Amanda Lester and the Black Shadow Terror Read online

  But first he had to get the formulas. He’d worry about personnel issues later. It was too bad that old Lovelace Earful, Legatum’s founder, hadn’t had access to them. If he had, he would doubtless have included them in The Detective’s Bible and made them available to the detectives. But the Bible had been decoded and the formulas weren’t there. Nor had they been housed in the school’s secrets trove, which since the campus’s destruction no longer existed. Not that that mattered. Long before that day someone had stolen all the secrets and no one knew where they were.

  So Nick was in a pickle. Try as he might, he couldn’t think of a solution to his problem. He’d even taken Amanda to a couple of hypnotists, but all that had come of that was her falling asleep in their offices. No one and nothing seemed to help.

  It was the third week of the new term and Amanda had gone to Edinburgh to visit her father. The new campus was closer for her than the old one, and since Herb’s return from Tibet she tried to get there at least every other weekend. This time Nick had stayed behind in his little cottage to help Headmaster Thrillkill with his staffing problem. He thought some alone time with her dad might do her good. But after one day he decided he missed her too much and took the train up to the city.

  When he arrived at Herb’s flat the door was wide open and he could see that the place was a mess. Being deaf he couldn’t hear anything, but he was used to investigating dangerous places. He often relied on his formidable karate skills to get him through, but lately he had taken to carrying weapons as well, in case hand-to-hand combat wasn’t feasible. His weapon of choice was the Chinese throwing star and he always carried one with him. He had also been practicing with a dart gun and had gotten pretty good. He pulled the weapons out of his pack and made ready to use them. One of the moves he’d been perfecting was a way to take down an abductor without harming the victim. He visualized some possible situations and entered the flat.

  The first thing he saw besides the absolute mess was Tealeaf, calmly sitting in the midst of the chaos wagging her tail. That her leash was attached was odd, but if she was happy and serene things probably weren’t that bad. Still he wasn’t about to take chances. He told her to stay in a corner—she always welcomed him and even let him pick her up—and cautiously made his way deeper into the flat.

  He found nothing in the kitchen, two bedrooms, or bath, which both reassured and worried him. He was glad Amanda and her father weren’t dead or injured, but he was concerned about them just the same. Had they been home when the burglar had arrived? If so had he taken them away with him? What about the dog? Surely she hadn’t just sat there quietly while strangers invaded her home. Yet here she was as hale and hardy as ever. It was a puzzle.

  He took out his phone and texted Amanda and Herb but got no answer. He tried phoning using his TTY-enabled device, but they didn’t answer that either. Just to be complete he sent emails but got no reply to them either and was becoming seriously worried.

  There was a faint smell in the flat that resembled Blixus’s cologne. Now that he’d lost his hearing his sense of smell was more sensitive and he was often able to pick up scents that other people—with the exception of Ivy—missed. But if the culprit was Blixus, why hadn’t he taken the dog? It belonged to his dead brother’s wife. Surely she’d want it back.

  He decided it might be a good idea to check with some of Amanda’s friends, but neither Simon nor Ivy answered his texts. He tried his half-brother, David, and even Thrillkill, but neither had seen her. Perhaps father and daughter had simply gone out for a meal then and would return soon.

  Nick turned over a chair and sat down to wait. But within two minutes he was pacing and running a hand through his long, dark hair so hard it was coming out, and a minute after that he was taking the extraordinary measure of contacting Ramon Splunk.

  Nick didn’t believe in ghosts any more than little green men from Mars, but desperation can make a believer of many a skeptic. So he figured that if Amanda and Herb were dead, Legatum’s resident ghost hunter might be able to contact their spirits, or at least sense them. At this point he was too anxious to be embarrassed. He texted Ramon, explained the situation, and asked for his help.

  “You do believe after all?” Ramon texted back. “‘I knew you’d come around. They always do.”

  Nick was not about to antagonize him and lose the opportunity to find Amanda, so he said, “I’m open to the possibility.”

  “An excellent start,” said Ramon. “‘I will make a believer out of you yet. You’ll see.”

  “I hope so,” said Nick, not sure whether he did or didn’t.

  But Ramon was not about to forgive and forget the poor treatment he’d received at Nick’s hands so easily. He remembered every insult from his first few weeks at Legatum, and he was going to make him pay.

  “What will you give me?” he said.

  “I don’t understand,” Nick texted. “You want payment?”

  “I most certainly do,” said Ramon. “I want Moriarty’s formulas.”

  “So do I,” said Nick.

  “Don’t play with me, Moriarty,” said Ramon. “You have them and I want them.”

  “I’m not a Moriarty,” said Nick. “And I don’t have access to them.”

  “You were a Moriarty,” said Ramon.” You can’t tell me that in all the years you were the older son you never got them.”

  “I was adopted,” said Nick. “Only blood relatives are allowed to see them.”

  “I don’t believe you,” said Ramon. “You didn’t know you were adopted.”

  “Don’t you think if I had them I would have fixed Amanda?” said Nick. “Hugh didn’t know about them either, if that matters. We were too young.”

  He sat there for a full minute without receiving a reply. Then Ramon said, “I guess that makes sense.”

  “Well then,” said Nick, “I can’t give them to you. What do you want them for anyway?”

  “I’m a detective,” said Ramon. “It’s what I do.”

  Fair enough, thought Nick. But he still couldn’t help him. However he sensed that Ramon’s resistance was wearing down.

  He was right. “Okay, never mind,” said Ramon. “I’ll help you.”

  Nick desperately wanted Ramon to start immediately, but that wasn’t to be. The boy insisted on extensive preparation, and he had to sit around in the flat and wait. Or stand and wait. Or pace and wait. In the end he engaged in all three activities while Ramon, ever methodical and slow as treacle, made sure every detail was seen to.

  An hour and a half later Ramon texted him again, both surprising and disappointing him.

  “Zip,” he said. “I looked but couldn’t find them. But I can tell you this: if they are dead they’re new ghosts. Those are the most difficult to find because they don’t know who they are yet, so they’re not likely to respond.”

  “Does that mean Amanda and Mr. Lester are alive?” asked Nick, knowing full well it didn’t.

  “I couldn’t say,” said Ramon maddeningly.

  So Nick knew no more than he had before, and now he’d wasted precious time. He was furious, even though he had no idea who with. He thanked Ramon and began pacing again. Then he went to the fridge and filled Tealeaf’s bowl with food. The dog jumped up as if to say thank you and began to eat daintily.

  Because he couldn’t hear, Nick sat facing the door. That way no one could enter the flat and surprise him. Yet when Amanda and her father walked in he was shocked. He’d mentally prepared himself for an attack and had become so absorbed in contingency planning that he’d discounted the possibility that they were alive and well.

  He rushed forward, nearly frightening the wits out of all of them, Tealeaf included, and enfolded Amanda in his arms. She, in turn, was so surprised that she stumbled and he had to keep her from falling. Meanwhile Herb had drawn a revolver and was pointing it straight at Nick.

  “What the—” said Herb, and dropped his shooting arm. “Nick! What are you doing here?’’

  Nick, who cou
ldn’t hear him, said, “Don’t shoot.”

  “I’m not going to,” said Herb, his words literally falling on deaf ears. “But what have you done to the flat? Why is it—"

  “I was too late,” said Nick, glancing at Herb as he lifted Amanda into his arms and carried her to the couch. Not that she was injured or ill. It was just something he loved doing.

  “So I see,” said Herb.

  “He can’t hear you, Daddy,” said Amanda.

  “Sorry, sir,” said Nick. “I suspect you were talking but I wasn’t able to pick up what you were saying.” He sat next to Amanda, took her hand, and turned toward Herb.

  “I said I was sorry for pointing this pistol at you,” said Herb. “What are you doing here?”

  Nick read his lips. “I was worried about Amanda, came here, and found all this. Whoever did it was gone when I arrived. The door was wide open. Fortunately Tealeaf was here.”

  “She is a good girl, aren’t you, my love,” Amanda said to the dog, and kissed it. Tealeaf licked her face.

  “Moriarty, most likely,” said Herb drily.

  “That’s what I thought,” said Nick. “Although wouldn’t he have taken the dog?”

  “That’s a good point,” said Amanda. “Bubble was furious when she ran away. They’d want her back.”

  “Perhaps not Moriarty then,” said Herb. “We’ll have to see if they’ve taken anything. It might have been an ordinary burglary. Too bad Tealeaf can’t tell us.” He reached down and petted the puli, then began inspecting the flat. In a moment he was back.

  “She’s used her door,” he said.

  Nick missed what he was saying. “Sorry,” he said.

  Amanda turned to him and in British Sign Language told him what Herb had said.

  “I didn’t realize,” said Nick. He’d forgotten about Tealeaf’s emergency exit.

  “She’s a smart cookie,” said Amanda. “I wonder if there’s another way for her to tell us.”

  Nick laughed. “If there’s a way you’ll find it.”

  Amanda grabbed her tablet and brought up a picture of Blixus. Tealeaf growled. Then as a control she showed the dog a picture of the prime minister. No reaction.

  By this time Nick was laughing his head off. “What have you been doing with this dog when I’m not around?”

  “Oh, this and that,” she said in a teasing way.

  He was grinning from ear to ear. “I can see.”

  “Anyway, now we know,” she said. “It was Blixus.”

  “But why would he do this?” said Nick. “It’s way below his intelligence, even considering your locks. No offense.”

  “It is weird,” said Amanda. “Maybe he’s trying to throw us off.”

  “With sophomoric pranks?” said Nick. “This is about Bradan’s speed.”

  “Nothing’s missing,” said Herb. “Unless he took something of yours, sweetie.”

  Amanda told him about the great trick Tealeaf had performed. His take was the same as theirs.

  “Has Blixus lost his mind?” said Herb. “This is kid stuff. He never operates on this scale. Why would he bother?”

  “Even if he came here to hurt you he wouldn’t trash the place,” said Nick. “He’s not an emotional person. It’s more like—oh.”

  The three of them looked at each other. “Hugh,” they said in unison. Amanda picked up her tablet, found a picture of handsome Hugh, and shoved it in Tealeaf’s face. The dog growled.

  “Yup,” she said. “But why would Blixus let him have a stupid tantrum like that? I thought you told me he was training him.”

  “It is peculiar,” said Nick. “Definitely not Blixus’s style.”

  “Well, at least we know,” said Herb. “I’ll beef up security.”

  “What were you so worried about, by the way?” Amanda signed. “We do leave the flat now and again.” She grinned.

  “I couldn’t raise you,” said Nick.

  She picked up her phone. “Whoops. Airplane mode. I’m so sorry. We turned them off when we went to see the monk.”

  “What monk?” said Nick.

  Amanda felt her face heat up. “You’d better tell him, honey,” said her father.

  “What’s going on?” said Nick. He could see fear and sadness in her eyes. “You’re not.” He was no dummy. He knew what “monk” plus fear and sadness meant. He’d been expecting as much. But Amanda was distracted.

  “The burglary is a ruse,” she said, ignoring him. “Dad, did you sweep for bugs?”

  “Yep,” said Herb. “Except in here. We’re clean.”

  “Amanda?” said Nick. While he agreed that Hugh and Blixus were up to something, he wasn’t about to let her change the subject.

  “I have to go to Tibet,” she said sadly. “For a long time. Minbar Rinpoche says it’s the only way.”

  Nick shook his head. “I don’t accept that. And I’m pretty sure you won’t find any bugs. This is all about control. And now on top of everything else they’re trying to get you out of the way.”

  “Do you think Rinpoche is working for Blixus?” she said aghast.

  “Of course not. He doesn’t need to be. Blixus knows your dad. He can predict what he’ll do.”

  “I can’t believe he’s afraid of little old me,” she said.

  “Don’t sell yourself short,” said Nick. “You’ve thwarted him more times than you realize.”

  “He’s right,” said Herb. “You’ve put a real crimp in his style. Don’t forget he lost Nick because of you.”

  “So he’s really after Nick?” she said indignantly. “Well he can’t have him. Forget Tibet. I’m staying right here.”

  Nick held up his hands. “Wait a minute. Don’t you see that this is exactly what he wants? He’s trying to confuse and distract us.”

  Amanda and Herb exchanged looks. “Argh,” she said. “And we fell right into his trap.”

  “I’ve had enough,” said Nick. “This stops now.” He stood up.

  “What are you going to do?” said Amanda.

  “What I should have done a long time ago,” said Nick, making for the door.

  Amanda was about to race after him when her phone dinged. Instinctively she picked it up. There was a text from Simon.

  “Red alert,” it said. “Need you here ASAP.”

  Amanda looked at Nick with indecision in her eyes.

  “What is it?” he said.

  “Simon,” she said. “Something urgent apparently.”

  “Nothing could be more urgent than this, than you,” said Nick, going for the door again.

  “Please don’t do this,” said Amanda.

  “I have to,” he said, trying like crazy not to give in. It was hard to refuse her anything. “I can’t stand it anymore.”

  “Well I won’t be able to stand it if he kills you. Hasn’t it occurred to you that this might be exactly the reaction he wants?”

  “I agree with my daughter,” said Herb. “Let me handle this. We’ll bring in Scotland Yard, the local police, everyone, but let’s do this right.”

  “Old Jeffrey Lestrade?” said Nick. “Mr. Lester, with all due respect, I know Blixus. The detectives got lucky with the sugar factory—and again, I apologize for my part in that, profusely—but that was a fluke. It’s unlikely to happen again. We need to take matters into our own hands. I need to.”

  “Look here, Nick,” said Herb.” Believe it or not I respect you. Notwithstanding the way you treated me, I believe you’ve turned your life around—at great personal risk—and I admire you greatly for that. I know you love my daughter. But I cannot condone this kind of vigilantism. It’s unlikely to work and it will probably get you killed. And then where will we be? If you love Amanda, I beg you to let it go.”

  Nick looked at Amanda and saw the fear in her beautiful eyes. It almost stopped him cold, but then he remembered what Blixus had done to her.

  “I have to fix this,” he said.

  “Please,” said Amanda. “Let’s just see what Simon wants. Then you can go
.”

  It was one of her tricks and he knew it, but he loved her so much he couldn’t resist. He sighed.

  “Okay. Just for a minute. And then I’m going.”

  Hugh Hatches a Plan

  “It’s time for your next task,” said Blixus, taking out his tablet. “And this one is going to be a bit more challenging.”

  “I can handle it, whatever it is,” said Hugh, craning his neck to see what was on the screen.

  “I’m sure you can,” said Blixus, moving the device out of his son’s line of vision. “But it’s the how that’s important.”

  Hugh fumed inside but said nothing. How could his father still fail to understand him after all he’d demonstrated over the years? It wasn’t fair. Mum never would have treated him like this. She had idolized him. She was the best—

  Blixus glared at his son. “I’m talking to you, Hugh. Pay attention.”

  Hugh looked up. How much had he missed? “Sorry.”

  “We have to power up James’s formulas again,” Blixus continued. “There are so many things we can do with more Moriartys. But Bradan is too young and everyone else is dead. Suggestions?”

  “Bubble is out then?” said Hugh.

  “Bubble is out. No Moriarty by marriage and certainly not her.”

  “Resurrection?” Hugh ventured.

  Blixus snickered. “Even you wouldn’t be able to do that, mon fils.”

  “Someday I will,” said Hugh. “Give me a few years.”

  “We don’t have a few years,” said Blixus.

  “Then I don’t know,” said Hugh, beginning to panic. If he didn’t offer a reasonable suggestion he might fail the next test, and that would be mortifying.

  “Well then here’s an idea. I want you to kidnap that freaky Splunk kid,” said Blixus, interrupting his thoughts. “We’re going to contact your uncle Amboy and get him to help us. With the three of us working together we can’t fail.”