Peril at Granite Peak Read Online Free PDF

the wind was picking up. I shoved my hands into my pockets as I walked.
    When we reached the car, Chet rolled down the window. “What’s the holdup?” I asked.
    He looked sheepish. “The car won’t start.”
    â€œWhat?” Frank frowned. “It was running fine two days ago!”
    I smirked. “What do you expect from that old jalopy? I told you guys we should’ve borrowed Mom’s car.”
    â€œIt’s probably nothing.” Chet climbed out of the driver’s seat. “Maybe a loose wire or something. Let me take a look.”
    He hurried around and opened the hood. “Come on, Joe,” Frank said. “No sense all of us standing out here getting covered with snow.”
    â€œCome pick us up when you get her running again,” I told Chet.
    Cody and his father were just coming outside when Frank and I reached the portico. They both had several bags slung over their shoulders. An anxious-looking older couple emerged right behind them.
    â€œDo you think it’s too late?” the wife fretted. “I hope the roads aren’t too bad yet.”
    â€œI’m sure it’ll be fine, dear.” Her husband cast a worried look at the cloud cover. “We have four-wheel drive. I’ll go get the SUV.”
    Another group of departing guests burst out of the lodge, bringing a whoosh of warm air with them. Rick was with them, wheeling a hotel cart with several bags on it.
    â€œI hope we’re not in the way,” Frank commented, kicking one of our duffels back a few feet.
    â€œWe wouldn’t be if Chet could get that heap of spare parts moving already.” I stepped forward, squinting through the steadily increasing snowfall. All I could see was a blob of yellow where the jalopy was. Still not moving.
    As I turned back toward the lodge, I noticed a flash of movement in a first-floor window off to the left. It was Josie, the waitress-slash-maid. She was staring out at all the activity. It was hard to see clearly through the snow, but she looked kind of anxious. No wonder. The way she’d acted earlier, it had to be killing her to see so many people leaving at once.
    â€œWhat were you looking at?” Frank asked when I rejoined him under the shelter of the portico.
    I told him. “Maybe that’s what happened to the Queen,” I joked. “Josie seemed pretty freaked out about everyone leaving. Maybe she’s sabotaging cars to keep people here.”
    â€œIf so, the only one she got is Chet’s.” Frank watched as another car pulled away. “Anyway, the jalopy usually doesn’t need any help to break down.”
    I grinned. “Good point.” Squinting out into the snow, I spotted Chet walking toward us. “Uh-oh. This doesn’t look like good news.”
    It wasn’t. Chet had a hangdog look on his face that required no explanation.
    â€œSorry,” he said, brushing snow off his hair. “It still won’t start, and I can’t figure out what’s wrong.”
    Frank and I looked at each other. “Oh well,” Frank said grimly. “Looks like we’re going to have front-row seats to the Storm of the Century.”

PLAN B
5
FRANK
    J OE DIDN’T SEEM THAT UPSET about being stranded. He started chatting about whether the Gallaghers would let us try snowboarding during the blizzard. Yeah, right. If I had anything to say about it, that wouldn’t be an option.
    â€œLook, there’s only one road off this mountain,” I said. “That means everyone’s going the same way. Maybe we can catch a ride at least as far as the nearest town with a car-rental place.”
    â€œDo you think so?” Chet looked hopeful.
    â€œCan’t hurt to ask.” I hurried inside and looked around the lobby. It had cleared out a lot since the last time we were inside. Cody was over by the reception desk fiddling with the computer, and his dad was just disappearing up the