Trouble in the Pipeline by Franklin W. Dixon Read Free Book Online

grabbed Joe's arm before he could bang on the window. "Scott doesn't know who we are. And we don't know if he's alone."
    "There's only one way to find out," Joe suggested. "Let's go in."
    "Are you nuts?" Frank whispered. "These guys have tried to kill us at least three times, and you want to walk right into their nest?"
    "How else are we going to talk to Scott? If that's him, it's worth a try."
    Against his better judgment, Frank agreed. Stealing around the corner, they approached the thick glass door. Joe tested it, and it opened easily. He motioned for Frank to follow him in. Holding a gun ready, they walked cautiously into a brightly lit corridor.
    "I don't see any security cameras, do you?" Joe asked.
    "No, but they could be hidden. I don't like this, Joe. It's too easy."
    "Well, I'm sorry I couldn't make it any harder," Joe said. "Come on. He's in there." He pointed to a door at the end of the hall.
    About ten feet from the door they heard a strange hissing sound. They stopped. Nothing. "Heating system, I guess," Joe whispered.
    A few more steps and they tasted something in their mouths — a strange tang. "Gas!" Frank yelled.
    They tried to run back down the hall to get outside, but their legs became leaden. They staggered, and then their legs turned to rubber.
    Frank watched the floor swim up to meet his eyes. Then there was nothing but darkness.

Chapter 8
    JOE HARDY STRUGGLED to consciousness and out of his drugged sleep. The muscles he needed to open his eyes weren't able to do their job. Even when he did force his eyes open, he felt as if he were looking at the world from somewhere in the back of his head.
    He reached up to rub his eyes, but his hands wouldn't move. At first he thought that, like his eyes, they were just heavy and taking their time , to wake up. Then the awful realization dawned that he was strapped down—his wrists, chest, ' and ankles all immobilized.
    With horror he decided he was strapped to an electric chair. There were wires attached to his arms, and other wires emerged from under his shirt.
    Straining against the leather straps, he only exhausted himself pulling against them. It was hopeless. Whoever had tied him up had done a professional job. He couldn't even remember what had happened to him. His mind couldn't focus on a single event.
    "Mr. Hardy. I see you're with us again. How was your little nap?"
    Joe tried to focus and eventually saw a short, blond man framed in a doorway. He was wearing a business suit and carrying a sheaf of papers under his arm.
    "Where am I?" Joe asked. He didn't recognize the man or the room he was in. Maybe he was dreaming, he decided. None of this made sense.
    "You are on the property of North Slope Supply," the man said gently. "How are you feeling?"
    "Not good," Joe responded. "What happened?"
    "Perhaps I should ask you the same question."
    What had happened? Then slowly it dawned on him. They'd been stealing down the hallway on their way to see Scott, when — "I can't really remember," he lied, playing for time.
    The blond man laughed. "Let me refresh your memory. You were sneaking along one of our hallways last night, and you triggered one of our security mechanisms. Do you remember now?"
    Joe pretended to try to remember. "Oh, yes," he said, as if it were a great relief to know what had happened to him. "Who are you?"
    "My name is Sandy White. I'm president of North Slope Supply. I'm sorry I can't shake your hand." Joe glanced at the man's face to see if he was toying with him. But White merely smiled, and Joe couldn't read the cryptic smile.
    "Why do you have me tied up like this?" Joe demanded, staring the man right in the eye.
    "Why were you trespassing on the grounds of my company?"
    "We — I was looking for a friend of mine." Joe changed the we quickly. In case Frank had gotten away, he didn't want to incriminate him.
    "Who might that be?"
    Joe had to think fast. By now, the guards must have come to and told their boss whom he and his brother were