The Castle on Deadman's Island by Curtis Parkinson Page B

to sink in.
    â€œAll we found was an empty whiskey carton,” Graham said. “Then we came back and waited for Daniel to open the trapdoor for us. It closes automatically on a timer, as you’ll see in a minute. By the way, you’d better move, Sergeant….”
    Just then, the gears started clanking and the trapdoor began closing. This time, the sergeant moved away smartly.
    Graham continued his story. “Daniel stayed up here to open the trapdoor for us, but it didn’t happen. Daniel had been tied up by the POWs, but we didn’t know that, so Neil decided –”
    The sergeant started. “Did you say POWs? They were here? Why didn’t you tell me? Every policeman for miles around has been looking for those guys. Where are they now?”
    â€œFar away, I assume,” Graham said placidly. “Probably in the sailboat they stole.”
    â€œBut what were they doing here?”
    â€œLooking for food, I guess,” Daniel said. “They must have seen there were no boats in the boathouseand thought the castle was empty. They grabbed me when I went to see what the noise was in the kitchen and tied me up. Then they got some stuff out of the fridge and left.”
    Sergeant Simpson turned to Mrs. Ruff. “This changes everything. Leonard will have to take me back to shore immediately. I’ll need to use your phone to report the POW sighting. Then I’ll get hold of the coroner to come and look at this skeleton.”
    â€œThere’s the missing person to search for too,” Graham said.
    The sergeant’s eyes bulged. “The what?”
    â€œMy aunt is missing and I fear that –”
    â€œI told you,” Mrs. Ruff broke in, “your aunt left here last Sunday.”
    â€œI wish you were right,” Graham said. “But if she left, why is her suitcase hidden in the attic and her favorite hat still in her closet?”
    Mrs. Ruff was clearly surprised to hear about the suitcase and the hat, but that didn’t stop her. “I don’t know about that,” she shot back. “But I know her boat and her car are gone.”
    â€œThat may be,” Graham said, “but Neil saw what might well turn out to be her shoes in the river. I’m afraid my aunt has met with foul play and you, Sergeant, must get a police diver over here right away.”
    â€œLook here, son,
I’ll
decide what I must do,” the sergeant huffed. It was apparent from his glowering expression that this was all a bit much for him – a skeleton, escaped POWs, a missing person, and now this smart-aleck kid telling him what to do. “And I’ve no intention of taking officers off the search for the POWs to look for a supposed missing person just because you saw some shoes in the river. They could be anybody’s. So keep your noses out of police business in future, or I’ll charge you with …”
    The sergeant paused, trying to recollect what exactly he could charge them with. “Obstructing justice,” he finally came up with. “Plus breaking and entering … and mischief.”
    â€œBut my aunt –” Graham began.
    â€œYou’ve got your aunt on the brain, young man,” Mrs. Ruff said. “Get it through your thick skull that she’s not here and stop playing detective. Leave that to the police.”
    â€œRight,” Sergeant Simpson said. “Now, Ruby, about this skeleton. I’m going to have to get in touch with the present owners of the castle and have them come here for questioning. If you’d just give me their addresses and phone numbers …” He whipped out a battered notebook.
    â€œWell,” Ruby Ruff said, “as for Miss Stone, she didn’t leave a forwarding address. But the other two live inKingsport. Their phone numbers are in the kitchen. I’ll just get them for you.”
    â€œI’ll come with you,” the sergeant said, sensing a chance for a