The Prime-Time Crime Read Online Free PDF Page A

Boy, am I glad I found it.”
    â€œGive that back to me,” Debbie demanded. “I found that piece of evidence.”
    Frank grabbed the jacket away from Steve. “This case will get solved a lot faster if we share the evidence. For all we know, Clarence Kellerman’s life may be at stake. It’s irresponsible to risk his life just for the sake of proving which of us is the better detective.”
    Steve looked sheepish. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
    Debbie started to reply angrily, then thought better of it. “I guess that makes sense. Okay, we’ll share the evidence.”
    â€œGood,” Frank said. “Now what is this thing, anyway?”
    â€œIt’s a man’s jacket,” Steve said.
    â€œI can see that,” Frank said. “But why is it evidence?”
    â€œI found it next to the set of ‘The Four O’Clock Scholar,’ ” Debbie said.
    â€œI found it,” Steve interrupted.
    â€œNo squabbling, remember?” Frank said, holding up his hand in warning.
    â€œWe both found it,” Debbie said reluctantly. “And we think it must have been left here by Clarence Kellerman.”
    â€œWhy do you think that?” Joe asked.
    â€œBecause,” Steve said hesitantly, “it’s a man’s jacket and, well, Clarence is a man.”
    â€œWhat a clever connection,” Joe said. “I never would have thought of it.”
    Marcy rushed into the studio. “I heard a crash,” she said, then stopped when she saw the smashed camera. “What happened here?”
    Frank explained, then asked the producer about the jacket.
    â€œThat jacket belongs to Matt Freeman,” Marcy told them. “He always keeps a spare in the studio in case something happens to the one he’s wearing. He has a habit of spilling coffee on his jacket.”
    Frank looked at the wrinkled, dust-stained jacket. “I’m afraid he’ll have to get this one dry-cleaned. Actually, he’s lucky he doesn’t have to buy a new one,” he added with a glance at Steve and Debbie.
    Marcy took the jacket from Frank. “I want to apologize for what happened with that camera,” she said. “I don’t know what could have gone wrong. The camera crews are usually careful to make sure that everything is secure and in place.”
    â€œMaybe Joe’s right,” Frank said, looking at his brother. “Maybe it wasn’t an accident.”
    Debbie looked stunned. “That means somebody really might have been trying to kill us.”
    â€œIt’s possible,” Frank said. “Whoever’s responsible for Clarence’s disappearance may be a desperate person. I hope this makes you think twice about playing detective.”
    â€œAre you implying that I might give up?” Debbie asked.
    â€œLook,” Joe said. “This isn’t a detective novel. Things could get really dangerous from here on out. Kidnapping is serious business.”
    â€œWell, I still plan to solve this case,” Debbie said firmly. “If Clarence Kellerman’s life is in danger, then he needs my help more than ever.”
    â€œIs that my jacket?” said a man’s voice from the doorway. “It looks like somebody tried to iron it with their feet.”
    The Hardys turned to see Matt Freeman step into the studio.
    â€œOh, hello, Matt,” Marcy said. “Sorry about the jacket. We had a little, ah, accident.”
    â€œSo I see,” Matt said, looking at the smashed pieces of the fallen camera as he took the jacket from Marcy. “What happened there? Looks pretty nasty. Was my jacket underneath that when it fell?”
    â€œNot exactly,” Marcy said, looking eager to change the subject. “You remember the Hardys, don’t you, Matt?”
    â€œOf course,” he said, stepping forward with a smile and offering his hand for Frank and Joe to shake. “You did a great