Danger in the Extreme by Franklin W. Dixon Read Free Book Online Page A

way.”
    â€œLet me have a look at that rope.”
    Salazar quickly pulled the rope up, coiling it neatly. He pretended to hand it to Frank, then tossed it over the edge.
    â€œOops. Sorry, Frank.”
    Frank started to say something, but Salazar immediately pulled out his ice axes and started back down the wall without the safety harness.
    â€œYou coming, Frank?” he asked, grinning mischievously. “I’ll race you down.”
    Frank watched him disappear over the edge. “No thanks, Rick. I’ll take the ladder.” He walked across the top platform to the back of the wall, where a ladder was set up.
    Neal, Jamal, and Agent DuBelle met Frank back on the ground.
    â€œWhat went on up there?” Jamal asked.
    â€œNo idea,” Frank replied. “I’d like to take a look at that rope, though.” He hurried around to the front of the wall.
    Fred Vale had arrived and had the coil of rope in his hands. He and another Max Games official rushed up to Frank.
    â€œI heard what happened,” Vale said. “You’re not hurt, are you?”
    â€œI’m okay,” Frank replied, holding his hand out for the rope.
    Vale pulled it away. “Nope. Sorry, friend. Nobody touches this but me.”
    â€œThat piece of equipment almost got me killed,” Frank said angrily. “Let me see it.”
    Vale looked over Frank’s shoulder at Jamal, Neal, and DuBelle. It seemed as though he wanted to yell back at Frank but was restraining himself.
    â€œLook,” he said, keeping his voice low. “I promise I’ll personally test every piece of Max Games equipment. But nobody can hear about this, okay. I do not skimp on safety equipment.”
    Frank turned away in disgust. “Come on,” he said to Neal and Jamal. “Let’s get out of here.”
    As they packed up their stuff, Frank looked around for Salazar. He wasn’t around, and no one seemed to have seen him since he’d climbed down the wall.
    Neal said he was hungry, so they headed back over to the snack area at the stadium. They walked past a crowd outside the stadium parking lot, waiting to catch shuttle buses.
    â€œWhat’s up with this crowd?” Neal asked.
    â€œSome events, like say, downhill mountain biking and maximum biathlon, are held at sites outside town,” Jamal answered. “A shuttle bus is the best way to get there.”
    â€œMaximum biathlon?”
    â€œYeah,” Frank said. “You ride a snowmobile through the woods really fast and stop every mile or so to shoot targets with an air rifle.”
    Neal turned to Agent DuBelle, who was hanging back, as usual. “Sounds like an event for you,” he teased.
    Agent DuBelle sent back a fake smile. “Sure, Neal. I’ll sign right up.”
    They all laughed.
    As Frank might have guessed, they found Joe in the snack area munching on a chili dog.
    When Frank, Jamal, and Neal finally sat down with their food, Joe told them about his run-in with Jim Edwards.
    â€œFred Vale was totally amped about it,” he said. “He was happy we got into a fight.”
    Frank nodded and related his own adventure on the ice wall. “Vale showed up there, too,” he said. “At first he seemed concerned, but when I asked to look at the rope he got all mad about it and told me to keep quiet.”
    â€œI don’t know,” Jamal said, taking a gulp of soda. “You really think Vale’s so desperate for ratings that he’d endanger the lives of the athletes?”
    â€œAll I know is that he was happy I wiped out,” Joe said.
    Frank grabbed a bunch of fries. “Either the safety rope was bad or Rick Salazar tried to snuff me.”
    Neal’s eyes grew wide. “Attempted murder?”
    â€œCome on, Frank,” Jamal said. “Salazar’s competitive, but you don’t think he’d go that far, do you?”
    â€œHe was the only one on top of the wall,” Frank