No Way Out Read Online Free PDF Page B

he said. “I give up. I should have known that I couldn’t keep the famous Hardys from scoping out my hiding place. You guys are even better detectives than Ray told me you were.”
    At the top of the staircase, Joe stepped into a small room. There were no windows and no other doors that Joe could see. A small desk and chair anchored one corner, and a comfy-looking chair and a bookcase full of old books filled the opposite corner. A long artist’s table ran the length of one wall, lit by a lamp with a small fan hanging from the ceiling. A few large pieces of paper lay on top of the far end of the table. From where Joe stood, they looked like engineering schematics or diagrams.
    â€œThis is my little retreat,” Alan said. “A place to get away and do some thinking or reading.”
    â€œIt’s pretty cool,” Joe said. “So do you design your mazes up here too?” He glanced at the papers lying on the table.
    Alan quickly gathered up the papers and shoved them into a deep drawer in the table. “Sometimes,” he said abruptly, “but these aren’t for anyone else’s eyes just yet.”
    â€œI’m surprised you don’t keep the doors locked, Alan,” Joe said. “Frank and I were both able to just walk right in.”
    â€œI keep all the doors leading into here locked,” Alan said, his tone harsh. “When I’m not here, they’re locked. Once in a while, when I’m up here,I don’t lock the doors—but Penny and the twins don’t invade my little den unless they’re invited.”
    â€œI hear you,” Joe said. “And Frank and I wouldn’t have, either, if we’d known what was up here. But we’re on the case now, so don’t be surprised if we show up in some unexpected places. We’re determined to help you find out who’s trying to destroy your maze. And that means following up on
anything
we think seems suspicious.”
    â€œGood,” Alan said. The harshness in his voice had softened a little. “I appreciate it.”
    â€œSpeaking of suspicious, the twins told me about Vincenzo Blackstone.”
    Alan’s expression turned dark again as he frowned and jutted out his chin in a defiant angle. “That reprobate!” he said. “I’ll be surprised if he’s
not
behind the problems we had yesterday. He has no qualms about destroying other people’s property or lives. I’ve already put out a few feelers among some friends to see if they know he’s behind the trouble. I called Officer Chester this morning, and the police are on it too. I’ll bet you anything Blackstone will turn up on the island. And if he does, I’m sure he’s planning more trouble.”
    â€œFrank and I are trying to figure out how the archer lit his arrow without attracting some attention. An obvious way would have been for him to use the fire-eater’s equipment. Frank talked to him and he seemed okay, but we wanted to check withyou. Do you know him personally, or did you hire him just for this event?”
    â€œI don’t know him at all,” Alan said, “but I think he’s from Newfoundland. I hired him through a talent agency in Halifax. I can give you the name and number of the person I talked to there.” He jotted a few notes on a small scrap of paper. He handed Joe the paper, then walked to a large trunk that served as a table next to the reading chair. “Would you like to see the gauntlet?”
    â€œOh, yeah,” Joe said eagerly, joining Alan at the trunk.
    With a flourish, Alan lifted the heavy lid and reached inside. Joe peered into the deep cavity of the trunk … and saw nothing.

5 Pay the Piper
    Alan didn’t speak for a minute. He just stared into the empty trunk. Then he closed the lid.
    â€œYou know,” he said, “I just remembered. I told Penny to put it in the safe in our closet.” He nodded his head.