Final Cut by Franklin W. Dixon Read Free Book Online Page B

me."
    "Jim, is it all right if we use the phone in here?" asked Joe.
    "Feel free," the actor answered. He and his manager left, along with Trish.
    "Who are you going to call?" Frank asked.
    "I want to tell Dad about Andrea Stuart and her big mouth before she really messes us up."
    "Good idea," Frank replied.
    As Joe picked up the phone there was another knock at the door. Frank opened it, and there was Trish again.
    "Guys, how come you're not on the set? They're going to be looking for you."
    "We have to call the garage," Frank said quickly. "About the van. It won't take long."
    Joe put the phone down. "Couldn't get through," he explained to Frank. "Trish, if you have a minute, we'd like to ask you about something. Come on in, it won't take long."
    "Well, okay, but this better be quick." As she stepped into the trailer she examined the scrapes on Joe's face. "What happened to you?"
    "I had a little accident last night," said Joe quickly. "Tripped and fell in the driveway."
    "Yeah, Joe's always tripping over his feet or something" - Frank smiled - "but we put up with him anyway."
    Trish didn't look convinced.
    "Frank and I have been wondering about this guy who got killed," said Joe.
    "Fairburn?" asked Trish.
    "Right," said Frank. "We heard Jerry Morrall talking about how Fairburn and Mel Clifford didn't get along, and then Mel and Jim Addison almost had a fight going in here - "
    Trish grinned. "Jerry Morrall told you that, huh? He should talk!"
    "What do you mean?" asked Frank.
    Trish obviously enjoyed a little gossip, too. She leaned forward and lowered her voice. "Everyone on this project knows that Jerry and Fairburn hated each other's guts for years."
    "How come?" asked Joe.
    "They went to court once over who had the rights to a story they both wanted to film, and Fairburn won. He always teased Jerry about it to get him steamed up."
    "That's one bit of information that Jerry would never have told us about himself," Frank said.
    "This Fairburn sounds like a real sweet guy," Frank observed.
    Trish shrugged. "I didn't really know him, but everyone says he was a creep. He had a nasty sense of humor and always knew how to get at people, knew just how to needle them and drive them crazy."
    Joe looked at Frank thoughtfully. "Sounds like people would've stood in line for a chance to murder him."
    Trish gave the brothers a suspicious look. "Why are you so interested in Fairburn anyway? I thought you were here to learn about TV production?"
    "Oh, yeah, we are," Frank assured her. "But a murder is pretty exciting stuff, you know. We just figured you'd know some of the inside dope, since you've been working here, around all these people, that's all."
    Trish stood up. "Well, we should really be back to work. This isn't the time to be - "
    A nearby truck started up with a roar and drowned out her voice. Trish went to the door and turned the knob.
    The door wouldn't budge.
    She pushed harder, but it remained firmly shut. She turned to look at the Hardys.
    "What's going on with - " She stopped talking suddenly as she began to cough. Harsh fumes were beginning to fill the trailer, and Frank and Joe were coughing now, too.
    Joe pulled back the curtains covering the windows, but instead of a view there was an expanse of wood that completely sealed off the view - and any chance of ventilation.
    "Someone's boarded over the windows!" Frank snapped, his voice breaking into coughing spasms. The fumes grew heavier.
    Frank went to the door and pushed it, but nothing happened. He kicked at it beside the knob, but it didn't budge. The heavy gas was quickly flooding the room.
    Joe gasped. "We're suffocating!"
    The trailer had been turned into a comfortably furnished gas chamber!

Chapter 9
    "Help! Somebody, help us!" screamed Trish, and then she lapsed into a fit of helpless coughing.
    "No one'll hear," gasped Joe.
    Frank saw Trish panting for breath. "Lie down flat, the air's better near the floor," he said hoarsely.
    Joe grabbed a chair and smashed