

  “This is Officer Carson,” Jupiter grinned. He was still holding the small metal box tight to his chest, as if Hugunay could make the treasure vanish just by looking at it. “And this is the infamous international art thief known as Hugunay!”

  “Hugunay?” Bob and Pete cried in unison.

  “Who’s Hugunay?” Allie wondered.

  Hugunay gave a stiff bow to Bob and Pete – his arms still tightly secured behind his back.

  “Good evening, lads. I would shake your hands, but your Chief has deemed me a menace to society,” he said wryly.

  “You mean he was behind this whole thing?” Bob blinked.

  “But what about Jujab – and Masher and Croaker?”

  “Jujab was really just an actor hired by Hugunay,” Jupiter

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  explained. “But Masher and Croaker are very real crooks.

  Hugunay has agreed to help us catch them. On the way over he radioed them using a walkie-talkie we found in his pocket. He told them to meet him here at eleven o’clock.”

  “But how did you know it was Hugunay?” Pete asked.

  “It’s almost eleven,” Chief Reynolds interrupted. “Where can we hide out, Jones?”

  Jupiter pointed his cast in the direction of the office.

  “We’ll leave the front gates open. Then, when Masher and Croaker pull in, Hans and Konrad can quickly lock them inside the yard. Officer Carson can keep watch over Hugunay inside the office.”

  “All right,” the Chief said. “Let’s move!”

  Staying deep within the shadows, the group made their way to the front of the salvage yard. Jupiter unlocked the office door for Officer Carson and Hugunay, and then pointed out a spot nearby for Chief Reynolds to hide. Before finding a spot for himself, he knelt and, on an impulse, hid the DaVinci codex under a small space beneath the stoop of the office’s front porch.

  “Remember, I want you kids to stay put!” the Chief said sternly. “These are hardened criminals we’re dealing with. They may put up a struggle when they realize they’ve been duped. Let Officer Carson and me handle this. If we need help, we have Hans and Konrad hiding by the gate.”

  “Yes, sir,” Jupiter nodded. “We’ll stay out of the way.”

  “Good,” the Chief muttered. “Now get yourselves hidden.

  They should be here any minute!”

  Jupe, Pete, Bob, and Allie hunkered down behind a huge claw-footed bathtub. From there they had an unobstructed view of the salvage yard’s front drive. As they waited for Masher and Croaker to arrive, Pete, Bob, and Allie asked Jupiter excited questions about the treasure.

  “It’s mostly artwork by Romulus Romero,” he explained, “a

  104 The Curse of the Mysterious Traveler direct descendant of Gregorio the Gypsy. However, there are a few sketches and notations by the master himself – Leonardo DaVinci! That’s why Hugunay wanted it so badly.”

  “Wow,” Bob gasped in amazement. “Gregorio mentioned in his wagon that there was some kind of connection to DaVinci –

  but actual drawings? No wonder Hugunay told Masher and Croaker to let us go when we were at Skinny’s house!”

  Suddenly, Pete held a finger up to his lips.

  “Shhhh… Speaking of Masher and Croaker – I think they’re here!”

  The tall boy peered over the top of the bathtub.

  “They just pulled into the drive!”

  “What’s that sound?” Allie hissed.

  The boys listened for a moment, but they were too caught up in the action to listen carefully.

  “Don’t you hear it?” Allie insisted.

  Now the boys listened more carefully. Masher and Croaker got out of their car and looked up to the sky. It appeared they heard the sound too!

  Off in the distance came a muffled wup, wup, wup, wup…

  “What is it, Jupe?” Pete hissed.

  The stocky boy studied the heavens.

  “I don’t know…”

  hings starting happening very quickly then.

  Hans and Konrad slammed the large iron gates closed.

  The Chief appeared from behind the office, his gun drawn and pointed at Masher and Croaker. The boys and Allie watched as the Chief handcuffed the crooks to the bumper of their car.

  Wup, wup, wup, wup…

  Suddenly, Bob gasped and pointed toward the office.

  “It’s Hugunay!”

  Bob was right. The villain had appeared in the doorway of the small office! His handcuffs were off and he was speaking into his

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  small walkie-talkie.

  The strange sound was now quite loud, and, with the blowing wind, made it hard to hear. Pete shouted a warning to Chief Reynolds.

  “Chief! Watch out behind you!”

  But the warning went unheard. Hugunay snuck up behind the Chief and plucked his pistol from its holster. The boys watched, horrified, as Hugunay proceeded to handcuff the Chief to the car right next to Masher and Croaker! Hans and Konrad appeared, but they could only watch on helplessly.

  “We’ve got to do something!” Allie cried. “He’s going to get away!”

  Now Jupiter understood what the strange sound was. He pointed his cast up to the sky.

  “Look!”

  Bob, Pete, and Allie craned their necks skyward.

  “It’s a helicopter!” Pete croaked.

  “Uh, oh,” Allie gulped. “That Hugunay fellow is coming this way.”

  “I’ll bet he wants the book!” shouted Bob. “He’s got a gun, and he looks like he might actually use it!”

  106 The Curse of the Mysterious Traveler Chapter Twenty

  Until We Meet Again...

  “WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?” Pete cried.

  The tall, imposing figure of Hugunay stood over them. Chief Reynolds’ gun was clenched firmly in his hand! He gestured for the boys and Allie to stand up.

  “You know what I want, my boy. The game is now at an end.

  It is time for Hugunay to take the prize. Kindly hand over the book and I shall be on my way.”

  Thinking fast, Jupiter once more tried to stall for time.

  “If Masher and Croaker are handcuffed to the police car, then who’s flying that helicopter?”

  Hugunay gave Jupe a sinister smile.

  “I told you Mr. Kogan – Jujab to you – worked as a part time pilot when he wasn’t looking for an acting job. You’d be surprised how easy it is for a man of my resources to locate a pilot willing to make an illegal flight – even in a storm. The promise of riches will make a desperate man do nearly anything!”

  The helicopter was now hovering over the salvage yard, about fifty feet off the ground. A long rope ladder was thrown out of the copter’s bay door; it swayed dangerously in the high wind of the storm.

  Jupiter looked around helplessly – there was no where for him to go – nothing for him to do but hand over the book to Hugunay!

  He looked over the art thief’s shoulder and held back a smile.

  Perhaps there was hope after all! Uncle Titus stood on the front porch of the Joneses small house in his bathrobe, watching the helicopter in bleary-eyed wonder. Aunt Mathilda was behind him in the doorway in her robe and curlers. Jupe could see that she was jabbering into a telephone. Aunt Mathilda had called the

 

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