“You mean to say they had the nerve to kidnap your uncle, a federal agent?” asked the sheriff.
“I’m sure they have him and the only thing we know is that the start away from Jacksonville was made by boat.”
The sheriff nodded.
“That would be a good way. Why, I can think of half a hundred good places to hide a man along this section of the coast.” Then the sheriff went on to explain that shortly before dawn he had been dumped unceremoniously out of the sedan after being released from the handcuffs.
“Can you remember any stops?” asked Bob.
“Only one. We must have been very close to the ocean, for I was sure I could hear the sound of the surf.”
“Any idea in what direction you traveled?”
“Nothing that would help much. I was about two miles from Ainsworth when I was dumped out, and I went in there and got another gun and then decided to take the train to Atalissa for I was only about a mile from there when I was kidnaped last night.”
“Did you hear anything unusual when you stopped where you thought you could hear the surf?” pressed on Bob.
Sheriff McCurdy was silent for a time.