* * * * *
The search party organized went straight to the sandbar Stacy Bishop had told us about. Half by land, the other half in canoes and rowboats. The latter double-backed along the lake, from east to west, looking for any bodies. While the former combed the woods to the east of the lake, calling out the names of Anna Stepwicz and the girls she had been escorting on the nature hike.
Unfortunately, there was no response.
Finally, the summer sun went down to the far west of us, compelling our return to the camp and a desultory supper. During which, Draconicov assured us he would go to the general store in Deepayintinee, first thing in the morning, to call the sheriff's office at the county seat.
"I'll ask him to form a posse and bring along bloodhounds. As well as a case of dynamite."
There was no need to ask why the latter. Blasting would be the fastest, most effective, way to loosen any cadavers stuck to underwater debris.
Following supper, Sir Anthony dashed off the aforementioned letter. Then, after sealing it in a stamped envelope, he gave it to Bob, who had already volunteered to accompany Draconicov to the general store, the next morning. Whereupon, he turned to me and asked me to accompany him to Tomas Schmidt's cabin.
"Shouldn't we leave the poor man be, for the night? What happened today really took a toll on him."
"Agreed. Which is all the more reason we must seize this opportunity! For example; didn't you hear the way he referred to Miss Stepwicz when Stacy had finished her account?
I nodded: " 'My Anna.' "
"Precisely! Which indicates a relationship much more serious than older and younger co-workers."
When we got to Thomas Schmidt's cabin (which was next door to the camp chapel), Sir Anthony stopped me just as I was about to knock.
"Listen!" he whispered.
He put his ear to the cabin door, so I did, too. And, what I heard sent a chill down my spine. It was the metallic sound of a spinning revolver chamber!
I ought to know. I had spun them often enough, myself, at the NYPD target range.
"Shall we just barge in?" I asked.
Sir Anthony grimly nodded. So, the two of us abruptly opened the door. Catching the woodworking teacher completely by surprise...with two .45 caliber Colt Model 1917's in his possession!
One in his hands; the other on his bed. And, the former he swiftly pointed in our direction.
"Close the door behind you, mein herren. Slowly!"
I did as instructed. Sweating just a little bit, and not just from the muggy heat. Sir Anthony, however, looked as calm and unperturbable, as ever.
"Good evening, Herr Schmidt. Is this the reason why you were shunned in Pennsylvania? A sudden taste for firearms?"
The man holding us at gunpoint smiled.
"My name really is Tomas Schmidt, Herr Banfield. But, I am no Amishman, as you have quite obviously deduced. I am actually a Schwyzerdeutsche operative for Le Deauxieme Bureau.* And the missing woman I intend to continue searching for, all night if need be, is not really Anna Stepwicz. She is actually..."
"...the Grand Duchess Anastasia Alexandrovna Romanova!"
tbc
Giantess World
Chapter End Notes:
* Le Deauxieme Bureau: original name for French army intelligence (now mostly obsolescent, like the American usage of "G-2").