The Secret of Skeleton Reef Read Free Page B

yelled.
    â€œThat’s exactly what you’re saying!” the bearlike guy yelled back.
    Then the big guy took a threatening step toward the other man, who ran fearfully toward the Hardys. The bigger man dashed across the sand in pursuit and caught the man by the arm.
    â€œListen, Ziggy,” the larger man shouted. “I’ve had about enough of you!”
    â€œI wasn’t accusing you of anything!” the other man protested. “Really, Lou, I wasn’t!”
    Lou cocked back a hairy arm, his fingers clenched in a big fist. He was about to turn Ziggy into hamburger.

3 The Scent of Treasure
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    As if he were back on the football field at Bayport High, Joe plowed into the large man’s midsection. They both ended up sprawled on the sand, Joe on top.
    â€œHey, what’s the big idea?” Lou roared. The next thing Joe knew, the bear of a man was on top of him, cocking back his fist again.
    â€œI don’t think so!” Frank said, catching Lou’s hairy arm just in time.
    By now the rest of the group had run over to the scuffle. “Come on, Lou,” Dirk said as he pulled the guy off Joe. “It’s no big deal. Chill out, man!”
    Both Joe and Lou got up, panting heavily. Lou brushed sand out of his dark curly hair while Joe straightened his clothes and eyed the man. Louappeared to be in his thirties and not bad looking as far as bears go. He wore a tattoo of an anchor on his powerful right bicep. Joe was glad to see Lou’s anger was quickly subsiding.
    â€œSorry about that, guy,” Lou said, offering a hand to Joe. “My temper gets the best of me sometimes. Thanks for stopping me. The name is Lou Brunelli.”
    â€œHi, Lou,” Joe said, shaking Brunelli’s hand and introducing himself and his brother. Brunelli had a grip like a vise, and Joe was grateful he hadn’t gotten the chance to see what Brunelli’s fist felt like.
    â€œI’ve got to admit,” Brunelli said with admiration, “you’ve got some guts there, Joe.” Brunelli then walked over to join some of the others in the group.
    â€œWe meet again,” Ted said, nodding at Frank.
    â€œWhat happened here?” Frank asked Ted.
    â€œWe’re all on the underwater salvage crew,” Ted explained. “It’s been a real long search, and now and then we get a bit uptight. And we’re especially uptight today.”
    â€œWhy is that?” Frank asked.
    â€œThis gal on the crew, Chrissy, didn’t come home last night, and she hasn’t shown up this morning, either,” Ted said. “We don’t know if we should head out to sea to work or split up and look for her.”
    â€œDid you say her name was Chrissy?” Joe asked.
    â€œThat’s right,” Ted replied. “Chrissy Peters. Why, do you know of her?”
    â€œUh, no,” Joe said, remembering his promise to Chrissy.
    â€œI didn’t think so,” Ted said. “She’s from the States, Virginia actually, and outside of the crew, I don’t think she knows anyone on the island. She’s a tough enough woman, so she should be all right. All the same, I’m worried.”
    Hearing another argument break out, Joe turned to look. Two other men from the group were exchanging heated words.
    One was a tall man with dark wavy hair and a sharp nose, who Joe guessed was in his forties. He wore expensive clothing, sunglasses, and a jeweled ring that flashed on one finger. He was speaking with a French accent.
    â€œWho’s that?” Joe asked.
    â€œThat’s Pierre Montclare,” Ted said. “He owns a banana plantation on the island, and he’s also the one financing our expedition. Apparently he was the last to see Chrissy. She was doing some bookkeeping for him last night.”
    Frank and Joe exchanged a look.
    â€œAnd who’s the other guy?” Frank asked.
    â€œSandy Flask,” Ted answered. “He’s the