Ghost of a Chance Read Online Free PDF Page A

failed?
    â€œLook, I’ve got to talk to Cleo,” Terry said. “Where is she?”
    Frank told Terry that Cleo had been taken to the hospital.
    â€œOkay,” Terry said. His body pounced into action. “I’m going to the hospital. I have to talk to her.”
    â€œSounds like a plan,” Joe said. “We’ll go with you.”
    â€œI was hoping you’d say that,” Terry said. “Gene and Lloyd say you guys are detectives.” Both boys nodded. “Looks like I’ve got a case for you. Help me find out what happened, will you?”
    â€œWe’ll give it a shot,” Frank said.
    They finished dismantling the rig and packed it into the semi. Then Terry drove the crane into the truck and locked the rear and front doors.
    The three got into one of the animal wrangler trucks. Frank started it up and took off down the winding drive.
    Terry was the navigator, following a map. It was very dark. A few stars glinted in the occasional patches of sky they saw. But most of the time they were surrounded by the mountain forest. The high beams made a funnel of eerie light on the deserted dirt road.
    â€œThe hospital is about twenty miles from here,” Terry said, studying the map. “Wait a minute. I know where we are. Stop!”
    Frank hit the brakes, and pine needles and dirt swirled in the light ahead of them.
    â€œI have to show you guys something,” Terry said. “Turn right here.”
    Frank pulled off the mountain road onto an even more primitive path that led deep into the forest. He skillfully guided the truck through ruts and over fallen branches as they wound up the side of another mountain ridge.
    â€œThere,” Terry said. “That’s it.” He pointed out the window into the blackness.
    â€œUh,
what’s
it?” Joe said, straining his eyes.
    â€œWhere’s your flashlight?” Terry said.
    Frank opened the metal box on the seat beside him and passed heavy-duty lanterns to Terry and Joe.
    â€œThere,” Terry said. “See that path?” He waved his light toward a narrow strip of land where the ground cover was slightly stomped down.
    â€œI suppose you could call it that,” Joe said,his light joining Terry’s. “Where does it go?”
    â€œFollow me,” the stunt master said, jumping down from the truck and starting up the trail. They hadn’t gone far into the woods when Terry swung his light upward. A dark silhouette filled the beam. “I knew I’d find it,” he said, continuing along the path.
    Frank and Joe followed until they reached a dirty, dilapidated mountain shack. It was obviously abandoned. What was once the floor of a small porch had sagged so deeply in the middle that the boards were cracked. When the floor boards had broken, the columns holding the porch roof had caved in, bringing the middle of the roof down to a sharp V.
    The shack had had a chimney because large charred stones were lying on the roof. Amazingly, the front door was intact and tightly shut. Terry vaulted over the broken porch and pushed open the door. The Hardys followed.
    â€œWhoa,” Joe said. “What’s that smell?”
    â€œIt’s gross,” Terry said. “Smells like something died.”
    The familiar odor filled Frank’s nostrils. “This is what I smelled when that bear or whatever knocked into me. Watch yourselves. There might be one lurking nearby.”
    Although he was sure no one lived here any longer, Frank still felt as if he should whisper. Hewas wary, his eyes scanning the room. There was something about the shack that gave him the feeling that they were being watched.
    â€œWhat is this place?” he asked in a hushed voice.
    â€œRumor is that it was Jumper Herman’s hideout,” Terry said, his voice low. Something fluttered in the fireplace on the far wall, and Frank’s breath caught in his throat. Then whatever it was scampered up the