Alsconi decided he would have to meet the aircraft. He was certainly not going to make a present of fifteen thousand pounds to Crantor. The obvious thing to do was to take the air-taxi and land somewhere in Palermo under the cover of darkness. But the air-taxi presented difficulties. There was room for only one passenger. Crantor would have to take Alsconi's car and drive to Palermo. Menotto? Alsconi shook his head. He couldn't trust Menotto out of his sight. It was a pity for Menotto was a first-class cook, but he
would have to be wiped out. It would be fatal to let him fall into the hands of the police.
It would also be fatal to let Englemann and Carlos be caught by the police. Englemann would talk. Alsconi scratched the side of his nose. He was fond of Carlos, and yet the huge negro was too conspicuous. He couldn't keep him with him any longer. Carlos would be instantly recognized wherever he was, and his recognition would lead the police to Alsconi. No, Carlos would have to go too.
Alsconi prided himself on being able to make quick and ruthless decisions. Felix and Lorelli must be wiped out.
Englemann and Carlos must go with them. Micklem, of course, must also die. It was convenient that the five of them were underground. They could be wiped out without difficulty.
He left the room. Moving quickly for a man of his bulk, he made his way to the boiler-room at the rear of the house. In the boiler-room were the fuse boxes that controlled the whole of the elaborate electrical system of the underground quarters. He snapped down the four switches that would put the control room out of operation, then he returned to the lounge. He went to the casement windows and looked out.
Menotto was loading the Cadillac with the five wooden boxes he had taken from Alsconi's office.
Alsconi walked over to his desk and picked up the telephone receiver.
"Yes, boss?" Carlos said instantly.
"Connect me with Felix," Alsconi said. "He's with Miss Lorelli I believe. When I have talked to him, I want to talk to you."
"Yes, boss," Carlos said. "Hold on a moment."
It took a few seconds before Felix's voice came on the line.
"Ah, Felix," Alsconi said. "I had planned to talk to you tomorrow, but events appear to be moving faster than I had anticipated."
Felix said in a hard, loud voice, "What's the idea? Carlos says the current has been cut off on your orders. I want to talk to you. I have something to tell you."
"Nothing you have to tell me would interest me now," Alsconi said. "I have very little time. I am about to leave here for good1. Jacopo has been stupid enough to get himself caught. I don't have to tell you what that will mean: You will not be coming with me. Since in the past your services have been satisfactory, I will waste a few moments to tell you why you will remain where you are. In your room and in Lorelli's room are hidden microphones: they are connected to tape recorders. Every now and then I check on your conversations. Lorelli's treachery and your attitude to her made interesting listening. Had you dealt with her as ruthlessly as you dealt with Willie, you wouldn't be in the position you are in now. But there it is. I warned you I should hold you responsible for her. You must now pay for your lapse. You have had a good run for your money. I am about to open the vents that will drain the lake into your quarters. People who act like rats must expect to die like rats." He replaced the receiver as Felix began to shout wildly at him.
Menotto came in.
"The car is ready, sir," he said.
"Ah, yes," Alsconi said.
There seemed no point in taking Menotto with him now. It would be easier to get rid of him here than out in the open.
"Move a little to your right, Menotto," he said.
"To the right, signoreV Menotto asked blankly.
"Yes: you know your right from your left, don't you?"
"Yes, signore" Menotto said and moved a few steps to his right so that he was now in direct line with the hidden gun in the desk.
"Thank you," Alsconi said. "That will do perfectly."
His long, immaculately manicured finger rested for a brief moment on the ivory button on his desk, then smiling at the puzzled-faced Menotto, he pressed on the button.
Felix flung down the telephone receiver. His handsome face was chalk-white and there was naked panic in his eyes.
"He's wiping us out!" he said hoarsely. "He's letting the water in. He's going to drown us!"
Lorelli screamed. She darted to the door, flung it open and ran out into the corridor. Felix followed her. While she began to pound on the steel door at the end of the corridor with her fists, Felix ran the other way to the end room that was used as a store-room. He found there a four-foot crowbar which he grabbed up and running back along the corridor he shoved Lorelli out of his way and began to pound on the steel door with the butt of the bar. "Look!" Lorelli cried.
"It's coming in now!" Felix paused to look over his shoulder. Through a six-inch vent on either side of the corridor came a trickle of water.
Cursing, Felix renewed his onslaught on the door. The clanging noise he made was heard by Carlos who had come out of the control room, his great black eyes rolling, and was standing undecided, looking up and down the corridor for a way of escape. The noise was also heard by Don and Englemann as they faced each other and Englemann's lined face tightened at the sound.
"Someone appears to be knocking," Don said mildly. "Don't let me stop you if you want to see who it is." Englemann said, "Sit down in that chair." Don moved over to the chair indicated and sat down. He watched Englemann circle around him until he reached the door that led into the corridor. Then he saw water in the far comer of the room, seeping across the floor.
"Does that mean anything to you, doctor?" he asked and pointed to the rapidly increasing puddle of water.
Englemann stared, his face turning yellow, then he threw open the door and stepped into the corridor.
Don slid from his chair, picked up the .25 and holding it down by his side, he moved into the corridor. Out there, there was an inch of water on the floor. Englemann leaned against the wall, his face ghastly. Carlos was fumbling at the bolts of the door at the end of the corridor. Don took all this in with one quick glance, then he stepped back into Englemann's bedroom and closed the door. Water was coming in rapidly through the two vents in the wall and it now covered the whole surface of the floor. Don splashed across to the telephone, lifted the receiver and heard with relief the dialling tone. He dialled the number of the Trioni villa.
"Marian?" he said when he heard Marian's voice on the line. "Has Giuseppe arrived yet?"
The urgent note in his voice warned her not to waste time asking questions. "Yes, with five others."
"Tell Harry to come up here right away," Don went on. "Tell him to cancel all other arrangements we made. There are five of us down here and water's coming in fast. If we're not out quickly, we're not going to get out."
"I'll tell him."
Don heard the note of alarm in her voice.
"Keep the line open," he said. "I may be back. I want to find out what's happening."
"Yes," Marian said.
He laid down the receiver. The water was now above his ankles and rising fast. He crossed the room and looked out into the corridor.
Carlos had opened the steel door. Felix and Lorelli had come through into his section of the corridor and so had the water. It was up to their knees and rising fast.
"Get that door shut!" Don exclaimed and waded out into the corridor. "Here, you! Give me a hand1 with it."
The four of them stared at him blankly. Then Carlos went with him to the door he had just opened and together they tried to force the door shut against the inrush of water. It was only when Felix joined them that their combined efforts succeeded. When they had shut and bolted the door, the rise of water slackened a little.