Zack Norris - The Danger on Shadow Mountain

[DOUBLE DETECTIVES]

The Danger on Shadow Mountain

by Zack Norris

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2012 by Dona Smith

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ISBN 978-1-4027-9885-6

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Designed by Susan Gerber

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www.sterlingpublishing.com/kids

For Bill Luckey, my first Double Detectives editor, who gavethe extended Carson family carte blanche to travel anywherein the world and beyond!

CONTENTS

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I t isnt whether you win or lose, but how you play the game. The speaker stared into the mirror over the mantel, lips twisted into a mocking sneer. Thats the most ridiculous thing Ive ever heard. Anyone who believes that is nothing but a loser. The truth is just the opposite. In the end it doesnt matter a bit how you played the game, but whether you won or not. Winning is everything.

The mantel was crowded with trophies, but not many were for first place. The losers lose because they havent got the guts to go the distance. Theyre afraid to do whatever it takes to win, and thats why they will always be losers. Thats why they go around saying blah-blah-blah, winning doesnt matter. If they dont know theyre lying then they deserve just what they getnothing.

Reflected in the mirror was a face full of self-satisfaction... and madness. Ill beat anyone, and Ill get rid of anybody who tries to stand in my way. They wont even suspect that Im up to something! Im too smart for them. Thats why Im a winner. A winner never quits. A quitter never wins. No more second place for me!

When the second-place trophy for the Wildwood Snowboarding Competition was thrown across the room, it smashed through the glass coffee table. The neighbors jumped when they heard the sound of breaking glass and the wild, angry raving that came afterward. But they were used to hearing such noises from next door. They never complained. They were afraid to.

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C rystal clouds of snow plumed into the air as the three snowboarders sped down the mountain. They were crouched over their boards, knees bent, each one trying to remember to stay loose. They were racing on the black diamond run, the steepest run on the mountain, only for expert snowboarders. The three were experts, all right, fearless and highly skilled.

Swoosh! Otis raced out in front of his twin brother, Cody, while their cousin Rae trailed just behind. Cody was moving his body too much, and it was slowing him down. Rae was gaining on him fast, sticking out her arms for balance.

Otis pivoted on the top edges of the bumpy moguls to scrub up speed. He didnt want to look uncool by flailing his arms. He did look pretty uncool, though, when he lost control of his board and tumbled into the snow.

Rae and Cody shot past him. Otis picked himself up, dusted himself off, and looked after them. They were neck and neck. The two were waiting for him at the end of the run.

Im crazy about snowboarding, Otis said as he walked toward them. Ive fallen head over heels for it.

You fell head over heels, all right. Rae smirked.

Very punny, Cody replied. Next time, instead of snowboarding down the mountain you should sit on apotato pan, Otis.

Sit on a potato pan, Otis was Codys favorite palindrome. He used it to tease his brother all the time. Cody loved making up palindromeswords or phrases that read the same backward and forward. His brother loved making up puns.

Cmon, guys, lets head back to the lodge and warm up, Rae said.

The three trudged through the snow to the Shadow Mountain Resort, a large brick building with smoke coming out of the chimney. In the locker rooms they all stripped off their snow gear. Soon they joined the twins father, Hayden Carson, and family friend Maxim Chatterton by one of the fireplaces in the lodges large but cozy lobby.

Other guests wandered in and sat on couches or at tables near the two other fireplaces, or next to the panoramic windows that looked out on the snowy landscape. Paintings of skiers and snowboarders decorated the walls. Mr. Carson had painted many of them.

Mr. Carson leaned back against the sofa. You were out for a long time, he said to his twin boys and his niece, Rae Lee. Glad to see you all looking so happy. I hope you can stay happy without finding any thieves, smugglers, forgers, or other crooks on this trip. I know that would make me happy.

Rae and the twins seemed to have a talent for getting mixed up in mysteries loaded with danger wherever they traveled. The three had tangled with kidnapping crooks on a Caribbean island, saving a movie star from harm. In the Amazon rain forest they had busted a ring of international animal smugglers. This time, Mr. Carson was hoping for a nice, quiet vacation.

Try to confine your adventures here in Colorado to snowboarding and looking at nature, he said.

His son Cody wasnt paying attention. He was staring at the person who had just walked into the lobby of the ski lodge.

Its Trent Margolis, the snowboarding champ, Cody said with awe in his voice. That must be his coach with him.

Walking alongside Trent was a blond man with piercing dark eyes. His hands looked too big for him.

Im Cody Carson! The twelve-year-old frecklefaced boy trotted toward them eagerly. Youre Trent Margolis! And you must be Coach Kent. Its so cool that your names rhymeTrent and Kent. Easy to remember!

Otis shook his head. Aw, just look at him, Rae. Hes acting like a little kid. The guy hes talking to could be the next Olympic snowboarding champion! This is embarrassing.

Youre Trent Margolis! Cody repeated.

Yeah, I know, drawled the snowboarder, tossing his curly black hair out of his eyes. He was wearing a gray hoodie and gray cargo-style vented pants that flared over his shred boots. Trent was sixteen and very full of himself.

Cody stepped back. He looked as if Trent had just smacked him in the face.

Trents coach hurried past. Cmon, Trent. Weve got to go over todays training, so chop-chop. He nodded at Cody briefly without smiling as he and Trent walked away.

Codys bruised enthusiasm was amped up by the sight of the other sixteen-year-old athlete who showed up next. Youre Joshua Crane! he blurted, pointing a finger. Im Cody Carson, and Ive been reading all about you. Youre going to the Olympics!