Speed Times Five by Franklin W. Dixon Page B

“Man!” he said. “I wanted to catch those guys!”
    â€œThey knew this station better than we did,” Frank said. “They lured us here on purpose. We didn’t stand much of a chance.”
    â€œIf I ever see them again, though . . .” Joe said.
    â€œLet’s get back to the hotel,” Frank said. “Jamal and Chet must be wondering where we are.”
    Chet and Jamal had plenty of questions for the brothers when the Hardys got back to their room. Frank filled their friends in while Joe brought Vince Bennett up to date. When they’d finished, Chet asked, “And you have no idea who this hooded man is?”
    â€œWe’re thinking he must be one of the competitors,” Frank said, “or part of someone’s crew. Whoever he is, clearly he’s up to no good.”
    â€œBut if he’s part of the race, why didn’t he just go back into the hotel to get away from you?” Jamal asked.
    â€œHe knew we’d spotted him,” Joe replied, “so he tried to throw us off the scent. And his buddies nearly threw me off a metro balcony.”
    â€œWhy, though?” Chet said. “Just to win the race?”
    â€œCould be,” Frank said. “The guy in the suit said there was a lot riding on the race.”
    â€œI get the feeling we’re still missing part of this picture, though,” Joe said.
    â€œMaybe it’ll be clearer once we’ve slept on it,” Jamal suggested. “After all, we’ve got an early start tomorrow.”
    Joe groaned. “And I thought this was going to be the evening to rest and recover!”
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    On the last day of the race, the brothers and their friends woke before sunrise. Joe and Frank felt tired and beat up, and a quick breakfast made them feel only a little better. After eating, they all went down to the garage to check the bikes. Most of the other competitors and their crews were there as well.
    Lupin and his hired help shot a suspicious glare at the brothers as they entered the underground lot. Maggie Collins waved a weak hello, for which Quentin Curtis and Robert Frid scowled at her. Roger Baldwin ignored the brothers entirely, as did John and Jim from Kelly Hawk’s crew. Kelly, though, walked over to the Hardys’ work area as the four friends gave their bikes a final once-over.
    â€œSee, boys?” she said. “You don’t have to hold a minority political view to get folks suspicious. Sometimes all you have to do is to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.” A sly grin tugged at the edges of her mouth.
    Joe and Frank chuckled. “Good luck today, Kelly,” Frank said.
    â€œYeah, see you at the finish line,” Joe added.
    â€œYou guys, too,” she replied. “And keep your noses clean.” She went back to her preparation area and huddled with her crew.
    Vince Bennett came by to wish all the remaining racers good luck. Once again he privately thankedthe Hardys for keeping their eyes open, though he had nothing to report on the hooded man.
    Because they had helped Victoria Clemenceau the previous day, the Hardys were still far back in the pack when the race started again. Still, the road portion from Montreal to St. Jean-sur-Richelieu gave them a good chance to make up some ground.
    The remaining bike portion of the race passed uneventfully and the brothers pulled into the waterside checkpoint well before noon—back in the hunt once more. Dozens of SeaZoom personal watercraft lined the beach outside of town, waiting for the final leg of the Speed Times Five Adventure Race.
    Support crews worked feverishly, preparing the crafts so the small jetboats would be ready when their drivers’ turn to start came. Michael Lupin, Roger Baldwin, and Kelly Hawk were among the leaders, as Vince Bennett prepared to start the mad dash for the finish line in Burlington, Vermont.
    â€œIt’ll be good to get back