Max and 99 entered an office building.
"According to the Chief, Siegried is in the sub basement."
"Right, Max."
They called the elevator, and it came. They got in and Max pushed the B button.
It went down to that floor—but the doors didn't open.
"There must be something wrong with this elevator," said Max.
Suddenly, water filled the elevator from the bottom!
"Max!"
"There IS something wrong with this elevator!"
They tried opening the doors, but they were sealed shut.
"Hell, Smart and 99!" a voice said from an intercom. "Do you know who I am?"
"Siegfried!" they said together.
"That's right, Siegried! I hope you're enjoying yourselves in my elevator! Oh, and don't think of using your special phones in here, because they won't work!
"Now, I'm not so cruel as to just let the two of you drown. At the top of the elevator, there are four exits. Two lead to dead ends. One leads to the back of the building. And a fourth one leads to my office.
"Have a nice swim—heh, heh, heh!"
They looked up at the ceiling. It was divided into four square tiles.
"Well, there's nothing more to do but wait."
"Right, 99—and get wet!"
"Hey, Max, if I stand on your shoulders, maybe I'll be able to reach the ceiling."
"Good idea, 99. But let's first wait until the waters gets a bit deeper. It'll break your fall—if you fall."
"Right, Max."
In about 15 minutes, the water was up above their waists.
"I think now is a good time, 99."
"OK."She kicked her shoes off and climbed onto him. After some balancing, she was able to get onto his shoulders, while her held her feet steady.
"I can just move the times. . . ."
She grasped one of the sides and held on. Unfortunately, she started swinging her feet. They hit Max, and he fell into the water!
"I'm sorry, Max!"
He got up. "It's OK. Can you hoist yourself up?"
"No, I don't have enough strength. I'll have come down!"
"I'll catch you."
He got himself ready. She fell. He tried to catch her, but wasn't successful, and she fell into the water!
"Sorry about that, 99!"
"It's OK, Max. Let's just wait for the water to rise up."
"Right, 99."
The water continued to rise.
"I'll have to dry clean this suit!"
99 looked at herself. "This dress is probably ruined!"
"I'll buy you a new one."
She smiled. "Thanks, Max!"
At last the water went to their heads. They floated to the top of it.
After a few more minutes, they reached the ceiling.
They went into the section 99 opened earlier. Unfortunately, it was a small crawlspace.
"Max!"
"Don't panic, 99! Let's check the other exits."
"Right."
They jumped back into the water and pulled out another tile. Then they lifted themselves up into that section.
It led them down a hall. A door was at the end. They opened it and went in.
Inside was a large office. And sitting at a desk was—Siegfried!
"Hello, Smart and 99! How was your swim?"
Max pulled out his gun. "I arrest you in the name of the forces of goodness and niceness!"
"I think not!"
He pressed a button on his desk. A plastic capsule came down and encapsulated him. Max shot at it, but the material was bullet-proof.
Suddenly, Siegfried vanished! Afterwards, the capsule went back up. There was a hole where his chair used to be.
"Well, Max, I guess there's nothing else for us to do but leave."
"I suppose you're right, 99. I wonder if there's any towels around."
They looked for a bit but couldn't find any. So, they walked out a second exit.
There were stairs going back up. It led to a door which led them to a back exit out of the building.
The Chief was waiting for them there. "Hi. Did you capture Siegfried?"
"No, he escaped," said 99.
"That's too bad." Then he put his hands on their wet shoulders. "What happened to you two?"
"We almost drowned in the elevator!" said Max.
"Oh. . . huh?!"
"We'll explain it on the way back," said 99.