CHRISTMAS VIGIL

by

CQB

CHAPTER 2

THE CHAPTERS

INTRO

PREFACE

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

Fenton Hardy remembered the Mansetti case very well.  It had been one of his first cases as a private detective.  

It had been a tough case, but Fenton had eventually collected enough evidence to have Richard Mansetti arrested for embezzlement and attempted murder.  

“That was three years ago,” Fenton said aloud.   

He looked at Sam.  “Why come after me now?”  

“Richard is dead,” Sam replied.  “Lance blames you.”  

“How do you know this?” Fenton questioned.  

“As soon as I saw Mansetti, I tailed him,” Sam answered.  “I lost him in the mall.  The place is overflowing with holiday shoppers.  

“I called the police station and told them about spotting Mansetti and what I’d overheard.  Collig sent his boys over there, but he also told me about Richard.  

“Apparently, Richard was killed during a fight in the prison cafeteria a week ago.  Lance Mansetti thinks you hired someone inside to waste his son.  

Fenton rubbed a hand over his face.  “Joe’s been sick.  I’ll run upstairs and pack his medicine and some warm clothes.   

“Sam, get the blanket from the back of the sofa, wrap him up and get him into your car.”  Sam immediately headed for the family room while Fenton ran up the back staircase.  

Sam walked into the family room. The only illumination was the glow of the twinkling colored lights on the Christmas tree in the corner. He smiled as he spotted the small boy curled up on a large pillow in front of the television.  

Sam pulled the blanket off of the sofa and knelt beside the sleeping child. Tenderly, he wrapped the blanket around Joe.  

Joe’s deep blue eyes popped open and he stared at the man that was wrapping him in the big green blanket.  

“Uncle Sam?”  

“Hi Joey,” Sam grinned.  “You and your daddy and I are going on a little adventure.”  

“Don’t want to,” Joe protested, trying to wriggle free of the blanket.  “Me and Daddy are gonna watch ‘Rudolph’.”  

Sam easily held the boy and quickly carried him toward the back door of the kitchen.  

Fenton met them and assured the still protesting child that they would watch the movie another time.  

“Get him to the car,” Fenton told Sam. “I’ll turn off the tree lights and be right out.”  

* * *

Lance Mansetti had just one thing on his mind – to kill Fenton Hardy.  He’d never believed his Richard was guilty of the crimes Hardy had accused him of, and now Ritchie was dead because of the man.  

He glanced in the rear-view mirror of the dark rental he was driving.  The cops were pursuing him, but he was still far enough ahead of them that he would get to Hardy’s house first.  

* * *

Chief of Police Ezra Collig had been very upset by the call from Sam Radley.  He’d immediately dispatched Con Riley and his partner, Ryan Miller, to the mall.  

Ezra frowned as he thought about Fenton and the Hardy family.  He was glad Sam was going over to the Hardy house to get them away before Mansetti found them.  He’d only wished he had the man-power to send a unit to the house as well.  

But with recent budget cuts and so many of his people down with colds or flu, the Bayport police force was stretched very thin.  He could only hope that Radley succeeded with his task and that Riley and Miller caught Mansetti before any harm could be done.  

“Chief?”  

Ezra was pulled away from his troubled thoughts by dispatcher Jeannie Smythe’s voice over the intercom.  

“Yes, Smythe.”  

“Sir,” the dispatcher said, “Officer Riley just radioed in that they are pursuing the suspect, and that he is heading for Elm Street .”  

“Do we have any units in that area?”  

“No Sir,” she replied.  

Ezra swore to himself, “Budget cuts!”   

He spoke again to the young woman, “I’m going over there myself.”   

* * *

Joe Hardy was mad.  First, he missed the trip with Mommy and Frank and now he was going to miss the movie, too!  He sat in Sam’s car with his arms crossed and a scowl on his young face.  

As soon as his Uncle Sam moved to the driver’s seat up front, Joe pushed the blanket away, unlocked his seat belt and opened the car door.  

Sam heard the snap of the seat belt and turned around a second too late.  Joe was already moving out the door into the driveway.  

“Joey!  No!” Sam cried, quickly unlocking his own belt and opening the door in one motion.  “Joey!  Stop!”  

Joe heard his uncle as he moved toward the back of the car.  He had planned to run back into the house, but now he was afraid he’d be in trouble.  

When he heard Uncle Sam shut the car door, Joe turned and started running toward the street.  He’d only gotten a few yards when a dark car came screeching to a stop at the end of the driveway.  

Sam Radley felt the world stop moving as he watched Lance Mansetti get out of the car.  Somewhere behind him, he could hear Fenton calling Joey’s name.  He watched Mansetti pull a gun from his jacket and he heard the horrifying sound of the shots being fired.  

Seven-year-old Joe stopped and turned towards his father’s voice.  He saw his Uncle Sam calling and reaching for him, but he was still too far away.  He saw his father leaping off the porch steps.   

Sam and Fenton watched helplessly as Joe crumbled to the cement.  

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