MYSTERY IN SUSPENCE (A Crisis of Conjecture)

[Philip Portelli]

I am going to attempt to connect certain events from the worlds of various comics, movies, TV shows and pop culture into a hopefully logical narrative much like my Gorilla City thread. Each entry may not connect with the previous one.

Of course, comments, additions and suppositions are always welcome!

[Philip Portelli]

THE STARS UNKNOWN (Part 2)

As M. Poirot and I left the lawyer's office with BRUCE CARTER III, I felt like I walked into a detective novel.

"So, M. Carter, while I am content that you have volunteered to join us, I must wonder why? Are you a friend of the Pembertons?"

"I knew them, of course, but not too well. Sylvester and I belonged to the same club, you might say."

"Bon. Now we must start."

"To the mansion, I presume."

"No, not yet. There is this garage that he leased. It is in both his and M. Dugan's name. It is close to the mansion and I would like to see it. Mais d'abord what is your theory behind his disappearance?"

"Theory? I..uh...don't really have one. Maybe he was tired of arguing with his father. It was a strained relationship."

"So I was told."

Soon we were at the building where the garage was part of. It was a nondescript sort of place that blended into the adjoining businesses. The door was locked but showed signs of being forced opened recently. Cautiously we entered and found ourselves in a large workshop filled with automotive parts, tools and strange equipment. But that wasn't all! Five rough-looking bruisers were there, drinking and playing cards with a sixth person, a small trembling man. Mister Carter immediately faced them!
"What are you lugs doing here? This is private property of the Pemberton family!"

"Shut your face! This here is a Pemberton! Ain't that right, Breezy!"

The smaller man nodded meekly.

"Breezy owes us some dough so he graciously let us stay here at his garage to see what's...tradable."

"Nothing here belongs to him! Get your stuff and clear out...now!"

"Bit outnumbered, ain't ya, chump?"

"Ted, get M. Poirot out of here and wait outside!"

"But...but they have guns!"

"Do they now?"

Quickly getting M. Poirot to safety, I heard such noise like walls breaking, several gunshots and grunts of pain! I was afraid for Mister Carter and then I heard his voice telling us to come back in. I couldn't believe my eyes. All five crooks were unconscious and tied up with cables as Mister Carter was straightening his tie! He picked up Breezy and dropped him in a chair.

"Am I to assume that this is HAROLD SHERMAN PEMBERTON? M. Sylvester's adopted brother?"

"Yep, now Breezy, before the cops come, we have a few questions. Do you know where Sylvester or Pat Dugan are?"

"What? No, no, I don't know nothing! I wish I did! I wouldn't be in this fix if he were here! He'd take care of things! Father cut me off but Sylvester wouldn't. I know he wouldn't."

"Maybe but that doesn't change the fact that you are stealing his stuff."

"You don't understand! I lost what money I had gambling! I got a girl now! She's expecting! And I'm cut off! Even Merry won't see me!"

Mister Carter sighed and handed him some cash.

"Get out of here. Don't worry about them. Don't be where you're not supposed to be. We're searching for Sylvester and Pat. If we find them, maybe things will be better. But make sure I can find you again!"

With that, a relieved but still frightened Breezy Pemberton left!

"Le plus gentil, M. Carter but was that wise?"

"Oh, Breezy's not involved with this! Anyway let's check this place out before I do call the police for our friends here! You two search the workbenches. I'll check the other rooms. Alone just to be safe, understand?"

Together M. Poirot and I went through the drawers and found sets of intricate blueprints.

"Pas bien. I am no engineer. I do not understand what is here."

Mister Carter returned empty-handed and concurred.

"It's all Greek to me!"

But I explained that I knew something about machines. The blueprints weren't of an auto's engine but a new kind of propulsion unit. Not an airplane but something altogether different! At that moment, I swore that one day I would figure out this plans and design my own aircraft!

"If Pat Dugan could think up something like this and he needed Sylvester's patronage, he wouldn't try to get rid of him! Or disappear!"

"C'est ainsi! Now I am prepared to go to the Pemberton mansion!"