Hardy Detective Agency

Joe slowly lifted his head from the steering wheel and leaned back against the seat. The windshield looked like a frozen spider web. Joe fumbled with the seatbelt until it finally unlocked.

He turned toward Frank and was worried by the dazed expression on his face. He reached over and gently shook Frank’s shoulder. “Frank, are you all right?”

“I think so,” Frank said quietly.

“Come on,” Joe said unlocking Frank’s seatbelt. “We need to get out of here.”

“Right.”

Joe climbed over the front seat heading for the back doors. Nancy and Melissa were fumbling with their seatbelts. They were both shaken up and had some small scratches on their faces from the shattered window on the passenger side. Luckily, they weren’t seriously hurt.

Joe led the way to the back of the van. He kicked the door open and they all climbed out. Joe and Frank helped the girls away from the van. When they were about fifty feet away from the van, they stopped and the girls sank to the snow.

“Are you two all right?” Joe asked.

“We’ll be fine,” Nancy said looking up at Frank and Joe. “What about Jake? I remember seeing his truck coming toward us.”

Frank and Joe looked at each other. Frank said, “You girls stay here.”

Frank and Joe ran back to Jake’s truck. As they approached, they could see smoke coming from under the hood. They both could tell there was a good chance the gas tank would explode. Looking through the driver’s side window, they saw Jake slumped over the steering wheel, unconscious.

Joe grabbed the door and yanked it open. Reaching inside, he wrapped his arms around Jake’s chest and slid him out of the truck. Once Jake was out, Frank grabbed his legs. They noticed Jake had cuts and scratches over his face.

As they approached the girls, Frank and Joe glanced back. They could see flames by the engine. The two moved quickly toward the girls. They both knew they didn’t have much time before the explosion came.

Just after they put Jake down on the ground by the girls, they heard the explosion and felt the ground shake. Frank shielded Nancy and Melissa with his body as they huddled together.

After a few minutes, Frank leaned back so Nancy and Melissa could sit up. They turned and saw the flames had engulfed Jake’s truck. The flames were now moving toward the van. They knew once it reached the van’s gas tank, there would be another explosion.

Joe yelled, “Get down!”

Frank shielded the girls again, as parts of the van became airborne. They waited until they heard the crackling from the fire. Frank sat up and turned to look at the van. He couldn’t believe what happened. His aunt’s van was destroyed. There was no way to salvage any of it.

He turned and saw Joe checking Jake. Frank asked, “How is he?”

“In pretty bad shape,” Joe said without looking up. “Are you guys all right?”

“Just some minor cuts and bruises,” Nancy said.

“Here,” Frank said taking his jacket off and handing it to Joe, who put is over Jake’s chest.

“We need to get him some help,” Nancy said getting to her feet.

“You’re right,” Frank said. “I think there’s a cottage down the road. Hopefully someone’s there and we can use his or her phone.”

“Go ahead,” Joe said. “I’ll stay here.”

“I’ll go with you,” Nancy volunteered.

“All right,” Frank said. Together, they started down the road walking quickly toward the cottage. They walked in silence for a few minutes, the Frank broke the silence. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I’m fine,” Nancy said pulling her jacket tightly around her. “I just hope the house has a phone.”

“So do I.”

* * * * *

A half-hour later, two police cars, a fire truck and ambulance pulled up near the wreckage. The paramedics quickly went to work on Jake while the others were questioned by police.

Melissa told the officers what was going on. She explained with help from the others that Jake had been following them. They also told the officers about the sets of financial books and the discrepancies. The officers planned to have a look into everything. Melissa and Frank also told the offices about the man who had hit Frank. The officers planned to return to the arena and find him after getting his description.

One paramedic quickly checked them over. Frank was a concern because of the lump on his head, but he protested about going to a hospital. He promised he would be fine and if something didn’t seem right to him, he would call a doctor immediately.

They watched as Jake was placed on a stretcher and put in the ambulance. They saw another officer get into the ambulance before the doors were closed.

One of the officers escorted them over to a waiting police car. They climbed in and were driven to Maggie’s house. They climbed out of the car and thanked the officer for the ride.

After making their way inside and were hanging up their coats, Maggie yelled from the living room, “Come tell me how the concert was.”

Nancy turned and looked at Frank and Joe. Frank moved forward and led the way into the living room. He stepped into the room. Ned was propped up by pillows and was being fed soup by Maggie. Frank stepped aside so Nancy could see. She stepped into the room and smiled when she saw Ned. She hurried over to him and kissed him on the cheek. She asked, “How long have you been awake?”

“A little while,” Ned said quietly. He focused on Nancy’s face. He lifted his right hand and touched her cheek gently where there were several scratches. “What happened to your face?”

“We had an accident,” Nancy said focusing on Ned’s face.

“Are you all right?”

“We’re fine,” Joe said coming into the living room. He moved over to Maggie. “Unfortunately, Aunt Maggie’s van has been destroyed.”

“I don’t care about the van,” Maggie said getting to her feet. She put her arms around Joe and gave him a hug. “As long you’re all right.”

“We’re fine,” Frank said sitting down on the couch opposite Nancy and Ned.

“Well, what happened?” Ned asked. “You all look like you’ve been in a battle.”

“It seems like it,” Melissa said sitting down beside Frank.

“So?” Ned prompted.

“Well,” Nancy began and the four of them filled Ned and Maggie in on the events of the day. They told them how Nancy and Frank had found significant differences in the books. They went on to explain how they assumed Jake was behind everything and it proved to be true.”

“When I confronted Jake, I was hit from behind,” Frank said, touching the back of his head and wincing from the still tender lump.

“Jake ended up running us off the road. He was in bad shape when the paramedics finally arrived. They took him to the hospital,” Joe said.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” Maggie asked. “You all look pale to me.”

“We’re fine,” Frank said.

“I’m going to make all of you some hot chocolate. You need something to warm yourselves up,” Maggie said heading for the doorway.

“That sounds terrific, Aunt Maggie,” Joe said.

When they were alone in the room, Ned gently touched Nancy’s face again and asked, “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I’m fine,” Nancy said taking Ned’s hand in hers. “I’m more concerned about you. How are you feeling?”

“Weak,” Ned said. “But better.” He looked at Nancy. “I know you’re worried, but I’m going to be fine.”

Nancy smiled. She leaned in and gave Ned a kiss on the cheek. “I think you need to rest.”

Before Ned could say anything, they heard the front door open, the close. A moment, later, Jeremy came into the living room with Bess and George. Jeremy noticed Joe and angrily yelled, “Why did you guys take off?”

“Sorry, Jeremy,” Joe said. “We needed to make a quick getaway. There wasn’t time to come and get you.”

“Where’s the van?” Jeremy asked.

“You might want to have a seat,” Frank said. “It’ll take a few minutes for us to explain.”

Jeremy gave them a questioning look, but sat down with Bess and George. They told Jeremy what happened when they went looking for Frank. When they finished, Jeremy said, “I guess you had a good reason to take off, but you could’ve told us.”

“You have to understand them, Jeremy,” George said. “If something happens, they take care of that first, then come back for us.”

At that moment Maggie came in carrying a tray with hot chocolate. They each took a mug from the tray and then Maggie handed Frank an ice pack for the lump on the back of his head. She then left the room.

When they were alone, Bess said, “It’s a shame you weren’t able to do your concert, Melissa. Everyone in the arena was disappointed.”

“I just couldn’t go through with it. I was so scared. When the guys showed up, I knew I needed to get away.”

“Do you think you’ll make up the concert?” Bess asked.

“I don’t know,” Melissa said. She set her cup on the table and got to her feet. “Excuse me.”

They stayed quiet as Melissa left the living room and made her way upstairs. When they were alone again, Bess said, “I hope it wasn’t something I said.”

“I don’t think so,” Jeremy said. “I think she’s upset because of everything that went on today.”

“Jake will more than likely pay for what he did,” Frank said getting to his feet. He tried to stifle a yawn. “I’m going to bed. I’ll see you all in the morning.”

“Night, Frank,” the chorused and Frank went upstairs.

Within a few minutes, the others followed Frank upstairs leaving Nancy and Ned alone in the living room. Nancy reached for Ned’s forehead and pushing his hair back. She said, “You should probably get some rest.”

“I will,” Ned said. “I just feel bad I wasn’t able to help you today.”

“You were sick. When you’re sick, you need to take care of yourself first.” She smiled at Ned. “Besides, I know you would’ve been there if you were well.”

“I just wish I could’ve been there for you,” Ned said quietly, his eyes fighting to slide shut.

“That’s all right,” Nancy said. “You need to get some rest.”

“You’re right,” Ned mumbled sliding down on the couch.

“Sleep well,” Nancy said leaning down and giving Ned a kiss on the cheek.

She watched his eyelids close. She sat beside him as he drifted off. She could tell he was still really sick, but she knew things were looking betters since his fever broke. Nancy sat quietly holding Ned’s hand. She didn’t want to disturb him since he needed to replenish his strength.