The Mystery of Smugglers Cove (The Mystery Series, Book 1) by Paul Moxham Page B

“Did you leave anyone guarding the van?”
    “Yes, two men,” the sergeant answered. “Why?”
    “Follow me with some men,” the inspector yelled as he pulled out his pistol and rushed towards the van.
Chapter 18: The Disappearing Men
     
    Upon reaching the vehicle, Inspector Price hurried to the back and opened the door.
    Two unconscious police officers were inside. He punched the door in frustration. He paced back and forth in anger as three police officers and the children rushed up.
    Sergeant Wilmore took one look at the back of the police van. “How could they escape?”
    Inspector Price shook his head. “I don’t know. But one thing is certain.”
    “What?” the sergeant said.
    “They didn’t get out of the van by themselves. They might be counterfeiters, but they’re not magicians. And you would have to be a magician to unlock those handcuffs and knock out two police officers. But they won’t get far. Radio the neighbouring police stations and tell them to set up roadblocks.”
    As Sergeant Wilmore hurried to one of the police cars, the inspector turned to an officer. “Tell the men inside to get out here pronto.”
    “Yes, sir.” The man hurried away as the inspector and the remaining officer carried the unconscious men out of the van and onto the nearby grass.
    Will, like the other children, was shocked. “How many crooks were in this van?”
    “Five,” the inspector answered as he laid a motionless police officer upon the ground. He tried to revive him, but it was no use.
    He stood up as the rest of the police officers hurried up and grouped around him. “Listen up,” he began. “The men who were locked up in this van have now escaped. We don’t know where they are, but I suspect that they will be armed. So be careful. Search the surrounding woods. If you don’t find anything, start door knocking. Any questions?”
    There were none. As the children watched, the police officers departed. Some on foot, some in cars.
    The inspector bent down as one of the unconscious men suddenly stirred. “Can you hear me?”
    The man slowly nodded.
    “Who knocked you out?”
    “Don’t know. One minute I was standing next to the van, and then, bam, out like a light.”
    The inspector nodded. “Okay, better get someone to have a look at that bump on your head. It looks pretty nasty.”
    The inspector looked up as Sergeant Wilmore approached. “Constable Howard is still waiting down at the beach with a couple of men. What shall I tell him to do?”
    “To join us. We need all the help we can get.”
    As Sergeant Wilmore left, Will spoke up. “What about my dad?”
    The inspector glanced towards the four children and then walked over to them. He placed his hand on Will’s shoulder. “Go home and get some rest. All of you.”
    “But what about my dad? Aren’t you going to search for him?”
    “No.”
    “But you can’t just leave him!” Will yelled. “After all, if it wasn’t for him you wouldn’t have caught those crooks in the first place.”
    The inspector paused and Joe said, “You think that Mr Spencer helped the crooks escape, don’t you?”
    Inspector Price nodded. “I did think of that.”
    “My dad is not a crook!” Will yelled.
    “Then where is he?”
    “Maybe the crooks kidnapped him,” Amy suggested.
    “Why would they clutter themselves up with a hostage when they are planning on getting as far as away from here as possible as quickly as they can?”
    “Maybe he saw something,” Sarah said.
    “Who knows? All I know is that I have five men on the run that will do anything to avoid capture. They are not here at Chandler Manor, so I must put my men elsewhere. You are free to look anywhere you want for Mr Spencer, but I doubt he’s here. For all I know, he could be on his way to France by now.”
    “He wouldn’t do that,” Will said, his eyes burning with defiance.
    “Money does strange things to a person. Being an author isn’t an easy way to make a living