Free The Avenger 36 - Demon Island by Kenneth Robeson Page A

think Richard believes that,” said Nellie.
    “Huh?”
    “Better let him tell you his theory,” said Nellie. “He hasn’t actually told me anything specific, but I am picking up hints.”
    “Wait a sec,” said Smitty. “It’s got something to do with spooks. Yeah, because last night Dick was hinting at something like that.”
    “Richard must really be taking Demon Island seriously,” remarked Cole.
    “Well, I hate to believe in spooks and junk like that,” said Smitty. “Still, if Dick believes in ’em . . . well, he’s usually right.”
    “Remember, Josh was telling us about a girl who’d been murdered here back in the twenties,” said Nellie. “Maybe she’s the one who’s haunting the place.”
    “Aw, a ghostly flapper,” said Cole.
    “I can’t see a dame ghost going around choking guys,” said Smitty. “That’s a man’s type of murder.”
    “Hush a minute,” cautioned Nellie in a lower voice.
    From up ahead in the darkness, from beyond the reach of the flashlight beam, came a scraping, creaking sound.
    A few seconds later there was a single scream.
    “That’s Heather,” said Cole. “Come on.” He took hold of Nellie’s elbow and the pair ran along the tunnel.

    Lt. Bonner was in the castle kitchen, fixing himself a Spam sandwich, when he heard the scream. It was the first chance he’d had to eat since morning. He thought for a few seconds about taking the newly constructed sandwich along with him, then thought better of it. Leaving it on the vast table, he ran out into the hall.
    The sound had come from upstairs some place.
    Richard Benson and Terence O’Malley were ahead of him, rushing up the wide staircase.
    Nearly to the top, the two men suddenly halted.
    Lt. Bonner saw why an instant later.
    At the top of the stairs stood Stark, with the slender Heather held in front of him. He had his automatic pressed to the girl’s temple.
    “Okay, now listen good to me,” Stark was saying. “I want off this island. This dame is my ticket. I want a boat.”
    “You’ll never get anywhere,” said the policeman, moving up to stop near the other two men. “The Coast Guard and the Harbor Patrol will—”
    “Shut up,” said Stark. “You just remember this, buddy. If anybody stops me—anybody—the dame is dead. You don’t want to see a good-looking dame like this with half her head blown off? Naw, of course you don’t. Now you, copper, I want the keys to the boat you must have come over on.” He nodded at Bonner.
    “I won’t—”
    “Give him the keys,” said O’Malley. “He’ll kill her.”
    “You’re right, I will. Because even if I kill her, I can still shoot my way out of here. Now give me the boat keys and then stand back.”
    Lt. Bonner put his hand into his pocket.
    The Avenger said, “We’d better comply with him, Lieutenant.”
    The policeman let go of the knife he’d grasped and drew the launch key.
    Pushing Heather ahead of him, Stark came down the staircase. “Put it in the dame’s hand,” he ordered.
    Bonner complied.
    “Okay,” said Stark, “now we’re going to take us a little boat ride.”
    “You won’t get away with it,” said the policeman.
    Stark laughed. “You’re starting to sound like a movie.”

CHAPTER XIX

Pursuit
    Lt. Bonner ran down across the gritty night beach. “Lupoff, Thompson,” he called to his two colleagues. “We’re going to use one of the movie launches.” He tossed the borrowed ring of keys to Sgt. Lupoff. “Let’s get going.”
    Lupoff caught the keys and the three policemen walked out on the little makeshift jetty where two motor launches were moored.
    “He’s got a five-minute lead,” Thompson pointed out. “In this pea-soup fog it’s going to be tough to catch him.”
    “We’ll catch him,” said the lieutenant, dropping into the boat. “I’ve phoned the boys in the harbor to watch out for him.”
    “He’ll kill the girl if anybody gets too close,” said Lupoff.
    “We know how to stalk a man