Author's Note:

This is a long chapter, so I will make this short. Thank you to everyone who has read the story thus far along with everyone who has left reviews and to those who have favorited/followed the story. I appreciate the support! It is going to go fast the next couple of chapters so hang on tight! Have a great Labor Day and God Bless!


Chapter Thirteen

Chief Ezra Collig of the Bayport Police Department leaned back in his chair, perplexed by the phone call he'd received earlier in the evening from the police chief in Illinois. What worried him were the subjects the man was inquiring about: Fenton and Joe Hardy. It was more like McGinnis was trying to make sure the Hardys were okay as if he knew something bad was about to happen.

Picking up the phone, Collig called the number for Fenton's home and waited. It was on the second ring that somebody answered.

"Hardy residence. Gertrude speaking."

"Trudy? Its Ezra," he replied. "Has Fenton gotten home yet?"

"Why no, he hasn't, Ezra," she said cheerfully. "I honestly haven't seen him since this morning and he doesn't normally call home much during the day. Humpf! That man! He's been working too hard lately after that car was found. If you ask me, he's probably following up on some lead and just forgot to call again."

"Well, what about Joe? Have you seen him at all?"

"You know him," Gertrude laughed. "He's probably out with Vanessa. He's been head-over-heels for that girl ever since he met her three years ago. She is such a blessing, especially after everything that poor boy has been through, losing his mother…then the whole thing with Frank." She sighed deeply.

"Trudy…"

"I miss that boy so much!"

"Trudy…"

"And then Joe's time in Korea and losing friends there and don't get me started on that harlot who broke is heart! And she's still trying to get him back after all these years! The nerve of some people!"

"Trudy!"

"Yes, Chief?"

"If you hear from either of them or they come home, please have them call me."

"Should I be worried?"

"No, I don't think so. It's just a precaution."

"Oh, okay," Gertrude said quietly. "I'll have them call you, Ezra."

"Thank you, Trudy." Collig hung up the phone seconds later then sighed, rubbing his face. "That woman…"

"Hey, Chief?" replied a voice at the door.

Collig looked up to see a concerned looking Con Riley standing in the frame. "What is it, Con?"

"Sam Radley is here," he replied, keeping his voice low. "He says it's..."

Before he could finish the sentence, Sam Radley burst into the room, his face flushed with worry. "Sorry to bother you, Chief, but I think something's happened to Fenton and possibly Joe!"

The color drained from the chief's face and his heart rate went up. He nodded to Con who scurried off. "How do you know?"

"I was coming through town, going home from following up on a lead," the man explained breathlessly, "when I noticed the lights on at the office. Fenton's car was still sitting out front. I didn't think it was particularly strange since it is Fenton we're talking about here but I needed to talk to him anyway. So, I went inside the office."

"And…"

"Chief, the office was empty! The door unlocked, even Fenton's revolver was on his desk!"

"What about Joe?"

"He wasn't there either!" Sam ran his fingers through his hair as he paced. "Chief, Fenton never leaves that gun behind, not after that car was found. Plus he told me he received a phone call yesterday from someone he didn't know. They were looking for something and Fenton was told to ask his son about it."

"And did Joe know anything?"

"The man wasn't talking about, Joe, Chief," Sam growled, placing his hands on the desk. "He was talking about Frank!"

"But he hasn't been seen in eight years!"

"Right," he nodded. "But apparently Frank has something they want. I think whoever it is, took Fenton and Joe to get Frank to come home!"

"Are you sure?"

"As sure as I'm standing here, Chief."

Collig stared at the determined man, thinking about the strange phone call from Illinois. There had to be some reason as to why a police chief from a town nearly eight hundred miles away would have interest in the Hardys and now he was sure of it.

"Have you heard of River Heights?" Collig suddenly asked.

Sam stood back, giving him a curious look before speaking. "Yes, but what does Nancy's hometown have to with this?"

"Nancy?"

"Yes, Nancy. As in Nancy Drew. She's one of Joe's friends. Her husband was Joe's squad leader in Korea but he's known her since they were kids, along with Frank. What does she have to do with this?"

"I'm not sure," Collig shook his head, "but I received a phone call from a Chief McGinnis of River Heights PD about an hour ago. He was asking about Fenton and Joe."

"Did he explain why?"

"No, he didn't. Just that it was a courtesy call. I called Trudy but she hasn't heard from either Fenton or Joe either. Do you think maybe it holds true?"

Sam sat down in thought about what Collig revealed. There had to be good evidence for the chief of police in River Heights to call here. He looked up at Collig. "Do you have a number to call back?"

"Yes, but…"

"Call him back. We need to find out what he knows."

Within moments, Chief Collig called the number McGinnis gave him.

"Hello? Drew residence," replied a male voice after the second ring.

Collig's eyes went wide as he looked at Sam. He scribbled a note on paper as he spoke into the phone. "Yes, this is Chief Collig of the Bayport Police Department. To whom am I speaking?"

Sam caught his breath when the chief held up his note: Drew residence! The man nodded as Collig turned his attention back to the call.

"This is Officer Baker. I can get Chief McGinnis for you, sir."

Before Collig could object, the officer was gone. "This is getting stranger and stranger," he replied, waiting. The chief could hear things being moved around and people talking in low voices on the other line.

"Why would the chief of police be calling you from the Drews' house?" Sam asked.

Collig shook his head and was about to answer when McGinnis came onto the line.

"Did you find Fenton or Joe Hardy, Chief?"

"Call me Ezra, first of all."

"All right, Ezra. Call me Bill then. And the Hardys?"

"We haven't found them but I want to know what prompted you to call me," Collig replied gruffly. "It's not like someone would particularly be worried about the Hardys unless they know more than they're letting on."

McGinnis sighed. "I'm sorry, you're right. I haven't told you everything." The man took a deep breath before continuing. "I called because we have reason to believe that someone is going to go after Fenton and Joe Hardy."

"Why though?"

"We believe it's leverage."

"And how did you come about to this knowledge?"

"Confessions from two men we arrested about an hour or so ago. I heard them say it myself. Apparently someone is looking for Frank Hardy."

"That's what I was just informed by Fenton Hardy's partner, Sam Radley," Collig replied grimly. "Only problem is no one knows where Frank is. He left town eight years ago right after the death of his mother and never looked back. Would you happen to know otherwise, Bill?"

McGinnis got quiet for a moment and Collig wondered if the man hung up the phone. Seconds later, someone else got on the line, causing the chief to nearly fall out of his chair.

"Hello, Chief Collig. May I speak with Sam, please?"

"Uh, s—sure," was all Collig could say as he handed the phone to Sam.

The detective gave the chief a strange look before speaking into the phone. "This is Sam Radley. Is there something I can help you with, Chief?"

"Hello, Sam. It's Frank. Can you tell me what's going on there?"


Walter Tannen had his feet propped up on the table, leaning back on the chair he was in. He flipped a card, catching it in mid-air. He was bored, wondering why no one from Chicago had called him yet. That was the plan once the people there got a hold of Hardy. They were supposed to call around six and it was now nearly eight. Tannen knew the time difference and all but it was making him nervous anyway. It should have been an easy grab-and-go deal but something must have gone wrong. The longer he waited and kept Fenton Hardy detained, the bigger the target on his back was going to be. Tannen tried avoiding contact with the Families ever since he came back from Europe nine years earlier and this was no exception.

The jewels were the goal though. After his brief stint upstate on a trumped up charge, Tannen was eager to get the jewels back to finish the transaction he started. There were two pieces left and the buyer was getting annoyed. Eight years was a long time to be waiting but all he wanted was a way out of the mess he got himself into. Holding the Hardys only made it worse.

Tannen looked over at the closed door behind which his captives were held. He heard them talking in low tones earlier, soon after their arrival though it subsided as of late. What he heard through the door made him wonder if he made the right decision in taking them. What if Hardy doesn't come back to rescue them? Tannen had every intention of eventually letting the Hardys go…after he disappeared with the money he was going to receive from the sale. The quicker the transaction, the quicker he could leave…and get away from Martinelli.

The man sighed, leaning his head back as he shifted his feet on the table. Tannen closed his eyes, wondering if he should just take his losses and get out of town before the wrong people found out what he's done. Then how would you get out of the country with no money? he thought and the idea was soon put to pasture. The silence in the room was interrupted by the phone ringing.

Tannen quickly dropped his feet and grabbed the phone after the first ring. "Hello? Please tell me you're on your way!"

"I've got some bad news for you, Walter," replied the man on the other line. The color drained from Tannen's face. "I gave Worley permission to make a snatch in my city and he ends up killing an innocent person and then gets himself arrested in the process. What am I supposed to think about your operation there after all of this?"

"I…I'm sorry about that," Tannen stammered. "He assured me it would be easy there. How was I supposed to know they'd give him problems?"

"I understand that, believe I do but it was guaranteed that nothing would happen…"

"I know but…"

"Please do not interrupt me again, Walter," the man replied calmly but firmly. "The only reason why I know what happened is because of a friend of mine in the town police department who kindly informed me of the situation. Now, I know you're looking for this Hardy kid but is it worth it to defy the unspoken rule for a couple of jewels that might not be what you hope them to be?"

"I assure you, Angelo," Tannen answered though his heart pounded, "I know what the jewels are worth and once they're sold, I'll be able to disappear before Martinelli even knows."

"I sincerely hope so, Walter," Angelo said grimly. "You know he'll find out eventually. Be best to wrap things up before that happens."

"I will. Do you know anything else about what happened tonight?"

"Yeah, I do. He's heading your way tomorrow along with the girl. They'll be on a morning flight heading into LaGuardia. I'm sending two of my men on the flight with them. They have their orders on what to do when they arrive in New York. I suggest that you meet them at the airport before someone catches wind he's coming home."

"We'll be there, I assure you. Anything on the jewels?"

"Nothing was mentioned. Are we done here?"

"Yes, Angelo. And thank you. I'll get you your payment when this is all over."

"Oh, I know you will. My men heading to New York will make sure of it. Then you can go on your merry way. I'll keep my mouth closed as long as I can but I don't lie, you know that."

With that, the phone call ended and Tannen leaned back in his chair. Hardy was coming on his own with a guest. Now to make sure he got a hold of him before the police, or worse the Feds, got a hold of him.


Frank finished packing his bag and was now sitting on the edge of the bed, thinking. For too long he'd been away from home. And now he was going back to save his brother and father. Would they still welcome him after all these years? Was Joe still mad at him for what happened? Thoughts seemed to roam through his head that he didn't hear the door open.

"Everything will turn out okay, Frank," Carson said softly, startling him. The young man rose from the bed, quickly swiping at his face. Carson looked away at the gesture then sighed. "There's something I haven't told you and I need to come clean now before you leave."

"Sir?"

The lawyer chuckled. "Ever the polite, Frank. You are going to be an amazing lawyer but somehow I don't think you're going to go down that path."

"I went to school for it," Frank shrugged. "I should finish it, shouldn't I?"

"If that's what you really want." Carson smiled then bowed his head. "I brought you here under false pretenses."

"I…I don't understand."

"I didn't hire you to become a lawyer, Frank," he explained. "I needed help in finding information on Owen. Nancy was becoming miserable. She wasn't the same and I was worried that he was going to take her away from me. When I found out about the mortgage not being paid, I realized I had to do something. Bringing in Joe would have caused a bigger stir. Owen would have known right away considering the fact that Joe hated him. That was when fate stepped in. When your professor, and my old friend, came for a visit, he recognized you. I knew what I needed to do. The firm had already settled on hiring a young man out of Harvard for the associate opening but I did not approve of it. When Owen Sr. stepped in, I knew something was going on. So, I went to look for you and offered you the same job on the pretense that it was going to be a competition to see who would fare better. The other partners loved the idea. The Hartleys wouldn't think anything of it though Owen was not happy. I really hired you, Frank, to help me in finding out what was really going on." Carson sighed. "I'm so sorry for the deception. I felt that you needed to know before you left."

Frank looked away from the man. He was angry but not in the way one would think. He was angry that someone took advantage of Carson's good name and used it to get ahead. He was also angry that Carson had to do what he had to do in order to save not just his livelihood but his home life too.

"Frank? I wouldn't blame you if you decided to never come back," the lawyer continued. "I just wanted to save my daughter, to save…others from the corruption the Hartleys were instilling upon River Heights."

"I'm not mad at you, sir," Frank finally stated, glancing at him. "I'm more upset with the Hartleys and what they've done to you and to Nancy. I understand why you did it and I am thanking you for helping me see where I needed to be and what I was meant to do. I really don't want to be a lawyer." He laughed, shaking his head. "I wanted to make Mom proud of me after what happened. I went to law school, got my degree, and this close to being something I know I'm not supposed to be. I realize Mom would be proud no matter what I did. I think now it's time for me to go home and mend some fences with Dad and Joe. I don't want anything to happen to them and I'm going to make sure nothing does."

"You know you'll always have a job here," Carson admitted. "That is if you want to come back."

"Maybe," he smiled. "It depends on what happens next."

"I'm sure," the man nodded knowingly. "Make sure she comes home safe, will you?"

"I promise."


The next morning, Nancy and Frank boarded their flight from Chicago to New York with Carson and Hannah saying goodbye at the gate. Unfortunately, the pair couldn't get seats together as the flight was nearly booked and only single seating remained. Nancy turned in her seat to see Frank several rows back. He gave her a confident smile as he waved to her. Still, she felt a little apprehensive as she turned around in her seat to face forward. Something didn't feel right, almost as if she were being watched.

Hold it together, Drew, she thought. You only have a few more minutes before you can get off the plane.

The original plan was for her to go find Sam who was meeting them at the gate. She expressed her dislike for the idea, considering that both her and Frank would be separated long enough for someone to make a move on them.

"No one knows we're heading to New York, Nancy," Frank reassured her earlier, his words ringing in her ear.

After seeing her nervous state, he changed the plan that she would meet him just outside the plane and the two would walk to the gate together. That way it would make it harder for something to happen. Nancy leaned her head back and closed her eyes. It wouldn't be much longer as the plane taxied to the gate.

"I thought you could only get nervous about taking off and landing," laughed the man across the aisle from her. Nancy opened her eyes to see a man in a nice suit, a briefcase sitting at his feet. "We're almost to our gate. You can't be that anxious about being on a plane."

"Oh, no," she waved dismissively. "It…it's nothing. I just really can't wait to get off the plane. Not real big on small spaces."

"I tell ya," the man laughed. "It doesn't get any better either."

Nancy looked at him curiously. Although he was dressed as if he were going to a business meeting there was something about him that seemed off to her. And his slight accent didn't match his appearance.

"Look," he suggested, leaning toward her, "how's about you and I walk out together. That you have someone to be with you and I have a beautiful gal on my arm to show the world."

"Sorry," Nancy shook her head politely, "I'm already with someone on the plane. We're going to meet outside the door."

"Hey, I tried, right?" the man shrugged nonchalantly. "If you change your mind, I'll be right here."

With that, he leaned back in his seat and waited as the stewardess address the cabin. Nancy glanced at Frank again though he was talking to the elderly woman next to him. She gripped the armrests tightly as the plane bounced on the tarmac. It soon came to a stop and the passengers quickly rose to leave. Nancy grabbed her things, knowing she had to move to let the others next to her leave as well.

"Fancy meeting you again," the man smiled when she bumped into him.

"Right," Nancy nodded.

She disembarked with the rest of the passengers, feeling the man close to her…a little too close. As Nancy approached the door, she noticed that there wasn't much room for her to wait for Frank as the other passengers went by.

Nancy was knocked to the ground by rush of people. When she went to get up, she felt a hand tightly grab onto hers. It was the man again, who helped her off the ground.

"Dangerous area to be in, miss," he replied. "I could escort you to the gate where you could wait for your friend."

"No, I'll be fine," she objected, brushing off her dress. Nancy stopped when she felt something hard jab her in her side.

"No, Nancy, I insist." She looked up at the man, seeing the pleasantry gone from his eyes. Glancing down at her side, she saw a glimpse of a gun underneath the coat he carried. "We're going to take a little detour and our friend, Mr. Hardy will be joining us soon. Someone would like a word with him. Let's go."


Frank watched Nancy get out of her seat though he couldn't get to her any quicker than he wanted too. There were just too many people between them. But something was off especially after her noticed the man across from Nancy talk to her for a few minutes. When she wasn't looking, Frank saw the man exchange looks with another man on the plane, one who was sitting not far from his own seat. Something was definitely wrong and he was kicking himself for not taking Nancy's nervousness seriously.

The moment the plane stopped at the gate, Frank quickly rose though he let the elderly woman next to him out before moving along. He wanted to make sure the man sitting near him was in front of him but he also needed to make sure that Nancy was okay. As Frank slowly moved along, he contemplated what he was going to do. There was no way of knowing what was going to happen. Helplessly, Frank watched Nancy exit the plane with the other man close behind her.

Without another thought, he moved quickly, pushing his way through the passengers. Several made attempts to stop him while others shouted protests. The man who was originally near him couldn't move as he was stuck way behind after Frank's quick actions. The stewardess scolded him as he plunged out of the plane and into the gate arm. Nancy was nowhere to be seen though he spotted her bags nearby. Frank ran for the gate entrance, stopping just inside the airport, his head swiveling around in search of Nancy's red hair. All he saw were other passengers giving him an evil eye as they passed him.

"Frank!" cried a voice. He turned to see Sam Radley running up to him, his face flushed from rushing. "Phew! Glad I caught you! It's good to see you again!"

"Is Nancy with you?" Frank quickly asked, glancing around.

"What?" Sam heaved, leaning on his knees, out of breath. "No, no, I just got here. I couldn't get a space in front of the airport even though Ezra called in a favor with the chief here. I had to run all the way from the parking lot to get here. I'm sorry I was late. Traffic was horrible!"

"But you didn't see Nancy, Sam?"

"No, I thought she was to stay with you."

"We got separated. Our seats weren't together. There was a man who was near her…" Frank ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated about the events. "I can't believe this! How did they know we were coming? How did they even know she was with me?"

"We don't know what happened, Frank," Sam stated as calmly as he could. "Nancy could have just gone into the ladies room for all we know."

"I know she's not there, Sam!" he snapped through gritted teeth. He went on to explain what he saw on the plane. "It was like they knew we we're coming and on what plane!"

"Frank Hardy, you have a telephone call," a voice announced over the intercom. "Please pick up any yellow phone or go to a service desk to answer."

Frank exchanged a grim look with Sam before rushing over to the nearby service desk, "This is Frank Hardy," he answered breathlessly, after explaining the situation to the woman behind the desk.

"Welcome home, Frank," replied a voice. "Bring the jewels to Manchester Park at five today. Come alone. No need to bring the police or your friend, Mr. Radley. If you don't comply, the first thing that'll happen will be the death of this lovely lady."