See No Evil (4 page)

"What about Morrison's not leaving a note?" he asked.

Joe opened his mouth, but he never got a chance to reply.

A female scream sliced through the night.

Both Hardys thought the same thing instantly, but Frank said it first: "Callie!"

"She followed us to give us that paper!" Joe said.

"She's been jumped!" said Frank.

"The mugger!" said Joe.

The Hardys dashed back the way they had come. Another scream sounded, even louder than the first one. Then silence followed.

Frank's voice was hoarse. "We're already too late!"

"SHE MANAGED TO get away!" Frank gasped in relief as he and Joe rounded a corner and saw a girl running toward them.

Then the girl passed under a streetlight, and even a block away, they could see that it wasn't Callie.

Her platinum blond hair was cut short and spiky. She wore a tan trenchcoat, and her lipstick was a bright scarlet slash in sharp contrast to her pale skin.

As Frank and Joe got closer to the girl, they could see that she was beautiful—and terrified.

Finally they met in the middle of the block. The girl threw her arms around Joe and clung to him, gasping for breath, limp with relief.

"Good thing you guys showed up when you did," she said while taking large gulps of air. "I thought for sure he'd get me."

"Who was after you?" asked Frank.

His question seemed to snap her out of her panicked state. She let her arms drop away from Joe and stepped back from him.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said to Joe. "I was just so scared. I grabbed you like you were a life preserver or something."

"That's okay," he said, assuring her. He looked more closely at her then. And he liked what he saw. She had to be one of the most beautiful girls he had ever been near.

Actually, though, he thought, she wasn't exactly a girl. She looked older—in her early twenties. Not that that was old, of course.

He smiled into her eyes, but Frank's businesslike voice cut through the moment. "This guy who tried to mug you — what did he look like? Which way did he go?"

"I couldn't see his face—he wore a stocking mask. He jumped at me from the shadows and grabbed at my bag. I screamed and started running. He came running after me. Then I turned the corner and saw you guys. He must have seen you, too, and taken off. Anyway," — she gave a nervous glance down the deserted street — "he's gone now."

"Good thing you could run fast," Frank said.

"Yes, I was on the track team in college. Ran the hundred-yard dash," she said. "But I wasn't about to try to match muscles with this guy. It's nice to know there are guys like you around to protect me."

"Anytime," Joe assured her. "By the way, what's your name?"

"Lisa," she said. "Lisa Cantwell."

"Do you live around here?" Joe asked.

"No, I'm from New York City," she said.

"You're visiting someone then?" Joe asked. Then he added as casually as he could, "A boyfriend?"

"No, I don't know a soul in town," Lisa said. Joe did his best to mask his relief. "I'm here on a job. At least, what I hope is a job. I'm a freelance journalist, or trying to be one, anyway. I have to admit, I haven't had much luck since I got out of college last spring."

Last spring, thought Joe. That would make her twenty-one. Twenty-two at the oldest. That wasn't so old. But, he reminded himself, he wasn't interested in girls. Not since Iola. But if he were interested, he could like this beautiful girl.

"Are you applying for a job on the paper here?" Frank asked.

"Not on your life." She smiled apologetically. "Bayport's a nice little place. But I'm a city girl. What brought me here is a bit of news I heard a few hours ago. The suicide of your city manager.

Sounded like it could turn into a nice story, a story I could sell. So I hopped on the first train here, figuring I'd sniff around."

"Well, you sure ran into action right away." Joe grinned.

"But not the kind I'm looking for," said Lisa. "A run-of-the-mill mugging doesn't make the front page in the Big Apple. What I'm after is something big. When a pol does a number on himself, you can sometimes find a big story behind it. We're talking headlines like 'Scandal Explodes in All-American Town.' I was walking around here tonight, trying to get some background material. A feel for the setting. You know, a peaceful, respectable, law-abiding town with turmoil underneath."

Lisa paused for a second. "Fine investigative reporter I am. I've been talking on and on, and I haven't even found out your names."

"I'm Joe Hardy. This is my brother Frank."

"Hardy? Hardy?" Lisa said with a puzzled look. "I've heard that name."

"Maybe you've heard about our father, Fenton Hardy," said Frank.

"Of course, that's it," said Lisa, her face brightening. "The famous detective. He's practically a legend. And you two are his sons?"

"That's us, chips off the old block, as he likes to say," said Joe. Normally he and Frank kept quiet about their own investigating activities. But in this case he wanted Lisa to know that he wasn't just an ordinary teenager.

Lisa looked at him with new interest. "I bet you've learned a lot, being around your dad."

Ignoring the stern look that Frank shot him, Joe answered her. "You're right about that. In fact, we've done more than learn. We've done a few things on our own. Quite a few things."

"I can see that," said Lisa warmly. "You knew what you were doing when you came to my rescue. I can use help tracking down this story. Help from somebody who knows this town—and who knows basic detective work. Somebody who can protect me if it gets dangerous. Somebody like you two guys. I'd be really grateful. More than grateful—I'd give you a cut of whatever I made on the story, assuming I can sell it."

Before Joe could answer, Frank spoke up, "Sorry, but we're pretty busy right now. I'm not free to tell you what the case is; but — "

Joe cut him off quickly. "Speak for yourself, Frank." Then he turned to Lisa. "My brother has problems with his priorities, but I don't. If you want me to help, you don't have to scream. Just whistle, as they say."

"Suppose I just phone?" Lisa said, smiling. Her lively blue eyes looked slightly mischievous.

"That, too," said Joe, smiling back at her.

"Great," said Lisa. She pulled a notepad and pen from her bag. "What's your phone number and address?"

Joe gave them to her, ignoring the warning glances Frank was shooting at him.

Lisa ignored Frank, too. She had eyes only for Joe as she copied down his number and address. Putting the notepad in her bag, she said, "I'll be in touch. You know the movie Casablanca? 'This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.' "

They said goodbye, and Joe watched her walk away.

"Definitely beautiful," he said, shaking his head.

Frank interrupted his pleasant thoughts. "Hey, what's the big idea? We've got Callie to worry about. That's a full-time job."

"Maybe for you, but not me," Joe said. "It looks like that mugger wasn't just interested in Callie. He went after Lisa, too. And we don't know how many others he's attacked or will try to attack. Besides, Callie's made it clear that she can take care of herself. If you want to go on helping somebody who isn't even going to thank you, that's your business. As for me, I'd rather go where I'm wanted. By a girl who appreciates what I'm doing for her."

"If anything happens to Callie — " Frank said.

"Don't worry, I'll pitch in to protect her if I'm needed," Joe said, interrupting him. "But I'm helping Lisa out, too."

"Joe, something doesn't add up here," Frank said slowly. "There's something very weird about this case. We decided he was after the black book that was stashed in Callie's bag. Right?" Joe nodded. "He's not a common mugger. Then why would he try to snatch Lisa's bag, too? I have a feeling we're getting into something big."

"Maybe so," Joe replied. "All the more reason for me to stick with Lisa. If we are on to something major, she's definitely going to need help. She's got to be involved, too."

"Yes, but how? She just popped up out of nowhere," Frank said.

"The only way to find out is to hang around her," Joe said, grinning.

Frank and Joe were silent for the rest of the way home. Each was lost in his own thoughts.

Frank was thinking of Callie. He'd bet anything she hadn't gone to sleep yet, despite her mom's urgings. He grinned at the thought of Callie pretending to go to bed, then attacking the code as soon as her bedroom door was closed.

Either that, or she'd try to figure out how the black book had gotten in her shoulder bag in the first place. She'd go over every move she made, thinking back in time until she remembered what she needed to know. She wouldn't rest until she had solved both problems, or until she had to go downstairs for breakfast. He just hoped that she'd call him, though, as soon as she figured out anything.

As they walked, Joe was thinking about Lisa. She was totally different from Iola, but the feeling she sparked in him was the same. He knew why he had liked her immediately — Lisa obviously liked adventure. She wasn't afraid of danger if that's where the action led her.

And she clearly needed Joe around to help her out of trouble. A difference of a few years in age wasn't going to stop him from getting to know her better. And judging by the way she had looked at him, Joe didn't think it would stop Lisa, either. What a dynamite team they'd make.

He hoped that she would call him quickly, to let him in on her investigation of the scandal brewing in Bayport. No doubt she'd be tangling with trouble again, and he was eager to help her out.

"Home, sweet home," Frank said as he opened the front door of the Hardys' house.

"It sure feels funny with everybody away," said Joe as he followed his brother inside.

Then the phone rang.

"I'll get it!" Frank exclaimed.

"No, I'll get it!" said Joe.

They raced for it.

FRANK WON—IN two ways.

He was a step closer to the phone when it rang, so he beat Joe to it. And when he picked it up, Callie was on the other end.

"I've got it!" she announced.

"You've broken the code?" he asked.

"Not yet, though I'm working on it," she said. "But I did figure out where I could have gotten that black book."

"Great! Where?" asked Frank.

"I went over in my mind everything I did yesterday, everywhere I went, and finally — "

Then Callie's mom broke into the connection. "Callie, is that you on the phone? Tomorrow is a school-day. Don't forget your calculus test."

Frank could hear Callie's loud sigh. "Look, there's no sense trying to fill you in before my mom cuts in again. We'll meet at Ernie's after school tomorrow. I'll give you the whole story."

"Fine," said Frank. "And bring along that sheet of paper. I can take it home and run it through my computer."

"Okay — if I haven't broken the code by then."

After Callie hung up, Frank told Joe about the conversation. "Don't be surprised if you see Callie rubbing her eyes tomorrow. I'll bet she stays up all night with that piece of paper. Well, let's hit the sack. We have a big day tomorrow, too."

The phone rang again, just after the boys made it upstairs.

"My turn." Joe grabbed the extension.

"Hey, Callie," he said, not waiting for the person on the other end to speak. "We're growing boys. We need our sleep. Why don't you try getting some, too? Wait until tomorrow to tell us what you've found out, and we'll get on the case right away. No sweat."

"Callie? Who's Callie?" asked the voice on the other end.

"Lisa?" said Joe.

"Right," Lisa said. "But if you're expecting a call, I'll phone back — "

"No, not at all," Joe said hurriedly, before she could hang up. "Callie is Frank's girlfriend. She was attacked tonight, too. Probably by the same guy who jumped you. Callie's got kind of a vivid imagination, though. I thought you were her calling with another crazy idea about why she was attacked. There was this little black book the mugger took — "

"Black book?" Lisa asked. "That sounds interesting! What sort of black book?"

"It is pretty interesting," said Joe, agreeing. He suddenly felt friendlier toward Callie. Leaning back in his chair, he stretched out his legs. "The book was full of coded entries. Somehow, it wound up in Callie's bag." He told Lisa about the three attempts the mugger had made on Callie. "She only managed to copy out one page of the code," he finished up. "We're going to see if we can decipher it when we get together tomorrow afternoon. If Callie could figure out where she got the book, we'd really have something to go on."

"You think this might be part of something bigger?" Lisa asked.

"Exactly," said Joe, admiring her quick understanding. "Now, if Callie just won't call again tonight, we can all get some sleep and start on the case tomorrow all rested up."

"Maybe I shouldn't have called," said Lisa. "I mean, I don't want to be a bother. I decided I could really use your help on this story. I'm a total stranger in this town, and I don't have much time to get my bearings. I thought we might set up a meeting, and you could fill me in on Bayport. But if it's too much trouble — "

"Not on your life," said Joe, ignoring his brother, who had been following the conversation and was now mouthing Ernie's, where they were supposed to meet Callie the next day. "Tomorrow would be fine. My brother won't be able to make it. But I think I can help you by myself."

"I'm sure you can," Lisa said warmly. "What time can we meet?"

"I have an early day tomorrow. How about in the afternoon?" asked Joe.

"Fine," said Lisa. "I've got plenty to keep me busy during the morning."

"You know," Joe said, "I think we have a lot in common."

"I agree," Lisa said. "I'm really looking forward to getting together. I'm at the Bayport Inn. What do you say we meet in the coffee shop here at two o'clock?"

"Great," said Joe.

"Okay, then," Lisa replied. "Bye for now."

"What's the idea?" Frank demanded after Joe hung up the phone. "You know we have to see Callie tomorrow."