Free One False Step by Franklin W. Dixon

Aérocirque performance?”
    â€œSure thing,” Joe said.
    â€œWell, I need to wash up, but then we’ll leave,” Mario said. “I’m driving the van tonight. Bill pulled another detail.”
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    Everyone was waiting in the police van when Mario finished getting ready. Frank made sure he had the front passenger seat, because there were some things that he wanted to ask Mario on the way to the stadium. Joe was in the seat behind him.
    When they were finally on Highway 611 headed north to the stadium, the time seemed right to Frank to start questioning. “What do you know about Baron von Battenberg and his daughter?”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Mario said.
    â€œAre they really as wealthy as everyone thinks they are?” Frank asked.
    â€œWhat are you getting at?” Mario said.
    Joe leaned forward. “Elisabeth seems fascinated by all the money her friends have. She talks about it constantly,” he said. “If her father were really as wealthy as everyone thinks, would she be doing that?”
    â€œMaybe rich people like to talk about their money,” Mario said. “You’re really asking the wrong person.”
    â€œWell, it’s not so much that she’s just talking about it, Mario, it’s the way she’s talking,” Frank said. “She sounds almost envious—as if she wants what she doesn’t have.”
    â€œI don’t know how we could find out without checking the von Battenberg’s bank accounts,” Mario said, “and at this point, I can’t think of a reason why a judge would let me do that.”
    Frank leaned back. “Yeah . . . I can’t either,” he said.
    â€œJudges don’t consider hunches as solid evidence,” Joe added, “and that’s about all it is at this point.”
    â€œTell me about it,” Mario said.
    They rode the rest of the way to the stadium in silence, but Frank’s mind was mulling over all of the suspicions that were developing in his head. He was trying to get them in some kind of order.
    Joe was doing the same. It was weird how it all worked too. Since he had been around mysteries all his life, certain events, certain things that people said worked their way into his subconscious where they mingled together. Then, all at once, something that hadn’t made sense suddenly did make sense, and he was on to a possible solution to the crime. He knew that that’s what was happening to him now, and probably to Frank, too. He sensedit wouldn’t be long until they cracked this case.
    Mario parked the police van right at gate forty-two and motioned to one of the police officers who was helping with crowd control. “Everything okay?” he asked.
    â€œYes, sir, but every seat in the house is taken,” the police officer said. “That Baron von Battenberg is going to be richer than he already is!”
    Frank and Joe looked at each other.
    â€œI think you and I must be in the minority, thinking that they don’t have as much money as everyone thinks they do,” Frank whispered.
    Joe nodded.
    When they got to their seats, Elisabeth, Heather, and Alice were already there, but Joe noticed that Baron von Battenberg was conspicuously absent.
    â€œWhere’s your father tonight?” Frank asked Elisabeth.
    â€œOh, he’s around, just checking on the last-minute details,” Elisabeth said. “Why?”
    â€œWe just wanted to compliment him on Aérocirque,” Joe said. He motioned to the crowd. “I don’t mean to sound crass, but this is bringing in a lot of money.”
    â€œWell, not as much as you might think,” Elisabeth said. “The expenses are huge. Acrobats, helicopters, pilots, stadium fees, insurance.” She shook her head. “He’ll be lucky if he breaks even.”
    Elisabeth suddenly looked away as if she wasthinking of something