A Game Called Chaos Read Free Page B

why’d you run?” Joe asked.
    â€œI thought maybe you were the ones who wrecked the joint, and maybe you’d come back for another go. I wasn’t about to stick around to find out.”
    â€œWell, I think you should stick around until the police check out your story,” Joe said. He pulled Winters’s car keys out of the door lock and pocketed them.
    â€œAw, come on!” pleaded Winters.
    â€œJust sit tight. The cops’ll be here in no time,” Frank said. He nodded to Chelsea, and she punched the number into her cell phone. The Hardys turned to go back toward the condo.
    â€œHey!” Winters called after them. “Where are you guys going?”
    â€œTo make sure you didn’t take anything from the apartment,” Joe said, trying not to smile.
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    When they got back to Royal’s condo, Joe said, “Thanks for the save back there, Frank. I almost spilled to that guy that Royal is missing.”
    â€œYeah,” Frank said. “The fewer people who know, the better.”
    Chelsea caught up to them. “The police said they’d be here shortly.”
    â€œThen we’d better not waste any time,” Frank said. “I doubt they’ll let us search the place once they get here. Let’s fan out. Joe, you take the back rooms, I’ll take the front. Chelsea, see what you can find on Royal’s computer. Try not to disturb any more evidence than we already have.”
    Chelsea and Joe nodded and the three set about their respective tasks. A few minutes later they gathered by the desk where Chelsea was working at the computer. Frank and Joe pulled up chairs and sat on either side of Phil’s cousin.
    â€œOnly thing I found,” Joe said, “is this letter.” He held out a framed letter so the others could see it. “It’s from someone named Ian Tochi. He says he’s going to make trouble for Royal because of something in Forest of Chaos, though he doesn’t say what.”
    â€œI know what that is,” Chelsea said. “Tochi was an old friend of Royal’s. He invented the Bombo Bear animatronic doll.”
    â€œYou mean that sappy talking bear that spouted clichés about loving everybody?” Joe asked.
    â€œWhat’s so funny about peace, love, and understanding?” said Frank.
    â€œThat’s the one,” Chelsea said. “Anyway, Tochi got it in his head that the bear character in Forest of Chaos was a parody of Bombo. He’s been making a stink about it ever since, but Royal never took it seriously.”
    â€œSeriously enough to have it framed,” Frank said.
    â€œThat was just Steven’s idea of a joke,” Chelsea said. “I think he likes ticking people off.”
    â€œWhich, I suppose, is why we’re all here,” Joe said. “You find anything, Frank?”
    Frank shook his head. Just then the phone rang. Royal’s answering machine picked it up after one ring. “This is Royal,” the machine said in the game designer’s voice. “I’m either off saving the world or conquering it. Leave a message.”
    â€œNot a big ego,” Joe said sarcastically.
    â€œWait! Listen!” hissed Frank.
    After the beep, the party on the other end of the line said, “This is Rosenberg. I’m waiting for you at my office, as you asked. But ten minutes from now, I won’t be waiting any longer.”
    â€œHe must be waiting for Royal,” Joe said.
    â€œRoyal’s sold us out!” Chelsea cried.

3 In Cahoots
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    Frank and Joe got to their feet at the same time. “If we’re lucky,” Frank said, “we can catch Royal and Rosenberg together.”
    â€œHow do we get to Rosenberg’s office?” Joe asked Chelsea.
    Chelsea stammered out quick directions, and the Hardys headed for the door.
    â€œYou stay here and wait for the police,” Frank told Chelsea. “We’ll catch up