Mystery of the Whale Tattoo

Mystery of the Whale Tattoo by Franklin W. Dixon Page A

Book: Mystery of the Whale Tattoo by Franklin W. Dixon Read Free Book Online
Authors: Franklin W. Dixon
Ads: Link
newsstand. They found an isolated grouping of chairs and sat down to read.
    Soon they were engrossed in their magazines. There was a rustle in the chair next to Frank but the boy did not look up. He was turning a page when a gruff voice said:
    â€œHello, brats!”
    Startled, Frank discovered Mug sitting beside him! A quick glance revealed that Joe was flanked by Baby Face. Joe started to move, but Frank waved him back, realizing that if Mug and Baby Face were confronting them in the open, the two thugs must have a pretty good trick up their sleeves.
    â€œThat’s good thinkin’,” Mug said. “You guys don’t want to make a scene here.”
    â€œYeah,” Baby Face gloated. “Get up nice and quiet and take a little walk to our car.”
    â€œWhy?” Frank’s voice was cool.
    â€œOne, so your old man with his dopey dyed hair and his fake tattoo won’t get hurt—and two, so your fat buddy stays just as healthy as when you dropped him off at Seamen’s Haven.”
    â€œYou see,” Mug said with a sardonic smile, “our men are holding both of them. If anything happens to us, or if we don’t come back with you two, then nobody’ll see Daddy and Fatso again!”

CHAPTER XV
    Tattling Tattoos
    â€œNow, I want you to walk real slow and calm between me and Baby Face. Remember, any funny business and you’ll be responsible for what happens.” Mug stood up. “Come on.”
    Frank and Joe left their chairs and began walking with Mug and Baby Face toward the exit.
    â€œYou’re going to pay for this,” Joe said through clenched teeth.
    â€œWrong!” Mug answered. “We’re going to get paid for this.”
    â€œThat’s for certain,” Frank said. “But not the way you expect.”
    â€œShut up!” Mug growled. “You guys have been a pain in the neck long enough and I don’t want to hear no more out of you.”
    The two thugs directed the boys through the parking lot to a large green sedan. Baby Face opened the door in the rear and told Frank to get in. Baby Face followed the dark-haired youth, then ordered Joe to enter.
    Mug went around the other side of the car and slid in behind the wheel. The big man lit a cigarette and stared idly out the window, smoking, as Baby Face quickly bound Frank’s and Joe’s wrists and ankles with stout rope.
    â€œOn the floor!” he said when he had finished. “Quick, move!” He pushed the boys down and threw a blanket over them. “Okay, Mug. Let’s go!”
    The car started off with Frank and Joe cramped, hot, and uncomfortable. “We really botched this one,” Joe whispered. “We should have slugged it out with them right in the terminal.”
    â€œYou know we couldn’t, Joe.”
    â€œI guess you’re right. But what if it was just a ruse? What if Dad and Chet are really all right?”
    A shoe slammed down on Frank’s back. “Shut up, you punks!” Baby Face grumbled.
    â€œAw, let ‘em talk,” Mug said. “It ain’t gonna hurt nothin’. Besides, they won’t be talkin’ much longer!”
    Baby Face seemed to find this statement hilarious. His laughter sounded like a high-pitched whinny.
    â€œFrank,” Joe said desperately, “if we don’t think of something quick, we’re going to end up on the bottom of a river!”
    From the sounds of traffic, Frank guessed they were on an expressway. Mug drove at a steady speed for some ten minutes.
    â€œThere’s the turnoff on the right,” Baby Face said.
    The car veered and a few moments later the sound of heavy traffic had been left behind. “That country road’s only two miles from here, Mug,” Baby Face directed. “Watch for an old scarred oak tree.”
    Frank and Joe had scraped their wrists raw trying to loosen their bonds, but to no avail.
    â€œHere we are,” Mug announced.

Similar Books

Head Shot

Quintin Jardine

Vanished

Kendra Elliot

Making Things Better

Anita Brookner

Tousle Me

Lucy V. Morgan

Deliverance (The Maverick Defense #1)

L.A. Cotton, Jenny Siegel

Bad Girls Finish First

Shelia Dansby Harvey

Rainstone Fall

Peter Helton

The Always War

Margaret Peterson Haddix