Chapter XVI
TWO PEOPLE TALK
THE next morning, Vincent checked out of the Hillsboro Inn and hurried over to Jessie's house. Daniel was asleep in the overstuffed armchair in the living room, obviously fatigued with worry about his sister. Vincent placed his suitcase in the corner, out of the way and headed back out.
Just prior to going to bed the night before, Vincent had done a little research on Tracy Trinh and was able to locate her address. With this information, he planned on paying her a little visit.
When he arrived at her apartment complex, he spotted her hailing a cab. Being careful not to be noticed, he followed behind. The cab finally stopped at a house on the outskirts of town. Vincent parked his coupe a good distance away and followed her up to the house.
Tracy entered the house and a light came on in the front room. The window shade was half drawn and the window itself was slightly opened to let in the cool afternoon breeze. To Harry's luck a sturdy tree branch was located just above the window. He silently climbed up the tree and positioned himself so he could hear what was being said.
By this time another person had entered the room Tracy was in. It was a man. And by the sound of it, he seemed to be more than a friend.
"I hear we lost two of our best men." The man remarked.
"Quite a shame too." Tracy added to the sarcastic statement.
"You do good work, my dear." The man edged closer to Tracy, caressing her hair.
"I only work to impress you, John."
"You're doing well. I am impressed, but there is one more think I must ask you to do."
"What is it, love? When shall we be able to be together?"
"Soon. Soon. There is one more thing that must be done. I need to you work your charm on Frank Thurston."
"Our boss?"
"Yes. With him out of the picture than we will be able to be together with no worries, my love."
Tracy smiled. "But…"
"But what, dear?"
"What about The Shadow?"
John's laughter was cold. "You believe that silly rumor. It is only a ploy used by the police to scare cold turkeys." He turned serious. "You're not going to fall for that, are you?"
"No. It's just that…"
"Don't worry about it. The Shadow can never find out what we've done. Just do as you're told and all will be well. Trust me."
"I do."
"That's my girl." He gently kissed her forehead. "Now, it's all up to you."
"Of course." She wrapped her arms around John's waist. "Ambassador Inc will soon find new management."
The two laughed as their minds dreamed up separate futures for the two of them.
As Tracy left the room, Vincent scrambled down the trunk of the tree and waited for Tracy to leave. He followed her at a safe distance, keeping to the woods. After making sure all was clear, Harry's coupe pulled out of the woods and headed straight to Jessie's house. Evil was anew and The Shadow would know about it before nightfall.
"DID you find anything new?" Daniel asked when Harry walked in, slightly catching him off guard.
"Uh...yeah." Harry threw his overcoat and gloves on the nearby chair. "How's Jessie doing?"
"Better."
Vincent nodded. "I need to send a letter to Fellows in the morning."
"Ya better hurry up. It's almost time for pick up." Daniel advised.
Finding a pad of paper, Vincent scratched out a brief report of what he heard in a simple but effective code and headed out for the mailbox.
"What was that about?" Daniel asked when Vincent returned.
"I followed Tracy to the outskirts of town. She's in with another by the name of John and they both work for Ambassador Inc. Frank Thurston, the corporate manager is next to go."
"You mean there's been more than one?!"
"Yes, first Bobrick. Tracy later finished off the man who murdered Bobrick, making it look like a suicide."
"Sounds like we're dealing with some pretty determined criminals."
Vincent nodded in agreement.
"Let's hope The Shadow can catch them before it's too late." Daniel remarked.
"Oh, he will. It's only a matter of time." Vincent commented.
TWO PEOPLE TALK
THE next morning, Vincent checked out of the Hillsboro Inn and hurried over to Jessie's house. Daniel was asleep in the overstuffed armchair in the living room, obviously fatigued with worry about his sister. Vincent placed his suitcase in the corner, out of the way and headed back out.
Just prior to going to bed the night before, Vincent had done a little research on Tracy Trinh and was able to locate her address. With this information, he planned on paying her a little visit.
When he arrived at her apartment complex, he spotted her hailing a cab. Being careful not to be noticed, he followed behind. The cab finally stopped at a house on the outskirts of town. Vincent parked his coupe a good distance away and followed her up to the house.
Tracy entered the house and a light came on in the front room. The window shade was half drawn and the window itself was slightly opened to let in the cool afternoon breeze. To Harry's luck a sturdy tree branch was located just above the window. He silently climbed up the tree and positioned himself so he could hear what was being said.
By this time another person had entered the room Tracy was in. It was a man. And by the sound of it, he seemed to be more than a friend.
"I hear we lost two of our best men." The man remarked.
"Quite a shame too." Tracy added to the sarcastic statement.
"You do good work, my dear." The man edged closer to Tracy, caressing her hair.
"I only work to impress you, John."
"You're doing well. I am impressed, but there is one more think I must ask you to do."
"What is it, love? When shall we be able to be together?"
"Soon. Soon. There is one more thing that must be done. I need to you work your charm on Frank Thurston."
"Our boss?"
"Yes. With him out of the picture than we will be able to be together with no worries, my love."
Tracy smiled. "But…"
"But what, dear?"
"What about The Shadow?"
John's laughter was cold. "You believe that silly rumor. It is only a ploy used by the police to scare cold turkeys." He turned serious. "You're not going to fall for that, are you?"
"No. It's just that…"
"Don't worry about it. The Shadow can never find out what we've done. Just do as you're told and all will be well. Trust me."
"I do."
"That's my girl." He gently kissed her forehead. "Now, it's all up to you."
"Of course." She wrapped her arms around John's waist. "Ambassador Inc will soon find new management."
The two laughed as their minds dreamed up separate futures for the two of them.
As Tracy left the room, Vincent scrambled down the trunk of the tree and waited for Tracy to leave. He followed her at a safe distance, keeping to the woods. After making sure all was clear, Harry's coupe pulled out of the woods and headed straight to Jessie's house. Evil was anew and The Shadow would know about it before nightfall.
"DID you find anything new?" Daniel asked when Harry walked in, slightly catching him off guard.
"Uh...yeah." Harry threw his overcoat and gloves on the nearby chair. "How's Jessie doing?"
"Better."
Vincent nodded. "I need to send a letter to Fellows in the morning."
"Ya better hurry up. It's almost time for pick up." Daniel advised.
Finding a pad of paper, Vincent scratched out a brief report of what he heard in a simple but effective code and headed out for the mailbox.
"What was that about?" Daniel asked when Vincent returned.
"I followed Tracy to the outskirts of town. She's in with another by the name of John and they both work for Ambassador Inc. Frank Thurston, the corporate manager is next to go."
"You mean there's been more than one?!"
"Yes, first Bobrick. Tracy later finished off the man who murdered Bobrick, making it look like a suicide."
"Sounds like we're dealing with some pretty determined criminals."
Vincent nodded in agreement.
"Let's hope The Shadow can catch them before it's too late." Daniel remarked.
"Oh, he will. It's only a matter of time." Vincent commented.