Chapter 25: Hunt for the Submarine

Technically, Carol and Renee had the authority to arrest Schlegel themselves.  They were official members of the CIA.  However, if they had, it would’ve messed up their cover.

Instead, Carol called the Los Angeles CIA office.  Two agents were stationed in the vicinity of the Blaine residence, as backup to the Lawrences, and they were at the mansion before Schlegel had a chance to come to.  They arrested him, as well as his wife, who insisted she knew nothing about the matter.  No one believed her.

Just as the CIA agents were about to leave, they got a call from their office.  Coffman, Hannah’s boyfriend, was pulling through.  He had regained consciousness just that morning and told police officers his suspicions about Schlegel.

“Already arrested him,” one of the agents said, “but thanks for the tip.”  He hung up his cellphone and turned to his colleague. “Find anything?”

“Yes,” came the reply, as the other agent emerged from Schlegel’s room with his arms full of stuff.

The first one whistled.  “Bring it down to headquarters,” he said.  “Let’s go.”

The agents loaded up their car and were just pulling away when Drew drove up.  He took one look at the occupants and ran upstairs. “Renee!” he said, bursting into his sisters’ room.  “Oh, Carol, there you are!  Was that—”

“It was,” said Carol.  “Two CIA agents came by.  They arrested the Schlegels for something.”

“Really?” said Drew.  “Neat!  So they were—”

Carol nodded.  “Edward and I figured it out last night.”

“Splendid.”  Drew flopped down on a bed as Edward wandered into the room.  “I guess we don’t need to worry about being overheard, now that they’re out of the way.  He was trying to steal the plans?”

Carol nodded again, then proceeded to tell the whole story, starting with the night before.  Edward helped, and Drew and Renee listened intently.  When Carol was finished, Drew spoke.

“So we’re not done yet,” he said.  “We’ve still got to take care of that submarine.”

As he said those words, there was a beep.  “What’s that?” said Edward.

“Oh, that’s my unicorn!” said Renee.  She hopped up on the bed.  “Can you give me a boost, Carol?”

Her older sister helped her up.  “I’m so glad you hid that in the vent!” Carol said.  “If you hadn’t been there when Schlegel came in, who knows what he would have done with us!”

“It’s from Washington,” Renee called down from the vent.  “They want us to—”

“Hold on a minute!” said Drew.  “Don’t tell us from the vent.  Do you want the whole house to hear it?  Come on down.”

Renee struggled out, landed on the bed, and continued.  “I sent in Carol’s report to Washington.  The German government didn’t know about Schlegel’s activities, or about the submarine.  They’ve given us permission to destroy it, and Washington says go ahead.”

“Alright!” said Drew.  “Sounds like fun!  Where is it?”

Carol shrugged.  “The Pacific Ocean, I guess.”

“That’s not specific enough,” said Drew.  “Don’t we have anything more to go on?”

“Probably somewhere around Malibu,” said Carol.

“Still too much territory,” said Drew.  “We’ll have to call those CIA agents later and ask if they found anything.  Which ones were they?  Miller and Gilchrist?”

“Meanwhile,” said Edward, “why don’t we search the Schlegels’ room?”

“Didn’t Miller and Gilchrist already do that?” asked Carol.

“They might have missed something,” said Drew.  “It’s worth a try.  Come on.”

For the next several minutes, the Lawrences went over the room with a fine-toothed comb.  Not much turned up.  The furniture was all still there, but much of the Schlegels’ luggage had been impounded by Miller and Gilchrist.  The only remaining items, mostly clothes, revealed nothing further about Schlegel’s activities.

“There’s got to be something,” said Edward.  “Schlegel had to know where he could meet the sub once he got the plans.”

“He might not have written it down,” said Drew, examining the windowsill.  “The really good spies memorize that type of thing.”

“Maybe when they interrogate him, he’ll say where it is,” said Renee.

“I don’t think so,” said Drew.  “Schlegel’s clever; he won’t reveal anything we don’t already know.  Especially if it could hurt his Donnerreich group.”

“What does Donnerreich mean, anyway?” asked Renee.  “It sounds German.”

“It is,” said Drew.  “‘Thunder Empire’ would be the literal translation.”

“World domination,” said Edward.  “That’s always the goal.  Don’t they know they’re never going to succeed?”

“Some people never learn,” said Drew.  “At least it keeps us in business.  What are you doing under the bed, Carol?”

“I just thought of something,” his sister said.  “There was a menu hidden under a loose floorboard in Pearson’s room.  Maybe Schlegel used the same trick.”

“I doubt it,” said Drew.  “Schlegel had no relation to—”

“Ah-hah!”

“What?”

“A phone!” exclaimed Carol, emerging triumphantly with a small cellphone.  “It was under a loose floorboard.”

“How about that?” said Drew.  “Miller and Gilchrist didn’t do their job.  This is probably pretty valuable.  I wonder what contacts it has,” he said, sliding his finger across the screen.

Before he could do anything else, the phone rang.

“Uh-oh,” said Drew.  “What do I do now?”

“Answer it,” said Carol.  “See who it is!”

“Okay,” said Drew.  “Let’s hope they think I’m Schlegel.  Hello?” he said.

“The Donnerreich will not be soon defeated,” came a voice on the other end.  Silence followed.

“Yes?” said Drew.

“How goes the assignment?  Did you get rid of Hallett?”

“Sort of,” said Drew.  “He wasn’t actually the spy, but I figured out who it really was.  We don’t have to worry about that anymore.  Meanwhile, I’ve got bigger news for you.  Blaine’s finished.”

“He is?”

“Done this morning.  The ink was still drying when I filched them off his desk.  We’re ready to go when you are.”

“Tonight,” said the voice.  “You, Harriet, me, and Hessler will meet at the grotto.  Be there by midnight.  The sub will be just offshore, waiting to pick us up.”

“Midnight,” said Drew.  “I understand.  See you then.”

“The captain will be waiting,” said the voice.  With a click, the conversation ended.

Drew hung up and looked around.  “Well, guess what?  We’re going to the grotto tonight.”

“The grotto?” said Carol.  “Where’s that?”

“No idea, but—” said Drew, looking at his watch, “we’ve got a little over twelve hours to find it!”