Free The Prime-Time Crime by Franklin W. Dixon

the line for you.”
    He reached into his coat pocket, pulled out a gun, and pointed it directly at Joe.

8 Narrow Escape
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    Joe stared at the gun-wielding man in surprise. “We can explain what we’re doing here.” He glanced desperately at his brother. “Isn’t that right, Frank?”
    â€œRight,” Frank said. “We were, um, looking for Mr. Whalen. We wanted to talk to him for a minute.”
    â€œWell, Mr. Whalen doesn’t want to talk to you,” the man said in a menacing tone. “And he doesn’t much like people hanging around his house and looking in his windows, either. You’d better come up with a better explanation of what you’re doing here or you’re going to be in big, big trouble.”
    â€œWe’re trying to find out what happened toClarence Kellerman,” Steve said, still sitting on the limb of the tree.
    â€œYeah,” Debbie said. “And we think Mr. Whalen had something to do with it. He’d better have some good answers himself or he’s going to be the one who’s in trouble.”
    There was a noise from the corner of the house. The Hardys turned to see Ted Whalen walking around the corner. The tall, broad-shouldered man was with him. Whalen’s jaw fell when he saw the four teenagers clustered around the tree.
    â€œNot you kids again!” he said angrily. “Don’t you ever give up? I told you that I never wanted to see the four of you again—and I meant it.”
    Steve leaped out of the tree and, with a thump, landed on the ground. “What are you covering up, Whalen?” he said. “Where do you have Clarence Kellerman stashed away?”
    â€œWhat in the world are you talking about?” Whalen snapped.
    Frank took a deep breath. “What Steve is trying to say is that we’d like to question you about Clarence Kellerman’s disappearance.”
    â€œOne thing we’d like to know, Mr. Whalen—” Joe began.
    â€œI’ll handle the questions, Hardy,” Steve interrupted. “What did you do to Clarence, Whalen? Did you want him out of the way because he didn’t fit your plans for the station?”
    â€œYou’re way out of line,” Whalen said hotly, pointing a finger at Steve. “I had nothing whatsoeverto do with Clarence Kellerman’s disappearance. And if I wanted him out of the way, I’d simply give him a pink slip. I run the station—or have you forgotten that?”
    â€œThen why do you keep guys with guns around you?” Debbie asked. “Do you need mobsters to help you run the station?”
    â€œThese men happen to be my personal bodyguards,” Whalen replied. “I’ve kept them by my side whenever I’ve left the station for the past three weeks.”
    â€œAnd why does a station manager need bodyguards?” Steve asked. “To do his dirty work for him?”
    â€œWBPT news has been running a hard-hitting series of stories on organized crime in the Bayport area,” Whalen said. “My life has been threatened several times. I won’t be intimidated by those who’d like to stand in the way of the truth, but I’d be foolish to risk my life. So I keep a guard around me. Not that it’s any of your business.”
    Joe looked at his brother. “Actually, that’s a pretty reasonable answer,” he said. “We heard you talking about that crime series back at the station.”
    Frank nodded. “Maybe we’ve been mistaken. Sorry we bothered you, Mr. Whalen.”
    â€œHey, I’ve got lots more questions,” Debbie protested.
    â€œYeah, so do I,” Steve said.
    â€œWrite them down and send them to Mr. Whalen in a letter,” Frank said, grabbing Steve by the armand pulling him toward the van. “We’ve got better things to do than hang around here.”
    â€œI don’t want you kids coming near my house anymore, do you hear me?”