Peril at Granite Peak by Franklin W. Dixon Page A

key.”
    â€œWho has the key?” I asked.
    Rick shrugged. “We all do. There’s a master key that works most of the door locks around here.”
    â€œThat’s right. Everyone who works here has a copy of the key,” Mr. Gallagher confirmed, turning to his staff. “So did any of you lock this door tonight?”
    All the employees present shook their heads. Stanley frowned. “Well, I got locked out there somehow,” he insisted, letting out a sudden shiver.
    Mrs. Gallagher tut-tutted. “Enough talking,” she said,putting an arm around Stanley. “Let’s get you to the infirmary.”
    As she bustled him off down the hall, Stanley was still complaining. Mr. Gallagher sighed and rubbed his beard as he watched them go. There was a worried crease in his forehead, and I could guess what he was thinking. Why did this have to happen to Stanley Wright of all people?
    â€œAll right, everyone,” Mr. Gallagher said. “Go on back to bed. We’ll take care of this and update everyone in the morning.”
    People started drifting back toward their rooms. I stepped over to Cody. “Nice work out there, you two,” I said, patting Blizzard on the head. “Stanley might not seem very grateful right now, but I’m sure he’ll realize he owes you his life.”
    â€œI wouldn’t have even known he was out there if you guys hadn’t sounded the alarm,” Cody said. “Anyway, Blizz is the one who found him.”
    â€œYeah.” I shot Joe a proud glance. He might seem like kind of a spaz most of the time, but once in a while my brother really comes through. “That was good thinking, running for Blizz.”
    â€œI’m just glad she was here.” Joe shrugged modestly. “Come on, might as well try to get some sleep.”
    But when he, Chet, and I reached our suite, none of us were feeling sleepy. We sprawled on Chet’s bed, talking about what had just happened.
    â€œIt must have been an accident, right?” Chet said.
    Joe shrugged. “Rick said that door shouldn’t lock unless someone locks it,” he reminded us.
    â€œYeah.” I’d been thinking about that. “He was awfully quick to speak up about it, actually.”
    â€œWhat are you saying?” Joe raised one eyebrow. “You think Rick locked Stanley out there?”
    â€œNot on purpose.” I picked at a loose thread on the bedspread. “I imagine it was an honest mistake. He was awfully worried about doors blowing open earlier, remember? He might’ve locked that one just in case the wind picked up even more.”
    â€œSo why didn’t he say so?” Chet wondered.
    â€œMaybe he was afraid he’d be blamed—might be afraid of losing his job over it or something.” I chewed my lower lip, thinking it over. “We don’t know anything about him or his history here, after all.”
    Chet looked troubled. “Then again, maybe it wasn’t an accident,” he said. “Did you guys notice that Rick was still dressed just now?”
    Come to think of it, I had. “So what?” I said. “It’s not that late. Some people are night owls. Or maybe he was supposed to stay up and keep an eye on things tonight because of the storm.”
    â€œMaybe,” Joe said. “Still, if we were investigating this incident—and I’m not saying we are—I’d probably have to put Mr. Rick Ferguson on the suspect list.”
    â€œI’d put Stanley on it too,” Chet said. “It’s pretty weird how all the mysterious stuff happens to him, right? Besides, the guy is just a jerk, and he complains about everything.”
    Joe grinned. “You think he locked himself out in the snow to die? Yeah, that would give him something to complain about, all right.”
    â€œWhatever.” I stifled a yawn, still turning everything that had happened over in my head. “For all we