Disaster for Hire

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Book: Read Disaster for Hire for Free Online
Authors: Franklin W. Dixon
he was being followed," Jenny said. "He stopped at a restaurant and phoned your father, hoping he could meet him there and escort him safely home."
    Frank's eyes narrowed. "How do you know all that?"
    "His daughter told me. He called her that night, too."
    "Do you know the name of the restaurant?"
    Jenny nodded. "Orlando's."
    "That's right, it was mentioned in some of the newspaper stories," said Frank.
    Jenny said, "I'm certain Professor Bookman was killed to keep him quiet."
    "Your father probably knows as much as he did," Joe said.
    "But he hasn't talked." She leaned back. "He might even be in danger—if they decide they can't keep on pressuring him into cooperating."
    Joe asked, "Who are 'they'?"
    "The people who killed the professor and framed your father," Jenny said. "They eliminated both their major threats."
    "Eliminated?" Joe scowled. "You think they killed Dad?"
    "No way." Frank's voice was cold. "They'd make sure his body was found. Dad's not dead — not yet. What worries me is that we won't find him in time."
    "I'd like a look around that biotech lab," Joe suddenly said, anxious to move and act. "There could be a clue in Bookman's office, or in Dr. Winter's."
    "There's got to be tight security around that place," Frank pointed out.
    Jenny asked, "Would you like to go tonight?"
    Joe smiled. "Sure."
    "I can get you in."
    Frank asked, "How can you pull this off, Jenny?"
    She hesitated. "I — I used to date a boy who works in the lab," she said. "We'd meet there when he was working late."
    Frank said, "Is there likely to be anyone there now?"
    Glancing at her wristwatch, Jenny answered, "Not this late, no."
    Frank eased out of the booth. "So, let's go."
    "Our pizza," said Joe.
    "Leave some money for it. You were the one anxious to leave."
    "I'll have them put it in a box to go."
    "Just hurry up." Frank started for the door.
    Joe stood. "You keep forgetting," he called after his brother, "it's important to have three square meals a day."
     
    ***
     
    Joe whispered, "How tall was he?" Jenny's nose wrinkled. "Who?" "Your boyfriend." "I don't know—six foot six?"
    "Seems to me you'd remember how tall a boyfriend was."
    "He hunched a lot when he walked, so he really didn't look that tall."
    "Hair?"
    "Of course."
    Joe gave her a look. "What color was it?"
    "Quiet, you two," Frank whispered.
    The three of them crouched behind a high hedge near the biotech building. The structure was massive and sprawling. None of the concrete walls was broken by a single window.
    "There," said Jenny in a low voice, as a campus patrol car rolled by in front of the lab building. "They pass every fifteen minutes."
    "No guards inside?" asked Frank.
    She shook her head.
    "Okay, let's try to get in there."
    Jenny touched Frank's arm before he could rise. "Let me go first," she requested. "The side door's a bit tricky to work. If I get caught, I can probably talk my way out of it."
    "Is there an alarm?"
    "Something like that. Wait here and I'll signal you." Jenny slipped through the hedge, then sprinted toward the looming gray building.
    Watching her run, Joe wondered, "Do you think she's leveling with us?"
    "About what?"
    "Things in general. I can't pin it down ..."
    Joe eyed his brother. "You've got that sly, smug look on your face again," he accused. "Do you know something I don't know?"
    "It's not so much knowing — " Frank began, then cut off. "She's waving to us. Let's move."
    They pushed through the high hedge and ran for the open doorway.
    Jenny stood just across the threshold, propping the heavy metal door open for them with one hand. "No trouble."
    The boys crossed into a long shadowy corridor, which was dimly lit by small bulbs mounted in the pale green walls every hundred feet.
    The thick door hissed shut behind them. "Next stop, Professor Bookman's office." Jenny started along a long, gloomy hallway. "It's on this level."
    "How many levels altogether?" asked Frank, following her.
    "Five. Three above, two below ground." They went

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