The Number File Read Online Free Page A

... Oh ... Where? ... Could you give that to me again? ... Wait, let me write it down." Joe fished for a pencil and then jotted something down as Alicia talked. "Thanks," he concluded. "I — we'll see you soon."
    Thoughtfully Joe replaced the phone on its hook and walked back to where Frank was waiting, straddling his moped.
    "Could you get her out of the house?" Frank asked.
    "She can't go anyplace because Montague had to borrow her car. But she did say she got a strange call about half an hour ago from some guy she didn't know. He said that Montague was supposed to be meeting with him, but he hadn't shown. And this guy," — he paused to check his notes — "Martin Powers, said the meeting was urgent. He left her his address."
    "Well, where is he? Let's go check it out." Frank was ready to take off.
    Joe checked his notes again. "Saint George's Harbor." He handed the note to Frank on which he had hastily scrawled "Martin Powers, #1 Blue Vista."
    The two scooters lurched forward as Frank and Joe sped off toward St. George.
    It was dark when the Hardys drove down into town. They parked their bikes and carried their scuba gear into a small cafe.
    "Yes, I do know where that is," said the proprietor after looking at the address. "You can leave your gear in the back room and then I'll accompany you outside and set you in the right direction."
    Joe and Frank found a clear corner for their stuff, then followed the proprietor outside.
    "Just go through the square there," the man explained as he pointed, "and take a right out onto the quay. It should be one of the boats out on the left of the dock."
    "Boats?" both brothers said simultaneously. Joe stared at the man. "You mean this address is a boat?"
    "Definitely! One Blue Vista is the name of a boat. Happy sailing!"
    Sailing wasn't what they were thinking of when Frank and Joe located the boat that had the name painted in bright blue letters across its stern. Martin Powers's boat took up an entire corner of the dock. "That's no sloop," Joe remarked. "That's a full-size yacht."
    "I wonder where this Powers guy is. Doesn't look like anybody's on board." Frank's observation was pretty obvious—there wasn't a light on.
    "You want to have a look?" Joe asked.
    "It's trespassing," Frank reminded his younger brother.
    "Yeah, but we're trying to find out what happened to Montague. Maybe he's on board—hurt or something. We should check it out."
    Joe took out his small underwater flashlight. He was going on board, with or without Frank.
    "Okay," Frank finally agreed. "But let's make it quick — someone may come soon, and there's no back door to this house." He followed Joe onto the deck of the large boat, walking silently in case someone really was on board. The sound of the water lapping against the side of the boat drowned out the creaking of the deck under the boys' weight.
    "Here's the door that leads down to the cabins," Frank whispered.
    Joe's flashlight lit up the small latch on the cabin-house door. Frank pulled on it, and the small door swung open.
    "I'll go first," Joe said. Frank checked to make sure no one from shore could see what they were doing. The dock was empty. "Follow me," Joe said, forcing Frank's attention back.
    The two brothers moved stealthily down the few steps into the small living compartment. "Watch yourself," said Frank from behind.
    Just as Frank spoke Joe tripped over something, stumbling noisily forward. The flashlight flew from his hand, to make a hard landing against the wooden floor.
    Frank winced as he heard the sound of breaking glass, followed by the lopping sound of the flashlight as it rolled across the floor. The light winked on and off with each turn of the flashlight. "You okay?"
    Joe had landed on one knee, but recovered quickly. "Yeah. The lens on the flashlight broke, but the light still works." Joe reached down and picked it up, shaking it gently every time the small light flickered out.
    "Are you clumsy, or what?" Frank asked his