Flesh and Blood Read Online Free Page B

could find anything that could help the police." Frank was trying to be tactful.
    "Sure," shot back a doubtful Officer Riley. "What did you expect to find?"
    "We didn't expect to find Leonard Mock," Joe answered quickly as his eyes followed the ambulance up the street.
    Mock had barely spoken about his son killing Fenton Hardy when he had collapsed. Frank and Joe had watched as paramedics put the dying man on a respirator and then loaded him into the ambulance. Frank had asked about Mock recovering.
    The paramedic in the back of the ambulance shrugged.
    "What will happen to Mock?" Joe asked.
    "He'll be in intensive care at Bayport General Hospital."
    "Under guard," Frank added.
    Riley's eyes were bloodshot and were staring past the Hardys. The police veteran said in a tired voice, "Yeah."
    "It's not Mock I'm worried about," Frank said. "It's his son."
    "Why?" Riley asked.
    Joe explained about Mock's son, shaking his head.
    Frank's forehead wrinkled in thought. He studied the devastated rehab center. "Why did Mock come back to the rehab center?"
    "What are you driving at, Frank?" Officer Riley asked.
    "Mock came back to the rehab center for something," Frank announced.
    "In his room!" Joe shouted.
    The Hardys started for the front door of the building.
    "Wait a minute!"
    Frank and Joe stopped and turned to face a tired and angry Con Riley.
    "You two have been told more than once to stay off this case," the police veteran said firmly.
    "We're not going to stand around while someone goes after our father," Joe responded just as firmly. "You don't understand - "
    "I understand perfectly!"
    Frank was stunned by the force and anger in Officer Riley's voice. He had known the police veteran since childhood but had never seen Con Riley shake with anger.
    "Remember, Joe," Frank began softly, "Mock killed Officer Riley's partner."
    Joe's face flushed with embarrassment. "I'm sorry."
    Officer Riley shifted uncomfortably. "Forget it. The thing we've got to do is find out if Mock's son is in Bayport."
    "Dad's old files might help," Frank suggested.
    "That's a good place to start," Riley said. He headed for the building, stopped, and turned. "I understand why you two want to help. Chief Collig will probably have my badge for this, but if you promise to keep a low profile, I'll let you help."
    Frank and Joe looked at each other, smiled, and followed Officer Riley into the building.
    Mock's room was located in the one wing that had survived the tornado - even the roof was intact. Without electricity, they had to use flashlights, and the search was slow.
    The sky rumbled, lightning flashed, and then a heavy rain fell.
    Frank began searching in a chest of drawers. He didn't like the rain or the slow pace of the search. He became angry as each drawer revealed nothing.
    Mock had returned for something, but what? Obviously, Mock had kept in touch with someone in Bayport, or else how would he have known Frank and Joe well enough to recognize them on sight?
    "Frank, look at this."
    In the dim light from his flashlight Frank watched as Joe stood just outside the small closet, unwrapping a paper bundle. Inside were newsclippings about the Hardys and some of their cases, faded newspaper photos, and several photographs.
    "He wasn't kidding when he said he kept tabs on us," Joe said.
    "Not only us," Frank added, 'but our friends as well." Frank flipped through the photos: Frank, Joe, and Callie at the beach; Chet and Joe playing football; Frank and Joe eating at Mr. Pizza; Frank and Callie coming out of a movie theater.
    "Surveillance photos," Joe said without emotion.
    "Looks that way," Con said. "Someone's been watching you and keeping Mock informed."
    "Who?" Joe asked.
    "Mock's son," Frank replied. "But he hasn't been watching us for long."
    "How can you tell?" Officer Riley asked.
    "Look at the picture with Callie and me coming out of the theater. See the title of the movie?"
    Joe nodded.
    "The Majestic was showing that about eight months ago," Frank