Danger for Hire (12 page)

Authors: Carolyn Keene

He took off. Making a sudden decision, Nancy leaped into her Mustang and followed. She didn't know where he was going, but no way was she going to let him kidnap Brenda.

She caught up to him half a mile later. He was heading in the direction of the airport. In her rearview mirror Nancy saw the police vans pulling up behind her. Good. She needed backup for what she was about to do. They couldn't let him get on an airplane with Brenda!

Accelerating, she pulled up next to him and jerked her wheel sideways.

Wham!
Her car smacked into his.

Wham!
She hit him again, and this time kept swerving until he was forced first onto the shoulder and then off the road, where he skidded to a stop. Nancy stopped beside the car and leaped out, yelling at the top of her lungs. It was essential to distract Tomâto keep his mind off Brenda!

It worked. Brenda leaped out of the passenger side and began to run. Tom snapped open his door and climbed out. He looked first at Brenda, then at Nancy, unable to decide whom
to deal with first. It was enough time. The police vans roared up.

In an instant several police officers were out and crouching in firing position. Tom dropped his automatic and raised his hands.

Nancy gave a whoop of joy and ran after Brenda to make sure that she was all right.

â¢Â â¢Â â¢

Two days later Nancy sat in Chief McGinnis's office with her father, Brenda, Brenda's father, Bess, George, and Cindy Larson.

“Morning, everyone,” the chief said, striding in. “I have some news. Tom Hayward will be arraigned before a grand jury later this very morning.”

Everyone applauded.

Carson spoke up. “I have some news, too. After Tom's arraignment, Neil Masterson will become the acting head of Hayward Security. I'm assembling a pool of backersâLoomis & Petersen among themâwho will pump fresh capital into the company to help it out of its tailspin.”

“That's great,” Nancy said. “It would be a shame if after all his trouble Neil had to lose his job, too.”

Mr. Carlton spoke up again. “I've got some
connections at the hospital, and they tell me that Neil's little girl, Tasha, should be okay. Her last operation was a success, so she won't need any more.”

Nancy's eyes moistened. That was the best news yet.

“There's one thing I still don't understand,” George said after a moment. “Nancy, how were Tom and Adam able to know where you were every minute of your surveillance?”

“They didn't. Not every minute. But they planted a small transmitter on my carâthe type that tells you if your target is getting closer or farther awayâand that helped.”

“What about when you were on foot?” George asked.

“They tailed me a few times,” Nancy explained.

“Adam's testimony is going to be devastating to Tom's defense,” Carson observed.

The chief agreed. “Thank goodness he agreed to cooperate with us. That and the recorded confession we got from Nancy's hidden microphone will make the DA's job a lot easier.”

“Nancy,” Cindy asked, “how did you know about the transmitter planted on your car?”

“Come outside and I'll show you.”

The group went outdoors, where the temperature was surprisingly more like summer than autumn. Nancy's car was in the parking lot. The dents that she had put in it ramming Tom's car were gone. It also had a new coat of paint. Blue, as always.

“Wow, that was fast!” Bess remarked.

“You bet. From now on, this car is getting nothing but TLC,” Nancy promised.

“Oh, right,” George drawled. “You'd better sell it to someone else.”

“Anyway, about the transmitter,” Nancy said. “They found it while they were doing the bodywork yesterday.”

A few minutes later the group broke up. Carson returned to his law office, Brenda and her father to their paper, and Bess and George took off for the tennis courts. Nancy was left alone with Cindy when Chief McGinnis went for coffee.

“Can I give you a lift?” Nancy offered. “Where are you going?”

“History class,” Cindy said. “It's a school day. I have to go back.”

“Too bad,” Nancy said sympathetically.

“Oh, no. I'm looking forward to school. After this case, it seems like paradise. One
more time, Nancy, I'm sorry I put us in danger,” she apologized. “And thanks.”

“Forget it,” Nancy said warmly. “Maybe you'll work with me again?”

“I don't know. I kind of doubt it,” Cindy said, climbing into the Mustang's passenger seat. “It was interesting, but alsoâ”

“Scary? Boring? Both?” Nancy climbed in and twisted the key.

“Both, and a lot more. What I mean, though, is that after this I think I'll just read about your cases in the paper, if that's okay. It was great to do it once, but I definitely think that detective work is for people who know what they're doing and love doing it!”

With a smile, Nancy released the brake and hit the gas. Her Mustang surged forward and blended into traffic.

She couldn't have agreed more.

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.