060 Deadfall by Franklin W. Dixon

Author:Franklin W. Dixon [Dixon, Franklin W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: hbfiles
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

“Take it easy, Vance” Joe murmured. “We’re not trying to hurt you.”

“This is private property,” Galen snarled. “You’re trespassing!”

“Vance, if you’ll just listen, I can explain,” Callie said calmly, taking a step toward him.

“Careful, Callie,” Frank warned.

“Shut up. Hardy!” Galen shouted, his finger tightening around the trigger.

“It’s okay,” Callie said soothingly. “We just want to talk.” She walked closer to him. “Put down the rifle.”

Callie kept walking until she was right up against the barrel of his rifle. The boys held their breath. Finally Galen lowered it.

“Let’s talk inside,” he muttered.

As they stepped back to let Galen unlock the door, Joe noted that Galen seemed more scared than anything. He just hoped Galen stayed that way.

“All right,” Galen said after they had filed into the Hving room and sat down. “I want to know why you were spying on me.”

“We weren’t spying,” Frank protested. “We needed to talk to you, but you didn’t appear to be here. We were just looking inside for you.”

“Don’t lie to me!” Still clutching his rifle, Galen glared at Frank. “You boys have something to do with Buster Owens’s murder, and I want to know what it is.”

“Us!” Joe laughed. “All we’re trying to do is prove that Stan Shaw didn’t commit it! Do you think you could help us out with that, Vance?”

“What can I do?” Galen growled, beginning to pace. “Everyone around here thinks I’m either loony or a murderer.”

“We just need some simple information,” Gallic said. “Like, what happened with Stan and Buster after we left the general store?”

Galen scowled. “Buster left right after you did,” he told her.

“Did Stan say anything about a meeting with Buster?” Joe asked.

“Yeah,” Galen replied. “I followed Stan to his car. He said he was going to go over the application for the Forest Service contract with Buster. I told him he was making a big mistake.”

“It was a mistake to talk to a logger about conserving woodland?” Frank asked, incredulous.

“You can’t trust any mill owner!” Galen spat out. “All they care about is how much money they can make by destroying forests!”

“What happened after you talked to Stan?” Callie asked.

“He wouldn’t call off the meeting,” Galen said, “so I decided to follow him.”

“Then you were there right before the explosion?” Joe asked. “Did you see Stan there?”

“No. I parked away from the mill, on a back road, and walked. I was afraid there might be a guard at the mill.”

“Did you park near Buster’s truck?” Joe asked.

“No. I saw it, though.”

“And then what, Vance?” Callie prodded. “Did you see anyone else around there?”

Joe watched carefully as Galen backed away from them. “I might’ve seen something,” he admitted. “But why should I tell you?”

“Because we’re trying to find out who really blew up the sawmill and killed Buster!” Callie cried. Joe flinched. Callie had to cool it. “If you know something important, you should tell us or the sheriff,” she added.

“Tell Ferris?” Galen exploded. “He’d never believe me! He probably thinks I helped blow up the mill!”

“Has he questioned you?” Frank asked.

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