Trial and Terror Read Online Free Page B

eyes scanning the sidewalk in front of the building, where garbage cans were kept inside an iron railing. He noticed a man in ragged clothing searching through one of the cans. The man had a shopping cart filled with old clothing and castoff appliances.
    â€œThat gives me an idea,” Joe said, watching the man examine a soiled magazine. “Maybe I’ll find some clues in Karen Lee’s garbage. Letters or something. After all, it’s one of the oldest detective tricks in the book.”
    Joe walked over to the garbage area, lifted the top off one of the rubber cans, and opened a small plastic bag to investigate its contents. He found lettuce, chicken bones, and some papers.
    â€œHey, what’re you doing?” a voice cried.
    Suddenly Joe felt hands grab him roughly by the shoulders and spin him around. Joe was looking into the wild-eyed face of a homeless man—who looked as if he would stop at nothing to protect his turf.

4 The Missing Keys
----
    â€œHey, buster,” the homeless man growled in a gravelly voice. “This is my garbage! Understand? My garbage!”
    â€œAnd this is a free country,” Joe said, pulling away from the man’s grasp. “Which means I have as much right to this garbage as you do!”
    Joe and the man glared at each other while Frank trotted over. Seeing that it was about to be two against one, the man backed away.
    â€œAll right, all right—you win. But if you find any telephones or coffeepots or anything good like that, they’re mine.”
    â€œDeal,” Joe said, clapping the man’s shoulder.
    Minutes later Joe returned to the stoop carrying a small plastic bag filled with trash.
    â€œSniff out any good clues?” Frank joked.
    â€œMake fun of me if you want to,” Joe said, pulling out some soiled envelopes, “but these are letters addressed to Karen Lee. Can you think of a better way to learn about someone than by reading her mail?”
    â€œEither that or by talking to her,” Frank said, glancing up the block. “Look who’s headed our way.”
    At that moment Karen Lee herself was walking toward the building.
    â€œShe must have left soon after her testimony,” Joe said. “I guess she doesn’t have to be there for the entire trial.”
    The Hardys stood as Lee approached the stoop. “Miss Lee,” Frank said, “my brother and I are working on a high school journalism assignment, and I wonder if I could ask you a question or two.”
    When Karen Lee smiled, Frank could see why she had won a role on television. Not only was she pretty, but she seemed to radiate a glow of warmth.
    â€œI’m not supposed to talk with anyone about the trial,” Lee said politely. “But if it’s just for a high school project, I guess it won’t hurt.”
    Joe noticed the reporter across the street had stood when Lee approached. But oddly, Joe noticed, he made no move to approach.
    â€œWhen you were engaged to Nick Rodriguez,”Frank asked Lee, “did you have keys to his apartment? And, if so, were they labeled?”
    Lee seemed surprised by the question. “Uh, well, yes, I did have keys to Nick’s apartment,” she said after a moment. “And, yes, there was a label with his first name on it.”
    â€œAnd I’m sorry to pry,” Frank said, “but did you keep the keys after the two of you broke up?”
    â€œI meant to give them back,” Lee said, nervously pushing back her hair, “but I never did.”
    â€œDo you still have those keys?” Frank asked.
    â€œI’m sorry, but I have to go,” Lee said, starting up the stoop. “As I told you, I’m really not supposed to talk about any of this.”
    â€œMiss Lee,” Frank said, his tone serious, “Nick Rodriguez is someone you once cared about. No matter what Patricia Daggett may have told you, isn’t the truth more important than putting Nick