This story is a little different than my other two. Here it is nearing the end of a mystery, but plans have gone awry, and Joe has to face a madman in a game. The stakes are quite high, as you will find out…
Check Mate
Joe Hardy knew he was walking into a trap.
He and Frank had been investigating a major jewel heist that had occurred from a high profile display at the Hotel Carlisle in Charleston, South Carolina. It had been the hotel's fifty year anniversary, so the owner, Andrew Carlisle, decided to celebrate by showing off his family's jewel collection.
The estimates valued it at thirty million dollars, and when it all disappeared, the hotel staff did well to lock down the premises. The cops had been called, and no one could get in or out. Andrew had then called Fenton Hardy for help and in turn he had sent the two of them there undercover to see what they could uncover.
In the end, they had come to suspect Michael Stanton, who on the face of things, seemed like the biggest millionaire playboy in the world with an affinity for chess. However, things were never how they seemed, and they had trouble getting concrete proof of his activities.
That was when Frank had an idea and had gone to check something in Mr. Stanton's room. However, that had been over two hours ago. Joe had been beside himself with worry until he had received a note from Frank, asking him to come downstairs to the lounge.
Joe felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end as he reached the doorway of the hotel lounge. The mood around the hotel itself had been subdued since the police had everyone confined to the hotel ground. Many of the guests had opted to stay in their rooms to avoid most of the harassment.
However, in the middle of the lounge sat a game table, and behind it sat Michael Stanton.
He had to give the man credit. With short cropped red hair, black suit and bright red tie, Michael Stanton seemed like any jet-setting type of businessman you could easily find relaxing on a Sunday afternoon by reading the Wall Street Journal. The chess set that was set up on the game table looked like no ordinary set with each piece seemingly carved out of what looked like ivory and jade.
Mr. Stanton stood up and gave him a weak smile. "Ah, it's the younger Hardy. Care for a game of chess?"
Joe struggled to keep his emotions in check. This was the final piece in the puzzle, but if Michael Stanton was here and not Frank, that meant only one thing. "I know you have my brother. Where is he?"
Mister Stanton arched a brow. "Do I?"
He shook his head. "Cut the evasive crap, I found a note indicating that he would be here. Considering that you're here and there's no sign of him, there had to have been some sort of foul play."
Now the man was clapping, which frustrated him even more. "Bravo, young Joseph! Your reasoning is not unlike the great Sherlock Holmes."
Angered, Joe wanted to rush him, but before he could put any type of plan into action he caught sight of what was in Mr. Stanton's hands and stopped cold.
The man was holding what looked like a detonator of some sort.
Mr. Stanton looked at him in some amusement before looking down at the object in his own hands. "Oh, are you interested in this? I figured that this would get your attention. This little beauty is what I call my insurance policy. If I were to press this little button, somewhere on the premises will be one room that will be decimated. You see, I carry the tools I need when I go on these little jewel quests, and that includes explosives. As for your brother Frank, if he just so happened to be tied up in that room, then I could just easily demand that I be allowed to leave the hotel with my treasures or else."
The man was enjoying himself way too much, and that left Joe feeling uneasy. "What's to stop me from having the cops do a room by room search?" he retorted.
Mr. Stanton's mood did not change. With a laugh, he replied. "Well then, I would have to anticipate a move like that. That's made easy enough when you consider that there are at least forty rooms in this hotel and for another, if you do happen to find the right room, a pressure sensitive switch will detonate the explosives prematurely when the door to the room is opened, making sure Frank and whoever his rescuers happen to be would be obliterated in one fell swoop."
He then checked his watch. "And finally, there is a timer in on top of all of this, set for two hours from now. So even if you or the authorities try and stall for time, the point would be moot anyhow."
The man was crazy. Joe could barely get out the words. "You- you monster!"
Mr. Stanton now frowned. "Joseph, it is just business. One doesn't get to the position that I am in without stepping across a few backs. Now, I don't suppose you will be nice and go tell the police about my demand, will you?"
Joe shook his head firmly. "Not quite. I'm not leaving here until I find out what I want to know."
"Well then, I would say that we have a standoff, don't we?" Mr. Stanton replied as he sat back down and gestured to the chess board. "How about a game of chess to pass the time? I haven't been beaten at the game in over two years."
"Where's the sport in that?"
It took a moment for the man to think about the question. "You know, Joseph, you do have a point. Tell you what, I will sweeten the pot for you. If you play me and win, I will give myself up, give you the room number your brother is in, and give you the detonator. Lose, and you will be my hostage out of here instead of your brother, who I will release."
Joe froze at the offer. He had played Frank more than once at the game, but with Mr. Stanton's boast about being unbeaten for two years, every instinct screamed at him that this was a trap. However, Joe realized that his alternatives were few. This madman seemed to have thought of everything. What he needed was to find a weakness and opportunity to strike, which meant only one thing.
Joe asked. "How do I know that you'll honor your word?"
The grin was back on Mr. Stanton's face. "So I take it we have a game then?"
As a reply, Joe walked over to one corner of the lounge, grabbed a chair and shoved it to the opposite side of the table. He quickly sat down and gave his opponent a cold stare before growling. "Make your move."
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I have to confess, Chess is not my favorite game, but the strategy to the game is something to respect. In part two, you will get to see if Joe can outwit his opponent and rescue Frank. Hope to see you there. :)