No Way Out Read Online Free Page B

he pulled his full weight forward and started up the secret passageway.
    It was so narrow, his shoulders brushed against both side walls as he moved slowly upward, one cautious step at a time. He had to duck his head and shoulders to keep from grazing the ceiling above. When he stepped onto the third tread, he felt a sharp twinge in his heel. He reached down and felt the edge of the step. It was splintered away into sharp shards of wood. He rubbed his heel and then started up again.
    He held his breath when he reached the halfway point. He knew that when he rose onto the sixth step he would be able to get his first glimpse of whatever was waiting at the top.
    He crouched down a little farther and placed his foot on the sixth step. He felt another sharp twinge. But this one was in his shoulder—and it came from the fingers that had clamped on to it.

4 The Gauntlet Is Thrown
    His heart booming through his chest, Frank spun around, trying to knock the hand off his shoulder.
    â€œAlan!” he said, recognizing his host’s face in the dim light. “What are you … where did … how?” Frank stopped to inhale a gulp of air. “I didn’t know you were still up,” he finally said.
    â€œI couldn’t sleep,” Alan answered. “I heard some strange noises and thought I’d take a look. You startled me.”
    â€œYeah … well … same here.”
    Alan’s hand remained on Frank’s shoulder, and he felt a gentle pressure moving him back down the steps. It was clear that Alan wanted him away from the staircase.
    â€œDo you have any other guests staying in thehouse?” Frank asked his host as he reluctantly followed him down the staircase.
    â€œNo, why?” Alan didn’t hesitate before answering, but he didn’t seem surprised by the question either. They walked through the closet and back into the main room.
    â€œI thought I saw the shadow of someone pacing back there,” Frank answered, nodding toward the secret passageway. He decided not to tell Alan about the sounds he’d heard from his bed—the sounds that had started him on the search.
    â€œIt was probably me,” Alan said, still guiding Frank firmly down the small corridor. “I’ve been up for hours. All this mess with the maze … I’ve got to figure out who’s doing this.”
    They finally reached the main hall. “You probably just saw shadows—maybe tree branches through a window or something,” Alan pointed out.
    â€œMmmm,” Frank said, looking around.
    â€œHey,” Alan said, his expression brightening. “Maybe it was just a ghost. All the old houses on Cape Breton have them. Why should this one be any different, eh?”
    They had arrived at the door to the Hardys’ guest suite. “You’d better get some sleep, now,” Alan said. “You want to be rested and fit for the tournament tomorrow morning, don’t you?”
    â€œSure,” Frank said. “You’re right.” He could tell there was something going on that Alan wasn’ttelling him, and that he was definitely in the way. But he could also tell he wasn’t going to get any more information about the secret staircase from Alan at that moment. So he changed the subject.
    â€œBy the way,” he said as Alan started to move away from the door. “The twins told us you’re filming all the activities this week.”
    â€œI am,” Alan said, turning back. “And we’ve got an ace studio doing the work. I can’t wait to see how they cut it.”
    â€œI’d like to see the rough print of tonight’s filming as soon as possible,” Frank said. “Joe and some others saw a man running into the woods right after the flaming arrow was shot. We’re hoping the filmmakers caught it and we can get an ID.”
    â€œI’ll give you the names and numbers in the morning,” Alan said. “But