Read Online The Third Adventure by Gordon Korman - Free Book Online Page B

got a friend who needs a doctor, but he was just angling to jump the line and get his car fixed ahead of schedule. Says a lot of things, this character, none of them too pleasant.”
    â€œIt can’t be a coincidence,” Mr. Bing whispered. “Palomino? Near the three camps? Not too pleasant?”
    â€œYou don’t think he’d hurt the kids, do you?” Mrs. Kellerman asked anxiously.
    â€œThis could be about Luthor,” Mr. Drysdale mused. “Maybe he hid the dog so he can sue us for stealing him.”
    â€œWhere is this Peterson place?” Mr. Bing called to the mechanic.
    â€œHead west about thirty miles,” the man replied. “Left turn on the dirt road. You can’t miss it. It’s the only house around.”

    O nce night had fallen, the root cellar of the old cottage was smothered in suffocating darkness. The phones provided occasional light for a while. But as the minutes ticked into hours, and batteries dwindled and died, these intervals became a luxury the team could no longer afford. Soon only Melissa’s handset had any life at all, thanks to a few power-saving improvements the brilliant girl had invented. And even she dared not use her flashlight app for fear of squandering what little juice she had left.
    â€œDon’t these people ever sleep?” Ben complained in a peeved whisper.
    â€œBig talk from the guy whose sleep is more messed up than anybody’s,” muttered Pitch, who got edgy when she wasn’t active. She had a lot more patience for Griffin’s plans when climbing was involved.
    Ben glared at her resentfully, but could only make out her outline — or was that Savannah? “Yeah, well, these creeps could use a little narcolepsy right now. And no ferret to wake them up.”
    It would have been too risky to ease the door open and peer into the house, so the team was conducting surveillance purely by listening. Conversation between the two men was sparse, but they were clearly still awake and moving around. There had been no sound from Luthor at all.
    â€œThose awful, low-down, animal-abusing criminals,” Savannah seethed. “How strong a tranquilizer did they use on the poor sweetie?”
    â€œWhat time is it?” Logan yawned.
    â€œAbout two minutes after the last time you asked,” Griffin said quietly. “Essential conversation only. We don’t want Swindle to know he’s got company.”
    â€œAn actor thrives on lines,” Logan warned.
    Pitch had a suggestion. “Why don’t you portray a character who’s taken a vow of silence?”
    â€œBack off, Melissa,” Savannah ordered in a low voice. “You’re touching my elbow,”
    â€œNo, I’m not,” the shy girl replied. “I’m over here behind Logan.”
    The image of a large hairy tarantula crawling up her arm caused Savannah to draw in a horrified breath. Before it reemerged as a scream, Griffin clamped a hand over her mouth. A short dance ensued.
    â€œCalm down, there’s no spider,” Ben whispered urgently. “It’s just Ferret Face’s tail.” He pushed the small animal higher under his shirt.
    â€œYou know,” Melissa commented in her usual quiet manner, “I haven’t heard any sound from up there for quite a while.”
    They listened, tense with excitement.
    Swindle’s voice, talking to himself, muttered, “Figures. He snores.” There followed the grating sounds of someone trying to get comfortable on a couch with creaking springs.
    Five minutes passed. Then ten.
    So slowly it was practically painful, Griffin inched open the door and peered through the crack. The small house was dim, but the day’s storm clouds had broken enough to let in some moonlight. Palomino’s pudgy form was scrunched in a threadbare loveseat. His hired man was sprawled in an easy chair. Both were fast asleep, openmouthed and snoring. Between them lay the big