Terror at High Tide by Franklin W. Dixon Page A

sawdust lay close to the cracks in the wood. “It looks like someone took a saw to this stair but didn’t want to be obvious about it.”
    â€œYeah, someone like the dune buggy driver,” Joe said. “He must have come in here.”
    Skipping the broken stair, Joe climbed to the second floor of the mill and looked out the window. “The buggy’s gone. And Alicia’s not in the Jeep,” he called. “I hope nothing’s happened to her.”
    Taking the stairs two at a time, Joe rushed down to the first floor. Frank, still feeling wobbly,followed at a slower pace, his eyes glancing over each nook and shadow of the mill interior. Nothing he saw seemed the least bit suspicious.
    Downstairs, the Hardys found both Callie and Alicia listening to Bob.
    â€œWhew,” Joe said, as his eyes met Alicia’s. “You’re here. I didn’t see you in your Jeep, and the dune buggy’s gone. Frank and I got worried.”
    â€œI didn’t like being out there alone, with that weird buggy parked in front of me,” Alicia said. “So I decided to join Callie.”
    â€œGood move,” Joe said. “And now that we know where you are, I’d like to know where that dune buggy is. Did you hear it drive away?”
    â€œNo,” Alicia said, looking puzzled. “We didn’t hear or see anything. I didn’t even know it was gone until you told us.”
    Joe filled everyone in on what had happened to Frank upstairs. Callie and Alicia looked shocked, but Joe thought he detected a hint of guilt flicker through Bob’s eyes. Looking straight at him, Joe asked, “Are you sure no one came in here during the ten minutes before we arrived?”
    Bob’s expression clouded over with worry. “Well,” he mumbled, “to tell you the truth, I can’t be absolutely sure. Right before you got here, I left for a couple of minutes to give directions to a cyclist on the main road. I suppose someone could have sneaked in then. No one wasin here, and there’s no rule that says I have to be at my post every second.”
    â€œDon’t worry about it,” Frank told him. “You were just trying to help. But there must have been some visitors to the mill earlier today. I can’t believe we’re the first ones.”
    Bob looked thoughtful. “As I said, it’s been quiet for a Saturday. I guess everyone’s at the beach. But there was a group of women about an hour ago.”
    â€œDid they go all the way upstairs?” Joe asked.
    â€œYes. They wandered around for a while, listened to my talk, and then went upstairs. But there were no accidents,” Bob said.
    Frank and Joe thanked Bob for his help. “You’d better get that stair fixed before anyone else goes up there,” Frank added as he and the others headed for the door.
    Back at the Jeep Alicia said, “You’re right, Frank, to wonder about Jonah Ferrier. He was the only person who knew we were coming to the Corn Mill.”
    Frank nodded, but Callie shook her head. “I just don’t buy it,” she said. “Mr. Ferrier’s a totally harmless guy. I know that from working with him.” She stared at the others. “Am I the only one around here who’s sticking up for him?”
    â€œAt this stage of the investigation,” Joe said, “we each have to keep an open mind. And you’vegot to admit, Callie, that a lot of factors point to Ferrier as the culprit.”
    â€œOne thing we can all agree on,” Frank said. “Someone wants us off the case.” He climbed into the backseat of the Jeep and sat next to Callie. “Why don’t we find out where Ferrier went for lunch?” he suggested. “If he has an alibi, then we could rule him out.”
    â€œI want to get back home,” Alicia said as she strapped herself into the driver’s seat. “If either Dad or the kidnapper calls, I want to be