089-The Sky Blue Frame by Franklin W. Dixon

Author:Franklin W. Dixon [Dixon, Franklin W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-08-07T15:13:28+00:00

Chapter 9

The Phony Crime

Chet looked at his watch and rubbed his hands together. "It's almost noon. They'll be serving lunch in ten minutes."

"Then it'll be time for Iola to play her greatest role." Frank chuckled, but his expression quickly changed. "Hmm, I wonder what's keeping Joe. It's been ten minutes since he went upstairs. Did you see him come down?"

"Nope. Do you want me to go up and check on him?" Chet asked.

"No, I'll go," Frank said, feeling a quick tightening in his stomach. He took a deep breath to calm himself and marched up the stairs. At the landing he saw an open door - 207 - his room! He raced inside and almost tripped over his brother's prone body.

Frank's mouth fell open when he saw Joe's shirt. Scrawled in Magic Marker were the words: "Get out and go home!"

"Oooh," Joe groaned, and tried to sit up.

"No, no. Lie still, Joe. Don't move."

"I'll feel better if I get up. Just give me a hand," Joe said.

"Okay, but do it slowly. It looks like someone hit you pretty hard on the back of the head. Did you see who did it?"

"No, I walked in and saw nothing but stars until I came to and looked up into your beautiful brown eyes," Joe said, fluttering his eyelashes.

"Now I know you're all right. Another comment like that and I'll personally send you back to starland. Here" - Frank grabbed his brother's arm - "let's see if I can hoist you up."

On his feet again, Joe asked Frank not to tell anyone about the attack. "If the culprit is at lunch, I don't want to give him-or her-the satisfaction of getting a reaction from me."

"Are you sure you don't want to rest for a while?"

"Positive." After Joe changed his shirt, the brothers went down to find all the guests but Iola seated in the dining room. Frank and Joe took their seats and listened to Julie, who was talking excitedly.

"Our mystery weekend has finally begun," Julie was telling the others. "Last night my room was ransacked, and my camera and watch were taken. Now it's up to us to solve it!"

"How do you know it wasn't a real robbery?" asked Matt, looking concerned. "Someone stole one of my books from under my nose!"

"Someone probably just borrowed your book, Matt. Or maybe they thought it belonged to the inn. A book for the guests to read."

Matt snorted. "My name was clearly written on the inside cover."

"I'm sure it'll turn up," said Julie, dismissing him with a wave of her hand. Matt turned sullen and began picking at his food. "Anyway," Julie said, continuing, "I think we should all begin looking for clues. Joe and Frank have found some already."

Frank coughed. "Yes, we found some footprints." He didn't mention the waffle-grid sole marks because they were a clue in the real robbery.

Just then Iola burst into the room looking terrified. "My necklace has been stolen!" she cried. "Someone's been in my room," she said, turning to Frank.

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