Warehouse Rumble Read Online Free Page A

said.
    “If that’s the case,” Chet replied, “this news crew is going to get a much better story than they bargained for.”
    Ms. Kendall stepped up next to her boss. “WSDS wasn’t issued credentials, sir,” she said to Willingham.
    “You don’t need credentials to follow up on a news story,” Stacia Allen said. “I hear there’s some hot news in this warehouse tonight. Care to comment?”
    “ Warehouse Rumble is going to be the hottest new show of the season,” Willingham said, falling into his rehearsed patter. He tried to position himself between the TV camera and the broken chimney.
    “That’s not what I’m talking about,” Ms. Allen said. “What can you tell me about this accident?” She and her cameraman tried to move around Willingham toward the chimneys.
    “That’s a matter for the police,” Frank said, stepping in front of her.
    Ms. Allen glared at him. “Who are you?” sheasked. “What’s your relationship to this program?”
    “Frank Hardy. I’m just one of the people trying out for the show.”
    Allen’s eyebrows raised. “The son of Fenton Hardy, the detective? And that must be your younger brother, Joe.”
    “Guilty,” Joe said, stepping up beside his brother.
    “So you really don’t have any authority to stop us,” Ms. Allen said, trying to outflank the Hardys.
    “They don’t, but we do,” said a voice from the doorway.
    The brothers turned and saw Officers Con Riley and Gus Sullivan, two of Bayport’s finest, standing in the door.
    “Looks like we got here just in time,” Sullivan continued. He was older than Riley, but Riley outranked him.
    “You should know better than to try to disturb a crime scene, Ms. Allen,” Riley said. Riley and Officer Sullivan walked up to the group and barred the way of the news crew.
    “Crime scene . . . ?” Allen said. For a moment, her eyes lit up at the discovery, then she recovered her composure. “Since when is shooting pictures interfering with the police? The press have rights, you know.”
    “So do the police,” Officer Sullivan countered.
    “So do I, ” Willingham put in. He shook hands with the police and introduced himself. “This is theset of my TV show. I won’t have rival networks poking around.”
    “Ever hear of the First Amendment?” Stacia Allen asked.
    “Let’s not get worked up,” Con Riley said. “She does have the right to cover news, and if you’ve really found a skeleton in that chimney, that would qualify.”
    Ms. Allen shot Willingham a smug grin.
    “However, we’ll try to keep her out of your hair,” Riley finished.
    “But I’m holding auditions here!” Willingham said.
    Julie Kendall sidled up to her boss. “Maybe we should call it a day,” she suggested. “We’ve got another session scheduled for the morning. These people could come back and finish their auditions then.”
    “That sounds like a good idea,” Riley said.
    “Yeah, okay,” Willingham agreed. “Everybody head for home. Auditions resume at nine A.M. —sharp—tomorrow morning.”
    “If you’ve witnessed the trouble here, please stay so Officer Sullivan can interview you,” Con Riley added.
    “I’m doing interviews as well,” Stacia Allen announced, “after the police are through, of course.” She shot Con Riley a condescending smile.
    “Just stay out of our way,” Riley said. He turned toward the Hardys. “Good to see you kids again.Do you have any information about this?”
    “We’ll be happy to tell you what we know,” Joe said. Daphne had returned from the bathroom. She, Frank, and Chet nodded their agreement.
    “Great,” the officer said. “Talk to Sullivan. I have to take a statement from Mr. Willingham.” He and Willingham walked toward the broken chimney.
    Stacia Allen tried to follow, but Sullivan cut her off. “You’ll get your chance,” he said. “Later.”
    More police arrived to help with the crime scene, but the interviews still went slowly. The cops kept the newspeople at bay