A Fatal Frame of Mind

Chapter Twenty-five

“A hunchback?” Shawn whispered furiously to Gus.

“We’re about to be gunned down by a homicidal hunchback in a mysterious valley? When did we turn into the Hardy Boys?”

“We’re not the Hardy Boys,” Gus said, wishing his last words might be something more inspiring to future generations.

“You’re right,” Shawn said. “The Hardy Boys had a couple of chums. All we’ve got is him.”

Gus reflexively glanced over at the him in question. But Professor Kitteredge wasn’t on the ground where Gus had set him. He was on his feet, walking toward the armed man with his hands raised high.

“Not a step further,” the hunchback growled.

“Not even a box step?” Kitteredge said. He stopped walking forward and demonstrated the move. “How about a grapevine? It certainly seems appropriate here.”

Gus covered his eyes and waited for the rain of Professor Kitteredge’s body parts that would follow the inevitable gunshot. But when no sound came, he peeled his hands away from his face.

The hunchback had lowered the shotgun. And while Gus would not claim an ability to read expressions on that twisted face, he thought he saw something like a smile there.

“Professor Kitteredge?” he said, taking a step forward through the headlight beams.

“It’s me, Malko,” the professor said. “Now let’s see a couple of those moves.”

To Gus’ astonishment, the hunchback held his gun up like a dance partner and with surprising grace executed a perfect box step. “Haven’t forgotten a thing you taught me,” he said when he finished.

“A dancing hunchback,” Shawn said. “We’re leaving the Hardy Boys and joining up with Mel Brooks.”

“Malko, let me introduce you to a couple of friends,” Kitteredge said, turning back toward the car. “Gus, Shawn, come over here.”

Shawn and Gus exchanged a look, then stepped away from the car and toward the other two. Kitteredge waved them closer. Malko narrowed his one good eye and stared at them.

“Are these the two that helped you get away from the police?” he said. “When I heard they were last seen wearing tuxedoes, I thought the reporters were joking.”

Gus felt his heart pounding. So the cops were after them now. He couldn’t be surprised. He knew it would happen sooner or later. But he’d hoped that they would have time to find the real killer before they actually became wanted fugitives.

“We’ve been on the news?” Kitteredge said.

“You are the news,” Malko said. “We were expecting you. Come.”

Malko turned and started to walk away. Kitteredge followed.

“Wait a minute,” Shawn said loudly. “You were expecting us?”

Malko stopped and glared back at him. “Yes.”

“You shot at us,” Shawn said.

Malko shook his head wearily. “Yes.”

“What would you have done if you hadn’t been expecting us?” Shawn said.

“Aimed better.” Malko started to walk again.

“What do we do now?” Gus said.

“We know what’s behind the curtain,” Shawn said. “A long, dark walk back to Buellton, where half the police in the state will be looking for us. So we might as well go with what’s in the box. And hope.”

“Hope for what?” Gus said.

Up ahead, Malko and Kitteredge were about to disappear out of the range of the headlights.

“Hope that whatever is in the box isn’t us.”