The Secret of Sigma Seven by Franklin W. Dixon Page A

Devoreaux’s bodyguards in there, too, sitting in the shadows.”
    â€œAmchick’s showing Devoreaux some kind of movie,” Joe said. “Can you make out what it is?”
    â€œI can’t see it any better than you,” Frank said, “but I think it’s the same film that Amchick was showing in the auditorium yesterday. The one that he made on a computer.”
    â€œSo that’s why Amchick has been chasing down Simon Devoreaux,” Joe said. “He wanted to show him that film. I wonder why?”
    â€œMaybe he wants to get a job as a special-effects director,” Frank said.
    â€œSomehow I can’t see it,” Joe said. “Amchick doesn’t look the type. Besides, if he’s the one who tried to kill Devoreaux the other night, why would he want to bump off his prospective boss?”
    â€œI don’t know,” Frank said. “But we’d still better keep our eye on Amchick. Devoreaux might not be in any danger as long as the bodyguards are around, but we don’t know what Amchick is up to.”
    â€œOkay,” Joe said. “But—” He stopped in midsentence and turned away from the door. “Uh-oh. Look who just slithered in.”
    Joe pointed down the hallway, where GeorgeMorwood was stepping out of an elevator. Morwood looked around nervously, then moved toward the lobby.
    â€œHe’s acting kind of funny,” Joe said. “I’ll follow him and see what he’s up to.”
    Frank nodded. “I’ll stay here and keep an eye on Amchick and Devoreaux.”
    Leaving his brother, Joe followed Morwood into the lobby. Morwood headed out the door and rounded the building. Joe followed him quietly to the rear parking lot of the motel. He crouched down behind a parked car and watched as Morwood approached a man wearing a black leather jacket with chains hanging on it. They spoke for a minute, then headed for a small, windowless outbuilding behind the motel. As they opened a door and stepped inside, Joe left his hiding place and walked toward the brick building.
    The door they had entered was marked No Admittance, and the building appeared to be some kind of storage room. Joe sat on the ground next to the building, hidden from the door by some thick bushes. Leaning his head against the bricks, he thought, I’ll just wait here until they come out.
    Joe was suddenly aware of how tired he was. After the long night on the floor of Brian’s room, the lack of sleep was starting to catch up with him. Without realizing it, he closed his eyes and began to fall asleep.
    Suddenly Joe’s eyes snapped open, and he camefully awake. He thought he heard a deafening bellow, like something out of an old jungle movie. He wondered if it had been a dream, but then he looked up and saw a huge object hovering over him.
    Joe froze when he realized it was the foot of a large elephant, and that it was about to crush him into the pavement!

11 A Meeting in the Woods
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    Joe rolled aside just as the elephant’s foot came crashing down on the pavement. He got to his feet and backed away from the huge animal. Joe winced as the elephant, which was still wearing the Surriband costume from the day before, made a bellowing noise and looked around as if deciding where to go next.
    Joe’s heart thumped loudly as he eyed the elephant nervously. Where in the world did this creature come from? he thought.
    â€œThere he is!” shouted a worried voice. Joe looked up to see a husky man in overalls racing toward the elephant. “Bruno! How did you get out of the tent?”
    â€œIs . . . is this your elephant?” Joe asked.
    â€œYes, it is,” the man in overalls said, a look of deepconcern on his face. “I work with the zoo. I brought this elephant here at the request of the people who do those Galactic Saga movies. They promised they’d keep him in their tent, but somehow he got away.” He grasped the