getting hungry, would you?â Frank called down to him.
âI was thinking maybe we could take a break for lunch,â Chet replied.
âGet the jeep,â Joe said, backing down the ladder.
While Frank told Stock and Katie to keep their eyes open, Joe assured them that he and Frank would get to the bottom of the Saurionâs disappearance. Five minutes later Chet pulled up in his jeep.
âYou sure that antique shouldnât be in a museum?â Felix asked Chet as he looked over the battered, rusty vehicle.
Frank and Joe laughed as they climbed in the jeep. Chet ignored his friendsâ laughter. Instead he asked Stock directions to the Circuit Diner.
âDidnât Katie say the Circuit is where all the race car drivers hang out?â Chet asked as he guided the jeep out of the main gate and onto Shore Road.
âRight,â Joe said. âMaybe we can pick up some information about the case there.â
When they pulled into the parking lot of the diner, Frank said, âLook at the customersâ cars. Every one of them is waxed and polished.â
Inside, Joe led the group past a long counter with a row of swivel stools in front of it. He headed for one of two empty booths along the side wall.
Frank glanced around at the customers. Most of them were men in jeans and T-shirts. Frank guessed they had been working on their cars. The two men in the booth next to them looked particularly grimy.
Frank got up to get a third table setting from thecounter. On his way back he got a better look at the men in the next booth. The dark-haired man with his back to Joe and Chetâs seat wore torn, grease-stained jeans, black leather boots, and leather bands on both wrists. He was short and muscular. The other man had light brown hair and was thin and wiry.
After the three placed their orders, Frank looked at Chet and asked, âYou and Curt Kiser studied that electronic part carefully, right?â
Chet nodded. âAnd Jason Dain hardly glanced at it,â Chet replied. âHe told me right off it wasnât anything that went in any car heâd ever seen.â Chet paused while he looked over at the grill to see how their lunches were coming. âI didnât come away empty-handed, though,â he added with a grin. âKiser did give me passes to the demolition derby tomorrow. You want to go?â
âSure, weâll probably be on the grounds, anyway,â Frank said, âespecially if we donât find the Saurion soon.â
The waitress brought the orders of burgers and fries the three friends had ordered.
Joe was putting ketchup on his fries when the voices coming from the next booth caught his attention. Frank glanced up to see Joe freeze in midmotion.
âWhatâs wrong?â Frank whispered.
Joe leaned back against the vinyl, straining to hear more.
âIs something wrong?â Chet finally asked.
âIâm not sure,â Joe said in a low voice. âThe guys behind us are talking about a car race. I didnât hear any names, but one of the guys said that if she goes through with it, itâll be the last race sheâll ever run.â
âYou sure you heard him say â sheâ?â Frank whispered.
Joe nodded grimly. âYeah, and another thing. He called the car the Death Car.â
Frank frowned. âStock received a warning with those same words, remember? These guys could be tied in to whatâs been happening on the speedway.â
âDo you think one of these guys pushed over those shelves?â Chet asked.
Joe silenced Chet while he listened to the voices in the booth behind him.
After a moment Joe said, âI donât know, but what theyâre saying about the race is more important right now. Theyâre saying that if Katie Bratton races the Saurion on Saturday, sheâs going to die.â
4 The Runaway Robot
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Joe got up from his seat.
âWhere are you going?â Chet