The Secret of Skeleton Reef (14 page)

“Wait!” Vines screamed. “Don't leave us out here! We'll never make it! We've only got minutes of air in our tanks!”

“Have a heart!” Wilson shouted. “Please.”

“Now you know how it feels!” Chrissy yelled down from the bridge. “Pretty scary, isn't it?”

“I'm sorry, Chrissy!” Brunelli cried out.

“Shut up and start treading water!” Joe yelled to the frightened men. “We'll radio for a police boat to pick you up. After they get you in handcuffs, you can tell them your side of the story.”

Soon the
Destiny
was out of hearing range of the screaming villains. Chrissy had radioed the police, and a boat was on the way to haul them in. As the
Destiny
plowed through the calm Caribbean Sea, Joe and Jamal stood with Chrissy up on the bridge. Joe glanced up at the glowing crescent moon, finally feeling his adrenaline level return to normal.

“You know,” Chrissy said, her chestnut hair dancing in the wind, “Sandy Flask was right. The scent of treasure does change people. It even happened to me. But I've learned my lesson, and I have a lot to thank you guys for.”

“Now,” Jamal said with a smile, “maybe I can get the Hardy brothers to take it easy for a few days.”

“That's exactly what I have in mind,” Joe said, squeezing Jamal's arm. Joe noticed Frank below, leaning on the port gunwale, watching the dark water flow by. Joe climbed down from the bridge and approached his older brother.

“What are you thinking?” Joe asked.

“Oh, nothing,” Frank replied.

“Nope,” Joe said. “I can tell you're thinking about something. Tell me what it is.”

“Okay,” Frank said, his brown eyes turning mischievous.
“I was just wondering what other secrets might lie buried out there on Skeleton Reef. There's bound to be a few more.”

“Well, if you find anything,” Joe said, pointing a stern finger at Frank, “keep it to yourself. Starting right now, I am officially on vacation.”

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters,
places and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used
fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is
entirely coincidental.

Aladdin

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