“I miss her connections,” Frank added.
Suddenly I saw a familiar mane of dark hair moving toward me—and a familiar pink-lipsticked smile.
“Hi, Hardys.”
Daisy was approaching, flanked by Penelope and Luke. I’d heard from Jamie that Daisy and Luke had maybe started seeing each other again; the whole scandal had brought them closer.
Which was hard to believe. Not that I’m bitter or anything.
“Hi, Daisy,” I said. If our fledgling romance hadn’t been saved when we solved the case, at least Daisy and I had been friendly again lately. That was a relief.
Daisy nodded. “You boys brave enough to risk the “Death Ride” again?” she asked, gesturing to the line.
“What can I say?” I asked. “We’ve been through so much together.”
“And it is a great ride,” Frank added.
Daisy glanced at him. “It’s hard for me to forgive the Piperatos for what they did, but I guess you’re right,” she said, looking thoughtful. She turned back to me. “Want to ride it? With us?”
Frank jumped a little. I shot him a Cool it look. “You mean skip the line?” I asked.
Daisy smiled again, and her expression softened. “It’s probably the least I can do, under the circumstances,” she said gently.
I smiled back. “Well, we’ll take you up on your offer then.”
Daisy looked pleased. Penelope and Luke looked a little disappointed, but whatever. “Come with me,” Daisy said.
We followed her across the clearing and up to the little platform where you boarded the ride. A new, dark-bearded operator was waiting there, wearing a name tag that said JAKE. Cal had never been found by the police—he still hadn’t used his phone or credit card—and Hector believed that he would never come back. He was probably too ashamed that he’d taken the Piperato Brothers’ money to do something he knew Hector wouldn’t like. Hector said he would always miss his old friend, but he believed he was really and truly gone now.
Daisy smiled at Jake, and he quickly opened the gate to let us up. Then he led us to G-Force’s door and let us inside. We chose seats—I didn’t bother trying to sit next to Daisy this time—and Jake strapped us in. As we waited for him to let in the rest of the riders, I couldn’t help staring into the little indentation where I knew the secret compartment lay. The trapdoor had been covered back up with the carpet, but I knew it was there.
After a few minutes the door opened up again and a bunch of rowdy kids entered and chose seats. I let my mind wander, trying not to listen to Daisy and Luke’s chat or Frank trying to “break down” the physical properties of the ride for the thousandth time. Soon Jake backed out of the door and closed it behind him. The riders all erupted into spontaneous applause, eager to experience G-Force for one last, precious time.
The lights darkened. I instinctively grabbed onto my restraint bar as the opening chords of “Beautiful” started up and the ride began spinning. Soon images were flashing in the middle of the ride, and I felt myself being taken away. That’s what a good amusement park ride does for you, I thought as we spun up and over and around again. It takes you to another place—just for a few minutes.
Too soon, the images slowed and the ride resumed its starting position. The music finished up, and the riders all applauded again. The seats locked into place. The lights came up.
“I’m going to miss it,” I admitted to Frank, before a scream split the air.
“AUUUUUGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!”
It was Penelope. I looked over at her, and my stomach clenched.
“It’s Daisy!” she cried. “She’s missing! She’s gone!”
Oh no, I thought. Could this really be happening all over again?
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
COMING SOON:
#4 INTO THIN AIR
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.
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First Aladdin paperback edition June 2013
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Library of Congress Control Number 2013934005
ISBN 978-1-4424-7344-7 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-4424-5981-6 (pbk)
ISBN 978-1-4424-5982-3 (eBook)
The Vanishing Game Page 10
