Free The Ice-cold Case by Franklin W. Dixon Page A

held the door for them.
    â€œI’m so hungry, I could eat a . . . burger,” Joe said as they went back to the van.
    â€œBurger World it is, then,” Frank said.
    When Frank pulled the van out onto the main road, he noticed headlights in the rearview mirror.
    â€œJoe, keep an eye on those lights behind us,” Frank said.
    Joe leaned over so he could see out the passenger-side mirror. “How long have they been back there?”
    â€œI first noticed them when we pulled out of Hank’s. I think they were waiting for us.”
    â€œWho do you suppose it is?” Joe asked.
    â€œWell, Lang’s in the hospital, and Vinnie and John are supposed to be at work. Unless I miss my guess, there’s only one other choice.”
    â€œStu and Neil Tuttle?” Joe asked.
    â€œBingo,” Frank said.
    When Frank pulled into the Burger World parking lot, the lights behind them disappeared. Theywaited in the van to see if anyone drove by, but no one did.
    â€œThe driver must have cut the lights when he saw us pull in here,” Frank said. “Why don’t you wait with the van while I go check out Vinnie and John’s schedules. Honk if there’s trouble.”
    â€œWhile you’re at it, how about a cheeseburger and some fries?” Joe said.
    Frank went inside, where he saw Vinnie and John in their Burger World uniforms, flipping burgers in the back. They spotted Frank and made faces at him, still not happy about having lost the hockey game.
    Frank ordered some food from the girl at the counter.
    â€œWere Vinnie and John working last night?” Frank asked.
    â€œWho are you? Their parole officer or something?” the girl asked.
    â€œJust a friend,” Frank said.
    Vinnie came up to the counter.
    â€œThis guy wants to know if you were here last night,” the girl said to Vinnie.
    â€œWhat’s it to you, Hardy?” Vinnie asked.
    â€œIt’s about what’s been going on at the lake,” Frank said.
    â€œWell, you’re out of luck. John and I are here every night but Tuesday and Wednesday,” Vinnie said.
    â€œAnd you’re in luck,” Frank said as he collected his food and his change. “That’s pretty good proof you’re not involved.”
    Vinnie looked at Frank in surprise. “I thought you were trying to pin this on us.”
    â€œNo way. I’m trying to prove Ray is innocent,” Frank said. “And if you guys are found innocent in the process, then all the better.”
    Before leaving the shop, Frank went to the pay phone and looked up the number for Tuttle’s Bait Shop in the phone book. When he dialed the number, Ernie picked up the phone.
    â€œHi, Ernie, it’s Frank Hardy. I was wondering if I could talk to Stu or Neil,” Frank said. He wasn’t at all surprised when Ernie told him they weren’t home.
    When Frank got back to the van, Joe was ready to eat. “I guess that game really got my appetite going,” he said as he devoured his cheeseburger.
    â€œVinnie and John were working,” Frank said between bites. “And for what it’s worth, I called Tuttle’s, and Stu and Neil weren’t there.”
    â€œYou think they’re following us?” Joe asked.
    â€œI was thinking we should maybe check around the hangouts in town and see if anyone has seen them,” Frank said.
    Frank pulled out of the lot and drove toward downtown Bayport. They weren’t a dozen yards from Burger World when he saw the headlights in his mirror again.
    â€œJoe, we’ve still got company,” Frank said.
    Joe looked at the passenger-side mirror. “Looks like the same lights to me.”
    As they drove through town, they saw a police cruiser parked near the Dew Drop Inn. Frankpulled next to the cruiser and saw that Con Riley was behind the wheel.
    â€œHey, Con, how’s it going?” Frank called out.
    â€œTired. I’m working a double shift,