The London Deception Read Online Free PDF Page A

Within seconds the whole rack of costumes was burning and smoke had filled the room. As Frank turned to run for help, the door to the dressing room slammed shut.
    Frank tried the doorknob and pulled, but the door didn’t budge. Another dead-bolt lock, Frank realized, and someone with a key must have locked it from the outside.
    â€œHelp!” Frank shouted at the top of his lungs. “Joe, Chris!”
    Frank backed up and threw his weight against the door, but it held fast. Coughing, Frank sank to the floor, breathing in what little good air was left in the room through the handkerchief. His eyes fluttered as he began to lose consciousness and the fire continued to burn out of control.

4 The Suspect Handkerchief
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    Frank barely felt the spray of water against his face as the sprinkler system in the ceiling came on. The door suddenly bumped against his head.
    â€œMove, Frank, you’re blocking the door!” Joe shouted, but Frank was too dazed to respond.
    Joe reached around, using his muscular arm to push his brother out of the way. When he had the door fully open, he dragged Frank to safety.
    â€œWhat happened?” Chris asked.
    â€œSomeone locked me in,” Frank replied, still coughing from the smoke he had inhaled.
    Joe peered into the still smoky dressing room, where the emergency sprinkler system had extinguished the fire. A single key stuck out of the dead-bolt lock.
    â€œYou two must have seen whoever it was,” Frankcontinued. “He would have had to pass right by you.”
    â€œWe didn’t see anyone,” Chris replied.
    â€œUnless there’s a back way out of here,” Joe added, helping Frank to his feet.
    â€œThere is an emergency exit,” Chris told them.
    â€œThen let’s go,” Frank said.
    Joe stopped to jiggle the key from the lock of the dressing room, pocketed it, then followed Chris and Frank toward the back of the building. A red warning label on the door at the end of the hall read Emergency Exit—Alarm Will Sound if Opened.
    As Chris pushed through the door, a shrill siren erupted in the hallway. Although Joe closed the door tightly once he was through it, the siren continued to sound.
    â€œWe’ve tripped the alarm,” Chris told Joe. “Only the fire department or someone with the security code can turn it off now.”
    The emergency door led into an alley. Frank checked in both directions. “Whoever it was got away,” he said in a low, downhearted voice.
    â€œBut not this way,” Joe said. “The emergency siren would have already been tripped if he had come out this door.”
    â€œIf he went the other way, he would have run into you and Chris,” Frank pointed out, pocketing the handkerchief he was still carrying.
    â€œMaybe she walked through the walls,” Chris said.
    â€œShe?” Frank asked.
    â€œThe ghost,” Chris replied.
    â€œAre you being serious?” Joe asked.
    Chris shrugged. “I don’t know.”
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    An hour later the Hardys and Chris stood in front of the Quill Garden Theatre, relating the story to some firefighters and a police detective inspector named Stuart Ryan.
    â€œWho would leave a candle burning in a dressing room?” Detective Inspector Ryan wondered.
    â€œEmily Anderson,” Dennis Paul replied, suddenly appearing behind Frank and Joe.
    â€œWho are you then?” Ryan asked.
    â€œDennis Paul,” Mr. Paul replied. “I’m directing this show.”
    â€œWe tried ringing you, Dad,” Chris said. “No one answered at home.”
    â€œI was eating a late meal across the street,” Mr. Paul replied, clearing his throat and returning his attention to Detective Inspector Ryan. “Emily has all sorts of superstitions she follows. She had a red candle burning in her dressing room when she had her first big success, so now she always has one burning for good luck.”
    â€œYou allow her