CHAPTER 11
JUSTICE. REX GETS HIS DESERTS.
During the night, as soon as the ship had started to sink, Rex and the gang had left. Lofty and Shorty had driven to Douglas, to set the device in place. The others had drifted away in their cars by back roads, to meet again at the hideout, which was in a rented house by the harbour in Castletown. Charlie had not been missed when they all departed from the ship, and it was only when they were all together again, waiting for Lofty and Shorty, that his absence was noticed.
"He'll be here soon." rumbled Rex. "He will if he knows what’s good for him. He knows what happens to people who try to run away".
"Perhaps he's gone to the police". suggested the older man.
"Never." said Rex, and that was where he made his big mistake. He thought that all his men were so frightened of him that they would never turn against him. He turned back to the table, and started to give instructions to the gang for collecting the ransom in the morning.
Charlie had told the police everything, and had volunteered to return to the hide out with a small radio wired to him so that the police could hear everything that was said. Charlie could also give a signal at the best time for the police to attack the hide out.
Rhes, waiting nearby had also been listening. He had slipped a radio bug into Charlie’s jacket top pocket, and so had learned where the hideout was. He had made good time to Castletown on Robin's bike, borrowed silently from the house. He had put his cloak of invisibility on, and stood waiting for the police to go in.
Later as Charlie entered the hideout, he was grabbed by the others, and marched in front of Rex.
"I'm sorry I'm late ." he said with a sheepish smile, "But I got a puncture, and had to change the wheel".
"Go and check it." Rex snarled to one of the gang, who shot out to do as he was told.
Charlie had driven his knife into a tyre, to provide just such evidence to back up his story.
"Its flat OK." said the man, on his return, and Charlie stood with his hands outstretched, covered with dirt and oil, as further proof, if that was needed.
The police were listening to Charlie and all the others talking, and they heard Rex order the gang to get as much sleep as possible. They waited, and waited for Charlie to give the signal
"Now." whispered Charlie, and the police slowly moved forward and surrounded the hide out. Guns ready fingers on triggers.
Rhes had been listening to the talk. He had been so upset that he had not been able rescue the twins, that he was now determined to make sure that nothing went wrong with the arrests.
When he heard the order to move in, he went running fast toward the house. He arrived just as the Police Chief picked up his loud hailer, and called out to the villains to surrender.
The answer was a smash of glass, and the crash of gunfire as the villains tried to shoot their way out.
"Trigger the device, and get us out of here", shouted one of the gang, but Rex snarled that he couldn't, because the protective helmets were in the cars, and they would be as mindless as everyone else.
Tear gas canisters shattered more windows, and it was not long before the first of the villains stumbled out, tears streaming from his eyes, and his body heaving with coughs and sneezes. He was seized by the police, handcuffed, and led away.
One by one they came out.
Two, three , four, five, six, seven but where were the last two? Rex, and Charlie.
Rhes had seen the seven come out, and suddenly thought that Rex must be escaping by some hidden exit. Round to the side of the building he ran, and from another pocket took a pair of glasses. With them on, he could see everything as bright as day. He looked around, and after a while saw a manhole cover slowly rising. It slid back, and Rhes could easily see the massive shape of Rex climbing out.
"Here goes." said Rhes to himself, remembering how frightened he had been on the ship when Rex had nearly killed him. "I must try to catch him".
As he ran, head down towards Rex, he saw the evil face turn towards him. A puzzled look came over it, and Rhes realised that Rex couldn't see him. Even so, the barrel of a gun swung round to point at the sound of running feet.
"I can't make it before he fires". Thought Rhes, and waited for the gun to fire, and the bullet to tear into him.
A split second before the gun fired, he saw Rex fall back into the hole. The gun fired, and the bullet whistled past, just touching his ear. Rex seemed to be struggling with something down the hole. Again a shot crashed out. Rex was trying to shoot at something below him. Rhes skidded up to the hole, and without stopping to think, lifted the cover, and crashed it down on Rex's head. Rex went flat, but as he did, his flailing arm caught in the cloak and tore it off, leaving Rhes in full view.
He caught Rex by the scruff of the neck, and heaved him onto the pavement. Seconds later he had tied Rex's hands.
"Just let him try to get out of that." he chuckled.
A groan from below made him jump. He looked over the edge, and there was Charlie.
He was sitting there, holding his arm, with some blood seeping out between his fingers. Police sirens sounded close. No time to loose. He pulled Charlie up as well, and put his hand on Rex's collar, and said.
"Remember, Charlie, you saved my life on the ship, now I'll rescue you. Tell them you caught Rex, and perhaps you won't go to prison."
Off he ran, and just managed to climb over a wall and duck out of sight before the police came pounding up.
At the trial, Charlie was the hero. The villains were sentenced to prison for a very long time, especially Rex. As he was being taken to the cells, he looked straight at Charlie and the twins.
"There isn't a prison made that can hold me for long. I'll escape, and be back to get you. You'll never know when. That goes for you two kids as well".
He was taken to the dungeons in the castle, as this seemed to be the safest place, and securely locked in.
Charlie was told that he should go to prison, even though he had helped to capture the gang, and Rex in particular, unless someone would guarantee to the court that he would behave himself. Mother, and Amy, with the twins at the front, jumped up as one and shouted
"We will.".
Mother said that she would get Uncle Josh to give him a job helping on his boat, and he would live in the village, where everyone could keep an eye on him.
What a party there was that night at Amy's. Charlie was almost overcome with happiness now that he had real friends, a job, and somewhere to live. No more living from hand to mouth, as he had been doing for years.
As he looked around, he saw a smiling face at the window, and there was Rhes, smiling at him. A hand came up, the fingers tight shut and the thumb up. A slow wink, and a nod, then Rhes vanished from sight.
That night, as Robin and Robina were getting ready for bed, Robin said .
"What an adventure. I'm so glad it's over, thanks to Rhes."
"Yes", agreed Robina, "but what about Rex?"
"He's going to be in prison for years". replied Robin.
"I hope he stays there". they all said together, laughing.
Far away in a deep cell, Rex sat on the hard bed, planning, planning. Thinking about the terrible revenge he would have one day on Charlie and the twins. If only he could escape