Crime in the Cards by Franklin W. Dixon Page A

will,” Con said. “Come on, Mr. Lester. We need to talk to the principal. After that, we’ll go to the station and take your statement.” Con headed for the principal’s office with Tim meekly tagging along.
    Other students had begun to gather around the locker, trying to find out the cause of the commotion. Officer Chisholm stared them down. “Move along,” she said. “Nothing to see here.” She spared a parting glance at Chet, the Hardys, and the girls. “You, too.”
    The brothers and their friends moved down the hall. “Why didn’t you say anything?” Callie asked Frank and Joe.
    â€œThere wasn’t much to say,” Frank said. “We couldn’t stop Con from doing his job.”
    â€œAnd we didn’t want to say anything that might put Tim in more trouble than he already was in,” Joe added.
    â€œDo you think he could have done it?” Iola asked.
    â€œHe knew Chet’s cards were in that desk,” Frank said. “And he had both motive and opportunity to take them.”
    â€œA lot of other people knew that as well,” Iola said. “Gerry told us all the gamers knew the cards were confiscated. Tim seems too nice to do something that rotten to Chet.”
    â€œI agree,” Callie said. “And, if he did take that card, why put it in his locker, and why open the locker in front of us?”
    â€œCriminals do make mistakes,” Joe said. “That’s usually why they’re caught. I’ll admit, though, it doesn’t make much sense.”
    â€œI don’t think either of us is ready to condemn Tim,” Frank added. “But he could have done it.”
    â€œThen the only logical choice is that someone framed him for it,” Callie said. “Someone like Pete or Daphne.”
    â€œOr someone we haven’t even considered yet,” Iola put in. “You’re awfully quiet, Chet. What do you think?”
    Chet sighed. “I’m almost wishing that I hadn’t reported the theft to the cops. If I hadn’t, maybe Frank and Joe could have handled this more quietly.”
    â€œIt’s a bad break,” Frank said, “but reporting the theft was the right thing to do.”
    â€œI wonder if Daphne ever reported her loss,” Joe mused. “If she didn’t, that might indicate that she didn’t want the police looking into the theft.”
    â€œAre you saying she might have faked the theft of her own cards?” Iola asked.
    Joe shrugged. “It wouldn’t be the first time a criminal has played the victim,” he said.
    â€œOn the other hand,” Frank said, “Pete’s competition for tomorrow’s tournament is looking pretty thin right now. Chet and Daphne had cards stolen, and now Tim is being investigated by the police. Even if all three of them make the tournament, their concentration might be thrown by all this—no offense, Chet.”
    â€œNone taken,” Chet said. “But Pete’ll have plenty of competition from out-of-towners anyway. Remember the guy at the ‘keeper’ game who didn’t wear a mask?”
    â€œYeah . . .” Joe said.
    â€œThat was Steve Vedder, a player from Jewel Ridge. He’s won a lot of tournaments,” Chet said. “There’ll be good players from all over at this thing.”
    â€œIf we don’t hear anything more, we’ll call Con after school,” Frank said, “and see what he found out.”
    â€œI’d still like to talk to Gerry again if we can corner him,” Joe said. “That guy seems as slippery as an eel.”
    â€œHe wriggled out of that fix at the mini-mall easily enough,” Iola added.
    â€œIf we can track him down,” Chet said, “I might even buy some cards from him.”
    â€œChet!” Callie and Iola said simultaneously, disapproval in their voices.
    Chet shrugged. “Hey, I’ve got a tournament to win,