"I'm just assuming," Rick said hurriedly.
"Uh-hum." The editor grunted his disbelief. "And what should we do about it?"
Rick looked at Scotty, who shrugged. The shrug said that probably nothing could be done now, so far as Duke and Jerry were concerned, but that the case was far from closed.
"Better notify Captain Douglas," Rick suggested. "I can't think of anything else."
Jerry Webster flexed an arm that appeared to be aching. "Sure that won't conflict with your security people?" he asked.
Rick assumed an air of wide-eyed innocence. "Now, Jerry! Who said anything about security people? I just suggested you notify the State Police. Who else would you notify when someone attacks you?"
Duke climbed into the car. "Come on, Jerry. We'll get no satisfaction out of these two. Let's go rub liniment on our wounds, and then we'll make a report to the State Police. Good night, lads. And I hope your mystery bites you. Let me know if it does, so I can say 'I told you so' in print."
The boys waved as Duke drove off, leaving them in darkness. As they made their way back to the speedboat, Rick spoke his thoughts aloud.
"I guess the enemy uses muscles, too, huh?"
Scotty answered thoughtfully, "Looks like it. Unless they really were holdup men."