Free The Deadliest Dare by Franklin W. Dixon Page B

time to see a craft heading for the biggest of the yachts. He recognized the big guy at the wheel — Biff Hooper.
    "Biff!" he called through cupped hands. "Wait!"
    But Biff didn't hear him. The launch circled the well-lit yacht and disappeared around its other side.
    That ship must be Gramatkee's Golden Fleece, Frank concluded. Biff's going aboard right now. And unless I can do something, he may get tangled up in a murder.
    Frank pivoted and ran for the other side of the marina. What I need now is a boat of my own, he thought.
    Running along wooden catwalks that shifted with the tide, Frank worked his way toward a slip where a small white speedboat bobbed in the water. Blue letters across its stern read Napoli.
    Lucky I remembered Tony Prito keeps a boat here, Frank thought as he hauled up one of the plastic bumpers that kept the boat from scraping against the dock. And even luckier that I know where he keeps the spare key. In moments Frank was heading out into the bay.
    A few moments after that, Frank was climbing a rope ladder that hung down the side of the huge yacht. There was a strong brackish smell in the night air, and a faint, ghostly white mist was drifting in from the sea. Frank shivered as he climbed on deck.
    He froze for a moment, standing still to listen. His ears caught the creak of ropes and the lapping of the water but not a single human sound.
    Carefully Frank started along the deck toward where he judged Gramatkee's cabin would be. Frank carried a flashlight in his right hand.
    I wonder how Kevin talked Biff into this, Frank thought as he made his way forward. It must have something to do with Jeanne. Maybe Kevin promised Biff that if he came out to the yacht, he'd find Jeanne.
    Obviously Biff would never let himself get involved in any kind of big crime. Kevin must have conned him to come out to the Golden Fleece so he could be the fall guy for Gramatkee's murder.
    Dim light shone around the door of one of the cabins. Frank didn't knock. He simply turned the knob and pushed it open. "Mr. Gramatkee, I — "
    The center of the cabin was taken up by a desk. Its small brass lamp provided the only light in the cabin. Slumped at the desk was a heavyset man of sixty.
    Frank went over to him.
    When he got close enough to the sprawled body, he discovered that Gramatkee was alive. The millionaire had obviously been slugged — there was a welt over his left ear.
    Frank saw Biff Hooper now, too. The big blond guy had fallen unconscious behind the desk. One big arm was draped over the overturned wastebasket.
    Frank dropped to one knee. "Biff — Biff, are you okay?"
    "He's just fine, Frank. They both are."
    Behind him in the shadows was Curt Branders. The hit man's Beretta automatic was pointed at Frank.
    Branders smiled.
    "No one is dead—yet."

Chapter 13
    Joe woke up to find himself lying on the cold floor of the old barn. His face was bruised, his sides ached, and his hands were tied behind his back. Two fat candles sputtered away on the stones near his feet.
    "So you're not that smart after all, are you?" Kevin Branders was dressed in jeans and a dark sweater now, sitting on the apple barrel and smirking down at Joe.
    "Still a bit smarter than you," answered Joe, finding it tough to talk clearly through his swollen upper lip.
    "We suckered you in very nicely, I think," continued Kevin, looking at his wristwatch. "And—it was great—you fell for the whole scam. Clever Joe Hardy sneaks up on unsuspecting Chad, the dumb Circle member.
    "He knocks Chad out and takes his place. I mean, who could outwit Joe Hardy, the smartest detective in Bayport." He laughed loudly. "We figured one of you, or maybe both, would come out here. So we had everyone planted and waiting. How'd you like my speech? I bet you thought you were eavesdropping on some real heavy mumbo jumbo, huh?" "Okay, maybe I didn't show my usual brilliance," Joe admitted. "But that doesn't mean any of you guys are especially smart. Listen, the police know