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

That doesn’t mean much when you’ve got the right plan.”
    â€œIt’ll be tricky, though,” Pitch acknowledged. “Ben and I already made a play for the dog, so Swindle will be on high alert.”
    â€œWhen’s Luthor going to wake up?” wondered Ben, absently rubbing his T-shirt to stroke Ferret Face through the fabric. “He could be our secret weapon. That dog could eat two adults as an appetizer and still have room for a full-grown bull elephant.”
    Savannah glared at him. “Luthor’s as gentle as a lamb.”
    â€œTo
you
,” Pitch told her, not unkindly. “No offense, but to the rest of the world, he’s an instrument of destruction. I agree that it’s a shame to waste him if things get rough dealing with Swindle.”
    The dog whisperer was adamant. “I won’t allow it. He was trained to be vicious before, and it almost tore him apart.”
    â€œAnd now he’s devoted his life to tearing everybody else apart,” Ben observed.
    Savannah reddened. “If he bit somebody, he’d have to be put down!”
    â€œFighting among ourselves doesn’t help rescue the dog,” Griffin said quickly. “The truth is, we have no idea what kind of shape Luthor is in — or how closely Swindle and the other guy are watching him. We need a spy operation.”
    â€œThere’s no time,” Savannah protested. “A mechanic could already be on his way to fix the cars!”
    â€œAll the more reason we have to spy,” Griffin argued. “We can’t start planning until we know how long we’ve got to work with.”
    â€œHow are we supposed to do that?” Logan challenged. “Stare in through the window and try to read Swindle’s lips?”
    â€œIf only we could find a way to hear what they’re saying in there,” Griffin mused.
    â€œSome Man With The Plan you are,” Ben said sarcastically. “I can’t believe you forgot to pack an electronic listening device in your duffel bag.”
    â€œActually,” Melissa spoke up shyly, “I might be able to help out with that.”
    Everyone stared at her.
    â€œYou brought a
bug
to summer camp?” Pitch asked incredulously.
    â€œWell, no, but I was just thinking.” Melissa took her phone out of her pocket. “If I call Griffin, and we place my cell inside the cottage somewhere, it should pick up everything that’s being said in there.”
    â€œI like it,” Griffin approved, his eyes alight with the excitement of a plan beginning to take shape. “But how are we going to get your phone into the house?”
    Pitch took the handset from Melissa. “That’s the easy part.”
    Ben was wide-eyed. “There’s no mail slot or doggie door, and Swindle knows we’re around, so there’s no way they left a window unlocked. What are you going to do?”
    She grinned. “Think Santa Claus.”

    T o Pitch, who had conquered mountain peaks, sheer cliffs, and frozen waterfalls, getting to the roof of the single-story cottage was as easy as stepping onto a footstool. From the eaves, she was amused to look down and see her five teammates watching her movements anxiously. She smirked at them and then crossed to the stone chimney. She hoisted herself up and peered inside. Perfect. There was no damper; she could see clear down to the fireplace about fifteen feet below.
    She took out Melissa’s phone and began to unwind the makeshift twine they had created by removing leaves from the ivy on the side of the cottage. Pitch secured the handset to one end, triple-knotting it. Then she dialed Griffin.
    He answered on the first ring. “Ready?”
    â€œHere goes nothing,” she replied, and began to pay out the vine.
    The unit descended into the gloom of the chimney. The ivy was surprisingly strong and clung to the case as if it had been designed especially for that purpose.
    The