Danger in the Extreme Read Online Free PDF

Joe.
    â€œIf you can believe it,” the sportscaster said, “the young man on the bottom, Joe Hardy, was not injured in the crack-up. He later returned to qualify for tomorrow’s snocross semifinals.”
    Frank gave Joe a high five. “Excellent, man. You got your name on the sports highlights.”
    Laura Hardy gasped. “Goodness, Fenton,” she said. “I don’t know why we let the boys participate in such things.”
    â€œBecause if we didn’t, they’d be here all day tearing up the house,” Fenton said with a grin.
    After the news Frank and Joe said good night to their parents and headed upstairs to bed. The next morning, Saturday, was the first big day of competition.
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    It was seven o’clock, and the sun was barely up when the Hardys rolled out of bed and dragged themselves out to their van.
    â€œHold up,” Joe said, running back into the house.
    Frank could see his breath as he started the van and cranked up the heater. Joe returned a few minutes later, arms loaded with gear. He opened the sliding side door and dumped in two packed parachutes and the rest of their sky-surfing stuff.
    â€œSky surfing’s not until tomorrow,” Frank said.
    Joe slammed the sliding door shut and climbed into the passenger seat. “I know,” he said, tossing Frank a chocolate breakfast bar. “I just want to have everything in one place so we don’t forget it.”
    Frank drove to the Metropolitan Hotel in downtown Bayport to meet Neal. The old building had a drive leading under an awning at the front door. Usually, several cars and taxicabs idled under the awning as guests checked in or out. This morning, however, a Bayport police officer stood at the door waving people on.
    When Frank rolled in and stopped, the officer stepped quickly over to the driver’s window. “You can’t stop here,” he said as Frank grabbed his climbing pack and hopped out. Joe slid into the driver’s seat.
    â€œJust getting dropped off, sir,” Frank said politely.
    The cop frowned. “Go on,” he said to Joe. “Get this thing away from the door.”
    â€œSee you at the games,” Joe said, closing the door and taking off.
    Frank noticed that all the parking meters along the street in front of the hotel were covered with orange No Parking signs. He figured the Secret Service must be worried about car bombs or something.
    â€œWhat’s in the bag?” the cop asked.
    â€œOh,” Frank said, taking the pack from his shoulder. “My climbing gear.”
    The cop grabbed the pack and opened it. He pulled out an ice ax. “Hey, buddy. What’s this?”
    DuBelle and an agent Frank recognized from the night before stepped out of the hotel. “It’s okay,” DuBelle said. “He’s been cleared.”
    The officer zipped the bag up and handed it back to Frank.
    Inside, as Frank and DuBelle exchanged good mornings, Frank watched an agent exit from an elevator across the lobby. The man made a small hand signal to DuBelle, then spoke briefly into his radio.
    A minute or so later, Neal Jordan came out another elevator flanked by two more sturdy-looking agents. Neal was wearing baggy jeans, a big fleece pullover, and a candy-striped stocking cap.
    â€œFrank, man,” he said in his totally relaxed way.“Early, huh?”
    Frank grinned. “Can’t wait to get on that ice wall.”
    DuBelle clicked her radio, and seconds later one of the black sport-utes and a two-car police escort rolled up in front of the hotel.
    â€œThat’s handy,” Frank said as he and Neal slid into the backseat. DuBelle joined Agent Ardis up front.
    â€œIt’s one of the perks,” Neal admitted.
    Ardis steered them quickly through the quiet streets toward the stadium.
    Neal slumped down in his seat, hands stuffed in his pockets, cap pulled down all the way to his eyebrows. Frank expected