Read Online Eye on Crime by Franklin W. Dixon - Free Book Online Page A

about,” Frank said, holding up the jeweled necklace he had found in Pepper Wingfoot’s gym bag.
    The coach’s eyes widened. He glanced at the crowd of ballplayers.
    â€œOkay, hit the showers!” he growled. The crowd began to disperse, murmuring threats at Frank and Joe.
    â€œYou two come with me,” the coach said to the Hardys. “You guys also.” He indicated Rojas and Wingfoot. The four teens glared as they walked insilence behind the coach. He led them to a small office at the front of the locker room. When he was sitting behind his desk, he addressed the boys.
    â€œOne at a time, starting with you,” he said pointing to Frank. “Names and explanations.”
    â€œI’m Frank Hardy, and this is my brother, Joe,” Frank began. “We came here hoping to get some information from Rojas and Wingfoot about the robbery at the Jewelry Exchange.”
    â€œBy breaking into my locker?” Wingfoot asked angrily.
    â€œWe wanted to see if you really were involved in that crime,” Frank said.
    â€œAnd I guess we found our answer,” Joe added, indicating the necklace in his brother’s hand.
    â€œLet me see that,” the coach said to Frank, who handed the necklace across the desk.
    â€œCan you explain this?” he said to Wingfoot.
    â€œHey, maybe those guys planted it!” Rojas interjected.
    Wingfoot shook his head. “Nice try at a save, buddy. But the truth will serve us better here. I bought it for my girlfriend a few weeks ago. I was saving it for her birthday.”
    â€œIn your locker?” Joe asked with skepticism.
    â€œAfter we were, you know, arrested, I moved it here so if the cops searched my house, they wouldn’t be suspicious like you guys are now.”
    â€œWhy wasn’t it gift wrapped?” Frank asked.
    â€œI was going to slip it around her neck. Figured it was cooler than just handing her a box with a ribbon around it.”
    â€œDo you have proof that you bought this necklace, Pepper?” the coach asked.
    â€œSure, Coach,” Wingfoot replied. “I have a receipt and everything. Guess I didn’t want any more hassle from the cops so I stashed it here.”
    â€œThat’s good enough for me,” the coach said. He glared at Frank and Joe. “So, what’s your interest in all of this. You work for the cops? Or maybe the jewelry store?”
    â€œNeither,” Joe said. “We’re working for our girlfriends.”
    â€œSee, they came to steal the necklace,” Rojas said.
    â€œHow would we know there was even a necklace in there?” Joe replied. “We were looking for evidence.”
    â€œWhy?
    â€œWell, because our girlfriends, Iola Morton and Callie Shaw, were arrested for robbery, and we think it’s tied into the break-in at the Jewelry Exchange,” Joe explained.
    â€œSo your girls are doing time for a crime they tried to frame us for? Good.”
    â€œIt’s not like that, Rojas,” Frank replied. “Look, we know they’re innocent. Maybe you two are framing them for something you did.”
    â€œWe didn’t do anything,” Wingfoot said. “Man,I can respect you guys trying to help your girlfriends, but we have nothing to say to you that we haven’t said already to the cops.”
    â€œHey,” Rojas said, cutting off his friend, “our lawyer told us to follow what the police told us and not say anything to anybody.”
    â€œForget the rules,” Wingfoot said. “These guys bent the rules to help their girlfriends. Maybe they can help us.”
    â€œIf you’re innocent,” Joe said, “anything we do to help Iola and Callie will help you.”
    â€œThere’s nothing to help with,” Rojas said. “We have no alibi, some stupid videotape puts us at the scene. Our meat is burned.”
    â€œWhere were you two the night of the robbery?” Frank asked.
    Wingfoot laughed.