The Case of the Vanishing Boy Read Online Free PDF Page B

wife and son somewhere. Pops put detectives on it right away,” Ginny added, “and the first thing they learned was that the wife had died too, and nobody knew what had happened to Juan.”
    Hecuba said, “Heron and I were wild. You see, all our abilities come from the Tremaine side of the family. Juan’s father was amazingly gifted, and we were certain Juan would be too. But such gifts, my dear, too often dry up and vanish in the wrong surroundings. Many a child is born with some extraordinary ability, only to lose it by being whipped or laughed at by people who don’t understand him. So, what with foster homes and orphanages, we were afraid …”
    She stopped and wiped her eyes, and Ginny said, “They found him at last—he was in some sort of orphanage near Washington. Aunt Heck went out to buy clothes for him while Pops rushed to Washington. But—but before Pops could get there …”
    There was a silence. Jan said, “What happened?”
    â€œThose stupid authorities!” Hecuba Rhodes bit out. “They were transferring Juan and some of the boys to another place, and they refused to hold him. Before Heron could reach Washington there’d been trouble on the bus, it was wrecked, and Juan was killed.”
    In the silence that followed, Jan sat with lips compressed, thinking, How strange. Here I am wearing Juan Tremaine’s clothes, sitting where he would have sat, taking his place.… Why should it be this way?
    His thoughts were interrupted by Heron Rhodes thrusting the phone aside and saying with relief, “Finally got Jackson. Told him to charter a plane if he had to, but just get here on time. Wanted to know what in suffering Halifax it was all about, and I said I wouldn’t know myself till tomorrow. But at this point I’m pretty sure I do. Hm.”
    Ginny said, “What is it, Pops?”
    â€œTrouble,” said the doctor. “Just plain trouble. So we’d better get on with this. Let’s see—where were we?”
    â€œWe were talking about Jan’s talents,” Ginny said. “Don’t you think we’d better try the word game on him?”
    â€œWe may not have to, pet. We’ve already used words that brought instant responses, so we know how he feels about hypnosis, the police, guards, and a white van. Now, let’s check over what we’ve learned about him. One: He was being held prisoner in a place he hated and was afraid of. Bricker mentioned a state institution, but I’ve a feeling it was a private one. Two: He managed to escape by attacking a guard and taking his knife and money, and using some of the money to buy a ticket on the first train passing through Glendale. Three: The place he escaped from obviously wants him back badly and is willing to spend money to find him. They worked fast. It didn’t take them long to find out he was headed for Westlake, and by the time the train pulled into the station they had it all set up with the police, with their own van and guards waiting. That van must have broken all records to get to the station ahead of the train. Hm.”
    â€œPops, what institution is near Glendale that Jan could have escaped from?”
    â€œLordy, pet, it would be hard to say. Must be half a hundred between here and the city, probably more.”
    â€œThat many? Why, I had no idea!”
    â€œOh, that takes in all sorts of small sanitariums, private hospitals, state and local institutions and asylums. There’s the state asylum near Marysville, just west of Glendale—”
    â€œMy goodness, Jan’s not crazy!”
    â€œYou don’t have to be crazy to be committed. Just poor and different. Now, I wear pink socks all the time—don’t feel right without ’em. Pink ties, too. And your Aunt Heck and I are always doing things that might cause folks to slap us into Marysville. But gosh all hemlock, they wouldn’t dare. We’re too