It was nearly ten o'clock before Fenton Hardy called home. After he talked with Laura for a few minutes, he told her to tell the boys to go into his study. Frank made it there first, with Joe on his heels. He still hadn't gotten Joe to promise not to tell Callie about her present. He shot Joe a glare and pressed the button for the speakerphone. "Okay, Mom, we got it."

Joe heard the clunk of his mother hanging up. "What's up, Dad?"

"Nothing," said their father, sounding tired. "She left New London at around noon, checked out of her hotel, nothing strange happened. I took the same ferry she did. The operator said he remembered her, watching at the rail as they crossed the ocean and waved to her when she drove off." The man sighed. "I don't know where she disappeared to."

Frank sat down in his father's desk chair and told him about their afternoon visitor. "He said it had happened before, Dad."

"Hmm, does sound like this could be just another kidnapping.  But surely by now her family's received a ransom note."

"Her brother didn't say they had," said Joe.

"I'll be home late tomorrow afternoon, boys."

"Anything you want us to do until then, Dad?" asked Frank.

"Just keep a lookout. If the Aston-Martin shows up, call the police. Especially if she's not driving it."

"All right, Dad," said Joe. "Good night."

"Goodnight, boys." After their father hung up on his end, Frank switched off the speakerphone. "I wonder what happened? Where is she?"

Joe shrugged. "I'm sure we'll figure it out by tomorrow." He started for the stairs. "I have some reading to catch up on."

Frank sighed and stayed where he was. His father's study was tidy but not spotless. A row of filing cabinets took up one wall and papers and manila folders were scattered across his desk. It was quiet in here, he could just barely hear the news come on in the living room.

There had to be some way to find out where the author went to--some clue to lead them to her. He thought over what her brother had said. So she fancied herself a detective. Would she rush into a strange situation without a moment's hesitation, though?

A soft knock sounded at the door and Frank looked up. "Oh, hey, Mom."

"Hey, honey, is something wrong?"

Frank shrugged. "I don't know." His father hadn't said not to tell their mother, so he explained what they knew so far.

Laura held up a hand. "Hold that thought." She left and came back a moment later. She put a thick book on top of the papers on her husband's desk. "I have her first two novels."

Frank was surprised. "I didn't know you liked fantasy stuff, Mom."

Laura shrugged. "Inside every woman is a little girl who wants to be a princess yearning for unicorns, fairy wishes and a handsome prince. She's a good writer, knows her science as well as more arcane things."

Frank nodded. "I'll read it. Maybe it'll help me figure this all out somehow."

Laura smiled. "When you go to bed, check on your brother. It's going to be cold tonight and he probably didn't get an extra blanket."

"Okay, Mom. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Frank."

Frank waited until his mother had left to open the book. On the dedications' page, it mentioned her family along with something about a whistle to Donovan and that he couldn't wear earplugs forever. His eyes widened as at the end of the dedication-- "She knows someone named Joe?" he whispered out loud. His mind went back to that afternoon. Her brother saying that about his sister getting a load of Joe Hardy, that it was a surprise. Frank frowned. It was starting to get weird.

                                                ***

Joe Hardy looked at the book, then handed it back to his brother and finished his breakfast. When Frank just looked at him, Joe arched an eyebrow. "Yeah, so? I'm sure the name's pretty common. Ask Mom."

"Remember what her brother said about when she first sees you?"

"What about it?" Joe didn't seem to be that interested.

"Aren't you the least bit curious?"

"Only about when we can head over to the auditorium. I want to see the rest of the group."

Frank glanced at the kitchen clock. It was just after ten in the morning. It had taken him nearly twenty minutes to rouse his brother out of bed so they could talk. "I doubt they're there right now."

"Exactly. I'm going back to bed. It's freezing down here."

"Mom has told you a hundred times when you eat cold cereal and milk, it makes you cold."

"I'd have to cook the oatmeal." Joe gave a dramatic shiver and left the kitchen.

Frank heaved a world-weary sigh. His brother was beginning to aggravate him, seemingly more interested in a car and a music group than the case. Of course, it wasn't like some of their cases where they were constantly in danger. He finished off his toast and coffee and headed back up to his room. He glared at the computer screen. He'd turned the computer on this morning but when he'd gotten the same responses from the websites again, he'd decided to go talk to Joe--like that really helped. There had to be something he was missing. With a sigh, he sat down at his desk again. "There just has to be something.”

                                         ***

"Keep glaring at that screen and you'll end up needing glasses."

Frank jumped at his brother's loud voice. He turned to see Joe clad in cords and a sweater. "I thought you were going back to sleep."

Joe grunted. "That was an hour ago. Let's go."

Frank glanced at the clock with some surprise, and then turned to Joe. "Where?"

"Around. Maybe she's in town, maybe the car is--we could go look."

"A lot of people have red cars."

"Not everyone has an Aston-Martin DB6. You think she'd let me drive it?"

Frank rolled his eyes and quickly dressed in jeans and sweatshirt. "Would you stop day-dreaming? Between you meeting the lead singer of Sorcerer, mooning over a vintage car and going ape over your old Batman comics, you're driving me crazy."

"I do not moon," said Joe, archly. "Just you wait until you see the car. You'll think differently."

Frank dashed into the bathroom to brush his hair and his teeth, and then came back out. "Whatever."

"I'm driving."

"It snowed last night, so drive careful."

"I know that. Come on."

Frank followed his brother down the stairs and out of the house. Joe got into the van behind the steering wheel as Frank got in the passenger seat. "Do you have a destination in mind or are we just going to drive aimlessly."

Joe grunted. "I think I'll surprise you."