Free Double Exposure by Franklin W. Dixon Page B

answer.
    A hand fell on Liehm's shoulder.
    "Ah, Gregor," Liehm said excitedly, without turning. "See who I have found here? Now we can take care of all these Hardys at once."
    "Sorry to disappoint you, Doctor."
    Liehm turned. He barely had enough time to be surprised before a fist caught him hard on the chin, and he crumpled to the floor.
    Frank stood over him, rubbing his knuckles. "That's for slugging me with that phone."
    Chris picked up Liehm's fallen gun.
    Joe clapped Frank on the back. "Nice work." He looked behind Frank. "Anybody else coming?"
    Frank shook his head. "Just us — the two guards that came after us are downstairs, out of it."
    "How'd you do it?"
    "He did it." Frank nodded toward Chris. "He was planning to break in here and take on all of them single-handedly before I showed up. We triggered a few alarms, ambushed the guards that came ..." Frank shrugged.
    "You saved my life," Joe said to Chris.
    "I'm the one who put it in danger in the first place," Chris said.
    Joe grinned. "Nobody's responsible for what I do but me." He aimed an accusing finger at Chris. "But I still have a lot of questions for you!"
    Chris smiled faintly and nodded. "I know I haven't been completely honest with you, but I'm ready to give you the answers you need."
    "Good," Joe said.
    "Hey!" Frank interrupted. "Where's Gregor?"
    Joe's face dropped. "Gregor? He left after you set off the alarms the second time." He stared at Frank. "He didn't go past you?"
    Frank shook his head.
    "Then where did he go?" Chris asked.
    "If you didn't pass him coming up from the service entrance, then he must have gone to the private staircase."
    "I know where it is," Chris said. "Come on.
    Frank and Joe followed him on a dead run back through the office till they came to a closed door. Chris tried the knob.
    "He locked it behind him."
    Joe tightened his lips in frustration. He thought of Gregor on the other side of the door. Then he pushed Chris aside. "Watch it."
    Chris turned to him. "What are you doing?"
    "I said, watch it."
    Joe put his shoulder down and charged the door. The hinges groaned, and the wood around them cracked.
    "Come on," Chris said, putting his hand on Joe's arm. "Let's go around the other way. That door's solid — it's not going to give."
    "Give me Liehm's gun. I'll try shooting out the lock," Frank said, holding out his hand to Chris.
    Joe pushed Frank's hand down. "One more time," he said. He charged the door again.
    The wood split on one side. Joe kicked hard, and the door fell to the floor with a loud crash.
    "Let's go," he said, stepping over it.
    Behind the door was a short hallway leading to a set of stairs. Joe took the steps two at a time, expecting at any moment to find Gregor standing on one of the landings below him. But he reached the bottom of the staircase without an incident, Frank a step behind him.
    Now another door stood in front of him. Without breaking step, Joe kicked it open—and found himself outside, looking into the parking garage.
    The space where the Mercedes had been was empty.
    "He got away." Joe shook his head and looked at Chris and Frank. "He's going to kill Janosik!"
    "Kill him?" Frank grabbed his shoulders.
    "Gregor and Liehm had some kind of fight," Joe said. "Gregor said Liehm could continue with his plan, but the only sure way to keep Janosik quiet was to kill him." He turned to Frank again. "And that's what he's going to do!"
    "Easy," Frank said. "Lieutenant Considine is out at the hotel, with a lot of other cops. Nothing's going to happen to Janosik." He thought for a moment. "How did Liehm plan to keep Janosik from speaking?"
    "I don't know," Joe said. "Liehm came to the hotel and showed Janosik something. Whatever it was really shook him. Wait a minute! It must've been that tape they said they were sending."
    "And I bet I know where they're sending it," Frank said.
    Joe nodded. "Jean Eykis. Has to be."
    Frank turned. "Chris, what do you know about—"
    But Chris wasn't there.
    "He's got a real