Andy Adams
Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery / A Biff Brewster Mystery Adventure
CHAPTER I
Peril in Paradise
In the tropical, jungle-like garden behind the hotel, a man stood absolutely motionless. The broad trunk of the coconut palm tree behind which he lurked protected him from being seen by anyone on the hotels wide, sweeping porch.
The tense set of the mans features showed his growing impatience.
The broad porch ran around all four sides of the white, sprawling Royal Poinciana Hotel on Waikiki Beach, in Honolulu, Hawaii. The porch was called the deck, and it had been designed to resemble the promenade deck of an ocean liner. It was an open porch, or deck, with brightly colored floral-patterned umbrellas spreading welcome shade. The deck was spotted with lounge and captains chairs, and its teak-wood floor was marked off at regular intervals with shuffleboard courts.
The fore deck, that part of the porch running across the front of the hotel, overlooked the beautiful beach and its rolling, coiling breakers. Chairs and tables scattered on it were occupied by people waiting for the noon meal. On the rear deck, overlooking the carefully planned, luxuriant jungle-garden, only one couple could be seen.
Will they never leave? the man muttered to himself. He looked at his watch, then carefully peered around the tree, looking up at the deck jutting out from the hotels second floor.
Just as he did so, the couple got up from their chairs and walked leisurely away, heading for the other side. The man waited until they rounded a corner and were out of sight. Then he moved swiftly.
His linen-clad figure was a white flash against broad green leaves as he dashed for the steps leading up to the now unoccupied porch. Once on the deck, he moved casually, as though he were just another tourist. He walked softly on crepe-soled shoes, making not a sound.
Nearing the center of the porch, the man pressed his back against the white-painted wall, almost blending into it except for his dark, swarthy face. Now he moved sidewise, crab-like, until he reached a partly opened latticed door. He stopped, pressing his head against the slight crack where the door was hinged.
Moments passed. Then he heard the sharp jangling sound of a telephone ringing from within the room beyond. Next he heard the soft pad of feet on thick piled carpet as the rooms occupant crossed the floor to take the call.
Now the prowler abandoned his extreme caution. He looked through the partly opened door. He saw the back of a man sitting at a telephone table. The prowler carefully pulled the door open and slipped into the room. Its occupant had the phones receiver to his ear.
On your call to Mr. Thomas Brewster in Indianapolis, Indiana, sir, the operator was saying, they are ringing that number now.
The prowler crept closer until he was within an arms length of the seated man.
Yes, the man said into the telephone. Ill hold the line. With his free hand he pulled a well-used pipe from his jacket pocket and stuck it in his mouth. Then he patted the table for matches. He opened a drawer and felt in it.
The prowler watched his prey anxiously. He was an old man, with shaggy white hair hanging down almost to his collar.
Unable to find a match, the old man had just started to turn when the operator spoke again.
This is Honolulu, Hawaii, calling Mr. Thomas Brewster, she said. A few seconds passed. Heres your party, sir.
The prowler stood there, arms raised, the fingers of his cupped hands spread like talons just over the old mans shoulders.
CHAPTER II
A Disturbing Call
Ill get it! Ill get it!
It was the voice of eleven-year-old Monica Brewster.
You always do, grumbled her twin brother Ted. I never do get to answer the telephone. Not when youre in the house.
Monica wasnt listening. She was flying into the kitchen to answer the steady ring before her mother could lift the phone from its cradle. Mr. Brewsters study was nearer, and there was a telephone in there, too. But Monica knew that her father was in the study, talking to her older brother Biff. She was sure the call was from her friend Betsy, because Betsy generally called her about five oclock in the afternoon. Monica didnt want her father interrupting her talk with Betts. Daddy didnt approve of long phone gabs.
Moments later, Monica came bursting through the living room. Her excitement was at a pitch as high as her voice.
Daddy! Daddy! The calls from Honolulu! Someones calling you from Honolulu!
Take it easy, sis, or youll explode. Biff grinned as he saw the eagerness on his sisters flushed face.
Thomas Brewster picked up the telephone. He listened briefly, then cupped his hand over the mouthpiece and spoke to his older son.
Close the door, Biff. Behind your sister.
Biff got up from his chair and gently ushered Monica, protesting, out of the study. When he turned back, he was startled to see that an expression of worry clouded his fathers face.
Yes, Johann, I agree. Mr. Brewster gave the name its Germanic pronunciation, Yohann.
Biff could only distinguish a mumble of words coming from nearly four thousand miles away.
Well, Johann, dont you take any chances yourself, Mr. Brewster continued. Wait until I get there Danger? Theres always danger when the stakes are as high as those were playing for What! Thomas Brewsters frown deepened. Perez Soto? You say Perez Soto is there? I dont like that one little bit. The letter, though, you have that safely hidden?
Again the speaker at the other end took over the conversation. Biff could hear only a scramble of sounds coming from the telephone. He saw his father nod his head absently. His brows knitted into deeper thought.
You think your room was searched? he exclaimed. Had you hidden the letter?
Biff watched his father intently. Mr. Brewster listened attentively to a long reply. At last he said, Thats bad, Johann. Very bad. Well have to make the best of it, though. All right, Johann Yes, leaving here tomorrow Northwest Airlines Take off from Seattle early the next morning, Wednesday, at five A.M. Be in Hawaii about eight oclock your time Youre stopping at the Royal Poinciana, arent you?.. Hello hello Johann? Thomas Brewster waited a few moments. Hello Then he hung up and turned to Biff. Thats funny. He didnt answer. Maybe we were cut off.
Maybe the three minutes were up, Biff suggested with a smile.
Thats not as funny as you think, my boy, his father chuckled. Dr. Webers a peculiar man about some things having to do with money. A call from Honolulu to Indianapolis means nothing to him. But if the operator told him his three minutes were up, hed hang up quickly. He obeys what he thinks are the rules.
Biff laughed. Isnt Dr. Weber the famous scientist? Im sure Ive heard you speak of him.
Thats right, Biff. Hes a staff consultant for Ajax. Ive worked with him before.
Biff nodded his head. I thought so.
Thomas Brewster was the chief field engineer for the Ajax Mining Company, headquarters Indianapolis, Indiana. His job took him all over the world, to many of the strangest and least known spots on the globe. Whenever it was possible, he took sixteen-year-old Biff along.
One of my reasons for going to Hawaii is to meet Dr. Weber, Biffs father continued now.
You mean the Engineers Conference isnt the main reason? Biff asked.
Thomas Brewster shook his head. No. Oh, the meeting is important, all right. But I doubt if I would have gone out there for that alone. Dr. Weber wrote me over a month ago. Said he wanted to meet with me and Jim Huntington. He said it was very important. But he didnt go into details. I imagine he didnt want to put too much information on paper. Afraid it might be seen by eyes other than my own.
Biff was thinking. It seems to me, Dad, that Ive heard you mention this Mr. Huntington before, too. Am I right?
Probably. I hadnt heard from Huntington for a long, long time. But he did some work for me in the past.
Whats going on, Dad? And what was all that about a letter?
Thomas Brewster sighed. Oh, the letter. Forget you ever heard about it. Dr. Weber told me Jim Huntington was lost at sea sailing up to Hawaii from New Zealand. Got caught in a terrific storm, and his sloop sank. He was able to send a radio signal of his position, but Weber said a sea and air search has failed, so far, to discover any trace of Huntington or his sloop.
Gee, thats really too bad. Do you know why he wanted to see you and Dr. Weber? Biff asked.
I have an idea. And if what I think is true, then Jim Huntingtons loss is a very real one for the whole world.
I heard you mention there might be danger Biff stopped. A spark of excitement flashed across his face. His blue eyes lighted up.
Danger, Biff? Well, weve been in tight spots before. You, in China, and with me in Brazil. Tom Brewster paused, then said slowly, Theres always an element of danger in the work we do for Ajax.
Biff, his face serious, nodded his head. He was thinking of Hawaii, our fiftieth state. What danger could there be there?
The telephone operator at the Royal Poinciana Hotel on Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, looked up as her luncheon relief came into her small room.
Hi. Am I ever glad to see you! Im just about starved. Im on a diet. Not for much longer, though. Hey, something funnys going on. That old gent in suite 210. Made a stateside call just now and didnt hang up when he finished. Imagine! He left the phone off the hook. Ill tell a bellboy to hop up there when I go out.
CHAPTER III
Worried Twins
Although he didnt want to show it, eleven-year-old Ted Brewster was just as excited as his sister over the call from Honolulu. He slipped quietly over to the door of the study. He wanted to know what the call was all about. He got there just in time to see Monica ushered firmly out as Biff closed the door behind her.
Who was it, sis? Ted demanded.
Dont know. Monica shook her head. It was just the operator saying she had a call from Honolulu for Mr. Thomas Brewster.
Youd better go out and hang up the phone in the kitchen, Ted ordered.
Monica left the room and returned almost immediately.
You didnt listen in? Ted asked suspiciously.
Course not! I have very excellent manners. No lady would listen in.
Ha, Ted sneered. You, a lady? A leven-year-old-lady!
Im older than you, Monica replied.
Ten minutes older. Call that older? I dont. And dont tell me you never listen in. How bout yesterday? When I was talking to Peteso? I suppose you didnt try to listen in then.
Thats different. Youre only a kid.
A kid! This was too much. And what about you? You think youre so grown up.
The twins glared at one another. Then, without any reason, glares suddenly turned to smiles, followed by unexplained, uncontrolled laughter. Neither one of the twins could stay angry very long. When their giggles died away, they strained their ears toward the study door.
Sure is a long call, Ted said. Hope nothings gone wrong.
Gone wrong? What could go wrong, Ted? Monicas voice showed her concern.
I dont know. But I sure hope that call doesnt mean were not going to Hawaii.
Now Monica was really worried. Golly, I just couldnt bear it. Not to go!
Me, too. Biff gets to go everywhere. When do I get to go anywhere?
Or me?
The two sat in silence, thinking how cruel the world was to eleven-year-olds. The Brewsters summer cottage on Vineyard Lake that was nothing. Their speed boat and water skis, they seemed like nothing, too. And their Christmas trip to Florida, visiting their grandparents what were all those things compared to going to Hawaii? They had been to many places in continental United States, but neither of the twins had ever been out of the country. Well, even if Hawaii was now part of the U.S., they preferred to think they were going to an exotic new land.
That was why, when their father had told them just a week before he was going to take the whole family with him to Hawaii, the twins joy knew no limits.
They had known their father was going to Hawaii for a three weeks stay. He was to attend an international conference of mining engineers. He was even going to deliver one of the most important speeches at the meeting.
Biff Brewster was the oldest of the three Brewster children. He had gone with his father on several of his explorations. But Biff was sixteen, an age Ted could hardly wait to reach. Biff even had his drivers license. To Ted, this was the highest goal anybody could hope to reach.
The Brewster family had been having a cookout in their backyard when Mr. Brewster made his wonderful announcement.
One more week, and its off to Hawaii, he said.
Is Biff going? Ted asked.
The childrens father had smiled and turned to Mrs. Brewster. Lets pack the small fry and take them along, too.
What! whooped Ted, his hot dog hitting the grass and his lemonade spilling all over his shorts as he leaped to his feet.
And me? Me? Im going, too! Monica hurled herself at her father, her arms circling his neck.
Easy there, princess. Id rather have this food inside me, not on the outside.
Thomas Brewster put his daughter down. He looked into her eager, upturned face. Her hazel eyes sparkled. She had never looked prettier to him, and Mr. Brewster had always thought her the fairest princess of them all. Copper-colored hair framed her oval, pixie face. The summer sun had bronzed her clear skin. Keeping up with her brother Ted had given her a straight, sturdy figure. A nuisance at times, when her spirits shot higher than Pikes Peak, she was the darling of the family, and had to be squelched only three or four times a week.
What about it, Ted? Mr. Brewster said teasingly. Think your sister ought to come along, too?
Sure, Dad. Sure. was the quick reply. Monica flashed a loving look at her brother.
All right, if you say so. Okay by you, Mother? And you, Biff?
You mean were all going? A look of disbelief crossed Mrs. Brewsters face.
Thats right. Time we all had a vacation together. I wont be too busy at this meeting. And Im sure wed all like to visit our fiftieth state.
Biff followed his fathers words without speaking. He surely felt good, though, about what his father was saying. Biff knew how envious his brother and sister were of the trips he had made. This time, they were going along, too. The whole family! Theyd have a swell time. Dad was really tops.
A smile softened Biffs strong-featured face. His blue-gray eyes lighted up. He moved off the deck chair where he was sprawled and walked over to drape an arm over his mothers shoulders. He was taller than his mother, with broad, square shoulders. For a sixteen-year-old, Biff was big and husky. He had to be, to have come out of his many adventures unharmed.