Frank made a grab for the handrail and caught it. Putting his wallet between his teeth, he grabbed hold of the rail and pulled himself up as the train began to gain momentum.
On the platform, Joe watched as Frank vanished inside the train and gave a sigh of relief. Turning to Angelic he asked, "After that thrill packed thirty seconds, are you ready to hit the road?"

She nodded and smiled at him. "Let's find this guy and nail him," she said with spirit.

"Whoa!" Joe cautioned her, laughing. "We have to see if he's behind this first." He took her hand and together they left the station.

Arriving in Southport an hour later, Joe pulled into a gas station. "Stay in the van and keep the doors locked," he ordered. "I need to check the phone book after I fill up."

"Joe," she said, a little hesitantly. "I need to use the ladies room."

"Can I pump first?" he asked with a suppressed sigh. At her nod, he closed the door and filled the gas tank. She jumped out of the van when he had finished and walked with him into the station. Joe paid for the gas and asked to see the phone book while Angelic went to the restroom. By the time she returned, Joe had found Cavanaugh's street address and purchased chips and sodas for himself and Angelic.

"I don't think we've been followed," Joe told her as they drove away. "I haven't seen anyone."

"That's a relief," Angelic said. "Maybe we can enjoy part of this glorious day," she added, looking through the window at the flowering dogwoods that lined the street they were on. Joe glanced in her direction and smiled at her exuberance.

"Perhaps we could have lunch in the park," Joe said in agreement as they drove past the town park where children could be seen playing on the monkey bars.

"Oh please," Angelic fairly shouted at the suggestion. "I love picnics."

"A picnic it will be then," he said, laughing openly at her. "But first, business," he added, sobering. He turned onto a side street and stopped in front of a mansion.

"Cavanaugh lives here?" Angelic whispered in awed surprise.

"This is the address I got from the phone book," Joe replied, mystified. "But if he declared bankruptcy, how can he afford to live here?" Opening his door, he climbed out of the van and went around to help Angelic out.

A maid answered their knock and escorted them into a lounge, requesting they have a seat while she informed Mr. Cavanaugh of their arrival. "Nice digs," Joe said in admiration as he looked around the large room. The walls were covered with art from various periods. There were two bare spaces on the wall where two paintings had been removed.

Mr. Cavanaugh came in and found Joe looking at one of the blank spaces. "The two missing are on loan to the museum," he told Joe, walking over and standing beside him. "Are you a connoisseur?" he inquired of Joe.

"No," answered Joe. "I have spent my share of time in the Bayport Museum though," he added with a smile.

"And how may I be of service?" Cavanaugh asked the two teens. Joe put a hand on Angelic's arm and squeezed gently. He wanted to do the talking.

"Do you know a Daniel Deveraux?" Joe asked him.

"Ah, a wonderful and magnanimous man," responded Cavanaugh, his face breaking out in a huge smile.

"I heard you didn't like the man," Joe said in puzzlement.

"Where did you hear such a false rumor?" Cavanaugh demanded.

"His daughter," Joe said flatly.

"Mmm," Cavanaugh murmured, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "She must have overheard me talking with Sarah."

"Sarah who?" Joe asked, watching the gray-haired man closely.

"Sarah's my daughter," Cavanaugh explained. "She knew I was getting deeper in debt after Deveraux took over my company and she came to me crying. I told her it was Deveraux's fault and he was the one to blame."

"But you just said," Joe started to argue, but Cavanaugh held up a hand for him to be quiet.

"Deveraux didn't like my spending so much money and told me he was planning on selling the company. My personal debts were enormous and I knew losing the excellent salary I had been receiving would prevent me from paying my creditors and I would lose everything." He paused to catch his breath before continuing. "Knowing I was facing bankruptcy, I had Sarah allow me to transfer everything I owned into her name. I didn't want to see my daughter penniless," he added, as if that was an adequate excuse for his actions, but Joe caught a gleam in the man's brown eyes as he talked which convinced him Cavanaugh was hedging the truth. "Three months later I filed for bankruptcy. My daughter allows me to live in this house and gives me a monthly allowance, and even lets me drive her car," he ended happily.

"Nice set-up," Joe said. "You cheated your creditors by appearing to have nothing. In reality it's still yours even though it has your daughter's name on it. Did you know fraud is a felony?" he demanded.

"I can see you're ready to leave," Cavanaugh said, no longer the friendly host. "Please, don't feel free to return," he added, showing them to the door which closed with a bang behind them.

"That went over fairly well," Joe said sarcastically. "What a creep!"

"If he's guilty of fraud, do you think he could also be responsible for the attempts on my life?" Angelic asked him.

"If anything, the man is indebted to your father," Joe replied with a shake of his head. "I just hope Frank's having more luck with Bryson than we had with Cavanaugh."

Upon arriving in New York, Frank went to the police station. "I'd like to see Chief Peterson," Frank told the sergeant at the front desk.

"You and a hundred more," growled the man. "State your business."

"My business is with Chief Peterson," Frank said. "Please tell him Frank Hardy would like to see him." The sergeant scowled but buzzed the chief on the intercom and passed the message.

Less than a minute later the door to Chief Peterson's office opened and the brown-haired, brown-eyed, fatherly man came out and grasped Frank's right hand in his own. "It's been awhile since you've been to see me," the Chief said with a smile.

Frank smiled back at the man who had been his father's partner before his dad had resigned to become a private investigator. "It has," he agreed. "I just wish this could have been a social visit," he added.

Chief Peterson ushered Frank into his office. "Okay," he said, taking a seat. "What do you need and why?"

Frank told him about the attempts on Angelic's life. "I need all you can get me on Dusty Bryson, including a current address," he concluded.

"No problem," Chief Peterson told him, picking up the telephone receiver. "It shouldn't take more than fifteen minutes."

True to his word, Chief Peterson informed Frank that Bryson had no priors and had given him a phone number and an address in the suburbs. After telling Frank to have his father give him a call, the chief told Frank good-bye.

Frank went to the pay phone outside of headquarters and called Bryson. He answered on the fourth ring.

"Sir, I wonder if I might be able to meet with you today?" Frank said after identifying himself.

"What about?" Bryson queried.

"It's about Angelic Deveraux," Frank replied.

After a slight pause, Bryson stated, "I barely know her."

"But you knew her father?" Frank asked.

"Very well," was the response.

"Please Sir, this is very important," Frank pleaded.

"All right," Bryson gave in. "Do you know where Gravity Defied is located?"

Frank knew he was referring to the aeronautical musuem which had recently opened. "Yes Sir."

"I'll meet you there in two hours," Bryson told him. "At the Challenger exhibit," he added before hanging up.

Frank took time out for lunch before heading over to the museum. Arriving fifteen minutes early, he looked around a little before going to the meeting place. When he arrived, he saw a tall, lean man with graying hair and glasses sketching part of the exhibit.

"Hello," Frank siad, walking up to the man.

"Frank Hardy?" asked the man without looking up.

"Yes Sir," Frank replied.

"What do you want to know?" Bryson asked Frank, putting his sketch pad down and looking at Frank with intensity.

"I'd like to know about the time you worked for Daniel Deveraux," Frank told him.

"I thought you said this was about Angelic?" Bryson parried, raising an eyebrow.

"Someone has been trying to kill her," Frank informed him. "We believe it may be due to a grudge someone has against her father," Frank added, deciding to play it straight.

"Why?" Bryson asked. "It would seem more probable the culprit could be found if you looked for her enemies," he said, surprising Frank. "As far as I know, Daniel had no enemies."

"What about you?" Frank asked. "I heard you were working with Deveraux the night your wife died and you quit the next day."

"I was and I did," Bryson admitted freely. "But Daniel was the best friend I ever had even though he didn't know it. After I stopped working for him, we lost touch."

"Why did you quit?"

"My wife had been ill for a long time and my funds were running low. Being an artist isn't very financially rewarding," he added ruefully. "I went to Deveraux Industries seeking a job. I have a degree in engineering and thought I could put it to use. When Daniel learned I was also an artist he asked me to help him with a special project with an increase in salary.

I found out about a month into the project that any engineer could have done the job. He had found out about my wife and wanted to help without embarrassing me," he looked right into Frank's eyes. "He was a fine man. He put her on my insurance, paying the substantial premiums himself, so I could have enough money to make my wife's last days, good ones."

"He sounds like a very good man," Frank said, perplexed. He was wondering how Deveraux could be so generous with others yet so callous when it came to his own daughter.

Bryson nodded before continuing. "As the project was nearing completion, my wife got worse. Daniel hired a live-in nurse to stay with my wife while I worked. I told him it was my responsibility but he insisted he needed me so it was his obligation to cover her care while I worked.

We had been working twelve hours a day for almost two weeks. Finally, we finished the project. We were having a drink to celebrate when the nurse called and said I should hurry home," he paused and swallowed a lump that had formed in his throat. "Daniel drove me home but we were too late. He stayed with me the rest of the night. The next day I told him I knew how generous he had been but since the project was finished and my wife was dead, there was no longer any reason for me to continue working."

Looking sad, Bryson finished, "Even after I quit, he helped me. He made and paid for all of the funeral arrangements. He also gave me two months severance pay."

"But you quit," Frank said, frowning.

"I told you he was very generous and understanding," Bryson said. "A better man you couldn't find. He's not the type of person to make enemies."

"And Angelic is?" Frank asked.

"I've only met her twice," Bryson stated. "Both times, my impressions were unfavorable."

"Why?" demanded Frank.

"I'm an artist. I believe I can read a person better than most people. There was something about her which troubled me." He raked a hand through his hair. "I shouldn't tell you this because I only found out by accident, but she was seeing a psychiatrist."

"How did you find out?" Frank asked.

"I heard Daniel tell her she had an appointment with Kevin Phillips. I found out a couple of weeks later what kind of doctor he was."

"Do you know why she was seeing him?" Frank asked.

Bryson shrugged his shoulders and picked up his sketchpad. "That's all the help I can give you," he told Frank. "I really don't know any more."

"Just one more question," promised Frank. "Do you know where I can find Dr. Phillips?"

"His office is at 1414 Belford. It's on the fifth floor. My sister works on the sixth floor of the same building," he added, explaining how he knew where Phillips' office was located.

Frank nodded, then held out a hand, which Bryson shook. "Thank you for your help," Frank said and left.

Once outside the museum, Frank caught a cab to the building housind Dr. Phillips' office. By the time he entered the office he still hadn't decided how to approach the man.

"May I help you?" asked the receptionist pleasantly.

"I would like to speak with Dr. Phillips," he stated. "It will only take a few minutes," he promised.

"Do you have an appointment?" she asked.

"No," Frank replied. "I'm not here as a patient. I just need to ask him a few questions."

"I see," she said, frowning slightly. "The doctor is with a patient now. If you wil have a seat I'll let him know you're here when he is free."

Frank thanked her and sat down. About twenty minutes later, a woman left the inner sanctum and the receptionist informed the doctor of Frank's presence.

"How may I help you?" Dr. Phillips asked Frank after he had taken a seat in front of his desk.

"I'm here about one of your patients," Frank said. "Angelic Deveraux."

"If that's the reason for your being here, then I am afraid you have wasted your time," Dr. Phillips said, rising from his chair. "What goes on between myself and my patients is confidential."

"I understand, Sir," Frank replied calmly, remaining seated. "However, someone has made several attempts on Angelic's life and we need to find out who and stop them before they succeed."

"Tell me about it," ordered Dr. Phillips, sitting back down and focusing on Frank's face with sharp green eyes.

Frank confided in the doctor, even going so far as to relate Joe's reaction to Angelic after Iola had been poisoned.

"Tell me," Dr. Phillips said, leaning back and looking at Frank through shuttered eyes, "how good are your brother's instincts?"

"The best," Frank responded without hesitation. "He usually right on the mark."

"And why have you not trusted those instincts around Angelic?" queried the doctor.

"We've been working hard lately," Frank replied. "He's stressed out."

"Are you stressed out?" the doctor asked, pointedly.

"I don't think so," Frank answered, frowning in thought. The doctor was leading him to the same conclusions his father had earlier. Could Joe have been right about Angelic after all?

"Can you tell me anything about Angelic?" Frank asked after a moment's thought.

"I saw her for almost two years," he told Frank. "But she canceled her last appointment about six months ago and never came back. There isn't much I can tell you except that she is a very complex individual."

After thanking him, Frank left and headed tot he train station. He was more confused than ever. He only hoped Joe was having better luck.

"This picnic was a great idea," Angelic said, smiling happily at Joe. "You were so smart to think of it," she added, taking a bite out of a potato chip.

"Mmm, thanks," Joe mumbled through a mouthful of the ham and cheese croissant he had bought.

"Let's swing," Angelic said after Joe had finished his last bite.

"Sure, why not," Joe agreed with a grin. He stood up and took her hand and pulled her to her feet.

"Climb on," Joe told her when they reached the swings. "I'll give you a few pushes before I start." She sat on the swing and soon she was high in the air. Joe took the swing next to her and was soon in a race to see who could go the highest.

Laughing, Angelic slowed to a stop and jumped off. Joe, who had begun to slow down when she did, jumped off his swing before it had stopped and together they left the park.

"It's getting late," Joe said on the way to the van. "We had better get back to Bayport."

"Do you like science fiction?" Angelic asked.

"Love it," Joe admitted.

"Let's check out the new Star Trek flick," she suggested. "I noticed it was playing when we drove by the theater."

"Maybe some other time," Joe told her. "I promised Iola I'd see her tonight," he added a bit hesitantly.

"Oh," Angelic said softly. "Maybe the three of us could go sometime?" she asked.

"Sounds good," Joe said, relieved because she wasn't offended. They crossed the street and got into the van. On the way, Angelic asked to stop at the convenience store again.

"Why don't you wait in the van?" she suggested. "I'll only be a minute." Joe started to argue but she held up her hand and continued, "We've been out all day and nothing's happened. I won't be long," she promised, getting out of the van and going inside.

When five minutes had elapsed and she had not returned, Joe went inside after her. Not seeing anyone he called out, "Angelic!" Receiving no response, he headed around the corner toward the restroom, falling over something as he turned the corner. Lying on the floor were Angelic and the clerk!