Undercover Bookworms by Franklin W. Dixon

Author:Franklin W. Dixon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin
Published: 2023-06-27T00:00:00+00:00

Frank flipped on his bike’s flashing safety lights. “We’ll stay in the bike lane and follow all the bike safety rules like you taught us.”

Mr. Hardy looked at his watch. “In that case, I think we can grant a one-hour emergency bedtime exemption as long as you—”

“Follow the clues and the rules,” Frank and Joe recited at the same time, finishing one of their dad’s favorite sayings for him.

Mr. Hardy smiled. “Go get that book, boys.” He set down his newspaper and stood up. “And I’ll follow behind you in the car just in case you need backup.”

The boys were used to their dad sometimes tagging along on their cases. They knew he would still let them investigate on their own and only bother them if there was trouble they couldn’t handle.

“Marni must have been lying to us earlier,” Frank said to Joe as they raced side by side toward Marni’s house. “She was totally where when. She was by herself in Rare Reads when she claimed she found Magical Moon gone.”

“When she really could have been the one to take it!” Joe replied. “Telling everyone it was stolen could have been an act to cover her tracks and keep us from suspecting she’s the thief.”

Frank pedaled harder. “Pretending to be so upset when she confessed to leaving the case unlocked could have been part of the act too. She could have left it unlocked on purpose.”

“But if she did, why would she steal one book only to sneak back in to return another?” Joe wondered.

“Let’s ask her.” Frank skidded his bike to a stop just as Marni turned the corner on her skateboard.

She wasn’t wearing the Reading Robe anymore and had taken off the wolf mask, so they could see her face clearly now. She almost tumbled off her skateboard when she saw the Hardys waiting for her. She hopped off in time to keep from wiping out, but the board went flying and landed right at Joe’s feet. Marni froze. For a second it looked like she might run, but she must have realized it was pointless. Her shoulders slumped.

“Um, what are you guys doing here?”

“Nothing much, just catching you trying to get away after breaking into the library.” Frank tapped his temple. “We’ve got eyes everywhere.”

Joe wiggled his finger. “Worm eyes.”

“Um, technically worms don’t have eyes,” Marni said.

“That’s what I told him!” said Frank.

“They’re metaphorical eyes!” Joe held out the tablet with the worm-cam live feed for her to see. “We hid a remote camera in the worm farm and caught you in the act.”

“Only we aren’t quite sure what you were in the act of doing,” Frank admitted.

“What was the book you returned?” Joe glared at Marni. “Was it one of the ones you stole?”

“I didn’t steal any books! I already told you guys I’d never take anything from the library.”

“We’re more concerned with what you didn’t tell us,” Frank said.

“I guess what I meant was that I’d never take anything from the library on purpose.” Marni hesitated.

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