[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
TheThreeInvestigators
Crimebusters#10
LongShot
Textby
MeganStine
and
H.WilliamStine
Basedoncharacterscreatedby
RobertArthur
Contents
1.ItPaystoWin........................................... 3
2.FastBreak............................................... 8
3.ElementaryConclusions..................................14
4.KellyCallsaPlay........................................18
5.GettingPhysical.........................................24
6.ABreakintheCase......................................29
7.PollyWantaCrackedHead?.............................33
8.RollinginMoney.........................................38
9.BasketCase..............................................43
10.PowerGame............................................48
11.ATotalBlast...........................................54
12.ArrestingDevelopments.................................60
13.PersonalFouls...........................................65
14.PhotoOpportunity......................................71
15.TheGameIsOver......................................76
16.MVP....................................................82
2
1
ItPaystoWin
THENOISESOUNDEDLIKETHEOMINOUSLOWRUM-blingsofan
earthquake.Butitwasfeet,hundredsoffeet,stompingthefloorunder
thebleacherseatsinrhythmic,near-perfectunison.Andthenthechanting
began,fasterandfaster.
“Dee—fense!Dee—fense!Dee—fense!”
PeteCrenshawstoodonthefloorofthegymnasiumcatchinghisbreath
andlisteningtothedeafeningnoise.Everybasketballgamewasexciting,but
thisonewasdierent.Thescorewastied,theplayersweretense,andPete
knewthecoachwascountingonhimtokeepSantaMonicafromscoring.
BUZZZZZ!
“Timeout—RockyBeach!”thepublic-addressannouncercalled.
PeteandtheotherplayershuddleduparoundCoachTong,theRocky
BeachHighSchoolbasketballcoach.CoachTonglookedeachplayerinthe
eye—especiallyPete.
At6’,190pounds,Petewassmallforbasketball.
HeknewCoachTonghadtakenachanceinmakingPeteastartingguard.
ButPetehadtalent,andnowhewasoneofthebestplayersontheteam.
“Twentysecondsleftinthegame,”thecoachsaid.Quicklyhedia-
grammedaplayonanotebook-sizechalkboard,theneraseditwiththeelbow
ofhissweater.“Now,whatareyougoingtodo?”
“Win!”thefiveplayersshoutedinonevoice,clappinghandsandwalking
backontothecourt.
Justforamoment,beforeSantaMonicacameback,Petewatchedthe
RockyBeachcheerleaders.Theywerejumpingandyellingandpumpingthe
crowdup.TheprettiestofthemlookedstraightatPete,pushinghersoft
brownhairawayfromherface.Thensheactuallyblewhimakiss.
Oh,brother,thoughtPete.Idon’tbelieveshedidthat.
ThegirlwasKellyMadigan.SheandPetehadbeengoingtogetherfor
monthsandPetestillcouldneverpredictwhatKellywouldsay,think,ordo
ItPaystoWin
next.Maybe,Petethought,that’swhyhelikedhersomuch.
“Someone’stryingtogetyourattention,”saidBillKonkey,theother
guardonPete’steam.
“Isawthekiss,”Petesaid,embarrassed.
“JupiterJonesblewyouakiss?”Billasked.
“Jupe’shere—atabasketballgame?”Petesaidincompletesurprise.
Pete’seyesfollowedBill’spointingfingerintothebleachersuntilhespot-
tedtwofamiliarfaces.TheywereJupiterJonesandBobAndrews.Pete,
Jupe,andBobhadbeenfriendsalmostforever.TogethertheywereThe
ThreeInvestigators,RockyBeach’sfamousdetectivetrio.
Petecouldn’tbelievehiseyes.JupiterJoneswasatabasketballgame
andhewasholdingagirl’shand!Notjustanygirl,either.ItwasAmanda
Blythe—girlwithacapitalG!
Thiswasamajornewsstory,becauseJupiterJoneswasatotalbrain
abouteverythingexcepttwothings—dietingandgirls.Hehadnoluck
witheither.Buttherehewas,holdingagirl’shandandsmilingaway.He
secretlywavedtoPetewithhisfreehand.
OnJupe’sothersideinthebleacherswasBobAndrews,whogotanAin
Jupe’sworstsubject.Bobknewallabouthowtohandlegirls.Whenhegot
hiscontactlensesafewyearsago,heseemedtogetanewpersonality,too.
Bobhadbecomeoneofthemostpopularguysinschool.
Thebuzzersoundeditsalarm,snappingPetebackintothegame.
“Twentysecondsremaining,”saidthePAannouncer.“Thescoreistied
70to70.It’sRockyBeach’sball.”
BillKonkeypassedittoHaroldDixon,aforward.Okay,hangon,Pete
toldhimself.Only15secondstogo.SuddenlythecrowdgroanedasTerry
Nolan,SantaMonica’sstarplayer,stoletheball.
Nolantookitstraightforthebasket.Hewasgoingtomakethewinning
bucket—withonly10secondsleftinthegame!
PeteleapedintotheairjustbeforeNolanwentupforhisjumpshot.The
timingwasperfect.PeteslappedtheballasitleftNolan’shand.
Thumpa!Theballhittheflooronetimeandthen—thumpa-thumpa-
thumpa—Petehadit.Thecrowdwasscreaming.Petetookofortheother
endofthecourt.
Fiveseconds!PeteknewSantaMonicaplayerswerecomingupright
behindhim,butheflewintotheairforalay-up.Theballdroppedthrough
thenet.Twopointsandthenthebuzzersounded.
“It’s72to70!”shoutedthePAannouncer.“RockyBeachwins!”
Thebandstartedplayingandthecheerleaderscamebackontothecourt,
cheeringanddancingastheplayersrushedtowardthelockerroom.
4
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]