Passport to Danger by Franklin W. Dixon Read Free Book Online Page B

following Frank’s gaze. “He was bailed out last night. And he’s barred from any contact with either of you guys.”
    â€œSounds good to me,” Frank said. His mind flashed to Montie’s powerful punch.
    â€œPlus he’s restricted from leaving the city. That’s got to be because of the suspicion that he had something to do with Coach Sant’Anna’s assault.”
    But if we’re right about the message Sant’Anna left, Frank thought, Montie might be innocent after all .
    â€œWhen the judge told him he had to stay in Paris,” Jacques added, “Montie was his usual self. He told the judge he had no intention of leaving; he had a tournament to win!”
    â€œSounds like him,” Joe said, nodding his head.
    Frank felt the gold walnut in his pocket. But what about the fireworks sabotage? he thought. I’ve got to check this out.
    â€œOh, by the way,” Jacques said, as if reading Frank’s mind. “They’re going ahead with the fireworks after all.”
    â€œThey are?” Joe exclaimed. “So they must have figured out how the accident happened. Maybe it was just a fluke occurrence.”
    â€œHey, guys,” Jacques said. “I have a proposal for the two of you.” He hesitated a few minutes, then began again. “I didn’t really know who you were until I heard the news. I’ll bet you’re working on both these incidents—the attack on Sant’Anna and the fireworks incident.”
    â€œWhich might be nothing,” Joe reminded him.
    â€œRight,” Jacques said. “Well, I want to join up with you. The three of us will make a great team. And if I’m in on the case, I’ll be able to beat the other reporters to the story. We solve the case, and I’ll have the lead byline in every paper in Paris. And I really can help, too. I’m familiar with the local scene and have had a lot of experience as an investigative reporter. I can cut some corners for you and maybe even open some doors.”
    â€œAt this point you already know everything we do,” Frank said. “So it looks like we’re already working together.”
    â€œIs your dad in Paris?” Jacques asked. “Is he working on the case too?”
    â€œActually he might be coming in for the tournament,” Joe said. If Jacques is going to be hanging around, he thought, he might run into Dad, so I’d better set it up so it makes sense.
    â€œGreat!” Jacques said. “But for now, it’ll be just the three of us—saving Paris from the saboteurs!”
    All the final walk-throughs and rehearsals went really well, and the volunteer coordinators finally declared that the crew was ready. During the dinner break, Montie Roberts definitely went out of his way to avoid getting too close to the Hardys. Several people commented to Frank about the fight, but he downplayed the whole thing.
    When the specatators started filing in, Frank slipped away from the others and headed for the small compound where the Macri Magnifico employees were setting up the fireworks display. He wanted to ask Sylvio about his computer program and whether it really had been tampered with. But the area was completely roped off, and several guards were posted along the ropes. Frank had to leave without even seeing Sylvio.
    Le Stade filled quickly for the opening ceremonies. The spectators had come from all over Europe and South America, and there was a large crowd from the United States to support its team too.
    â€œI’m starting to get pumped,” Joe told his brother. They were standing on the sidelines with the rest of the equipment squad volunteers watching a marching band lead the parade of teams onto the field.
    â€œMe too,” Frank agreed. “But I wish I’d talked to Sylvio.” He couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. He looked around the stands, scanning the exits. All he could