Rand watched as Fenton Hardy, Joe Hardy and another man entered the warden's office just after 9:00am. He took care that Joe did not see him, he wasn't quite ready to make contact with the Hardys yet. He would have liked to know what was going on in that office, but Villman's 'special' guards were keeping a close eye on him and he couldn't get out to his car to listen.

"Mr Hardy, it's a pleasure to meet you again," Villman said congeniality, rising to shake hands as the three entered. "And is this your other son? Joe is it?" He shook Joe's hand. "I've read about you and your brother. I was sorry to meet Frank under such circumstances. I hope you can get everything worked out?"

"Again?" Fenton queried, still not able to place the man. He was not quite like Frank described, yet there was something...Fenton was a good judge of people and there was not a trace of sincerity in this man's words. He looked around the office. There were monitors showing the exits from the buildings and the front gate of the prison. There was one monitor right behind the desk that was turned off, all the others were on.

"Oh, it was many years ago in connection with a case you were working on," Villman replied off-handedly, not giving any further information. "But, what can I do for you gentleman?" he continued, looking from Fenton to Detective Marshall.

"I'm Detective Marshall of the New York City Police. Last night one of your guards was found dead in a hotel just inside the city. A Sammy Hanks."

"Hanks? He was one of my top guards. What happened?" Villman asked.

"We don't know. It looked as though there was a fight and Hanks fell on his own knife. Do you know of anyone Hanks had trouble with?"

"No. I don't know much about my guards personal lives or what they do when they leave work. I'm afraid I can't help you much. He was a good employee, but that's all I can tell you," Villman said. "What do you have to do with this, Mr. Hardy?"

"Well, Detective Marshall is an old friend. He called me when he found a connection to a case I'm working on at the moment." Fenton was watching Villman closely for any reaction. "We don't know exactly what that connection is, but we'll find it," he asserted.

"Well, I wish you luck," Villman said, rising again and ushering the three to the door, indicating the interview was over. "I'm sorry I can't help you. My assistant will show you to the gate." He then turned back into his office and closed the door.

Joe bristled with anger at the abrupt dismissal. "Dad, aren't you going to..."

"Not now, Joe. Let's talk when we get back out to the car," Fenton warned, as he and Jeff Marshall exchanged glances. There was definitely something going on with the warden they both thought.

Villman could barely restrain his anger. He had Fenton Hardy right here in his office, yet he couldn't do anything. If only Hardy had come alone, he would be well on the way to finally realizing his revenge. He needed to find a way to get Hardy here by himself.

He pressed the intercom button to his assistant. "Send in Jenkins and Williams," he told him. When the two entered his office he asked, "Did you see the three that were just here?"

"Yea," Jenkins answered. He had been second in command of Villman's special group of guards.

"The older, dark-haired man was Fenton Hardy. I want him here this afternoon. Alone. I don't care how you get him here--although he does have to be alive--and no one is to know where he went," Villman instructed them.

"Any specific time, boss," Rand asked.

"Mid-afternoon. I want to be finished with Hardy and his kid before..." Villman stopped. He hadn't let Williams in on the plans for later that evening yet. "...before dinner," he finished lamely, hoping Williams hadn't picked up on the slip, not knowing Rand already knew about the planned riot that evening.

Rand took a chance and asked Villman, "What do you want with Hardy anyway?" He wasn't sure how the warden would react to the question, but he surprised Rand by answering.

"Hardy was responsible for my son's death. He put him in prison and he was killed there. He was just eighteen, he hadn't even had a chance to grow up. I'm going to pay him back. Do you have a problem with that?" Villman watched Rand carefully, trying to read the other man's reaction.

"Should I?" Rand answered, keeping his face indifferent. "I guess I know what side of the fence my pay is coming from. It don't make no difference to me what goes on."

"Good. Do you think you can get Hardy here?" Villman said.

"Sure," Jenkins answered, as he turned to leave. "We'll have him here."

Villman motioned for Rand to leave, but called Jenkins back and whispered to him. "Keep an eye on Williams. I'm still not sure of him." Jenkins nodded okay then left.

Villman turned around to the screen behind him and pressed the power button. He sat back in his chair and stared at the pacing figure in cell. 'Soon, Fenton. Very, very soon.'

"What do you think?" Fenton asked Jeff Marshall, wanting the man to verify his own feelings about Villman.

"He's involved all right. He tried to hide it, but I'll tell you this--that man hates you, Fenton. Whatever's going on, I'd bet my pension it has something to do with the last time you met him."

"I agree with you, only I can't place the man or the name. I'm going to have to do a lot more digging to find out who he is. He could've changed his name, which is why I don't recognize it."

"Do you think Frank is in there, Dad?" Joe asked.

"I don't know. I'll call Sam Radley and have him keep the prison and Villman under surveillance. We'll go back home and keep looking for more on the warden. We have to come up with something concrete to be able to get a warrant to look for Frank in there."

"I'll run him through when I get back to the precinct," Jeff said as he headed toward his car. "I'll call the minute I find anything."

"Thanks," Fenton said to Jeff. Then he pulled out his cell phone and placed a call to his assistant, Sam Radley. When he was done, he motioned for Joe to get in the car. "Sam will be here in an hour. I saw a drive just down the road that was pretty well concealed, we'll keep watch from there until Sam gets here."