Free The Masked Monkey by Franklin W. Dixon Page B

at Kennedy Airport the following morning. After they made their way through customs, they found Chet Morton waiting for them with a big grin.
    Joe clapped their freckle-faced friend on the shoulder. “Chet, how did you know we were coming?”
    â€œI had something to do for my dad in New York. Before I left, your mother called me. She got your cable and asked me to let you know your father’s coming in on the shuttle from Washington just about now. He’ll join us for the connecting flight to Bayport.”
    The three youths went to the shuttle terminal coffee shop to kill time while waiting for FentonHardy. They took a booth near a window where they could see the planes coming down for a landing.
    After the waitress had served them, Frank sipped his coke. “How’s business, Chet? Last we knew Phil and Tony were joining forces with you in the golf ball project.”
    â€œAnvone drown in a water hazard yet?” Joe needled their rotund pal.
    Chet downed a bite of doughnut. “You guys don’t take scavenging seriously enough,” he said. “Business is booming. We’ve recovered about a thousand balls. At least a hundred bucks apiece for each of us.”
    Frank brought the conversation around to the mystery. “Chet, what’s going on in Whisperwood? Everything quiet out there?”
    â€œQuiet!” Chet exclaimed. “Are you kidding? Mrs. Retson has disappeared!”
    Frank drew a sharp breath. “Disappeared!” he repeated incredulously.
    â€œGone! Scrammed! Vamoosed!” Chet replied.
    â€œGive us the facts,” Joe said grimly.
    â€œFirst I learned about it was when I went up to the house the day after you left. Mr. Retson blew his top. Told me his wife had vanished from her room.”
    â€œWhat about Hopkins the nurse?” Frank put in. “She must have been on duty.”
    â€œSays she heard nothing. She was eating herlunch in another room. When she returned, she found the bed empty. She’s been having hysterics. Claims you two upset Mrs. Retson so much she just up and ran away.”
    â€œSo we have two mysteries,” Frank said. “First it was Graham, now it’s his mother.”
    â€œThere must be some connection,” Joe observed. “I’ll bet San Marten is behind this too.”
    â€œMaybe Mrs. Retson received a secret message from Graham,” Chet ventured. “He might have let her know somehow where she could find him.”
    â€œIt’s possible,” Frank replied. “Joe and I failed to locate Graham in Brazil.” He told Chet about their trip.
    Suddenly Chet said, “Do you know a guy who wears a Panama hat?”
    Frank shook his head. “I can’t think of anyone.”
    â€œMe either,” Joe chimed in. “Why?”
    â€œThere’s a man standing in the doorway who seems awfully interested in you!”

CHAPTER XI
Dangerous Stranger
    J OE casually turned around for a look. The doorway was empty!
    â€œWhoever it was, he’s gone,” Joe said.
    â€œWell, he sure gave you fellows the once-over,” Chet stated. “Kept staring at you as if you were his long-lost cousins.”
    A sudden thought caused Joe to sit bolt upright. “What if this character followed us from Belem, Frank! Maybe it was San Marten!”
    â€œWhat did the man in the Panama hat look like?” Frank asked.
    â€œSmall, scrawny. Has blond sideburns. Wears steel-rimmed spectacles.”
    Joe breathed a sigh of relief. “It wasn’t San Marten, thank goodness.”
    â€œCould be one of his gang,” Frank stated. “On the other hand, maybe the man thought we were somebody else and realized his mistake.”
    â€œWell, I watched him for a while to make sure,” Chet said. “He never took his eyes off this booth till Joe turned around.”
    â€œListen, they’re announcing Dad’s plane,” Frank said.
    Joe nodded. “Let’s go