The arrangement had been for Agaton to meet Lispington and his men after their coastal rendezvous at 21:45. The detective had made radio contact with the sailors aboard his mini-sub and was directed to a convenient spot for him to board several hours earlier at 16:30.
Agaton Sax arrived on time. The sub did not.
In fact, for two hours he walked along the shore, scouring the sea through his binoculars. But there was no sign of the AS Neptune 73.
Curious, he thought. Perhaps they didn’t feel it safe to surface as yet. He tried every conceivable wavelength on his radio transmitter, but there was no answer.
Finally, he was forced to give up and return to his hotel room, suddenly anxious about the success of their rigorously planned operation.
To calm his nerves, he went over the details of the plan one more time. It really did depend on the submarine being in place to make its attack. If anything else went wrong…
Then the phone rang.
‘Yes?’
‘Mr White?’
‘Speaking.’
‘This is… your learned friend.’
It was Professor Mortimer. This was unexpected.
‘I have a surprise for you. Can you meet me near the shore?’
‘We arranged to meet at 22:00.’
‘This can’t wait. Trust me, you won’t regret it.’
Agaton Sax doubted that, but he was too intrigued. Besides, with the non-arrival of the submarine, it was too much of a risk to allow Professor Mortimer to plan ‘surprises’ without supervision.
‘Very well. I shall be there shortly.’
Agaton Sax stroked his moustache. If something had pleased the Professor unexpectedly, it was almost certainly not good news for anyone ranged against him. And that meant himself, Inspector Lispington, and the officers of Scotland Yard.
What had they overlooked?
Nothing. He was sure of it. There was no benefit in allowing Professor Mortimer to get into his head in this way. Nor, however, could he afford to be complacent.
He would find out what the Professor had in store and act accordingly.
***
At the rendezvous point, Agaton Sax was met by a large motorboat, on board which stood the Professor and two guards.
‘Hello! Mr White!’ the Professor greeted him, a glass of champagne in hand. ‘Or should I say, Gronsky?’
‘As you prefer, Professor.’
‘Come aboard. I can’t wait to show you this wonderful surprise.’
‘Care to give me a hint?’
‘Oh, Gronsky, don’t be a spoilsport. It’ll be no fun if you’re not surprised.’
Agaton doubted that fun of any kind was in the offing, but he boarded the boat nonetheless and followed the Professor down a small flight of steps, and through a door that led to a small cabin.
Inside, three crooks sat around a table, playing cards and drinking champagne from coffee mugs. The cabin was dimly lit, a small lantern dangling from a nail driven into the ceiling.
And another man, standing stock still. The man glared at him grimly.
Agaton Sax gasped.
‘Good Lord!’ he said, before he realised what he was saying. His stumble only lasted a second, however, and he spun around to face the Professor, an enormous smile on his face.
‘Professor, I must congratulate you. You have pulled off one of the most extraordinary masterstrokes in the history of crime.’
The Professor feigned modesty. He knew exactly how incredible a stroke he had pulled off.
‘It was nothing, really. I had a feeling he would show up eventually, so I set a trap for him. Soon enough, a strange man appeared, loitering on the shore. He was wearing a straw hat and an enormous, waxed moustache and walking with an old-fashioned stick. He looked like an escapee from music hall act.’
‘Still, clever of you to spot him.’
‘Of course, I had to be sure, so I walked up, introduced myself and offered him a light.’
‘Ah, that explains the state of him now.’
‘Yes. That waxed moustache went up like a rocket.’
Agaton Sax looked at the prisoner again.
Poor Lispington.
The Inspector was like a statue, his back straight and his expression stern. In spite of his dismay at seeing his old friend in such a compromised position, Agaton couldn’t help but admire his discipline. He was reminded why, regardless of Lispington’s occasional clumsiness, they had so often made such a fine team.
‘I knew it!’ the Inspector exploded. ‘You thought you could fool me into thinking you were a friend, but I saw through you the entire time.’
Good, Inspector. Keep up the pretence, thought Agaton. Just don’t say…
‘As if you could be Agaton Sax!’
…that.
‘Agaton Sax?’ said the Professor, fear crossing his face. ‘Why would you mention that scoundrel?’
‘Because,’ Lispington continued furiously, ‘this liar tried to convince me that he was my old friend Agaton Sax.’
‘Did he now?’
The Professor’s eyes lit up dangerously.
Oh no, thought Agaton. The Inspector really thinks he was lied to. He truly believed he, Agaton Sax, was really still Gronsky when they were in the police car. They really needed to develop a better system for recognising each other. Worse still, the Professor’s suspicions were now aroused.
‘Is this true, Gronsky? Did you claim to be Agaton Sax?’
‘Professor Mortimer. Are you taking me to task for lying to the police? I’m starting to wonder if you’re cut out for the criminal mastermind game.’
‘You are so sure of yourself, Gronsky. Don’t forget, pride comes before a fall.’
‘As does standing next to a cliff, Professor.’
***
The boat containing Lispington’s officers, disguised as Gronsky’s gang, had been instructed on pain of a severe telling off to arrive half an hour before the rendezvous time of 21:45.
There was therefore much confusion when they arrived to find neither Lispington nor Agaton in attendance.
Still waiting in Professor Mortimer’s cabin and stealing the occasional anxious glance at his watch, Agaton realised that the boat would soon arrive – if it hadn’t already – and that there would indeed be much confusion.
This was the problem with plans. They functioned much like a row of dominoes. When one piece fell, the rest were in danger of following.
He had to act.
‘Professor,’ he said. ‘I should go up on deck and signal my men. If they think something has happened to me, they might act rashly.’
‘Very well,’ grumbled Mortimer. He allowed Agaton to squeeze past him, then followed, locking the door in his wake so that Lispington had no opportunity to escape.
Agaton stepped on to the deck and looked out to sea. Lispington’s boat had already arrived and had dropped anchor not far from Mortimer’s.
Agaton gave a short wave to the police crew. They were dressed as a criminal gang, unshaven and rumpled. Which, Agaton noted, was a little unfair. He had known a great many suave criminals in his time. But it seemed to do the trick. The Professor scrutinised them carefully, but didn’t seem overly alarmed.
‘Would you care to board and inspect our boat?’ Agaton risked, knowing that the Professor would be less likely to return the favour now that he had Lispington prisoner. That was something, Agaton assumed, he would want to keep to himself for now. As security.
The Professor considered this.
‘No, that won’t be necessary. I… trust you, Gronsky.’
‘No,’ Agaton thought, ‘you don’t. And I’m relying on that.’
Suddenly, there was a commotion from the cabin below deck, its locked door rattling on its hinges.
‘Professor!’ came a shout. ‘Let me out! We’ve picked up a signal from another boat.’
The Professor turned with a deep sigh and unlocked the door. The head of the small crook from before appeared from behind it.
‘What is it, Sparks?’
Sparks, thought Agaton. Charlie and Sparks. It was somehow comforting to finally know both of their names.
‘There’s another boat out there, Professor.’
‘We know that, you fool. We’re staring straight at it. It’s Gronsky’s men. Now get back in there and guard the good Inspector.’
‘Not that boat, Professor. Another one. And they’ve sent a message.’
‘Give it to me.’
Sparks handed over a strip of paper. The Professor read it and let out a load groan.
‘What is it, Professor?’ demanded Agaton. ‘If we are to work together on this, I need to know everything that’s going on.’
The Professor re-read the message, this time aloud:
IF YOU DO NOT FREE MY FRIEND INSPECTOR LISPINGTON IMMEDIATELY, I SHALL DROP DOWN ON YOU LIKE A THUNDERBOLT FROM HEAVEN. DO NOT TEST ME ON THIS. BEST WISHES, AGATON SAX.