The Secret of Skeleton Reef Read Free

needs a good night of rest. I wish I knew who she was, though. We’d like to notify her friends or family of her whereabouts, but we couldn’t get any information from her.”
    â€œCould we see her briefly?” Frank asked. “Maybe we can get something out of her.”
    â€œI suppose,” the doctor said with a nod. “She’s in Room eleven. But stay only a few minutes, please.”
    â€œRight,” Frank said, leading Joe and Jamal down the hallway. At Room 11 Frank rapped lightly at the door, then stepped into the room. Joe and Jamal followed. The room was dark, but enough light spilled in from the hallway for Frank to see the young woman lying on the tilted hospital bed.
    As Frank approached, he could see her eyes were open. She was wearing a hospital gown and had an ID bracelet on her wrist. Her long chestnut hair was now dry and draped across the pillowcase. Though her face was friendly, there was a hint of fear in her pale blue eyes.
    â€œHow are you feeling?” Frank asked.
    â€œNot too bad,” the girl said, her voice still hoarse. “Are you the guys who brought me here?”
    â€œThat’s right,” Frank said. “I’m Frank Hardy. This is my brother, Joe, and our friend, Jamal Hawkins. What’s your name?”
    The young woman hesitated a long moment. “Uh . . . Chrissy,” she said finally.
    â€œChrissy what?” Frank asked.
    â€œI’d prefer we just leave it at Chrissy.”
    â€œIs there anyone we can notify about your being here?” Frank asked. “Some family or friends in the area?”
    â€œNo,” Chrissy said quickly. “In fact, would you guys do me a big favor?”
    â€œSure,” Frank said.
    â€œDon’t tell anyone you found me or brought me here,” Chrissy said. “Please. Promise you won’t say a word to anyone.”
    â€œOkay.” Frank wondered what was up, but he said, “We promise.”
    â€œDo you remember what happened to you, Chrissy?” Jamal asked.
    â€œNo,” Chrissy said, shaking her head. “I remember . . . some sort of struggle, then . . . ”
    â€œWho was struggling with you?” Jamal asked.
    â€œI don’t remember,” Chrissy said, her brow wrinkling as if she were rummaging through her thoughts for some lost item. “Someone was trying to hurt me. . . . Suddenly I was in the water . . . and then . . . then I was swimming . . . and I, uh . . . just recall swimming and swimming a very long way until . . . I couldn’t swim any farther.”
    â€œChrissy?” Joe said, stepping toward the bed.
    â€œYes?” Chrissy said, turning to look at Joe.
    â€œOn the way here, you kept saying the word skeh ,” Joe said. “What does that mean?”
    Chrissy looked at Joe a moment. She seemed to be trying to decide whether to reveal a piece of information. “I don’t know,” Chrissy said finally.
    â€œAll right,” Frank said in a soothing voice. “Why don’t you get some sleep and we’ll come back to check on you in the morning? Good night, Chrissy.”
    â€œGood night,” Chrissy whispered to the boys. “And listen—thank you.”
    Soon Jamal was steering the Jeep along a dark and snaking dirt road. Most of the island’s roads were rough going and rarely straight or level.
    â€œShe’s obviously scared of something,” Jamal said, slowing down the Jeep for a curve. “Probably the person she was struggling with.”
    â€œThat’s why she wouldn’t give us her last name,” Joe said from the backseat. “That’s also why she made us promise not to tell anyone we found her. And I bet she’s hoarse from screaming. Something sinister is going on here.”
    â€œSee, what did I tell you?” Jamal said. “It looks like the Hardy brothers have