Danger in the Extreme by Franklin W. Dixon Page A

“Is that cool?”
    Neal looked at DuBelle hopefully.
    The agent crossed her arms. “I don’t know, Neal. Things are getting out of hand around here.”
    Agent Ardis spoke up. “I think it’s okay,” he said. “We’ve got plenty of agents on duty, and Frank and Joe will be there.”
    Joe leaned in, “I’ve got to work on my sled. Sorry, Neal. Wish I could be there.”
    â€œIt’s okay,” Neal said. It was clear he was willingto trade Joe for Sammy Fear. He looked at DuBelle. “Let Sammy be there instead of Joe.”
    Michelle frowned. “Okay, but no antics.”
    Both Sammy and Neal nodded vigorously.
    Joe stuck his hand out to shake with Neal. “Good luck. I’ll catch up with you later.”
    But Neal and Fear were already yammering about the BASE jump and the aerial contest.
    As Joe started out of the room, Frank pulled him over. “You need help getting your sled together, bro?”
    â€œI should be okay. Stick around here and keep an eye on our daredevil friend there,” he said, nodding toward Fear. “I don’t trust him.”
    â€œI’ll help you wrench your sled,” Jamal said.
    â€œThanks.”
    Joe and Jamal headed back to the snocross pit area.
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    A couple of hours later, at around two in the afternoon, Frank, Sammy, Neal, and a group of agents arrived at the snowboard jump.
    The stands were packed now, and everyone cheered as Fear and Neal walked past the bleachers. Fear waved up at the crowd, then blew kisses at the contest judges, who sat in a special box in the front row.
    The three teens sat down on a heated bench next to the jump tower. Other snowboarders paced nervously or sat, quietly concentrating on thejumps they would soon perform. Twist Winiki sat far from everyone else, studying the edge of his board.
    Contest officials walked around, speaking quietly to each athlete. A young woman carrying a clipboard came up to their bench. “Neal Jordan?” she asked, looking at Neal’s number bib.
    â€œYeah,” Neal answered.
    â€œYou’ll be jumping fourth,” she said. “You can go up to the hut when there are two jumpers ahead of you.”
    â€œCan I go up with him?” Fear asked.
    â€œAre you his coach?”
    Neal and Fear glanced at each other. “Yes,” Neal answered. “He’s my coach.”
    â€œSure. Then you can go up.”
    Neal nodded and the official moved on to the next athlete.
    â€œOkay,” Fear said to Neal. “Remember what I told you, man. Visualize yourself nailing the jump.”
    â€œRight.” Neal stood up and did some stretches.
    A few minutes later the announcer called the names of the first three jumpers and told them to climb the tower and report in at the jump hut.
    Neal didn’t want to watch the jumpers in front of him, but Frank was excited to see the competition.
    â€œNumber one, jump when ready,” the announcer bellowed. The crowd went silent.
    Frank looked up to see a figure in loose-fitting ski pants and a sweatshirt step out of the hut door. Theguy adjusted his goggles, then headed down the ramp.
    He pulled off a double layout back flip but touched his hand on the landing.
    â€œDecent jump,” Fear said. “Little sketchy on the landing, but decent.”
    â€œYou can go up to the hut now,” Frank said to Neal. “You’re third in line.”
    Neal pulled his helmet and goggles from his duffel bag. He pinned his number bib to his fleece pullover and headed up the ladder. Fear followed.
    The next jumper was unspectacular. He performed a basic flip, double twist, and botched the landing, falling on his butt and sliding all the way down the landing slope.
    Low scores flashed on an electronic board.
    Frank spotted Agent DuBelle standing behind the crowd barrier. She looked up into the hut intently.
    The jumper just before Neal was Twist Winiki, from Hawaii.