Free Double Exposure by Franklin W. Dixon Page A

said, pulling out his own gun again. "You'll miss your last chance to see your brother—breathing."
    Joe sat down, disgusted. How had Frank managed to find this place? And why was he breaking in alone? Why hadn't he brought along any backup? He shook his head. It didn't sound like Frank. It sounded like him.
    Gregor called his attention back to the monitor. "I want you to watch this."
    On the screen, Frank, who had been attaching something to a cable running along the outside of the building, suddenly looked up from what he was doing. The two guards moved into the picture, guns held high. Frank raised his hands, and for a minute, he looked directly into the camera.
    Then the screen went dark.
    "What has happened, Doctor?"
    "I don't know!" Liehm's voice was both angry and frustrated. "I tell you, something is the matter with this machine!"
    Gregor frowned. "Perhaps," he said. "We will wait till the guards return, and run a check on the system."
    Gregor paced the floor anxiously, while Liehm stood silently by the security console. Five minutes had gone by.
    "I do not understand this!" Gregor said. "Where are they? They should have been back long ago!"
    Joe shrugged and said nothing, but inside he felt a tiny spark of hope flicker. "Maybe somebody offered them a better job," Joe suggested.
    Gregor shot him an angry look and was about to say something.
    Then the alarms went off again.
    "Another breakin!" Liehm said, studying the console, confusion in his voice. "In two places at once!" Gregor had punctured his self-confidence, his inability to make the security system work had clearly shattered it.
    "Calm yourself, Doctor!" Gregor said. "Shut off the alarms, and isolate the breakins." He frowned at Joe. "Clearly, your brother is a lot cleverer than you are. Somehow, he has managed to turn our security system against us."
    Liehm complied with Gregor's orders. "The breakin is again at the service entrance and our private staircase," he said.
    "I will go myself, this time," Gregor said. He handed Liehm his gun. "Watch him. Do not leave this room. His brother may be leading us all on a wild goose chase. If I do not find him, I will return in five minutes."
    "Wait!" Liehm said. "What if you don't come back?"
    "Then you will be in charge again, Doctor." Gregor smiled. "You can do what you like."
    As soon as Gregor left the room, Joe leaned forward in his chair. "He's going to kill Janosik," Joe began.
    "Shut up!" Liehm yelled. "Do you think I don't know that?"
    He raised his gun. "Bring that chair over here — that's it." He positioned Joe against the wall, keeping the console with its rows of TV monitors between the two of them, so he could watch both. "Now sit down, and be quiet!"
    Joe decided not to test Liehm any further. Clearly, the man was on the verge of cracking up.
    Now that he couldn't see the monitor screen he had no way of judging what was happening downstairs. He remained still in his chair, listening intently for any sound.
    Five minutes passed quickly, and Liehm grew more agitated, more concerned. "What's happening out there?" He slammed his hand down on the console. He turned to Joe. "Where is everyone?" he demanded.
    "Here I am, Doctor."
    Both of them turned to see who had spoken. Chris stood framed in the doorway.
    "You!" Liehm said.
    "I'll bet you never thought you'd see me again," Chris said, walking into the room. "Hello, Joe."
    Joe nodded but said nothing. He was as confused as Liehm was upset.
    "But you're dead!" Liehm shouted hysterically, all his self-control gone now. "I saw Gregor shoot you!"
    Chris shrugged and circled slowly around the room, maintaining his distance from Liehm till he was standing beside Joe. "Here I am," he said, spreading his arms. "Alive and kicking."
    A wicked grin split the doctor's bruised face. "Not for long," he said, raising his gun.
    Joe looked up at Chris, horrified. What was he doing?
    Why was he offering Liehm such a perfect target?

Chapter 12
    A SECOND LATER JOE had his