The Genius Thieves by Franklin W. Dixon Read Free Book Online Page A

smiled and continued to cough. "But I'll never understand why people smoke cigarettes. Is that the Kirkland Fire Department I hear?"
    "Plus half the school administration—in pajamas! Not to mention all the students in this dorm."
    They heard heavy footsteps climbing the stairs behind them. Joe's wig was lying in the middle of the hallway, and as they looked at it, they realized Joe had to beat it. "If they catch you here, we'll both be in trouble!" Frank said.
    Joe pushed past a small crowd of kids and disappeared down the far set of stairs.
    An overweight fireman came puffing up to the third floor. "You start this fire?" he asked, breathing heavily.
    "No," Frank said, rising to his feet. "I just put it out." He walked into his room with the fireman lumbering behind. As they examined the burned pot, the hallway filled up with students, fire fighters, and faculty.
    "Can't tell what was in there, Chief," the fireman said, showing the pot to his supervisor. On the bottom were the remains of some badly charred objects.
    "You did a good job with the fire extinguisher, young man," the fire chief said to Frank. "Do you have any idea how this all happened? Where are your roommates?"
    "One's with his parents in the city. I don't know where the other is, but his car is in the parking lot."
    "Well, when he comes back, I wish you'd give him a little talking to. You know, this year alone, over fifty percent of all campus fires — "
    The hallway began to clear as Frank listened to a long lecture on fire safety. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Mr. Castigan, shaking his head disapprovingly.
    Frank grabbed some clothes and his copy of Henry V, then spent the night on the floor in the room next door. The smell of smoke lingered throughout the night, despite the fact that the fire department had left a giant exhaust fan in the hallway.
    The next morning Frank got ready for his study session with Sarah. As he left his neighbors' room, he saw a team of school workers laying a new carpet in the hallway.
    "You guys work fast," Frank said.
    "That's what you pay Chartwell for!" one of the men answered. Frank looked at the singed doorway, then scanned his room as he wondered where Arnie had spent the night. Wet papers were scattered everywhere, wooden chairs and desks were charred, and large burn marks were on the wall by the hot plate. A film of ashes covered everything.
    "The furniture men come this afternoon," the man said. "And the painters'll be here tomorrow."
    "Thanks." As Frank walked to Van Cott Hall, he thought about the fire. Obviously someone knew about him and was trying to scare him off. The fire was no mistake — the bucket of gasoline proved that. But the only people who had keys to the room were his roommates and the administration. Did Arnie do it? Did Brad arrange to have it done long-distance?
    These questions ran through Frank's mind as he signed into the girls' dorm. He knocked on room 21, and the door was flung open to reveal a gleeful Sarah.
    "Congratulations!" she said, gesturing for him to come in. Then she looked at him more closely. "What's the matter? I thought you'd be happy."
    "Why?" he asked.
    "Didn't they get in touch with you? The administration met late yesterday and decided not to suspend you—just as I said! All they're going to do is keep a close eye on you."
    Frank's mood lifted. "That's a relief!" he said. "I was on my phone a lot yesterday afternoon and then I went out early. No one could have told me."
    "Oh," said Sarah. Suddenly Frank noticed two other girls staring at them. "I'm sorry," Sarah said. "These are my roommates, Rachel and Alexis. They'll be studying here today, so I figured we'd go out by the river, okay? It's a really nice day."
    As they walked to the river, Frank told Sarah about the fire.
    "You poor guy," she said, spreading a blanket under a maple tree by the river. "Will you be awake enough to study?"
    "Sarah, the image of Mr. Osborn handing me a paper marked F makes