Bill Wagner stayed long enough to see Raymond Sterling get in the car. He went back inside the hospital – he had to find Frank Hardy. He heard the arrival of the elevator and the young teen quickened his steps. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Fenton Hardy step off the elevator.

“Ezra, just the person I wanted to see!” Bill heard Fenton greet the Chief of Police. Bill knew that he should find Frank but he thought that he might be able to help Mr. Sterling. He pretended to study the Directory while watching Fenton out of the corner of his eye.

Fenton didn’t pay attention to the dark-haired teen as he passed with Chief Collig by his side. The two men walked to the stairway where Callie was abducted. Fenton noted the ‘Caution Wet Floor’ standing sign.

“Vanessa said Callie was carrying a tray of soft drinks,” Fenton informed Chief Collig.

“Fenton, would you mind telling me again about this case that Frank and Joe were on? Why is this man going after your sons?”

Bill concealed himself behind the door, a smirk on his face. Now the Chief of Police was going to find out how the great Fenton Hardy’s sons killed his friend!

Fenton let out a small sigh as he ran his hand across his face. “The ‘Last Chance’ camp had an excellent reputation for helping troubled teens. They helped quite a few get off drugs and alcohol.”

“But…” sighed Chief Collig, having a feeling he wasn’t going to like what he was about to hear.

“But a few of the returning patients had a few horror stories to tell….Unfortunately their parents were reluctant to believe them…after all, they had told so many lies before….Sure, they were off the drugs, but they still had to re-earn their trust back. It wasn’t until—“

“Some one had to die before anyone listened,” Chief Collig frowned.

“Yes…Sarah Silverman, she was only sixteen. Her father came to me a week after her funeral. Frank went undercover as a counselor, Joe as a teen with a small drug problem but with a bad attitude. While Joe got to know some of the other teens there, Frank searched the medical and accounting records. By sheer luck, Frank was assigned to Jason Sterling – during one of their talks Frank found out that someone in the camp was defrauding the insurance companies.”

“Through Jason Sterling?” asked Ezra.

“Jason was supposed to be on a methadone treatment, to help get him off his drug addiction. He told Frank that it wasn’t helping – that his whole body was in pain. Jason found out from one of the other patients, who was on their third try at rehabilitation - that patient told Jason he was going through withdrawal – that someone was ‘watering down’ the methadone.” As Fenton was speaking he was carefully searching for clues.

Bill slowly sank down to the floor – he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. This was not what Mr. Sterling had told him!

“How did Jason Sterling die?” asked Ezra.

“A drug overdose – it was made to look like a self-induced drug overdose…”

“I hear a ‘but’ in there,” commented Ezra with a sigh.

“And you’re right, there is….Before Jason died he had a session with Frank – he told Frank that he was glad he went through such a painful withdrawal. It made him want to stay clean, go back and finish school and become a counselor and help other teens like himself. Jason also gave Frank a piece of evidence – his medical file. It seems that Jason learned a lot from his father. He was able to hack into the camp’s computer system. He made a copy of his real file and the bogus one.”

“And someone found out, took care of Jason, and tried to get rid of Frank? If I remember correctly, he was almost killed?”

“Yes, thankfully Joe was able to get help before that happened.”

Fenton paused for a moment. “Ezra take a look at that,” he said, pointing towards the ceiling.

“A security camera! Just the break we need. Let’s go find the head of security and take a look at the tape.”

Chief Collig started towards the door when a dark-haired teen appeared in front of the doorway.

“You won’t need to check that security tape, Chief Collig – I’m so sorry, Mr. Hardy! He lied to me – he told me that Frank was responsible for Jason’s death!” Bill looked imploringly at Fenton.

Chief Collig glanced over at Fenton, silently asking him who this kid was. Fenton shrugged his shoulders while he went to comfort Bill.

“Mr. Sterling is grieving for his son – he needed someone to blame. I guess he didn’t want to believe that Last Chance was responsible.”

“Now, why do you think we don’t have to look at that tape?” asked Collig gruffly.

“Because I know where Mr. Sterling is taking Joe and that girl.”

*****

Joe wasn’t sure how long he and Callie had been trapped in the trunk. He hoped that they would be getting out soon – the air was getting pretty thin in there.

“I think the car is slowing down,” whispered Callie.

“I think you’re right…you remember the plan, right?!”

“When Sterling opens the trunk you’re going to kick him in the stomach and then I jump out and help you!”

“That is not the plan! You’re supposed to go call for help!”

“Okay…fine,” sighed Callie. “I’ll run and call the police!”

“The car stopped….Get ready!”

Raymond Sterling was not about to let Joe get the advantage over him. He unlocked the trunk, lifting it up slightly; he then took a step back.

Joe heard the key being inserted into the lock and waited…the trunk opened slightly and then…nothing.

“What do we do now?” asked Callie anxiously.

Before Joe could reply, Raymond called out to them. “Come out and play, Joe…don’t forget to bring Callie.”

“Scratch the plan,” said Joe as he lifted the trunk open. Standing a few steps away was Mr. Sterling, a gun in his hand aimed straight at Joe.

*****

As Fenton, Chief Collig and Bill walked back to the lobby, Frank was being wheeled out by Chet.

“Who’s that guy talking to your dad?” asked Biff curiously.

“I don’t know.” Frank was filled with curiosity as he watched the young teen turn to his father – it appeared that his father didn’t like what the young man said. Fenton shook his head negatively. Frank wondered what the teen was saying when Fenton started to approach him.

“Frank, there’s been a change of plans. I need you to come with me; I’ll fill you in on the way.”

Frank’s face lit up as he sat straighter in the chair, then he slumped down, a frown on his face. “Mom’s not going to like it.”

“I know – I’ll try to get her to understand. Chet, Biff, can I count on your help?”

“You know you can!” Biff answered while Chet nodded his head in agreement.

“Wait over there with Chief Collig – I’ll be there in a few minutes,” said Fenton as he left to confront Laura. He knew she wasn’t going to like what had to be done, but they had no choice.

Joe and Callie’s lives depended on Frank being there.

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Disclaimer

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The Hardy Boys Fan Fiction authors of the Hardy Detective Agency have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.