One False Step (2 page)

“Exercise,” Frank said. “That's the secret.”

“We have to eat this much, Aunt Gertrude,” Joe added. “If we didn't, we'd be skin and bones.”

“I guess so,” Aunt Gertrude said.

“Anyway, you're looking great, Aunt Gertrude,” Frank said. “It must be all those trips to your new gym downtown.”

Aunt Gertrude blushed.

“How's Mr. Phillips?” Joe asked. “Are you and he still dating?”

Aunt Gertrude blushed even deeper. “Good heavens, Joe Hardy! You make it sound like we're a couple of teenagers!” she said. “Mr. Phillips and I are merely friends who enjoy attending an occasional philharmonic concert together.” She turned to Mrs. Hardy. “Laura, if you need me to help you with dinner I'll be glad to, but if not, I'd just as soon finish this novel I'm reading.”

“Thank you, Gertrude. I have it all under control,” Mrs. Hardy said. “Finish your book.”

Joe crooked his head so he could read the title. “
The Bride from Butte
.” He looked at his aunt and grinned. “Sounds interesting,” he said. “Are you getting some good ideas from it?”

“Don't you go thinking I'm looking to get married, Joe Hardy,” Aunt Gertrude said. “This book was written by the granddaughter of a friend I went to college with. She asked me to read it.”

Joe winked at Frank, and Frank grinned back.

After Frank and Joe had had two more pieces of cake each, Frank said, “Mom, we were thinking about driving to Philadelphia this weekend to catch
a couple of the Aérocirque performances. Would that be all right?”

Mrs. Hardy took a casserole out of the oven, set it on a wire rack, and said, “We don't have any relatives in Philadelphia, Frank. Where would you stay?”

“I was thinking we could just rent a hotel room, Mom,” Frank said. “Several of the guys are going. Matt. Chet. Tony. We could pool our money.”

“Matt went to see Aérocirque in New York last weekend, Mom, when were were in Montreal helping Dad,” Joe added, “and he can't stop raving about it.”

“Is it like that fancy circus that's in Las Vegas all the time?” Aunt Gertrude asked.

“No, this one is always in a big outdoor stadium. It uses helicopters,” Joe explained.

“They tie a wire to a couple of helicopters, and then the acrobats walk across it while the helicopters are in the air,” Frank added.

“I've never heard of anything so dangerous in all my life,” Mrs. Hardy said.

“It's the danger that makes it exciting!” Joe said.

“That's not all,” Frank said. “Some of the helicopters have trapezes attached to them on the bottom, and some of the aerialists swing from one to another.”

“Oh, my goodness! What is this world coming to?” Aunt Gertrude said. “When I was growing up, we got excited if we saw lions and tigers at the circus.”

“Times have changed, Aunt Gertrude,” Joe said.

“Well, if you're only planning to watch and not participate, then ask your father and see what he has to say about you going,” Mrs. Hardy said. “But it sounds fine to me.”

“Dad always tells us to check with you first, Mom,” Frank said, “so is it all right if we tell him you think it's a great idea?”

“I didn't say I thought it was a
great
idea, Frank Hardy,” Mrs. Hardy said. “I only said, well . . .” She sighed. “All right, just tell him that I thought it was a great idea!”

“Laura, it's probably safer than some of the cases they've been on,” Aunt Gertrude said. She turned a page of her romance novel. “Sometimes I wish we lived in a simpler age.”

Frank and Joe headed for Mr. Hardy's study. The door was closed, so Frank knocked.

“Come in,” Mr. Hardy said.

“Do you have a couple of minutes, Dad?” Joe said. “We have something to ask you.”

“I always have time for my sons,” Mr. Hardy said. “I'm actually glad for a break. I'm stumped.”

“Are you working on another case?” Frank asked.

“Yes, but it's not my case,” Mr. Hardy said. “I just got off the telephone with Detective Rodriguez in New York. He wanted my opinion on the robbery of a high-rise apartment.”

Frank and Joe looked at each other.

“Was the robbery Saturday night, and did the apartment belong to a family named Edwards?” Joe asked.

Mr. Hardy blinked in surprise. “How did you know that?” he asked.

Frank repeated what Callie had told them in the cafeteria.

“Callie said the police think the thieves came in through the French doors off the balcony,” Joe added, “but they don't have any evidence.”

“Well, that's not quite true. I know you boys won't repeat this—the police did find some strange marks on the railing of the balcony,” Mr. Hardy said. “Dr. Edwards said he was sure they weren't there before the robbery.”

“When Callie was telling us about the robbery, the first thing I thought of was window washers,” Frank said, “but I guess that the police have ruled that out.”

Mr. Hardy nodded. “I promised Detective Rodriguez I'd think about it, so that's what I was just doing,” he said. “What was it you boys needed to talk to me about?”

Frank told Mr. Hardy about Aérocirque and their plans to go to Philadelphia to attend some of the performances.

“Have you talked to your mother?” Mr. Hardy asked.

Frank and Joe grinned.

“She said it was all right with her if it was all right with you,” Joe said.

“Well, you'll need a place to stay, so I'm going to call Mario Zettarella,” Mr. Hardy said.

“Who's that?” Frank asked.

“He's an acquaintance of mine in the Philadelphia Police Department,” Mr. Hardy said.

“We could just rent a hotel room, Dad,” Joe said. “We don't want to put people out.”

“Nonsense,” Mr. Hardy said.

“There are going to be five of us altogether, Dad,” Frank added. “That's a lot of people to have as guests.”

“The Zettarellas have five sons,” Mr. Hardy said. “They're all grown now, but Mario told me the last time I talked to him that he and his wife missed having them around.”

Mr. Hardy picked up the telephone and dialed a number. Within minutes, the arrangements were made. “Thanks, Mario, and we hope to see you and Gina in Bayport one of these days.” When he hung up the phone, Mr. Hardy added, “It's a good thing I called. Mario said that tickets to the Aérocirque performances are almost impossible to get, but he's on special detail for all the shows, so all five of you guys can go with him.”

“Great, Dad!” Frank said. “Well, I guess this is a good example of how things always happen for a reason.”

“Let's go next door and tell Matt,” Joe suggested.

•   •   •

On Friday afternoon after school, Frank and Joe picked up Matt, Chet, and Tony.

“We'll head on over to I-95,” Frank said as they left the city limits of Bayport. “That's the fastest route to Philadelphia.”

“I'm hungry,” Chet said. “Do you think we can stop somewhere to eat?”

Matt looked over at Chet. “Are you serious? We haven't been on the road for more than ten minutes.”

“I know, I know,” Chet said, “but riding in a car makes me hungry.”

“It really does, Matt,” Joe said. “You should hear Mrs. Morton talk about all their family trips when Chet and Iola were kids.”

“It always took them twice as long to get where they were going,” Frank said.

“That's why we brought along a cooler of food,” Joe said. “We're prepared.”

“You guys are great,” Chet said. He looked over his shoulder. “Pass it up here.”

“It's too big, Chet,” Frank said. “Matt, lean over the back seat and get Chet one of those turkey sandwiches on top.”

“And something to drink, and some chips,” Chet added.

“This is making me hungry too,” Matt said. “Is it all right if I help myself?”

“Sure! That's what it's there for,” Joe said. “Mom packed enough for an army. I could hardly
lift the cooler to get it into the back.”

“There's the interchange ahead of us,” Frank said. “I-95 goes right into Philadelphia. According to Dad's directions, we need to exit onto the Pennsylvania Turnpike, get off at the Hatboro exit, and then drive south a few miles to Willow Grove.” He looked at his watch. “We should get to the Zettarella's house in time to go with Detective Zettarella to tonight's performance of Aérocirque!”

•   •   •

Highway construction in New York and New Jersey and a fifteen-vehicle pileup with no serious injuries just before Frank reached the Pennsylvania Turnpike cut their scheduled arrival time closer than Frank would have liked, but Mr. Hardy's precise directions made the difference. They arrived in front of the Zettarella's house on Haverford Lane at 5:30.

“Great job, Frank,” Matt said.

“I'm hungry,” Chet said. “I wonder if we're in time for dinner.”

“I only ate half of this banana,” Tony said. He handed it to Chet. “I'll pass,” Chet said, grimacing.

Just then the front door opened, and a man who looked like a professional football player started toward their van.

“I hope that's Detective Zettarella,” Matt said. “If it's not, we're in trouble.”

The man smiled and waved at them.

Joe hopped out of the van. “Detective Zettarella?” he said.

“In the flesh,” the man said, grabbing Joe's hand and shaking it vigorously. “But you're not going to spend the whole time you're here calling me ‘Detective Zettarella.' It's Mario, okay?”

Joe grinned. “Okay, Mario,” he said.

Frank had come up behind Joe. He introduced himself and the rest of the boys.

“Well, Gina, my wife, has fixed a quick meal for us,” Mario said, “so let's go inside, because we really do need to leave by six.”

Everyone followed Mario into the house.

“Wow! That smells wonderful!” Chet said. “I'm starved.”

“You ate most of the food from the cooler, Chet,” Matt said. “I'm amazed you have room for anything else.”

“Oh, don't worry, Matt,” Tony said. “Chet's stomach is a bottomless pit.”

“I hope Mrs. Zettarella didn't go to a lot of trouble,” Frank said. “We could have just snacked at the circus.”

“Trouble? Not at all,” Mario said. “Your father probably told you that we reared five boys, and even though they've been gone from home for several years, Gina still misses cooking for a big crowd. When I told her the five of you were coming to stay with us for a few days, she immediately went
grocery shopping, and she's been in the kitchen ever since. I haven't seen her this happy in years!”

Mario introduced everyone to Mrs. Zettarella, who gave them each a big hug and told them to call her Gina.

After they had all washed up in the guest bathroom, Mario said, “Okay, boys, let's dig in, and then we'll head on over to the stadium.”

Just then Mario's cell phone rang. He identified himself, then, after a couple of minutes, said, “Well, that's too bad. I thought it might lead us somewhere. Okay. I'll see you in the morning.”

“Anything wrong, dear?” Gina asked.

“No, it's just that high-rise robbery downtown,” Mario said. “We thought those marks on the railings of the balcony might lead somewhere, but it was a dead end.”

Frank shot a questioning look at Joe.

“I saw Aérocirque's first Philadelphia performance last night,” Mario said, “and you all are in for an amazing treat.”

“Matt saw them in New York, but it'll be the first time for the rest of us,” Tony said. “We can hardly wait!”

Frank was looking forward to the performance too, but the high-rise burglary suddenly seemed more interesting.

Just then a horn sounded in front of the Zettarella's house.

“Our ride's here, kids,” Mario said. “It's two hours before the show starts, but I need to be at the stadium early to check out the security. It'll also give me time to introduce you to some of the performers and to show you what goes on behind the scenes.”

Gina popped open a plastic container of moist towelettes. “I'll make hand-washing easy for you, boys,” she said with a smile.

Chet gave her a big grin. “My mother would be proud of me,” he said as he took one of the towelettes and wiped his hands. “Thanks, Gina.”

“Well, when our boys were at home they were
constantly coming and going,” Gina said, “so I tried to make life as simple for them as possible.”

“Some people might call it ‘spoiling,' dear,” Mario said with a smile.

“I don't care what some people might call it, Mario,” Gina said, smiling. “A mother has the right to spoil her sons.”

“If you don't watch it, boys, you'll be forced to have breakfast in bed while you're here!” Mario said. “When our boys were home, it was more like a hotel with room service than a house.”

Gina winked at Frank and Joe. “Ask Mario how many times a week he gets breakfast in bed,” she said. “Then ask him how many times he's refused it.”

Frank noticed Mario blushing.

“Oh, okay, I give up,” Mario said. The horn outside honked again. “We have to go. Bill's going to wonder what's taking us so long.” He kissed Gina. “You win, dear. We'll see you after Aérocirque.”

“Have fun, but be careful, boys,” Gina said. “When I think about all those helicopters flying around that stadium, I get very nervous.”

“We'll be careful,” Frank assured her.

Mario led the way out of the house.

A white van was parked in front. On the side it read
PHILADELPHIA POLICE—SPECIAL FORCES.

“Wow! Some wheels!” Joe said. “I wish our van looked like that.”