113-Radical Moves by Franklin W. Dixon

Author:Franklin W. Dixon [Dixon, Franklin W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-08-07T15:13:44+00:00

Chapter 9

A Break in the Case

"Zack!" Joe shouted, running toward the edge of the pool.

Joe jumped into the pool at the shallow end and raced toward Zack. When Joe was fifteen feet away from him he suddenly began to slide. His arms flailed in the air wildly as he struggled to keep his balance.

It was no use. Joe's feet slid out from under him and he fell backward. "Oof!" he gasped as he landed hard on his rear end. He caught his breath and placed one hand on the floor of the pool for balance. As he looked up, Joe saw his brother climbing down the ladder. Zack was still lying on the floor, clutching his shoulder and moaning in pain.

"Be careful," Joe warned his brother. "The bottom is really slippery."

Frank nodded as he stepped off the ladder. When Frank reached the middle of the pool, Joe saw his brother's feet slide out from under him. Frank held out his arms to try to steady himself and skidded sideways. Then he slid down past Joe, finally stopping at the deep end of the pool near Zack.

Keeping both hands pressed tightly against the side of the pool, Joe inched down the sloping floor toward Zack, one step at a time. Finally, he reached Frank and Zack, who lay against the pool wall with his eyes closed.

Frank knelt down next to Zack. The thrasher looked up at him and opened his eyes, his face filled with pain.

"My shoulder," Zack gasped. "I think it's broken."

Frank nodded. "Don't try to move," he said. "I'll call for an ambulance. You stay here with Zack while I get the ambulance," he told his brother.

Frank stood up slowly. Slipping and sliding on the pool floor, he made his way to the ladder and climbed up.

Joe watched Frank run over to the sliding glass doors at the rear of the Michaelses' house. Then he turned to Zack and said reassuringly, "The ambulance should be here soon."

"I hope so," Zack replied, wincing with pain. "My shoulder hurts like crazy."

"The ambulance is on its way!" Joe suddenly heard Frank call from the house.

"Great!" Joe called back.

"Would you have Frank call my mom or dad?" Zack asked. "Their work numbers are by the phone. He should tell them I'm hurt, and let them know what hospital I'm going to."

"Sure thing," Joe replied. "Just take it easy, okay?"

"I can't do anything else," Zack replied with a grim smile.

Joe crawled over to the side of the pool and passed Zack's message on to Frank.

After a few minutes Frank returned to the pool. "It's all taken care of, Zack," he said as he sat on the top rung of the ladder. "Your mom's meeting you at Bayport General Hospital."

"The bottom of the pool is definitely coated with something. What do you think this stuff is?" Joe asked, running his hand along the pool's slick surface.

"I don't know," Frank admitted. "Some kind of oil or lubricant."

"What I'm wondering is how the person who did this could have gotten to the pool if Zack was home," Joe said.

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