The man firing into the changing room stopped firing. Conrad was in time to see him bolt back the way he had come.
Gunfire raved and crashed outside.
“Sounds like our boys have arrived,” Conrad said shakily. He went cautiously to the door. As he looked out into the darkness the gunfire suddenly ceased and a silence fell over the pool that could almost be felt.
Out of the darkness came the burly figure of Sam Bardin.
“Paul?”
“Right here.” Conrad came out into the open. “Phew! That was quite a battle.”
“Got the pencil?”
“I haven’t had time to ask. Poor Tom bought it.”
“He did? That’s tough.” Bardin turned on his flashlight and swung the beam around the ruined changing room. “They certainly made a hash of this. There’re five of Maurer’s mob outside, deader than mackerel. Two others got away.”
“Find that pencil?” Conrad asked Mallory.