High-Speed Showdown Read Online Free PDF Page A

the face. Out of the corner of his eye, Frank saw Connie’s coworker, Angelo, drop into a tense crouch, preparing to jump Barry. In another moment, the argument was going to turn into an open brawl.
    â€œHold it,” Frank said, in a low but commanding voice. He put his arm out horizontally, blocking Angelo. “Joe, take Connie somewhere quiet where you can talk.”
    â€œFrank Hardy, if you think you can order me —” Connie began.
    â€œButt out, pal,” Barry said, overriding her. “I can handle her kind anytime.”
    Frank wanted to roll his eyes in frustration. That’s what happened when you tried to separate two angry people—more often than not, they both decided to turn on you.
    Dave Hayman appeared. Even though he was half Barry’s age, he looked just as disgusted as Frank was by the childish behavior of his fellow racer. “Come on, Barry,” he urged, taking his arm. “All you’re doing is giving these people the attention they want. Get into a fight with them, and you’ll watch them being interviewed on the evening news, spouting all that stuff about how boat racing is bad for the environment. Is that what you want?”
    Barry hesitated. “Well . . . ”
    Dave lowered his voice, but Frank caught the word “champion.” Whatever Dave said, it worked. After glaring once more at Connie, Angelo, and Joe, Barry turned away and walked up the path toward the inn. Dave caught Frank’s eye and gave an almost unnoticeable wink, then followed Barry.
    â€œThe nerve of that dude,” Angelo said, from behind Frank. “Why’d you stop me from decking him?”
    â€œI’m glad he did,” Connie said before Frank could reply. “That would have been horrible forour image. The whole purpose of Earthquest is to make people more responsible citizens of the natural world. We’re not going to do that by starting fistfights.”
    â€œSometimes you can’t do one without the other,” Angelo said sullenly. “Do you really think you can reason with somebody like Batten?”
    â€œI know we have to try,” Connie told him. “And if he won’t listen to reason, we’ll make sure people know it.”
    Frank was very interested by this glimpse of Connie’s strategy—or at least of what she wanted people like him and Joe to believe was her strategy. He made a mental note to find time for a longer talk with her. Right now, however, he was more concerned with the faxed threat. Could that, too, be part of Connie’s strategy? To disrupt the boat races in the name of the environment?
    â€œYou wrote this leaflet especially for the powerboat meet, didn’t you?” he said, in what he hoped was a casual voice.
    Connie frowned. “Well, sure. Why?”
    â€œHow long have you been giving them to people? Was today the first day?” Frank continued.
    â€œHey, what is this?” Connie demanded. Her frown deepened.
    â€œIt’s a simple question,” Joe said. “Why not answer it?”
    Angelo stepped forward, with his chin juttingout. “Watch it, Connie,” he said. “These guys are up to something. I’ve heard rumors around school that they’re amateur detectives or something. I think they’re trying to pin something on us.”
    Connie gave Frank a narrow-eyed look. “It’s that leaflet you showed me before, isn’t it? You’re trying to make out that I sent it. Well, I already told you I didn’t, and that’s the last word I’m going to say about it. Now you’ll have to excuse us—we’ve got important work to do.”
    Head high, she walked right past Frank and Joe and went back to handing leaflets to people in the crowd. After dividing a dirty look equally between the two Hardys, Angelo followed her.
    â€œThere go my chances of winning the ‘Most Popular’ title,” Joe muttered.