Free Flesh and Blood by Franklin W. Dixon Page B

hissed static at Frank. The moments seemed like long minutes.
    "Okay." Con sighed. "This is for Fenton. And for Stan Williams."
    "Who?"
    "My partner who was killed."
    "I understand," Frank replied.
    Frank then explained to Con that he intended to get into city hall through one of the basement windows in the rear of the old building and then make his way to the old file room in the basement.
    He wanted to find the original adoption file for Bobby Mock.
    He returned to the sedan and quickly explained his plan to the other three. They decided to meet back at the Hardy home at nine P. M., after dark. Then they took Callie home. Chet dropped Frank and Joe off at their van, and then he went home, also.
    ***
    "Look who we have here," Joe said as he spotted Don West's red sports car sitting in their driveway. "He's been pretty smart up until now."
    "We've still got to prove he really is Bobby Mock," Frank warned Joe.
    "No problem." Joe stopped the van and hopped out. He checked Don's car.
    "Where is he?" Joe asked as he followed Frank to the house.
    "Right here," Don said as he stepped from behind a hedge, holding a hunting rifle aimed straight at Joe!

Chapter 11
    "Take it easy, Don," Frank said, holding up his hands. "We don't want to hurt you."
    "Hurt me?" Don laughed, but Frank could tell that it wasn't the type of laugh that results from something being funny. Don's laugh arose from nervousness and fear. "That's just like you Hardys. I have a thirty-thirty deer rifle aimed at Joe's heart, and you threaten me."
    "We know who you are," Joe said bluntly.
    "Yeah? Well, why don't you tell me who you think I am!" Don shouted.
    Frank could see the tension in Don's eyes and the beads of sweat that had formed on his forehead. The finger squeezing the trigger of the deer rifle unfolded and then folded around the trigger again. Frank didn't know Don very well, but he knew enough about human nature to sense that Don was a fuse about to blow.
    "You're Bobby Mock," Joe announced.
    "I've been told that's what you believe," Don replied, his voice nearly cracking.
    "Who told you?" Frank asked, suddenly aware that someone had betrayed them.
    "Liz. She got a message from Callie and then called me."
    Frank took a step to Don's left. "I don't believe you. Just like I don't believe the story about the box hitting you in the cheek. You got that bruise when Joe hit you at the hospital last night."
    Watching Frank's move, Joe stepped to Don's right. They had to distract Don so one of them could jump him and take the gun away.
    "Stay where you are, Joe!" Don ordered through clenched teeth. "You too, Frank. I'll use this if I have to." Don raised the barrel of the gun for emphasis.
    "You going to kill us in cold blood in front of our house?" Joe asked.
    "No," Don answered calmly. "I'm not going to kill you."
    "We're not going to let you kill our father, either," Joe said.
    "I don't want to kill your father," Don said.
    "What?" Joe blurted out, confused. "But - "
    "I don't want to kill anybody. I'm not Bobby Mock."
    Frank saw the tension drain from Don, and the finger folded around the trigger of the rifle relaxed. Don lowered the rifle and held it down in front of him.
    "I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't know what else to do." He handed the rifle to Joe.
    Stunned, Joe stared at Don for a second, then slowly took the rifle from Don's hands. He looked at Frank, who only returned his questioning gaze.
    "I've admired the two of you ever since I moved to Bayport. You've got a pretty mean reputation for bringing in the bad guys. When I heard you were after me, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to explain." Don paused and sighed.
    "Explain what?" Frank asked.
    "That I'm not Bobby Mock. That I didn't plant the bogus file on Chet. I really found it at city hall, and a box really did fall and hit me."
    "How did you know when Bobby Mock's mother died?" Joe asked, gripping the rifle in his hands.
    "I did the research for Liz before she called you two. It was in an old