Fenton Hardy's eyes fluttered open. He made out the blurred figure of a man bending over him. The man's head was turned and a familiar voice was saying, "I think he was hit harder than we thought."
Fenton blinked his eyes in an attempt to clear them. He wondered where he was. He didn't remember any of this. Where was the house he and Arianne had run to? Where was his killer?
Then he recognized the man before him. "Con?"
Bayport police officer Con Riley barley heard the dry voice. He glanced down in surprise at the private detective. He noted the look of confusion of Fenton Hardy's face.
"Do you know where you are?" Con asked gently as Chief Collig came into the detective's line of vision.
Fenton blinked and racked his brain for the answer, but he could only remember his search for his killer.
Both officers became worried.
"What's your name?" asked Con.
Fenton rolled his eyes. "Fenton Hardy. I'm forty-five, I'm married, I have two sons, I live on High and Elm – I know who I am, but I don't remember where I am." The officers looked at each other.
The detective made a struggling movement to get up.
"You should stay down until the paramedics get here," advised Collig.
"I just want to see – " Fenton pushed the restraining hand away and sat up. He looked around. He found that he was lying on the ground near the Bayport airport buildings. "The thief," he suddenly exclaimed, his blue eyes lighting up.
"That's right!" Chief Collig urged him to go on.
"I was chasing the thief, trying to get him before he got on the plane. He took off and I got out of my car and gave chase. We were going around the corner when – " The detective frowned and stopped.
"He turned and hit you over the head with his gun," said Con. "The thief ran off. The airport manager found you and called us. Are you alright?"
"Yes. Just a stupid dream."
"What?" asked Chief Collig.
"Oh nothing."
The wail of a siren grew closer and an ambulance came roaring up.
The paramedics hopped out and came over the group. They decided that it would be wise for the detective to be looked over at the hospital.