Scene of the Crime (6 page)

Joe jumped from his chair. "But it's true! I even memorized their license plate number. The officers must have seen their car — a black Jag." No response from Fraser.

He reeled off the digits as Fraser unenthusiastically jotted them down. Fraser handed the paper to one of his officers and told him to run a check through the state computer.

"Did you see how fast my men were on you when you came across the lawn?" Fraser asked. "You didn't get very close to the house because you tripped the silent alarm."

Frank frowned. "But if we tripped the alarm, how come the men we were chasing didn't?"

"That's exactly what I was about to ask you." Fraser smiled jovially at Frank. "They couldn't have run that close to the house. I wonder if they existed at all."

Again, Joe was out of his chair. "You still don't believe us?"

"I think you boys are a bit—upset." Fraser held open his arms as if to say that wasn't a crime. "You're young and excited about the accident on the set. But this isn't a detective story. Leave the investigating to the pros."

Frank and Joe exchanged glances. For a moment Joe felt like revealing his true identity. But Frank's look kept him silent.

"This is a very wealthy town," Fraser went on. "Always open and ready for crime. But all in all, we've got the situation well in hand." He grinned. "Have you boys heard the history of the Newbridge jewels?"

Neither Frank nor Joe had.

"About a hundred years ago," Fraser told them, "ten of the wealthiest families in America decided to build luxurious oceanfront mansions along the cliffs of Newbridge. These homes would be their summer retreats.

"William Wedmont the third, by far the wealthiest of the group, came up with the idea for the Newbridge jewels," Fraser explained. "Each family, he suggested, would display their most precious gems in sealed showcases in the main parlor of each house. The original gems remain in these cases to this day."

Frank's eyes lit up. "Each collection must be worth millions," he said.

Fraser nodded. "So you see, because of the jewels, we always have men posted out there. It would be impossible for anyone to get by us at the Garfield mansion. There's extra private security there now, too, because of the filming."

"But they had to have found a way inside," Joe said. "It's the only place they could have gone."

Fraser chuckled and shook his head. "Impossible. Our alarm system is impenetrable."

"Tell me, Chief." Frank leaned forward in his chair. "Do you happen to know why the producers rented the Garfield mansion rather than any of the others?"

"Frankly, that surprised me," Fraser said. "I'd have thought they would shoot at the Wedmont place. It's more luxurious and was available earlier. The family will be away until the twenty-fifth." He shrugged. "Instead they held off shooting until the Garfields left."

The chief rang a buzzer on his desk. A moment later a police officer entered the office.

"I'm releasing these boys with just a warning," Fraser told the cop. He turned and glared at the Hardys. "That is, if they promise to keep out of trouble."

"Sometimes," Joe whispered to Frank, "that's a tough promise to keep."

The chief had the officer return Frank and Joe to their van on Mansion Row. Not surprisingly, the Jaguar was now gone.

Why hadn't they suggested checking it out before they were taken in? Frank chided himself.

"Where to now?" Joe asked when the cop left.

Frank pulled the van into a U-turn. "Back to the airport," he said. "There must be evidence of sabotage in that helicopter. Why do you think we ran into those guys?"

"Sure," Joe agreed. "They must have been after the evidence, too."

Frank raced the van ahead. "I just hope we get back to the hangar before they destroy everything."

The hangar door was still locked when they arrived. No cars were parked out back. In fact, the entire area seemed deserted. Joe thought that was a good sign, but Frank wasn't so sure.

Hoping the window hadn't been locked, they ran around to the side. Frank went first, lifting the glass and climbing inside. Joe followed.

The lights were still out as they crept slowly across the floor to the chopper.

Suddenly Frank froze. He grabbed Joe's arm.

"I hear something," he whispered, listening intently. "Ticking!"

"Hit the deck!" Joe yelled, pulling Frank down with him.

But before they were down, the force of an exploding bomb blasted them backward, knocking them hard against the wall.

Frank and Joe tumbled to the floor and rolled behind a Dumpster as the chopper burst into pieces, showering flames and burning shrapnel over the whole hangar.

"OUT! QUICK, BEFORE everything blows!" Joe yelled, pulling Frank to his feet.

The hangar was filled with smoke and flaming debris. Sirens moaned in the distance, growing louder by the second. "We've got to find the door," Joe said, groping through the smoke.

"Here," Frank said.

He heaved against the hangar door, then he and Joe stumbled out, gasping in the fresh air. Frank blinked, his vision blurred from the smoke. There seemed to be a blue wall in front of him. Then he realized it was a line of men in blue uniforms — police officers, with guns in hand pointed at the Hardys. Two cops pushed them to the ground and handcuffed them with their arms behind their backs. Archie Fraser knelt to look at them.

"Hey, what gives, Chief?" Joe cried.

Fraser gave them a grim look. "Take them to headquarters," he ordered, "and get Sy Osserman on the phone. I think we've found his saboteurs."

"You've got it wrong, Chief," Frank said. "We came back here looking for evidence of sabotage. We figured we'd find it in the chopper. That's why the real saboteurs blew it up."

"Maybe," Fraser said. "But here's another scenario. Two brash stuntmen see their boss injured and want a police investigation. First they tell us about three thugs who disappeared into the Garfield mansion. When that doesn't work, they blow up the stunt helicopter to turn attention back on the case."

He smiled bitterly. "Well, you got my attention." He turned to his men. "Take them away."

Frank and Joe spent the next hour in the Newbridge jail. The cell was old and small, with one window high above their heads. Frank sat on the bed while Joe paced back and forth.

"They didn't properly arrest us," Joe complained. "They didn't even read us our rights."

"That's because we're not under arrest," Frank explained. "We're merely being held for questioning."

"Well, I just wish they'd get on with it then," Joe growled.

Finally an officer unlocked the iron gate and escorted them into Chief Fraser's office.

Sy Osserman, wearing a white suit, turned to greet them as they entered.

"I see you boys have gotten yourselves in hot water," he said, shaking his head in disapproval.

The chief's brow furrowed. "Mr. Osserman, destroying a helicopter is not hot water, it's a serious crime."

"We didn't destroy anything," Joe protested. "We explained what happened."

"Did word come through on that license plate?" Frank asked.

"Yes," Fraser said. "Oddly enough, no such number was ever issued in this state."

"But that can't be," Joe insisted. "I know I got the number right."

Sy Osserman sighed. He raised his hand and smiled. "Look, Chief, this is getting us nowhere. The producers have insurance that will cover the cost of the helicopter."

"That doesn't solve the criminal matter," Fraser said.

"I'll vouch for Frank and Joe," Osserman said, leaning across the chief's desk. "Besides they're two of my main stuntmen. I need them."

"Well..." Fraser considered.

Frank and Joe smiled at the chief. They knew that the film was important to Archie Fraser and the town of Newbridge.

"So far we've got nothing but circumstantial evidence tying them to the crime," Fraser said, nodding at the director. "So if you're willing to accept responsibility for them — "

"I'll keep a close eye on them at all times," Osserman assured him. "I promise."

The director turned to glare at the Hardy Boys. "Stop annoying the police chief. He doesn't have time for your antics. He's got enough on his hands just guarding the Newbridge jewels."

Frank raised an eyebrow. So Sy Osserman knows about the jewels, he thought. Maybe there was more going on than a simple case of sabotage!

Archie Fraser stood. "All right. I'm letting you fellows go. But if there's any more trouble, we'll be meeting again."

The chief escorted Osserman, Frank and Joe out to the director's waiting limousine. As the chauffeur pulled away, the director pushed a button to raise the soundproof glass.

He looked angrily at the Hardys. "I don't have time for these visits to the police station. What did you find out?"

Frank told him about their two visits to the airport. The news didn't please the director.

"So, all in all, you've got zilch," he said. "No evidence, no suspects — nothing but trouble."

The next day morale on the set was at an all-time low. People eyed one another suspiciously and all work went slowly. The main topics of conversation were the captain's accident and the possibility of sabotage.

When Frank and Joe entered the stuntmen's building they were surprised to see Sy Osserman and Ed Kemble in the lounge. Osserman raised his voice. "All stuntmen pull up chairs. I'm calling a meeting."

He looked around at the crew. "Because of yesterday's unfortunate accident, we need a new stunt chief. Therefore, I'm appointing Ed Kemble as the new stunt director."

Murmurs rippled through the audience. The dozen stunters seemed stunned, and clearly not everyone was pleased with the selection. Gil Driscoll seemed especially put off. His face turned red as he compressed his lips. "Politics," he griped. "I'm the best stuntman around, and they give the job to an actor."

But only Janet Wynn rose with an objection.

"Ed Kemble may be a star," she said. "But he doesn't have any experience running stunts."

Ed flashed her his famous smile.

"Janet's right," he said, stepping forward. "I've never been a stunt director. But I was a stuntman before I became an actor. I'm still in the union, and I've seen some of the greatest stunts in movie history. I can handle the job."

"I appreciate how Ed volunteered to take on this huge responsibility." Osserman slapped the actor on the back. "He's got some great ideas."

"Thanks, Sy," Ed said modestly, his eyes dropping down for just a moment.

He looked back at the team. "Now, our first task will be arranging for two major nighttime stunts. We have a high jump off the side of a building. And we have the flaming car flying over the side of the cliff."

"That's two more accidents waiting to happen," Gil growled.

Ed smiled at him. "I hope not, because I'm going to do the leap from the building."

He nodded at Janet. "The script calls for you, portraying Kitt Macklin, to join me. However, if you feel you need some time off — "

Janet shook her head. "No, I'll jump," she said. "It's my job. I can handle it."

"That's the spirit." Ed proudly raised a clenched fist. "Now we need someone to drive the burning car by the cliff."

Slowly his eyes scanned the team.

"Keep your fingers crossed," Joe whispered to his brother.

"Frank," Ed Kemble decided. "You look the most like Burke, and the camera may move in close."

Frank swallowed hard. He turned to look at Joe and shrugged. "See?" Joe scolded him. "You didn't have your fingers crossed."

After the meeting, the team got busy preparing for the evening's stunts. Frank and Joe joined the mechanics, watching closely as they tuned the shiny blue Maserati that would go off the cliff hours later. Frank took the car out for a practice spin, getting a feel for it.

Around noon, they broke for lunch. Frank and Joe headed for the food tent and found themselves in a cafeteria line with trays. "Just like school," Frank said. "I just hope the food is better."

Joe looked over the selection and shook his head. "Not likely," he said.

Frank and Joe spotted Janet, looking unhappy, seated at a small table.

"Maybe she'd cheer up if we brought her into the picture," Frank suggested.

Joe creased a brow. "What do you mean?"

"We know that she's not our saboteur," Frank said. "No way would she injure her own father."

"And if she was the bad guy," Joe added, "no way would she go to the police."

"What's more," Joe said, "we can use an ally."

Janet managed to smile as they approached her.

"How's your dad?" Joe asked, standing across from her with his tray.

"About the same, but the doctor says he will pull out of it. Do you want to sit down, Frank and Joe?"

"The Frank and Joe is right, but not the Harris," Frank said, pulling out his chair. "Our last name is Hardy."

Speaking in whispers, Frank and Joe told her of their undercover investigation and of their adventures at the airport.

Janet banged the table with her fist. Joe's vegetable soup slopped all over his tray.

"You see," she said excitedly. "That proves these accidents weren't my father's fault."

She stood and waited for Frank and Joe to join her. Joe picked up his sandwich and then Janet whisked them out the side door. "I've got something to show you."

She led them to the captain's trailer, dug out her key, and went in. She flicked on the lights then knelt to open a bottom dresser drawer.

"My father knows the stunts are being sabotaged," she explained. "So I began to wonder if maybe he was hurt because of what he knew. Maybe he'd gathered some evidence." She pulled a memo pad out from under a pile of sweaters. "This is what I found. The handwriting is my father's." Frank and Joe read from the pad.

Stunt Materials Missing

4 Twenty-Foot Wound Ropes

2 Pulleys

8 Flashlights

2 Sets of Walkie-Talkies

1 Wrench

1 Pair of Wire Clippers

"Why would anyone need all that stuff?" Joe wondered out loud.

"I don't know," Frank said. "The captain must have been close to finding out. If only we had seen that missing film."