Dr. Lucafont's car (Or Fernald's)

[vfds321s]

In TRR, The Baudelaires try to get out of riding In Uncle Monty's jeep with Stephano by telling Mr. Poe that they want to ride in Dr. Lucafont's car because they always wanted to see the inside of a doctor's automobile. But Dr. Lucafont comes in and refuses because he placed Uncle Monty's body in it. That's all good until it's revealed that Dr. Lucafont is actually Fernald the hook handed man.

So why did he not want them in his car? Since he is Olaf's henchman, it wouldn't have made any difference which car they went in, so there's nothing to gain or lose by refusing them. If all three orphans are with Stephano, then he takes them to Peru, do whatever crime he wants against them, and gets fortune just like that. No problem. If they went in Dr. Lucafont's car, sure it would be harder, but it could still work and lead to the same outcome. Stephano can ride with Mr. Poe, "accidently" take a wrong turn and once Fernald and the Baudelaires are at the Prospero dock, he could ditch Mr. Poe and meet up with them. Either way, it's a win-win situation.

So why would Dr. Lucafont not want the Baudelaires in his car. Or is it foreshadowing his betrayal of Count Olaf in TGG? 

[Dante]

The author-level answer is that it was funnier this way and helped to disguise Dr. Lucafont's true identity as one of Olaf's accomplices. In-universe, on the other hand, I would suggest that Count Olaf wasn't as confident in the hook-handed man's ability to corral three orphans nor his own ability to shake off Mr. Poe once the cars diverged. The plan was quite simply for Lucafont to get Mr. Poe out of the way and for Count Olaf to take control of the orphans personally, and he would brook no deviation from that plan, just in case.

[Grace]

Also, none of Olaf's henchmen could be described as overly hardworking, and moving a grown man's body is hard work. I can just imagine Usman Ally: "But I already moved him!"

[vfds321s]

Another thing is that Dr. Lucafont called Olaf (Stephano) boss when he's ranting about being an expert on snakes. How did Klaus and Sunny not notice that (Mr. Poe of course is dumb enough not to notice but the children?)

[snicketfun123]

Yes, while your right that the kids are way more smarter than the adults they can be fooled as well. In book the fourth they didnt understant that foreman flacutono was actually the bald man with the long nose. In the 5th book they didnt learn Olafs true plan until it was to late. In book the sixth they didnt understant the the doorman was Fernald and that Esme was evil etc