A/N: okay, looks like there's one more chapter and an epilogue, and I'll leave you in peace :) right after i finish the other hundred or so stories i've got going on...
R&R plz!
The telephone's shrill ringing pierced the stillness of the office.
Chief Collig, who was unfortunate enough to have the office next door, was put through almost ten minutes of the persistent ringing before he endeavoured to find out who it was. This is what happens when you don't have regular office hours, he grumbled.
He picked up the instrument, taking a moment to appreciate the abrupt silence before he spoke.
"Fenton Hardy's office."
"Chief, it's me," the instigator was none other than Fenton Hardy himself. "I need you to do something..."
Mark was secretly pinching himself, trying to wake up from his nightmare. He was not sitting in the Castelle's sitting room in the middle of the night between a scowling George and a confused Joe. George's stepmother's real husband was not guarding the doorway holding a pistol. Georgina's father wasn't dead.
His denial was interrupted by Sydney starting to speak.
"All of this could have been avoided," she gloated, smiling in return to the girl's black looks. "All you had to do was get together and-"
"What?" Mark exclaimed, resigning himself to the reality of the situation and deciding to cooperate, "you wanted us to get together? Why?"
"So we'd fall madly in love, dad would tell me to keep away from you, I'd run away to be with you anyway, she'd write me out of his will and she'd get all his money," Georgina explained in a low,cold tone. "That right?" she added sarcastically.
"Pretty much," Sydney admitted casually, "of course, there are plans B, C and so on, but you're quite close."
Mark stared at her. So that's how she gets away with it. The father never realizes what's going on because he's too preoccupied with being blackmailed. She gets everything and moves on to the next guy. Leaving a dead 'husband' and a messed up kid behind her. That'll teach you to pay more attention the next time you think there's something going on with one of your friends.
Joe looked from the woman, to her husband, and back to her as she continued to talk. This had just become a lot more than a case about some stolen money. This woman was or had murdered someone, and if her face was a way to judge her feelings, there was one emotion that definitely was not there. Remorse.
Sydney finished and looked at them in satisfaction. She seemed to be thinking.
She's stuck, Georgina realized, feeling pleased and worried at the same time. She doesn't know what to do now. She only expected me, and now Joe and Mark are here too. They can't kill all of us, but she's told us so much she can't just let us go either.
Frank tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He didn't know why, but there was an unsettled feeling in the pit of his stomach. One that was usually quite accurate. One that usually meant something was happening to his brother.
But that's ridiculous, he reasoned as he got up and headed for his brother's room despite all reason telling him not to, he's here, asleep.
He opened the door and snapped on the light. The bed was empty.
Sam looked up at a noise in the doorway. "Frank." he greeted.
"Oh, hi Sam."
"Please, contain the enthusiasm. You'll scare me." the detective teased at the boy's look of disappointment. "What is it?"
"Joe-"
"Isn't here. He said he had to go somewhere. Is that what you're so worried about?"
"Where?" he folded his arms and waited impatiently as Sam's cell phone ringing stopped him from answering.
"Hi Fenton..." he frowned as he listened to his friend, "what? Yeah sure, I'll be right there." he promised, hanging up and preparing to leave.
"What happened?" Frank demanded. "Is it Joe?" he asked, dreading the answer.
"No. Your dad's got a few police officers to go with him to ... AlexanderCastelle's place. Thinks there might be a hostage situation."
"Castelle?" What would be going on there? Wait...the only reason Joe would take off like that would be if he got a lead. George is involved in his case... "Can you give me two seconds?"
"Hurry."
Sydney still hadn't come to a decision when an unexpected but welcome announcement came from outside.
"This is the Bayport Police Department," the voice declared over the loudspeaker. "We have you surrounded. Come out with your hands up."
The teenagers watched anxiously as Sydney and her husband exchanged looks, seeming to come to a silent agreement.
A/N:thoughts? suggestions:D
lastfew chances to review...
josie hardy
