Trial and Terror by Franklin W. Dixon Read Free Book Online Page B

his desk.
    â€œSomehow I doubt that,” Joe said.
    â€œLook, I’m a businessman, not a saint,” Garfein said. “If those people don’t have a lot of money, maybe they should live in a cheaper neighborhood. And the old ones who haven’t filed for an exemption should stay with their kids or go to an old folks home. It’s not my problem.”
    â€œWell, I—” Joe began.
    â€œAnd I’ll tell you this,” Garfein said, picking up a telephone receiver as if to dismiss the Hardys. “One way or another, I’m going to get those old geezers out. I guarantee it. All right,your five minutes are up. Get out of my office and have a nice day.”
    â€œWell, he’s as charming as a shark,” Joe said when the Hardys were back in the elevator.
    â€œThere’s no question he’s ruthless,” Frank said. “But we still don’t have any evidence . . . ” His voice trailed off.
    â€œWhat are you thinking?” Joe said.
    â€œRemember how cold Karen Lee’s building was?” Frank said. “Alex told us the temperature gauge was broken, but maybe Garfein instructed Alex to turn the heat off. Because he wants to freeze the older people out.”
    â€œOlder people don’t do well in the cold,” Joe said. “A winter without heat could make at least some of them decide to move to a warmer building—or even a warmer climate.”
    â€œIf we can prove the heat is turned off in that building,” Frank said, “that would show how desperate Garfein is to get the tenants out—enough to use illegal tactics.”
    â€œThat would be a real link,” Joe said as the elevator opened at the lobby. “Evidence lending support to our theory that Garfein may have tried to do harm to Karen Lee. I agree with you that a big businessman like that would have hired someone for the job rather than do it himself.”
    Back in the wintry air, the brothers walked along Thirty-fourth Street. “Maybe Alex was the person Garfein hired,” Frank said. “If Alexwould be willing to shut down the heat, maybe he would also be willing to kill Karen Lee. For a nice sum of money, of course. Which might be real attractive to a writer who has never been published.”
    â€œExcept Alex doesn’t seem to have much money now,” Joe said, stopping on the sidewalk as the light turned red. “He’s still the super.”
    â€œMaybe he didn’t get paid because he bungled the attack,” Frank suggested.
    â€œI don’t know,” Joe said as the light changed to green. “In spite of his gory book titles, Alex doesn’t seem like a killer to me.”
    â€œNeither does Nick Rodriguez,” Frank said as they began to cross the street, “and you think he might be one.”
    â€œGood point,” Joe said. “One thing I—”
    â€œLook out!” Frank cried, grabbing Joe by the arm. A taxi was roaring full speed through a red light—straight for the Hardys.

7 Members of the Press
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    Frank jerked Joe out of the way, almost throwing him onto the sidewalk.
    There was a screech of brakes and then a loud crunch of metal as the taxi hit the fender of another taxi making a turn. Both drivers stormed out of their cars and began to scream at each other in different languages. Immediately people gathered around to watch the shouting match, and a cop hurried over to break it up.
    â€œThere’re a lot of dangerous things about this city,” Joe commented as the Hardys gingerly crossed the street. “But you know, I think the taxi drivers might be the scariest.”
    The Hardys returned to the subway station, eager to catch a train back downtown so they could check in at the trial. Waiting on thecrowded platform, Joe glanced down the tunnel. In the distance he could see repairmen working on the tracks, each one wearing a bright orange vest.
    Soon a train came and rushed