The Curse of the Ancient Emerald
Page 9
Chet handed over the video camera. “I think this will explain everything,” he said.
“It sure better.”
• • •
The next three hours were spent sitting in the Bayport Police Department interview room, telling our story over and over while Chief Olaf wrote everything down in the police report. He made Frank, Chet, and me explain how exactly we’d cracked the riddles—right down to our thought processes at the time. Honestly, I think he was a little impressed we’d actually solved the puzzles.
“Not bad,” he grudgingly said once it was all done. “Some solid detective work there.”
“Thanks, Chief,” I said, shocked. That might have been the first time Chief Olaf had actually complimented us.
“Of course, I would have solved the case more quickly if you’d just come to me like you promised you would.”
“We’re sorry about that,” said Frank. “But the threat against our family . . . we couldn’t risk it. You understand, don’t you?”
The chief grunted. I wasn’t sure if that was a yes or a no, but then he told one of his men to give us a lift back to the museum so we could pick up our cars, so it seemed it was a yes after all.
“I’m glad that’s over,” said Chet as we watched the police car drive away. “I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep in three days.”
“And you won’t sleep tonight either. Remember, we have school tomorrow.”
Chet groaned. “Thanks for reminding me. I’ll see you around.”
He waved and headed back to his car. I turned and stared up at the museum.
“You okay?” asked Frank.
“Yeah, I guess. I just feel like an idiot, that’s all.”
“You and me both.”
“What do you think will happen to Lance and Amber?”
Frank sighed. “They’ve had a tough life, by the sounds of it. I’m sure that will be taken into consideration. Amber is too young for real prison, though. Juvenile detention for her.”
“Guess they really did follow in their father’s footsteps. Poor guy. All he wanted was to start again. Can you imagine how he must be feeling right now?” I shook my head.
“He made his choices,” said Frank. “I feel bad for him, sure, but no one forced him into crime.”
“I suppose. Hey, Dad’s coming back tomorrow. I wonder if we can convince him to take us out for deep-dish pizza. We can bribe him with the story of our case.”
Frank laughed. “Maybe he can use it in one of his books.”
“How cool would that be? The Hardy Boys: Chip Off the Old Block.”
“Not exactly a catchy title, is it?” Frank unlocked the car door. “You coming?”
“Sure.” I climbed into the car. “At least one good thing came out of tonight.”
“What’s that?” Frank asked, starting the engine.
“It wasn’t Trethaway or Kruger. So neither of us lost the bet.”
Frank laughed. “Always looking on the bright side,” he said, and we headed home.
Don’t miss the next mystery in the
HARDY BOYS ADVENTURES:
Tunnel of Secrets
ALADDIN
SIMON & SCHUSTER, NEW YORK
Meet the author, watch videos, and get extras at
KIDS.SimonandSchuster.com
authors.simonandschuster.com/Franklin-W-Dixon
READ ALL THE MYSTERIES IN THE
HARDY BOYS ADVENTURES:
#1 Secret of the Red Arrow
#2 Mystery of the Phantom Heist
#3 The Vanishing Game
#4 Into Thin Air
#5 Peril at Granite Peak
#6 The Battle of Bayport
#7 Shadows at Predator Reef
#8 Deception on the Set
COMING SOON:
#10 Tunnel of Secrets
WE HOPE YOU LOVED READING THIS EBOOK!
We have SO many more books for kids in the in-beTWEEN age that we’d love to share with you! Sign up for our IN THE MIDDLE books newsletter and you’ll receive news about other great books, exclusive excerpts, games, author interviews, and more!
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
or visit us online to sign up at
eBookNews.SimonandSchuster.com/middle
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ALADDIN
An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
This Aladdin paperback edition June 2015
Text copyright © 2015 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Cover illustration copyright © 2015 by Kevin Keele
Also available in an Aladdin hardcover edition.
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
ALADDIN is a trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc., and related logo is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
THE HARDY BOYS MYSTERY STORIES, HARDY BOYS ADVENTURES, and related logo are trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Simon & Schuster Special Sales at 1-866-506-1949 or business@simonandschuster.com.
The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com.
Cover designed by Karin Paprocki
The text of this book was set in Adobe Caslon Pro.
Library of Congress Control Number 2014945583
ISBN 978-1-4814-2476-9 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-4814-2475-2 (pbk)
ISBN 978-1-4814-2477-6 (eBook)