He felt broken pieces and pulled out Miss Carroll's locket. It was smashed, split down the center. It must have gotten it in the tussle with Soup, Tremaine thought. It looked-- He squinted at the shattered ornament. A maze of fine wires was exposed, tiny condensers, bits of glass. In the street below, tires screeched. Tremaine looked down. A black car was at the curb, doors sprung. Four uniformed men jumped out, headed for the door. Tremaine whirled to the phone. The desk clerk came on. "Get me Jess--fast!" The police chief answered. "Jess, the word's out I'm poison. An earful of State law is at the front door. I'm going out the back. Get in their way all you can." Tremaine dropped the phone, grabbed up the suitcase and let himself out into the hall. The back stairs were dark. He stumbled, cursed, made it to the service entry. Outside, the alley was deserted. He went to the corner, crossed the street, thrust the suitcase into the back seat of his car and slid into the driver's seat. He started up and eased away from the curb. He glanced in the mirror. There was no alarm. It was a four-block drive to Miss Carroll's house. The housekeeper let Tremaine in. "Oh, yes, Miss Carroll is still up," she said. "She never retires until nine. I'll tell her you're here, Mr. Tremaine." * * * * * Tremaine paced the room. On his third circuit Miss Carroll came in. "I wouldn't have bothered you if it wasn't important," Tremaine said. "I can't explain it all now. You said once you had confidence in me. Will you come with me now? It concerns Bram ... and maybe a lot more than just Bram." Miss Carroll looked at him steadily. "I'll get my wrap." On the highway Tremaine said, "Miss Carroll, we're headed for Bram's house. I take it you've heard of what happened out there?" "No, James. I haven't stirred out of the house. What is it?" "A gang of teen-age toughs went out last night. They had guns. One of them took a shot at Bram. And Bram's disappeared. But I don't think he's dead." Miss Carroll gasped. "Why? Why did they do it?" "I don't think they know themselves." "You say ... you believe he still lives...." "He must be alive. It dawned on me a little while ago ... a little late, I'll admit. The locket he gave you. Did you ever try it?" "Try it? Why ... no. I don't believe in magic, James." "Not magic. Electronics. Years ago Bram talked to me about radio. He wanted to teach me. Now I'm here looking for a transmitter. That transmitter was busy last night. I think Bram was operating it." There was a long silence. "James," Miss Carroll said at last, "I don't understand." "Neither do I, Miss Carroll. I'm still working on finding the pieces. But let me ask you: that night that Bram brought you out to his place. You say he ran to the kitchen and opened a trapdoor in the floor--" "Did I say floor? That was an error: the panel was in the wall." "I guess I jumped to the conclusion. Which wall?"