Mystery of the Phantom Heist

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Book: Read Mystery of the Phantom Heist for Free Online
Authors: Franklin W. Dixon
in our usual favorite booth at the Chomp and Chew. But no one was looking out the window or at the game on the TV. We were too busy checking out the latest viral video starring the Scaredevils. This one showed the same bunch of bandanna-sporting thugs setting a Dumpster on fire.
    “That’s enough to make anyone’s skin crawl,” Chet declared. His eyes then darted around the Chomp and Chew, busy with the dinner crowd. “Should we even be watching these videos out in the open like this?”
    “Why not?” Iola asked.
    “What if the Scaredevils are here?” Chet whispered. “They could like burgers too, you know.”
    Frank and I glanced around. The booths and tables were packed, probably because of the free dessert special they had that night.
    “Doubtful,” Frank said. “The Scaredevils strike mostly at night.”
    “Yeah, they’re too busy being evil to stop for hot fudge sundaes,” I scoffed.
    “Speaking of,” Chet said. “Where’s our food? I’m starving.”
    “Eat a pickle chip,” Iola said, pushing a dish of pickles and olives toward her brother. She then turned to Frank and me. “If the Scaredevils are a gang, how will you catch them? There could be dozens of members running around Bayport!”
    “Every gang has a ringleader,” Frank explained. “If we get him, we get the whole gang.”
    I was about to grab a pickle myself when my tablet began beeping. “Here we go again,” I sighed.
    “Is it from slickbro13?” Frank asked.
    I glanced down at the user name. “Who else?” I said. “But this time he sent me a little message.”
    “What does it say?” Iola asked.
    “Special delivery,” I read out loud.
    Everyone huddled around my tablet as I opened the attachment. The latest video was different from the others. Instead of showing vandalism, it showed two Scaredevils rolling on the ground in a fight. I turned up the volume to hear voices in the background, cheering them on.
    “Why do you think they sent me a fight video?” I asked.
    “Could be a warning,” Chet said. “That next they’re coming after you and Frank!”
    “Thanks, pal,” Frank said.
    Chet shrugged and said, “Just saying.”
    But as I watched the fight clip, something about one of the guys looked familiar.
    “I know this sounds crazy,” I said. “But I think I know one of those guys.”
    “But you can’t see their faces,” Iola said, squinting to get a better look. “Can you?”
    “It’s not his face,” I said, studying the video. “It’s those long, skinny legs—”
    “Okay, who gets the chunky chili burger with the sweet potato fries?” a voice asked, interrupting my thoughts.
    I looked up to see a waiter holding a tray filled with our long-awaited burgers.
    “Sweet potato fries, baby!” Chet said, hungrily rubbing his hands together. “Bring it!”
    The last thing I wanted was pizza burger sauce all over my tablet. But just as I was about to put it away, Frank gave me a kick under the table.
    “What?” I asked.
    “Tony Riley’s here,” Frank said.
    “So?” I said. “He works here.”
    Frank shook his head. “He’s not bussing tables,” he said. “He’s sitting at that booth over there.”
    I followed Frank’s gaze. Sure enough, Tony was in the house—sharing a booth with a cute red-haired girl. Tony was smiling coolly at her as he stretched his lanky leg into the aisle.
    “I know her,” Iola said as she shook a clogged ketchup bottle upside down. “That’s Carolyn Meyer from school. She’s in my gym class.”
    “Looks like Tony’s on a date,” I said. “It’s probably his night off.”
    Frank furrowed his brow as if he didn’t get it. “Why would Tony spend his night off in a place he hated?” he asked.
    “Unless the guy quit,” Chet said through a full mouth.
    “Yeah, but he said he needed the money,” Frank said. “To buy that phone he wanted.”
    “For a guy with no money, he sure ordered a ton of food,” Iola pointed out.
    “And if I’m not mistaken,” Chet

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