Free Nowhere to Run by Franklin W. Dixon Page A

of the shipping invoice.
    "Sales rep's code number and shipping date," Sue replied.
    Frank looked at the invoice sheet and then at the vacation schedule. A wide grin came across his face.
    "What is it?" Joe asked.
    "I'm not sure," Frank replied. He faced Sue. "I'll need to get into your company's computers and check something out first. Can we get in there without too many people finding out?"
    Sue looked at her watch. "By the time we get to the offices, almost everybody should be gone for the day. But the security guards won't stop me from showing my cousins around," she added with a smile. "Problem is, we'll have to double back the way we came. Suppose Fat Harold is there and recognizes the van?"
    "No problem," Frank said, heading for the van's storage space. "We've got a bag full of tricks back here."
    Callie pulled the van into a vacant parking lot. Fifteen minutes later, plastic signs on both sides of the van advertised the Bug - B - Gone exterminating company. Atop the van was a four-foot- long black-and-orange inflatable bug, held securely to the van's roof by magnetic feet.
    "That thing sure is ugly," Callie said as she looked at the bug through the van's sun roof.
    "Yeah, but those two thugs are looking for an Acme Speedy Delivery van," Frank said.
    "Don't you think the bug makes us a little too obvious?" Sue asked.
    Frank smiled. "Sometimes the best place to hide is in plain sight. Okay, Sue. Which way?"
    The watch company was near the Queens-Brooklyn line in an old factory building that was being renovated. Frank was glad to see that the employee parking lot was nearly empty.
    "Don't turn the light on," Frank said as they entered Sue's second-floor office. "I don't want to attract any attention."
    Sue sat at her desk and booted up her computer. She typed in several security access codes. "It's all yours, Frank."
    Frank took Sue's place at the terminal. He typed in the sales rep's code and Biker's Social Security number.
    "Where's that door lead?" Joe asked, pointing to a large wooden door opposite Sue's desk.
    "That's Mr. Dalton's office," Sue replied.
    "What are you looking for?" Callie asked Frank impatiently.
    "I'll let you know when I find it," Frank replied absently. He was looking for a microneedle in a computer haystack, and he didn't need any distractions.
    Joe paced the small office. Biker was sitting in jail facing an assault charge for beating up Brandon and a murder charge for the death of Frost, and two hoodlums working for a small-time bookie were gunning for Biker, Frank, and Joe. The last two days hadn't been shining ones for the Hardys.
    "Yeah!" Frank announced triumphantly.
    "What is it?" Joe rushed around the desk and stared at the display terminal. The letters and numbers on the screen meant nothing to him. "Would you mind explaining this to me?"
    Before Frank could answer, the door across from Sue's desk creaked open.
    Joe turned—just in time to stare into the black eyes of a Doberman springing over the desk toward him, its sharp teeth aiming right for Joe's throat.

Chapter 13
    "JOE!" FRANK YELLED as he tossed a ruler to his younger brother.
    Joe caught the ruler and smacked the Doberman on the nose. The dog fell to one side, sneezed, shook its head, and crouched to spring again.
    "Sit, Trooper!" yelled Sue.
    The black Doberman sat down and growled at Joe, exposing large yellow teeth.
    "This is your dog?" Joe asked Sue, keeping his eyes on the Doberman and the ruler ready to smack the dog again.
    "He's the company's dog," answered a silver-haired man from the open doorway.
    "Mr. Dalton," Sue gasped.
    "Sue," Mr. Dalton answered in a surprised yet relieved voice. "What are you doing here? Who are these people?"
    "Frank, Joe, Callie," Sue said, "this is Scott Dalton, founder and president of DalTime, Inc." "Brandon's father?" Callie asked. "Looks that way," Joe muttered. "Why are you here? I thought you were looking for Biker," Mr. Dalton said.
    "Frank and Joe are detectives from Bayport," Sue