In an instant the man had yanked open
the door and climbed in beside Tom.
"Take me inside the grounds of Swift Enterprises," he commanded in a
foreign accent. "And no tricks or you will regret it!"
CHAPTER III
REPORT FROM INTERPOL
Tom, astonished, stared at the stranger.
"Who are you?" the young inventor demanded.
"Never mind who I am. Just do as I say!"
By this time Tom had recovered from his surprise and coolly sized up his
enemy. The man was about thirty years old, with close-cropped black
hair. Steely eyes glinted in a lean, hard-jawed face.
Tom wondered, "_Should I risk a fight? Or is he armed?_"
As if in answer, the stranger growled, "I gave you an order, my friend.
Don't press your luck! Get going!"
As he spoke, the man thrust one hand deep into his coat pocket, and Tom
felt something hard poke against his ribs.
The young inventor drove on, but proceeded slowly. He wanted time to
think. Presently Swift Enterprises, enclosed by a high wall, came into
view.
Tom's brain was working fast. At last he decided on a ruse. He would
head for the main gate, get out, and use his electronic key without
waiting for the guard to admit him. At the same time, he would press a
secret warning bell to alert the Swift security force.
But the stranger seemed to read his thoughts. As Tom started to turn off
toward the main gate, his passenger snapped, "Go to the private gate
which you and your father use!"
"And if I refuse?"
Again the hard object poked into his ribs.
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