Free One False Step by Franklin W. Dixon Page B

binoculars, and Joe looked at the top apartments on the high-rise to his left.
    â€œJoe! Wrong one!” Frank said. “I think there’s something hanging from the railing of one of those balconies on the other apartment building!”
    Joe moved the binoculars toward where Frank was pointing. “You’re right!” he said. “Here, Mario, take a look!”
    Mario adjusted the binoculars and looked. “I see a grappling hook. There’s a long rope dangling from it.” Mario handed the binoculars back to Joe. “Count the floors. I’m calling for backup. If we’re lucky, we’ve got a robbery in progress.”
    After Mario was off the phone, he said, “I don’t want to wait. I’ll need your help, boys, but I want you to stay behind me until I know exactly what’s happening, okay?”
    â€œOkay,” Frank said. “We’ve done this before—we understand.”
    With Mario leading the way, they raced toward the entrance to the apartment building. Mario showed the doorman his identification.
    â€œI think there’s a robbery taking place on the forty-seventh floor,” he said. “We need to—”
    â€œImpossible,” the doorman said, interrupting and moving to block their way. “This building has the best security in the city, and there’s no way—”
    This time Mario interrupted with, “If you don’t move right now and show me the elevator to the forty-seventh floor, then I’ll take you downtown and bust you for impeding this investigation.”
    â€œYes, sir,” the doorman said, “but I honestly—”
    â€œShow us the elevator!” Mario shouted.
    When they reached the bank of elevators that would take them to the forty-seventh floor, Mario said, “Do these elevators open into the foyers of the apartments?”
    â€œNo, sir,” the doorman said. “They open into hallways. There are four apartments on each floor.”
    â€œAre any of the tenants inside their apartments on that floor?” Mario asked.
    â€œNo, sir,” the doorman said. “They’re all at the Aérocirque show.”
    Joe nodded at Frank. “That figures,” he said.
    â€œLet me have your pass key,” Mario said.
    The doorman reluctantly handed it to him. “I’m only supposed to use this in an emergency,” he said.
    â€œThis is an emergency,” Frank said.
    â€œIn just a few minutes, this place is going to be covered with police officers,” Mario said, “so you need to be prepared.”
    â€œYes, sir,” the doorman said.
    The elevator arrived in seconds, and soon Mario, Frank, and Joe were on the forty-seventh floor. They carefully stepped out into the corridor.
    â€œThere are two apartments on each side of thebuilding,” Mario said. “The rope was dangling from the balcony of one of the apartments on the street side.”
    â€œThat means it’s either 4701 or 4702,” Joe said.
    â€œLet’s try 4701 first, but we need to be very careful,” Mario said. “Make sure you guys stay behind me.”
    Using the pass key, Mario slowly opened the door to 4701. “Police!” he shouted. “Stay where you are!”
    After they had waited in silence for several seconds, Joe said, “It looks like it’s 4702.”
    The plush carpet of the corridor masked their footsteps as they hurried toward the next apartment.
    Mario inserted the pass key and slowly opened the door. There was no one in the second apartment either.
    â€œI have a feeling that the rope dangling from the balcony means the thieves had to leave in a hurry,” Frank said.
    Joe nodded. “Which means that somebody tipped them off that we were coming,” he said.

9 Undercover!
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    As Mario, Frank, and Joe headed toward the balcony, Mario said, “Would you care to venture a guess as to who’s behind this?”
    â€œI have