The Third Adventure by Gordon Korman

handset disappeared in the darkness of the passage. Pitch continued to lower until, suddenly, the glossy screen was clearly visible in the light of the room below. Quickly, she wound up the ivy until the unit was in shadow again. This was as far as they dared go. The last thing they wanted was for Swindle to glance at his fireplace and see a phone dangling there like a worm on a hook.
    Pitch looked down off the roof. The others were huddled in the bushes, crowded around Griffin, who had his phone to his ear. Was it working? she wondered. Could they hear anything?
    What was going on?
    * * *
    S. Wendell Palomino was in a towering rage.
“Tomorrow morning?”
he barked into his phone in disbelief. “I can’t wait till tomorrow morning! I’ve got a flight to California
tonight
!”
    â€œSorry, Mr. Palomino,” came the voice on the other end of the line, “but that’s not going to happen.”
    â€œIt
has
to happen!” Swindle stormed. “What kind of garage are you running?”
    â€œThis isn’t like the big-city outfits you’re probably used to. I’m a small operation. It’s just me and my truck, and we cover a lot of territory. As you’ve probably noticed, wet weather means a lot of mud around here. When people start getting stuck, it’s first come, first served.”
    â€œAnd you just leave people stranded,” Palomino seethed.
    â€œWell, that’s another story entirely. Are you telling me you’re stranded?”
    â€œNot only am I stranded, I’m exposed to animal attack!” Okay, that was an exaggeration, but Luthor was going to be none too happy when the tranquilizer wore off. “And I’ve got no way to get my poor injured friend the medical attention he needs.”
    â€œSounds serious,” the mechanic agreed.
    â€œExactly! So how soon can you be here?”
    â€œ
I
can’t make it till tomorrow, but if things are as bad as you say, you’d better call the police.”
    â€œI wouldn’t
need
the police if I had a
car
!” Swindle insisted.
    â€œLike I said, I’ll be there tomorrow. You don’t have to wait around. Stick with your buddy. Just leave the cars unlocked and the keys on the seat. I’ll call you as soon as I know what’s what.”
    â€œOh, fine,” Palomino groaned. “We’ll wait for you.”
    â€œAre you sure that’s wise for your friend?”
    â€œPositive,” Swindle replied with a sigh. “In fact, I think he’s getting better. Come as soon as you can.” He hung up the phone and slumped in his chair. Nothing was ever easy where those lousy kids were involved.
    Hiller thumped over on his crutch. “Maybe we
should
be calling the police. If our cars have been vandalized, that’s a crime.”
    Palomino shook his head. “The last thing we need is some cop snooping around.”
    Hiller’s eyes narrowed. “You said the dog is legally yours.”
    â€œOf course. But the mutt’s been tranquilized, which is going to seem fishy to some small-town flatfoot. If he gets a sniff that there are kids involved — runaways, no less — that’s a can of worms I don’t want to open.” Swindle surveyed the kitchen irritably. “Is there anything to eat in this dump?”
    The hired man limped for the door. “I’ve got a turkey sandwich out in the truck. Tell you what: I’ll split it with you if you promise me we’re the good guys.”
    Palomino grimaced. “Do I look like a crook to you?”
    * * *
    Griffin’s face suddenly went white, and he waved the phone up at Pitch on the roof, gesturing wildly. She shot him a questioning shrug, but by then, he and the other team members had ducked out of sight in the bushes.
    The sound she heard next made her stiffen in fear: the opening and closing of the cottage’s front door.
    Hiller stepped out of the house and started for the