Chapter Eight
Saturday morning dawned gloriously, a lovely spring day with a crisp, light breeze that presented the promise of a perfect day for outdoor events such as an outing at the racetrack. Surprisingly, everyone in the Reid residence slept well. Dusty and Marsha Blackwell had the assurance of being "out of sight" and rested without fear of Sid Scott making a third attempt to kidnap the young woman. The accommodations were hardly luxurious, but given the attacks and the threat hanging over Dusty's head, the most important thing was that they were safe. While Dusty arrived in mortal fear of the Green Hornet, his opinion was tempered considerably by the facts that they were fed, given blankets and cots instead of being forced to sleep on the concrete floor, and that his sister was courteously provided an additional pillow for her foot.
Britt had a good night's rest as well. On more than one occasion he was at the paper all day and out all night, so he had no trouble falling asleep. He had long since given up letting concerns of what might happen rob him of rest.
Breakfast was served, first to the Blackwells in the basement holding room. Britt donned his criminal clothing and took the tray of food to them, obtaining the time Dusty was required to be at the track. He left them to have their meal in private and returned to his own dining room after removing the hat, mask, gloves, and overcoat. Casey and Kato joined him for breakfast, and the three reviewed the plans and layout of the map Frank had provided one final time.
Casey left first, driving Britt's white convertible. Her plan was to first stop at her own apartment to change out of the clothing she had spent the day and night in out of necessity, then to drive to the racetrack. She carried Britt's formal attire in the car with her, the clothes he would need to present the trophy to the Sentinel Stakes victor later in the day. She also had the assignment of escorting Marsha to the Sentinel's grandstand seats, and to serve as an extra pair of eyes to watch for Sid Scott to make a move against Dusty. With all the assignments, Casey still hoped to enjoy a day at the races with her co-workers at the boss's expense.
At precisely 10:00 a.m. the Green Hornet appeared in the basement room again. "It's time," he announced, producing the gun from his inside coat pocket. Marsha was initially frightened by the sight of the gun, but realized that it was the gas gun he had used on her before. The Hornet went to her first and sprayed the gas in her direction. She inhaled the gas willingly and collapsed onto the cot on which she sat. The Hornet then turned to Dusty, sitting on his cot on the opposite side of the room.
As he extended the gun toward Dusty the jockey held his hand up. The Hornet's finger froze on the trigger. "I just wanted to say 'thank you' again," Dusty said. "I won't let you down."
"Don't worry about me," the Hornet replied in a gentle tone that Dusty had never heard from him previously. "Worry more about not letting yourself down." Dusty nodded that he understood, then fell over onto the cot after a quick burst of green gas hit him in the face.
"Kato!" the Hornet called. Kato stepped into the room. "Let's get them to the car." The Hornet picked Dusty up, leaving Marsha for Kato. They made their way up the stairs and to the garage, where the Black Beauty was waiting for them, doors open. The Hornet put Dusty in first, propping his sleeping form against the right rear door. He then helped Kato slide Marsha into the car next to her brother. The Hornet returned to the basement to retrieve Marsha's crutches.
Kato got behind the wheel and started the car. The Black Beauty took off when a false wall rose, leading to the patio area of Britt's townhouse. The path snaked into a tunnel that ended in the alley where Frank Scanlon parked and sneaked into the house. An advertisement for candy mints divided as the Black Beauty hit a trip switch on the pavement in the tunnel. After the tail end of the car passed out the electric eye that was interrupted by the car's passage signaled the sign to close. In less than five seconds no one could tell any car, let alone the notorious Black Beauty, had been in the alley.
Their first destination was Marsha's apartment, a quick stop to allow the young woman to change clothes. Because it was daylight, they had to stick to back roads instead of main streets. The Black Beauty was nearly as notorious as its occupants. While the car could easily outrun any police car, and was loaded with enough lethal weaponry to destroy anything that got in its way, chases took time, something that they did not have if they were to follow their schedule. The weekend streets were free of police presence, however, and the Black Beauty snaked through the side streets and alleys unnoticed.
The phone in the back of the car buzzed. The Hornet picked it up. "Hello?" he said carefully.
Frank was on the other end. "Can you talk?"
"No," the Hornet replied, looking at the two sleeping people in the back seat with him, "too risky."
"That's alright," Frank said, "all you really have to do is listen. I did some checking this morning. Sid Scott has rented a private suite at the track for the entire spring meet. It's suite number ten."
"That helps. Thanks." The Hornet hung the phone up. As he turned back he noticed Marsha start to stir, the effects of the Hornet Gas wearing off.
The signs pointed toward the parking lots, stables, and employee entrances at Motor City Downs. The sidewalks and main entrance were crowded as people made their way to the track to enjoy the excitement of thoroughbred horse racing. The sun beamed brightly down on the crowd, some just there for the sport and others hoping to leave a little richer than when they arrived.
To the west of the main entrance, situated behind the track and the grandstand, stood a group of two dozen horse stables that were no longer in use because of newer barns built. An alley from a side street led to a disused entrance that led to and from the stables, with a dirt road winding through the old barns. Once the owners and trainers used this passage to truck their horses onto the property. Because of the new construction on the opposite side of the track, this side of the track was deserted. A concealed parking place between old stables was the perfect place to hide the Black Beauty. Additionally, the old stables were on the same side of the track as the grandstand, which would allow a quick entrance and exit. The logistics of getting in and out were committed to memory, thanks to careful study of the map Frank had provided.
Dusty and Marsha bade farewell to the Green Hornet about a block from the main entrance. The siblings climbed out of the car in silence. Marsha wanted to say something but she was unsure of what to say. She merely waved a goodbye before hopping toward the entrance on her crutches. Dusty started after his sister, but was stopped by the voice of the Hornet. "Blackwell!" Both turned around. "Don't ever let me see you on this side of the law again." Dusty nodded and continued on toward the track with his sister.
The Hornet watched the two walk away, discussing among themselves their ordeal with the Green Hornet. "Okay, Kato," he said, "let's go."
Kato maneuvered the car down the alley to the abandoned entrance. An eight-foot high gate blocked the entrance, the gate secured by a heavy chain and padlock. Kato stopped at the gate. The Hornet got out of the back seat, reached into his inside pocket, and produced a sonic device known as the Hornet Sting. Another one of Kato's inventions, the Hornet Sting used highly concentrated sonar to destroy inanimate objects. The device could harm humans, too, but Britt Reid's crusade against crime did not include bestowing on himself the role of judge, jury, and executioner while behind the green mask.
The Hornet extended the Hornet Sting by pushing a button. The device quickly changed from a foot-long cylinder shape to three feet long, completed with a firing mechanism that dropped down. The Hornet aimed the Sting at the lock and fired. The ultrasonic waves pounded the chain and padlock for five seconds. The lock and chain snapped, then fell to the ground. The Hornet returned the Hornet Sting to its original position then pushed the gate open. Kato drove the car through the open gate. The Hornet walked inside, closing the gate behind them. He picked the chain off the ground and wrapped it around the posts of the gate, giving the appearance that the gate was still secured. He then climbed in the back seat.
Kato guided the car to a stop between two stables. A row of bushes planted near the fence obscured the view from the alley. The hiding spot afforded the additional luxury of being about 100 yards from the grandstands, allowing for a quick escape. Kato killed the engine then looked in the rear view mirror. The Hornet's eyes met his in the reflection. "We move in half an hour," the Hornet said, looking at his wristwatch. Kato nodded silently and slid down in the seat slightly to relax.