A/N: Cliffie warning . . . had to have at least one. Many thanks, as always, to my reviewers. It's been kind of quiet the last couple chapters, but I know a few of you are still hanging in there. Hopefully this chapter satisfies the action junkies amongst us.
Don't own them . . . don't make any money from this. But a review is worth its weight in gold (figuratively-speaking ;).
Chapter 7: Clear Indicators
"Where is Frank Hardy?"
The voice in the hallway startled both Nancy and Mr. Hardy, who had been wrapping up their review of the agency's case history with Hathaway Adjusters over the last year. It had been an interesting exercise, and Nancy now had a good feel for what Adam's Detective Agency could expect if they won the contract for Chicago. It would also be a definite help in shaping the bid. The two hours spent with Mr. Hardy this morning had made the trip to New York well worth the time.
A man with an average build and smooth, pleasant features wearing a tailored three-piece suit and sporting a head of manicured dust-colored hair came striding into the conference room, with the receptionist trailing after. "Sir, I told you, Frank is not here. He doesn't work for Hardy Investigators."
"Not yet." Fenton Hardy stood, a welcoming smile pasted on his face, though his eyes reflected a wariness that put Nancy on guard. He held out a hand to the man. "Martin Kendall, it's nice to see you again. I trust your vacation was pleasant."
"Fenton." Kendall bit the name off, and barely touched Mr. Hardy's hand in his hand shake. "Where is your son, Frank? I understand from talking to Mr. Hathaway just a short while ago that the boy has a copy of our claims database –"
"Yes, he does. Mr. Hathaway was kind enough to allow Frank to use the database to test his master's thesis in High Technology Crime –"
Kendall's voice took on a placating tone, though his interruption of Mr. Hardy hinted at his continuing tension. "Mr. Hathaway agreed to that without considering our internal policies, I'm afraid. I must get that copy of the database back, as soon as possible."
"Frank signed the confidentiality agreement, Martin. I assure you, my son would never use the data to harm Hathaway Adjuster's business in any way."
"Of course not, but you must understand, that this is strictly against company privacy policy." Kendall smiled, but Nancy noted the white outline of his lips, and the sweat on his brow. He was trying to behave as if it was no big deal, but he was obviously anxious to get that data back.
Mr. Hardy turned to Nancy. "You saw Frank this morning at breakfast, Nancy. Did he say where he was going today?"
Nancy was careful to keep her expression neutral. "No sir, he said he had some errands to run, and didn't think he'd be in until later this afternoon, when we were done. I could try his cell if you'd like."
Mr. Hardy nodded, and turned to Kendall. "Martin, I'd like you to meet Nancy Drew. She is the private investigator from Adam's Detective Agency in Chicago - the Agency that is bidding on the investigative contract with Hathaway Adjuster's new office. She is a friend of the family, as well as an excellent investigator."
Kendall shook her hand perfunctorily, glancing absently at the diamond-studded watch on his wrist. "Please, call Frank and find out where he is, young lady. It really is very important that I get that database secured as soon as possible."
"Certainly." Nancy pulled out her cell and dialed Frank's number. The phone rang once before ringing through to his voice mail. She didn't bother to leave a message.
"I'm sorry, sir, it rang straight through to voice mail, almost as if he has his phone turned off. I'm sure we'll see him later on today. It could be he'll be back before we're done with our meeting."
"Our meeting?" Kendall looked at her blankly.
"Yes, sir. Mr. Hathaway said you would come in to discuss the bid development with me today. Adam's Detective Agency is very interested in securing the contract with Hathaway Adjusters, and I'm here to learn whatever I can to help make our bid the winning one."
"You have a copy of the bid package, young lady?"
"Yes, Mr. Kendall. I have a copy right here." Nancy leaned over the chair and found her copy amongst the papers lying with her binder.
Kendall tapped the document she held out to him. "You have the information you need to develop your bid right there. I fail to see why I should spend any more time going over details with you. Fenton, please find your son, and contact me as soon as you do. I want to secure that database, now."
"I'll do what I can, Martin."
"Thank you. You know how to get in touch with me. Good day."
Kendall's gaze lingered on Nancy for several seconds before he turned and walked out without another word. She physically shook off the lingering uneasiness that gaze had provoked.
As soon as they heard the outer door close behind him, Mr. Hardy turned to Nancy and crossed his arms. "Alright, young lady, perhaps now you will explain to me why we just lied to one of my biggest clients, not to mention your prospective client. And just where is my son?"
Nancy swallowed. "Frank is at the library, Mr. Hardy. He found some data anomalies in Hathaway's database and he's trying to figure out what's going on. I didn't think it would hurt anything to stall and give him a little more time . . ."
"I think Frank is definitely on to something, Dad. He's sent two more texts already this morning with more people to follow-up on. " Joe stood in the doorway. Nancy had no idea how long he had been there, but he apparently heard enough to know what was going on.
Mr. Hardy glanced from Nancy to Joe, and then motioned to the table. "Alright, sit down and take me through it. Then I'll decide how we're going to handle this mess."
Nancy heard Joe's cell beep as she gave Mr. Hardy a condensed version of the story. Joe pulled out his cell, and a moment later he was interrupting. "It's another message from Frank. You aren't going to believe this."
Joe turned the cell, and Nancy and Mr. Hardy both stood to get a closer look at the picture on the phone. The photo bore a striking resemblance to Martin Kendall. Frank's text underneath was chilling:
'todays times – kendall prepping to skate?'
Mr. Hardy took a deep breath. "Joe, I want you to summarize what Frank has sent you, and what you've found in your searches so far, starting with getting me a list of names. Nancy, I want you to head to the library and see if you can help Frank dig up more supporting evidence. We're going to need more than a couple of possible coincidences to convince the authorities of what's going on. I'm going to talk to a colleague at the FBI, and see if he can use his connections to help us on the back end of the search. If what Frank suspects is true, we need to move on this - now."
**
Kendall got out of his car, and walked over to Fenton Hardy as he left the building. "Fenton, can I have a word?"
"Hello, Martin. I thought you were gone."
"I was leaving when I thought better of it. I was just about to head back in to talk to you. Listen, I need you to look into something quietly for me."
"What is it?"
He pressed his lips together and glanced at the ground. "I'm afraid there may be something going on at the office. Someone hacked our database. It's part of the reason that I'm so anxious to get the copy your son has back."
Kendall held his gaze steady as Fenton Hardy's sharp, dark eyes considered him. Hardy was no fool, but Kendall thought it was highly unlikely that his son had managed to ferret out what was going on yet. The boy had had the data for less than 24 hours, after all. Still, Frank Hardy's girlfriend was acting a bit off. Maybe he was worrying about nothing. She seemed very young, and perhaps she was just nervous about meeting a perspective client.
"Well, Frank is home for awhile, and though he doesn't officially work at the firm, I'm sure he'd be willing to help. He has a real talent for computer forensics. I have a meeting that I'm running late for right now, but afterwards I plan to check out a couple of Frank's usual haunts and see if I can find him."
Kendall gave Fenton a relieved smile and shook his hand. "Thank you so much, Fenton. I knew I could count on Hardy Investigators. You've always been our best investigative partner at Hathaway Adjusters."
"I'll send Frank your way as soon as I locate him."
"I'll look forward to hearing from him soon. Today, if possible."
Kendall watched as Hardy ducked into his car and eased out of the lot. He pulled out his cell and dialed as he got into his car and started it. A moment later he spoke tersely into the phone.
"I want you at Hardy Investigators ASAP. If you see a reddish blond young woman leaving this building, you are to follow her. For that matter, send over Zap in case Joe Hardy leaves and we need to tail him. I want this situation contained now, or all our work of the last five years blows up in our face. We need to make sure they don't know anything, and we really need to get our hands on that copy of the database."
He hung up the phone, and followed Fenton Hardy down the road. He hoped like hell he was worrying over nothing. But Martin Kendall was nothing if not cautious. He had already set things in motion this morning to erase all signs of his manipulation of the claims database. He hoped, for his own sake and for Frank Hardy's, that the kid wasn't as good at computer forensics as his father seemed to think. Otherwise, Martin might be forced to get his hands dirty. Usually, he left the messy jobs, like murder, to his underworld clients, but he wasn't above it if it meant saving his own hide.
**
Frank smelled her familiar eucalyptus-scented shampoo before he felt her hand on his shoulder. She slid into the seat next to him.
She spoke in hushed tones. "Kendall was in looking for the database, Frank. He's definitely spooked."
Her blue eyes reflected the same tension that was evident in her voice. Frank sat back. "What happened?"
"He came to the office looking for you. Your father went along with my white lie, but demanded to know what was going on. So now, we're on the clock, Hardy. We need to find as much hard evidence to go on as possible. Joe's going to start pulling everything together into a coherent format, and your dad is calling in the big guns. We're on the hot seat so I sure as hell hope both our guts are right about this one."
Frank shoved the computer so it was sitting between them on the table, and indicated the binders holding the last three years of the Times. "Let's get busy."
Two hours later, Frank closed the computer and put it away. "That's it. We've found at least eight possible cases, and that's just the ones that happened to end up in the paper over the last three years. That has to be enough to convince someone that this is worth investigating further, at least."
Nancy stretched her back and nodded. "Let's head back to the office and see what Joe and your father have been able to find out."
"Did you drive?"
"Yes, I'm parked in a garage over on West 43rd."
As they made their way around the corner of 5th avenue and 43rd, Frank pulled out his cell. "I'm going to drop Joe a text, let him know we're on our way."
Frank was on the street side of the side walk, and looked up as the non-descript panel van pulling up next to them. West 43rd was unusually light on traffic, but he didn't even have time to wonder why the van was stopping on the street.
It happened fast. The side door of the van slid open. That was the last thing Frank saw before a hood covered his head. He felt several strong hands grab his arms and haul him bodily into the van.
He heard Nancy's scream cut off by a loud slap and the surge of adrenalin at the sound allowed him to get loose for a brief moment, until something solid landed on the back of his head. While it didn't knock him out, it did incapacitate him long enough to give their captors a chance to lash his hands together behind his back.
He was thrown roughly to the floor of the van, and felt Nancy land with a thump next to him. When she didn't move he felt his heart leap into his throat. He nudged her gently with a knee, and was relieved to hear a low groan. A moment later, he felt her hand patting his stomach. It only took a moment before he recognized Morse code, as she repeated her assurance, 'I'm ok.' He breathed a sigh of relief.
A boot kicked him roughly in the kidney, pushing him into Nancy. "Keep still and stay quiet and maybe we'll let you live."
The entire snatch had taken less than a minute, and the van was in motion. He wondered if there had been any witnesses. He gave a start as he realized that he had dropped his phone. He couldn't even remember if he had managed to send the text he had been writing to Joe.
Frank cringed as he heard them going through his pack. He mentally kicked himself for not being more alert. Texting as he was walking down the street had been stupid and careless, and not only was he going to suffer the consequences of it, but so was Nancy.
