The Secret of Skull Island by Zack Norris Page A

when he and Cody were back in their room after lunch. “Cato was doing a lot of talking. Then he got kind of spacey.”
    Otis was standing beside his bed, his back to the wall. Cody was in front of him, bent down under his own bed. He was looking for his sneakers.
    â€œDo you think somebody paid the cook and the guide to leave, Otis?”
    Cody waited a moment. Otis didn’t answer.
    â€œI think somebody doesn’t want the inn to stay in business,” Cody went on. “It’s hard to figure out. That guy Cordell definitely seems to want people to be scared of the place. And he and Sam Keller are up to something. Why isn’t Cordell going by his real name? Didn’t that officer Tano seem strange, too? Imagine a police officer who treats everything like a big joke.”
    Cody waited for his brother to jump in with thoughts of his own. When he didn’t, Cody went on talking … and talking … and talking. “I can’t find my sneakers,” he mumbled several minutes later. “Have you seen them anywhere, Otis?”
    When Otis didn’t reply, Cody got up and turned around. “Why don’t you answer me? You haven’t said a word.”
    Cody found himself talking to a blank wall. His jaw dropped. Otis was gone.

[Chapter Ten]
    C ody heard a pounding behind the wall. “Cody! Cody! I’m in here! Get me out!” It was Otis.
    â€œWell, how did you get in there?”
    â€œI don’t know. I must have hit a button or lever or something. The wall slid back and I fell into this secret compartment.”
    â€œWow. What’s back there?”
    â€œIt’s just a sort of crawl space. It’s just a slot behind the wall.”
    â€œMaybe it was the pirate’s hiding place.”
    â€œMaybe. Will you stop talking and get me out of here?!”
    â€œOh, sorry … okay, okay.” Cody’s eyes began searching the wall. His hands felt for a seam. The wall was smooth, with dark baseboard paneling.
    There were carvings in the baseboard—flowers. But then hidden among the flowers was a skull. Cody sucked in his breath when he saw it, then pressed his finger to its surface.
    Swoosh! A panel in the wall slid back a few inches, then sideways to reveal Otis standing there, his face red and his hair dishevelled.
    Wooo! He exhaled a puff of air as he stepped into the room. “It was hot in there and dark. How’d you open up the panel?”
    Otis pointed to the skull and then pressed it. The panel slid back into place.
    â€œAwesome,” said Otis. “Thanks.” He took a deep breath.
    â€œWell, I didn’t want to have to hack up Aunt Edith’s wall,” Cody said, slapping his brother on the back.
    â€œI think it’s more than just a hiding place,” said Otis. “The wall behind me sounded hollow. We should see if we can open that inside panel. We’ll get some flashlights and—”
    Rae burst into the room. “You’ve got to come downstairs! You’re not going to believe who just came to the inn! Oh, this is amazing!” She turned her back and ran out.
    Cody and Otis looked at each other for a moment. Otis shrugged. “Well, I guess we ought to go see who it is.”
    They headed for the staircase. Sam Keller was already halfway down. “Hey!” he called to a tall, muscular man wearing red shorts and a gray T-shirt. The man looked at him and his mouth opened slightly. He closed it quickly, frowned, and shook his head slightly.
    Rae was hovering over someone with short, dark hair who was sitting with his back to her. She was smiling but looked slightly dazed.
    The boys reached the bottom of the stairs a few steps behind Keller, who was walking over to introduce himself. He stuck out his hand and the tall, muscular man shook it.
    â€œSam Keller.”
    â€œRonnie Walker.”
    â€œIt looked like they recognized each other before,” Cody whispered to his brother.