Witness to Murder Read Online Free Page B

Hardy had insisted that Joe stay in the house because he was out on bail. Fenton Hardy knew Joe could get in trouble and then the police would have no choice but to lock him up.
    "He left for the police station right after he told me not to leave the house for the tenth time." Joe followed Frank into the kitchen. "What did you find out, Frank? And where have you been?"
    "Police station. Nothing new." Frank debated whether or not to tell Joe about the incident in Phil's room but chose to keep it to himself in case Joe decided to investigate.
    "Well, I've had it with sitting around, Frank! I've got to find out where Annie is and whether she's okay." He started to pace the kitchen. "I've been calling her place all day and there's no answer."
    "I can see you've been worried," Frank said, staring into the open refrigerator. "No milk, no ice cream. Where's the chocolate cake Aunt Gertrude made yesterday?"
    Joe grinned, almost like his old self. "That'll teach you to leave me here alone."
    "You ate the whole thing?" Frank muttered, not believing it. "It's only four-thirty."
    "Frank, give me my keys to the van. I'll stop by a bakery on the way back from checking on Annie."
    Joe's grin vanished. Frank had used Joe's keys when they had driven to the police station after the accident. He had conveniently kept them. Just telling Joe to stay at home would never work for long — no matter who gave the order. While Joe might not directly disobey his father, he had always made excuses for "forgetting." · · "I'll go with you," Frank said. "Let me go to the station and talk to Dad, then I'll come right back and we'll find Annie." "Stop treating me like a kid, Frank." Joe tried to get his hand into Frank's pocket, and the two started to tussle among themselves.
    "Boys!" Gertrude Hardy, the Hardys' aunt and baker of the consumed chocolate cake, appeared in the doorway. "Every time I think the two of you have grown up, I find you acting like children. If you want to wrestle, please go out-Frank grinned at the scolding. It was good to see his aunt back to her old self. One of the boys' cases had revolved around their aunt's being falsely accused of murder. Frank suddenly realized that now a second member of the Hardy household was in the same circumstances. He sighed and glanced at Joe, who was staring longingly out the window as if he were jailed.
    "I hope you're going to start dinner early, Aunt Gertrude," said Frank - "I'm starved, and thiS human garbage disposal has emptied the kitchen in one afternoon."
    "I'll start supper soon. Oh, by the way, your father called. He said to tell you that neither of you is to leave the house until he comes home. He wants to talk to both of you."
    Frank was glad to have his father back up his opinion—for the eleventh time—that Joe should stay put. He exchanged a glance with his brother and checked his pocket for Joe's car keys, then settled for an apple to hold him till dinner. He went up to his room to think.
    Dinner was quiet, with each member of the Hardy family caught up in his or her own thoughts. Finally Mrs. Hardy spoke. "Fenton, what's the latest on Joe's case?"
    Mr. Hardy looked at both Joe and Frank. Frank got the idea his father didn't want to discuss the matter at the dinner table.
    "Officer O'Hara is unbendable," Mr. Hardy said, pushing away his half-eaten dinner. "I think my 'unofficial connection' to the department is hurting you, Joe. I'm sorry. She doesn't want anyone to think she's playing favorites by letting you off easily." Aunt Gertrude frowned, then harumphed.
    "Surely no one else down there thinks our Joe run over someone deliberately." "Women!" Joe scoffed, unable to resist baiting. "Why the Bayport Police Department had to hire a woman is beyond me." Joe's mock-chauvinistic attitude set everyone laughing. It was a relief. This was one family that neededa laugh.
    Aunt Gertrude, who had argued equal rights for women for years, pretended to be offended by Joe's remarks. "Are you