Free The Dead Season by Franklin W. Dixon Page A

They weren't very deep into the tunnel when Joe spotted a shiny object on the ground.
    It was a gold cufflink in the shape of the letter G.
    "Games," said the Hardys in unison.
    "We can search in here later," said Frank. "Right now I think you should speak with Mr. Gaines while I check out some more details at the library."
    Joe agreed and started down the beach toward the Tyler Inn.
    Frank walked slowly to the car he had borrowed from Gary and Janet. Many pieces of the puzzle were beginning to come together for him, but he still had a lot of unanswered questions.
    And only two days left to break this case if we're going to save Runner's Harbor for Gary and Janet, he thought as he turned the ignition key.
    The sound of the engine was drowned out by the deafening volley of gunfire.

Chapter 13
    A bullet tore through the windshield, slid past Frank's right cheek, and slammed into the backseat of the car.
    The glass from the windshield exploded into hundreds of tiny rocklike pieces that showered into his lap.
    He ducked under the steering wheel, taking cover, waiting for another shot to be fired. As he crouched there he did a mental check and decided he was okay.
    Several seconds passed, and still there was no more gunfire. The only sound Frank could hear was the engine idling quietly. Slowly he reached his hand up and turned the key, and there was silence.
    Frank could hear Callie, Gary, and Janet rush onto the front porch of the hotel.
    "Frank?" cried Callie.
    "Stay inside!" he shouted.
    "Are you okay, Frank?" asked Gary.
    "Yes. Just stay there."
    More time passed, and Frank took the chance to peer outside the jeep. No one was in sight in any direction. Slowly he eased himself out of the jeep and stood beside it.
    He was staring at a nearby palm tree when Callie raced up behind him.
    "Frank! Frank!"
    She put her arms around him and hugged him tightly. There were tears in her eyes, and she was shaking.
    "It's okay," he said quietly, comforting her. "Really. I'm fine."
    "Oh, Frank, I thought they really got you this time."
    Gary and Janet approached them slowly.
    "Are you sure you're okay?" asked Janet.
    "I'm fine, really," said Frank.
    "What happened?" asked Gary.
    "Someone took a shot at me but missed."
    Callie said, "This place is really scaring me now."
    "That's exactly how someone wants you to feel," said Frank. "And we've got to stop him."
    "But how?" asked Janet.
    "I think Joe and I are close to the solution," he said. Frank started walking toward the palm tree he'd been studying. "And just so everyone can stop worrying about ghosts, come over here."
    He stopped next to the tree and pointed at a metal box taped to the trunk.
    "It's just as I thought," he said, pointing at the box.
    "What is it?" asked Callie.
    "I'll let the police take it down, in case there are any fingerprints on it, but I'm pretty sure it's a small radio device triggered to fire a shot when I turned the key in the ignition of the jeep."
    "You can do things like that?" asked Janet.
    "Yes," answered Frank.
    "What should we do?" asked Gary.
    "Call Sergeant Wrenn and tell him what happened. Show him the box. I'm sorry about what happened to your jeep."
    "We're just glad you're okay," said Janet.
    "Janet's right," said Gary. He stared at his damaged jeep. "I guess you'll need the other car."
    "We won't be long," said Frank.
    Callie said, "We?"
    "If you'd like."
    "Definitely," said Callie, giving him another hug. "I think you need someone to watch over you, Frank Hardy.
    ***
    Joe Hardy knocked softly on the door to cottage number seven at the Tyler Inn.
    "I think he'll be in his room. He seemed to have a lot of unpacking to do," the desk clerk, a portly islander, had said. He also told Joe that Gaines had checked in just two hours earlier.
    Number seven was off by itself and did not have an ocean view. Joe suspected it was cheaper than the other rooms and wondered how much money Games had.
    There was no response to his knock, so Joe rapped harder on the door