14. chapter: More of Clines...
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The Hardy family, Nancy Drew and the Cline-couple sat in the livingroom with cups of coffee.
'You have no information yet?' Mr. Cline asked.
'Not much, I'm afraid. Well, we've got bunch of useless stuff but we can't seem to find any context in it' Fenton Hardy answered.
'Tell me something' Mr. Cline said with a determined voice.
Fenton gave Frank a sign by nodding to him.
'OK, we know that there existed a weapon factory and it's weapons are still in use though the company was closed long ago. It's directors were Walker and Jennings and Walker was killed by Jennings...'
-'I'm sorry but what does that have to do with my daughters murder?' Mr. Cline interrupt.
'Yes, Mr. Cline I'm just there. You see Walker had a daughter named Luise. And the Luise who's working for you, a weapon company director might, and I said might, be the same' Frank explained.
Joe was obviously not happy about this and watched his brother coldly.
Mr. Cline wasn't happy either. 'Mr. Hardy, Luise is a good girl, she has always been good to us besides her family name is McStevenson but...'
'Mrs. Hardy, this is such a lovely wooden table, is it antique?' Mrs. Cline cut in. She didn't like those conversation.
Laura Hardy smiled. 'It was my great-great-great-grandmother's.'
Mrs. Cline nodded. 'Beautiful' she said.
Fenton Hardy smiled politely. 'I'm sorry Mrs. Cline you don't have to listen to this, Laura why don't you take her to the garden or show her your antique collection?'
'That's a good idea. Mrs. Cline?'
The two women stood up.
'Nancy? Are going with the ladies or stay here?' Fenton asked.
'I'm not a lady. I think I'll be with you, guys' Nancy answered.
-'Yes, Mr. Cline, what were you saying?'
'Yes, my wife's family name is Jennings...' Mr. Cline said.
Fenton and Frank glanced at each other.
'Is it so? And you knew this particular Jennings?' Frank asked excited, now things were getting together.
'I never met him but he was Rose's older brother. He had a weapon production company ' Mr. Cline answered.
Frank and Nancy both felt their stomachs tighten.
'Really' Fenton Hardy said slowly. Then he looked at Joe. 'I've got to say that it doesn't look too good for your friend Luise.'
Joe was quiet. 'Do you think she's looking for revenge?'
Fenton shrugged. 'It's possible.'
'Then proof that she is this Walker-girl' Joe demanded.
'Sure, we'll ask FBI' Fenton answered. 'We'll look for Luise McStevenson, let's see what they'll find, OK?'
Joe nodded.
-'But I need you to be with her. You can get a lot of information if Walker is her family name, if you get that close.'
-'You mean to betray her?'
Fenton wasn't sure how to answer. Joe and Vanessa had broke up for three or four months ago and he had been strange ever since then. And though he liked to fool around he could be a very nice boy...man. Well, enough time to talk to him about it.
'We'll talk to Collig and he can contact FBI if he doesn't have anything in his database' he said.
Joe stood up. 'Excuse me' he said. Then he went upstairs to his room and everybody downstairs could hear the door slam.
'What do you think of this?' Frank asked.
'I don't like Joe's reaction. I wish he didn't have those feelings for Luise. Then he could pretend and don't care though she'd go to jail' Fenton answered.
'Forgive me Fenton, but you're cold-hearted' Nancy said.
'You're right, Nance, I got a little vehement, I take that back' Fenton said in an excusing tone.
'Let's not take the subject further. Um, Mr. Cline, you have had business in the Westside of USA in San Francisco, Diego and Portland, isn't it so? But have you ever had connections to Asia or maybe Australia in business or within the family?' Fenton suddenly asked.
'Not much to Asia but my lineage is originally Australian and my son Christopher lives there now with his wife' Mr. Cline answered.
-'Is that all?'
Cline nodded.
'Er, dad where did that come from?' Frank asked.
'Oh, yes. I forgot to tell you but someone sent us a threat this morning' Fenton answered.
'What! What did it say?' Frank asked.
'It was very stupid' Fenton answered. 'It was something like 'Where the sun goes down..' something like that, I can't remember. It could have been stolen from a Shakespere play.'
'Can I take a look at it?' Frank asked.
'Sure, I'll get it' his father answered and stood up.
'I'm not sure if I want to believe that Luise isn't honest to me' William Cline said.
'Mr. Cline it's only a chance we can't risk not to take it. Maybe she's totally innocent' Frank said to try to comfort him.
'Is anyone else suspected?' Cline asked. 'You've been focusing rather much on us. My son and Luise, I hope you won't think of that I'm the criminal?' he asked sharply.
-'Of course not Mr. Cline, like I said, we're just checking the possibilities.'
'Mr. Cline, are you sure you can't think of anyone else who has a reason for doing this?' Nancy asked.
'No, I can't' Cline answered. 'I don't understand it. Sarah was a wonderful girl, never did anything to anybody.'
'Since you say your wife is a Jennings, it's possible that the Walker- sisters are trying to get to her which means that she and her children are in danger...and it doesn't have to be Luise...' Nancy added.
Mrs. Hardy and Mrs. Cline returned to the livingroom and heard Nancy's last words.
'What were you talking about Luise?' Rose Cline asked.
'They think she murdered Sarah' Mr. Cline said.
'She wouldn't! She's very loyal' Mrs. Cline said with a determined voice.
Frank and Nancy realized they had upset the couple and both shut their mouths.
'More coffee, anyone?' Mrs. Hardy asked.
Everyone heard the door open. And then some mutter.
Laura stood up. 'Gertrude! Just in time for a cup of coffee!'
'You can't believe this!' Gertrude said loudly. 'Oh, I didn't know we had visitors!'
'Aunt, this is Mr. William Cline and his wife Rose, Mr. Cline this is my aunt Gertrude' Frank said.
Gertrude shook hands with them as they exchanged "pleasure to meet yous".
Then she sat down and poured coffee into a cup for herself.
'Now, what were you saying?' Frank asked. 'I'm always curious about your adventures.'
'I was walking from Mrs. O'Donnel and this man appears just like that, in front of my nose and orders me follow him. I deny, of course and then he yells and some other man appear like him and stands behind me and the first one says I must follow them. So I did and where do you think they lead me? To the door, here!' Gertrude said.
'Yes, I'm sorry about that, sister, it was my fault, I don't want anyone to be on their own but your always on you're own so I asked some plain- clothed officers to make sure you'd get your ways safely, I've done that before' Fenton, who had returned from his office, explained. 'And for a good reason, the threat note is missing. I can't find it. I know I put it in the drawer but it isn't there but that's impossible. There's no window in the room and I was sitting opposite to the living room entry and no one could have sneaked inside the door and went upstairs with out a sound.'
Frank was surprised. 'That's really strange, are you sure you put it into the drawer?'
'100 % and in case I looked in other places too' Fenton answered.
'Those guys are good' Nancy said.
'I'm sorry to interrupt' Mr. Cline said. 'But do you have some...guards around us too?'
'There are surveillance cameras around your house, yes' Fenton answered.
Mr. Cline nodded. Then he looked at his watch. 'Oh. Look at the time. Rose, dear, I think we should get going now. Thank you for inviting us here' he said and stood up. So did his wife, they shook hands with everybody and left the house. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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The Hardy family, Nancy Drew and the Cline-couple sat in the livingroom with cups of coffee.
'You have no information yet?' Mr. Cline asked.
'Not much, I'm afraid. Well, we've got bunch of useless stuff but we can't seem to find any context in it' Fenton Hardy answered.
'Tell me something' Mr. Cline said with a determined voice.
Fenton gave Frank a sign by nodding to him.
'OK, we know that there existed a weapon factory and it's weapons are still in use though the company was closed long ago. It's directors were Walker and Jennings and Walker was killed by Jennings...'
-'I'm sorry but what does that have to do with my daughters murder?' Mr. Cline interrupt.
'Yes, Mr. Cline I'm just there. You see Walker had a daughter named Luise. And the Luise who's working for you, a weapon company director might, and I said might, be the same' Frank explained.
Joe was obviously not happy about this and watched his brother coldly.
Mr. Cline wasn't happy either. 'Mr. Hardy, Luise is a good girl, she has always been good to us besides her family name is McStevenson but...'
'Mrs. Hardy, this is such a lovely wooden table, is it antique?' Mrs. Cline cut in. She didn't like those conversation.
Laura Hardy smiled. 'It was my great-great-great-grandmother's.'
Mrs. Cline nodded. 'Beautiful' she said.
Fenton Hardy smiled politely. 'I'm sorry Mrs. Cline you don't have to listen to this, Laura why don't you take her to the garden or show her your antique collection?'
'That's a good idea. Mrs. Cline?'
The two women stood up.
'Nancy? Are going with the ladies or stay here?' Fenton asked.
'I'm not a lady. I think I'll be with you, guys' Nancy answered.
-'Yes, Mr. Cline, what were you saying?'
'Yes, my wife's family name is Jennings...' Mr. Cline said.
Fenton and Frank glanced at each other.
'Is it so? And you knew this particular Jennings?' Frank asked excited, now things were getting together.
'I never met him but he was Rose's older brother. He had a weapon production company ' Mr. Cline answered.
Frank and Nancy both felt their stomachs tighten.
'Really' Fenton Hardy said slowly. Then he looked at Joe. 'I've got to say that it doesn't look too good for your friend Luise.'
Joe was quiet. 'Do you think she's looking for revenge?'
Fenton shrugged. 'It's possible.'
'Then proof that she is this Walker-girl' Joe demanded.
'Sure, we'll ask FBI' Fenton answered. 'We'll look for Luise McStevenson, let's see what they'll find, OK?'
Joe nodded.
-'But I need you to be with her. You can get a lot of information if Walker is her family name, if you get that close.'
-'You mean to betray her?'
Fenton wasn't sure how to answer. Joe and Vanessa had broke up for three or four months ago and he had been strange ever since then. And though he liked to fool around he could be a very nice boy...man. Well, enough time to talk to him about it.
'We'll talk to Collig and he can contact FBI if he doesn't have anything in his database' he said.
Joe stood up. 'Excuse me' he said. Then he went upstairs to his room and everybody downstairs could hear the door slam.
'What do you think of this?' Frank asked.
'I don't like Joe's reaction. I wish he didn't have those feelings for Luise. Then he could pretend and don't care though she'd go to jail' Fenton answered.
'Forgive me Fenton, but you're cold-hearted' Nancy said.
'You're right, Nance, I got a little vehement, I take that back' Fenton said in an excusing tone.
'Let's not take the subject further. Um, Mr. Cline, you have had business in the Westside of USA in San Francisco, Diego and Portland, isn't it so? But have you ever had connections to Asia or maybe Australia in business or within the family?' Fenton suddenly asked.
'Not much to Asia but my lineage is originally Australian and my son Christopher lives there now with his wife' Mr. Cline answered.
-'Is that all?'
Cline nodded.
'Er, dad where did that come from?' Frank asked.
'Oh, yes. I forgot to tell you but someone sent us a threat this morning' Fenton answered.
'What! What did it say?' Frank asked.
'It was very stupid' Fenton answered. 'It was something like 'Where the sun goes down..' something like that, I can't remember. It could have been stolen from a Shakespere play.'
'Can I take a look at it?' Frank asked.
'Sure, I'll get it' his father answered and stood up.
'I'm not sure if I want to believe that Luise isn't honest to me' William Cline said.
'Mr. Cline it's only a chance we can't risk not to take it. Maybe she's totally innocent' Frank said to try to comfort him.
'Is anyone else suspected?' Cline asked. 'You've been focusing rather much on us. My son and Luise, I hope you won't think of that I'm the criminal?' he asked sharply.
-'Of course not Mr. Cline, like I said, we're just checking the possibilities.'
'Mr. Cline, are you sure you can't think of anyone else who has a reason for doing this?' Nancy asked.
'No, I can't' Cline answered. 'I don't understand it. Sarah was a wonderful girl, never did anything to anybody.'
'Since you say your wife is a Jennings, it's possible that the Walker- sisters are trying to get to her which means that she and her children are in danger...and it doesn't have to be Luise...' Nancy added.
Mrs. Hardy and Mrs. Cline returned to the livingroom and heard Nancy's last words.
'What were you talking about Luise?' Rose Cline asked.
'They think she murdered Sarah' Mr. Cline said.
'She wouldn't! She's very loyal' Mrs. Cline said with a determined voice.
Frank and Nancy realized they had upset the couple and both shut their mouths.
'More coffee, anyone?' Mrs. Hardy asked.
Everyone heard the door open. And then some mutter.
Laura stood up. 'Gertrude! Just in time for a cup of coffee!'
'You can't believe this!' Gertrude said loudly. 'Oh, I didn't know we had visitors!'
'Aunt, this is Mr. William Cline and his wife Rose, Mr. Cline this is my aunt Gertrude' Frank said.
Gertrude shook hands with them as they exchanged "pleasure to meet yous".
Then she sat down and poured coffee into a cup for herself.
'Now, what were you saying?' Frank asked. 'I'm always curious about your adventures.'
'I was walking from Mrs. O'Donnel and this man appears just like that, in front of my nose and orders me follow him. I deny, of course and then he yells and some other man appear like him and stands behind me and the first one says I must follow them. So I did and where do you think they lead me? To the door, here!' Gertrude said.
'Yes, I'm sorry about that, sister, it was my fault, I don't want anyone to be on their own but your always on you're own so I asked some plain- clothed officers to make sure you'd get your ways safely, I've done that before' Fenton, who had returned from his office, explained. 'And for a good reason, the threat note is missing. I can't find it. I know I put it in the drawer but it isn't there but that's impossible. There's no window in the room and I was sitting opposite to the living room entry and no one could have sneaked inside the door and went upstairs with out a sound.'
Frank was surprised. 'That's really strange, are you sure you put it into the drawer?'
'100 % and in case I looked in other places too' Fenton answered.
'Those guys are good' Nancy said.
'I'm sorry to interrupt' Mr. Cline said. 'But do you have some...guards around us too?'
'There are surveillance cameras around your house, yes' Fenton answered.
Mr. Cline nodded. Then he looked at his watch. 'Oh. Look at the time. Rose, dear, I think we should get going now. Thank you for inviting us here' he said and stood up. So did his wife, they shook hands with everybody and left the house. ------------------------------------------------------------------------