Free Crime in the Cards by Franklin W. Dixon Page B

have been the demon-masked guy, though—not unless she’s an Oscar-winning makeup artist,” Chet said.
    â€œPete looks like our best bet,” Frank said, “but there may be other suspects we haven’t considered.”
    â€œWell,” Joe said, “until we get more evidence, I think we should take Frank’s suggestion and talk to Daphne.”
    All of them agreed, and after the Hardys showered, they all hopped into the van and headed for Daphne’s house—a new, two-story colonial on Hebert Avenue. Daphne answered the door when they rang the bell.
    â€œHey, guys,” she said pleasantly, “this must be my day for friends dropping in unexpectedly.”
    â€œWho else has dropped by?” Frank asked.
    â€œTim showed up earlier,” she said. “We were going to have a tune-up game, but the big dummy left his cards in his school locker. He was going to try and get them.”
    â€œGetting his deck from school on a Saturday?” Chet said skeptically.
    â€œThere’s a volleyball game in the gym today,” Callie said. “He might be able to get in.”
    Daphne shrugged. “I haven’t seen him since, so who knows? What can I do for you guys? Did you come to get humiliated in a tune-up game, Chet?”
    Chet shook his head. “Nope,” he said. “My deck’s still pretty sparse.”
    â€œStill?” Daphne said, raising her eyebrows. “Get it together, Morton. You’ll never make it past the first round of the tourney this way.”
    â€œI know,” Chet said. “That’s why we came to see you. I tried to find the Black Knight site, but I didn’t have any luck.”
    Daphne gently slapped her forehead. “I’m sorry. I should have sent you the URL. Come on in. We’ll send an instant message from my machine to the Knight. You can pick up the conversation at your place later.”
    â€œGood idea,” Chet said.
    Daphne led the teens into her house. “Mom,” she called to an unseen parent, “I’ve got some friends over to surf the Net.”
    â€œThat’s fine, dear” came a reply from the other room. Chet and the others went upstairs to Daphne’s room. There they found the latest in computer equipment as well as the usual posters and memorabilia.
    Daphne quickly logged on to the Net. “The site is kind of hidden,” Daphne explained. “You can’t find it unless someone shows you. There. I’ve E-mailed the URL to you, Chet.”
    â€œThanks,” Chet said. He stood next to Daphne; the rest of the group watched over their shoulders.
    Daphne’s fingers flew over the keyboard. In seconds the Black Knight’s site appeared on the screen. It had a crude castle and a block-lettered title. As the page opened, a deep voice came over the monitor, “Halt! Who goes there?”
    Daphne typed in her name and password. The doors to the castle opened, a new screen popped up, and the computer voice said, “Welcome, Lady Soesbee.” Daphne moved her cursor across the new screen and pressed the Send a Message option.
    She requested that the Black Knight contact Chet at his home E-mail address as soon as possible. She stressed that Chet needed to buy cards before Tuesday’s tournament. Then she sat back and smiled with satisfaction.
    â€œThat’s all there is to it?” Joe asked.
    â€œYep,” Daphne said. As she spoke, a bell sounded and a new screen popped up on her monitor.
    â€œIt’s from the Black Knight,” Daphne said. “He must have been online when we wrote.”
    â€œLet’s see what he has to say,” Frank said.
    Daphne pressed a few keys and the reply opened up. It read: “Lady Soesbee: Tell your friend to wait for my E-mail tonight. We’ll set up a meeting.—The Black Knight”

10 The Black Knight That evening the Hardys and their girlfriends sat in the Mortons’ family room