had come. He saw a small sports car pull over to the curb. He wasn’t certain, but the two figures he saw in the car could be his uncle and Derek.

“My father is here?” Biff asked, as the trio crossed the lobby to the elevators.

“He is to meet us in a room upstairs,” Dietz replied as they entered an elevator.

Dietz’s quick reply caused more doubts to grow in Biff’s mind. It seemed to him that any father, unless so ill or injured as to be confined to bed, would certainly want to meet a son who had made the long flight all the way from Holland.

Stopping off on the fourth floor, Dietz led the way down a long corridor to a room at the end. He took out a key and inserted it in the lock. He didn’t knock, Biff noticed. “Pretty rude,” he commented mentally, as Dietz pushed the door open.

“Enter, Derek,” Dietz said.

Biff preceded the two men into the room. One quick glance showed him it was empty. He heard the door close behind him and the key turn.

Turning around swiftly, Biff challenged Dietz, saying, “My father—he’s not here. And he has never been here. You know that. Why was I brought here?”

Dietz’s reply was surprising.

“You are very clever, for one so young,” Dietz said smoothly. “No, your father is not here.”

“Then where is he? I demand that you take me to him at once.”

“You must be patient. Allow me to explain.”

“It’s about time you did!”

Specks was standing with his back to the door, as if expecting Biff to try to force his way out of the room.

“It would have been highly dangerous for us to have taken you directly to your father,” Dietz continued his explanation.

“Go on,” Biff demanded.

“Has your father written you about a man who was once in his employ?” Dietz asked.

“He may have, and he may not. That is my business and my father’s,” Biff answered in an angry voice.

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