The Dangerous Transmission Read Free

they emerged a few minutes later, all three had their hands over their mouths. “It’s a real mess,” Nick told the Hardys and Jax. His eyes were watering, and his clothes smelled like burning candles. “The guard and I have to talk to the fire chief,” he sputtered between coughs. “I’ll be right back.”
    â€œI’ll come with you,” Frank said. “I can help you describe what it was like when we left.”
    â€œGood idea,” Jax said, nodding to Nick.
    â€œOkay,” Nick agreed. “Come on.”
    Frank, Nick, and a couple of Tower guards walked over to the Green, where the fire chief waited to interview them.
    â€œI’m glad Frank volunteered to go with Nick,” Jax told Joe. “I was going to suggest it anyway—I’m eager to get the full story. And I haven’t had a chance to tell Nick that you are detectives yet.”
    â€œI’d like to get inside,” Joe said, watching the entrance to the Palace. A few guards stood in the doorway, talking. “Let’s give it a try. They probably think we’re employees anyway, since we’re here so late.”
    Joe took out a notebook and pen and strode up the stone steps. When he reached the guards, he said, “We’ll be in there only a few minutes,” he said, as if he belonged there. “We have to take a few notes for our report.” He gave the men a brief smile and brushed on past them. Jax followed. Joe heard the guards just a few steps behind, and he could feel their gazes. But they didn’t stop him from entering the Palace.
    While the guards watched, Joe and Jax stepped carefully around the charred wreckage and went into the throne room. Joe actually did take a few notes about what he found so he’d be able to fill Frank in on what he saw.
    â€œI figured we’d find this,” Joe said when theyreached what had been the exhibit of kings and queens. The wax royals had melted into odd-looking shapes. Some were grotesque, and some just funny-looking. A few were still melting.
    â€œThere’s my teeth,” Jax pointed out, reaching down toward a set of dentures floating on flesh-colored wax.
    When a guard cleared his throat in a gentle warning, Joe stopped Jax’s arm from reaching any farther. “Don’t touch,” Joe warned his friend.
    Joe continued to walk around the room. A fireman followed, asking Joe and Jax questions about the time before the fire.
    Two guards entered the room with a tall ladder. They opened it in the middle of the floor, using it to prop up the massive chandelier which now drooped on one side. As they moved the ladder around the floor to get it in the right position, they pushed a pile of clothing that had been on one of the king figures.
    When the cloth was moved aside, Joe spotted a knife with a long narrow blade. He crouched to get a better view. The antique handle was covered with wax, but he clearly saw two initials: J. B.
    â€œIs this yours?” Joe motioned Jax over. One of the guards followed.
    â€œUmmmm . . . yes, it is,” Jax said, a hint of surprise in his voice.
    â€œIt looks pretty valuable,” Joe said to the guard.“Let him take it, okay? He must have dropped it when we were working here earlier. You won’t get anything from it but his own prints—and maybe not even that, now that it’s been in this fire.”
    The guard nodded, and Jax put the knife in his pocket.
    By the time Joe and Jax had finished looking around and had gone back outside, Frank was searching for them.
    â€œSo what did you find out?” Jax asked. “What caused the fire?”
    â€œThe fireman said it might have had something to do with one of the work lights,” Frank said. “One of them was lying on its side—it might have sparked off the fire when it fell. Or there could have been a short in the wiring. The investigators are going to work all night until they come