The Borgia Dagger Read online

  Tessa let out a lighthearted laugh. "Oh, please don't take it so seriously! You should just be glad you had them for so long!"

  "Glad we had them! Why, your actions are illegal. Your parents would never have allowed this."

  As the man stammered in shock, one of the workmen tried to push past him. "Come on, Mr. Ruppenthal, this stuff is heavy. Listen to the girl." -

  "Over my dead body," Ruppenthal said, shoving the workman back.

  Thrown off balance, the workman fell onto the ground. "Okay, buster," he said as he picked himself up, "if you say so."

  With that, he let loose with an uppercut that caught Ruppenthal squarely in the jaw. After Ruppenthal fell, three museum officials rushed out of the building to come to his aid. One of them sank a fist into the workman's stomach, sending him flying into a crate.

  Rubbing his jaw, Ruppenthal yelled, "Watch it, Felipe! That's the Rodin statue!"

  Instantly a melee broke out — workmen against museum staff. Ruppenthal darted around, trying to move the artwork out of the way.

  Frank watched the scene in amazement. "I'm going to try to stop this! You call Joe from the corner pay phone!" he said to Callie, and he ran toward the fight.

  He pulled Felipe off one of the workmen. Then he spun around just in time to see another workman running toward him with his fists balled.

  "I don't believe we've met," Frank said, extending his right hand. The workman uncorked a haymaker, which Frank easily ducked, sending the man tumbling.

  "Ease up, fellas, let's talk this over!" Frank shouted to no avail. A museum worker jumped on him from behind, trying to wrestle him to the ground. But Frank remained upright, lifting the man off his feet and hurling him in the direction of Tessa, who was watching wide-eyed while backing away toward Callie's car.

  Within moments came a welcome sound — the high-pitched wail of a police siren. Frank looked up the driveway to see two familiar sights — the patrol car of Officer Con Riley and the Hardy brothers' black van.

  "All right, boys, playtime is over!" Officer Riley's voice barked over the patrol car's megaphone. The men all let go of one another and tried to look as nonchalant as possible.

  Officer Riley, his partner, and Callie walked up to the scene. They were followed by Frank's brother Joe, who had hopped out of the van.

  "All right, Ruppenthal," Officer Riley said. "What happened here? Does this have to do with the Carpenter items?"

  "That's right, Officer," Ruppenthal answered. "These men are forcibly trying to remove this artwork!"

  "Or are you 'forcibly' trying to prevent them?" said Officer-Riley with a knowing look. "Miss Carpenter already called me about this. I'm afraid that unless you can produce an agreement that says the artwork belongs to you, you'll have to let these men do their job."

  "But — but — "

  "You can protest all you want in court, my friend. Not here."

  As Ruppenthal and Officer Riley argued, Joe joined his brother. He glanced around at the group of burly men, all of whom were now disheveled.

  Joe whistled in awe and ran his fingers through his blond hair. "Whew, looks like I missed a big one," he said. "How was it?"

  "Fine," said Frank with a smile, massaging a bruised arm. "But we missed you."

  With a mischievous grin and a gleam in his blue eyes, Joe moved closer to his brother and said softly, "By the way, who's the redhead in the jumpsuit?"

  Frank chuckled. "Believe me, you wouldn't be — "

  Suddenly a loud scream ripped through the conversation. All heads turned to the end of the driveway.

  There, up against Callie's car, Tessa Carpenter was frozen in fear. Around her neck was a pair of hands. Her body shook as the strangler repeatedly slammed her against the car.

  Frank and Joe raced up the driveway, with Callie right behind. "It's Grant!" she cried out in disbelief. "He's trying to kill Tessa!"

  Chapter 3

  While Frank went to help Tessa, Joe grabbed Grant by his still-soggy collar and pulled him backward. "Tessa, are you okay?" Frank asked.

  "I'm—fine," Tessa said with both hands on her throat. "Just a little dizzy."

  "I've had enough, Tessa Carpenter!" Grant shouted, gesturing wildly at Tessa. "I had hoped to escape your mocking glance for good! But no — still you torment me!"

  Frank slid in front of Tessa, who cowered in fright. Grant tried to lunge for her again, pulling against Joe's tight grip. Within seconds, Officer Riley and his partner arrived. They yanked Grant away and slapped handcuffs on him. Callie and Joe stood by Frank.

  "Forgive me, Officer," Grant said, his voice cracking with emotion. "She has forced me to do things I'd never dreamed of!"

  When Officer Riley had a good look at Grant, his face lit up. "Say, aren't you the fella in the new flick? What's it called — Horror High School, right?"

  Grant turned red and looked at the ground. "A cameo role," he said, grimacing. Frank turned to Tessa. "Sure you're okay?" Tessa leaned against Frank's broad chest to steady herself. "Yes, I think so," she said faintly. She glanced up at him, her eyes filled with relief and admiration. "Thanks to you."

  Joe rubbed his hand. The outline of human teeth — Grant's teeth—was beginning to rise up in a welt. Great, he thought, I get rabies, and Frank walks off with the glory. "It was nothing!" he called out. "We're happy to help you—"

  Tessa just looked at him blankly and turned back to Frank. "How can I possibly repay you for saving me from that horrible man — "

  "I heard that, Tessa!" Grant called out. "Funny how your opinion of me has changed over the years!"

  "Calm down, Mr. Grant," Frank said. He looked back at Tessa. "You know this man?" Tessa gave Grant an icy stare. "You bet I do. And his name isn't Grant either. It's Edwin Squinder. He used to work for my parents — "

  "Bless their souls! I don't know how those two marvelous people could have created a monster like her," Squinder said. "For twenty years I was their chauffeur—on call, day and night. But was I unhappy? No! The Carpenters treated me like family! I lived on the grounds of the mansions — even took care of Tessa when she was little. For them, I gladly gave up a promising career in the theater!" He looked squarely into Tessa's eyes. "And in return, they left her money to retain me for life!"

  "Your act isn't working, Edwin," Tessa said. She shook her head with scorn and turned to the others. "How could I retain someone who wouldn't do his job? Who spent day and night in front of the TV set, instating actors in old movies?"

  "Who refused to drive you to parties on his one night off a week! That's all it was!" Squinder shouted. "A year ago she fired me—and all her other servants—because she's spent almost all her inheritance on clothes, cars, wild parties—"

  "Okay, okay, enough of this," Officer Riley said. "Miss, do you want to press charges?"

  Squinder suddenly looked frightened. "Please, Tessa. If you have a heart, don't do it. You know I'm not a violent man. I just—flew off the handle. Times have been rough."

  Tessa sighed. "No, Officer, I can't be bothered. I think Mr. Squinder will know better than to mess with me again."

  Officer Riley looked surprised, but let go of Squinder and unlocked the handcuffs on his wrists. "If you say so."

  "Thank you," Squinder said softly. He brushed himself off, lifted his chin high, and walked away.

  "I'm not sure we should let him go," Frank said. "A few hours ago he was about to commit suicide."

  Tessa nodded. "I'm not surprised. He does this every few months — but only when he knows people are around to stop him. It's his eccentric way of dealing with his failure as an actor. He's crazy, but harmless."

  ' When Squinder was out of sight, Officer Riley said, "I don't like the looks of him. Be sure to call us right away if there's any more trouble.

  Frank, I think you or your brother ought to give Miss Carpenter a ride home." With a smile and a wink, he tipped his cap and walked back to the squad car with his partner.

  Callie thought she sensed a special
meaning behind Officer Riley's wink, and she wasn't so sure she liked it. Especially when she caught a glimpse of the way Tessa was looking at Frank.

  "You know, Frank," Tessa said, flashing a warm smile, "you handled Squinder beautifully.

  And I just couldn't believe how you single handedly took on all those men by the truck!"

  "It was nothing," Frank mumbled, feeling uncomfortable under Callie's burning gaze.

  "Listen," Tessa went on, touching Frank's hand, "I'm having a big party tonight in my house — sort of a celebration for the arrival of the artwork. I'd love for you to come!"

  Frank cleared his throat and cast a nervous glance at Joe and Callie. "Oh!" Tessa said, following Frank's glance. "You can bring your friends too."

  At that, Joe stepped forward with a broad smile and an outstretched hand. "I'm Joe Hardy, Tessa — Frank's brother."

  "Nice to meet you," Tessa replied. "And is this your sister?"

  Callie looked as though a chill had shot through her. "No," she said dryly, "I'm just the driver.'

  "This is Callie Shaw," Frank added quickly "She's — "

  Joe could barely contain himself. "We'd be happy to come to your party, Tessa! Listen, I'm free right now. Can I give you a ride home?"

  Tessa's smile fell slightly, and she looked over at Frank, as if expecting him to offer her a ride too.

  Feeling relieved, Frank said, "Thanks, Joe. I'll go with Callie. See you later." He headed after Callie, who was already walking to her carr while Joe flirted with Tessa on the way to the van.

  " 'And is this your sister?' " Callie said, mocking Tessa's voice. "Sorry, Frank, I can't help it, she makes me furious! Did you catch the way she was looking at you?"

  Frank put his arm around Callie. "I know," he said. "She's obviously spoiled rotten. But don't worry about me. It's Joe who seems to be falling for her."

  Callie took out her keys as Frank went around to the passenger side of her car. "Yeah, but she definitely has her eye on you. Did you see how disappointed she looked when she knew Joe was taking her home?"

  "But, Callie, don't you see? It doesn't matter!" They sank into the car's bucket seats, and Frank leaned over to Callie with a glowing smile. 'This man has eyes for only one ravishing beauty — you!" Callie started to put the key in the steering column, but stopped when Frank brought his face closer and gave her a kiss. At that moment, Tessa Carpenter faded from memory. "I'm sorry, Frank," Callie said. "I guess I'm just upset that our day together had to be spoiled like this."

  "I'll make it up to you, Callie, I promise. Next saturday we'll — "

  "I was thinking of something sooner than next saturday," Callie said eagerly. "Why don't we see a movie tonight?"

  Frank looked at her blankly. "Tonight? Well — I can't." "Why not?"

  "Did you forget? We've been invited to a party."

  "Party?" Callie had no idea what he meant, when it dawned on her. "You mean at Tessa's?" 'Well, yeah!" Frank said with a shrug. "I uh, we agreed. It might be fun — "

  Callie's face clouded over. She started the car and pushed her foot down on the accelerator. Frank fell back in his seat.

  "Fine," she said, glaring straight ahead. "You go ahead. I have other plans."

  ***

  "Why so glum, chum? This party's going to be the hottest ticket in town!" Joe called out from the bathroom as he stood in front of the mirror, combing his hair.

  Frank yanked on good black socks and stared at the bedroom carpet. "I don't know, Joe, I just am not excited about it." He plopped himself down on the bed and flipped through a copy of Personality magazine that Joe had left lying open.

  · "Well, you won't believe her house." Joe leaned into the room and gestured with his comb. "When I drove her home she told me to go up this narrow road through the woods—only it turned out not to be a road, but her driveway! At the end there was this enormous brick mansion — a lawn the size of a football field, servants' cottage, in-ground pool — "

  "Hmm. There's a picture of it here in the magazine."

  "Right. And that's not even the best part - read the section about the Borgia Dagger," Joe said, walking into the bedroom.

  "The what?" Frank flipped through the pages and saw the headline: heiress inherits carpenter collection—including deadly borgia dagger!

  "Part of that museum collection," explained Joe, "is a jeweled knife that once belonged to this sinister Italian family about four hundred years ago. They were all religious and military leaders, but they were also cold-blooded murderers! Legend has it that the dagger Tessa has is cursed." " "What kind of curse?" Joe continued in a low, creepy voice. "The fowner of the dagger will die within a few months of having touched it." He opened his eyes and let out a deep, diabolical laugh. "Yaaaa - haaa - haaa - haa — "

  Abruptly Joe ducked and just missed being hit by the rolled-up copy of Personality that Frank had hurled at him.

  Approaching the mansion in the dark, even Frank was impressed. Four pointed spires rose from the roof like the towers of a castle. A porch, shrubbery and flower beds surrounded it, and a rolling lawn stretched far into woods in all directions. There were no other houses visible. Loud music echoed through the night air and lights glared from four bay windows on the first floor.

  They parked the van and walked inside. Immediately Joe felt that his blue suit wasn't right. There seemed to be two types of guests: One type wore expensive tuxedos and evening gowns. The other type wore more casual clothing, but Joe could immediately tell it was just as expensive. Standing among them, a wiry man scribbled notes on a small yellow pad.

  "Probably society columnist," Joe whispered to Frank.

  "It's Frank and Joe! Come on in!" Tessa's voice floated toward them over the noise of the crowd. From behind a group of laughing people, she emerged.

  Frank thought Joe's jaw would drop off. Tessa wore a slinky, full-length gown with silver sequins and high-heeled silver shoes. She grabbed both of their hands and pulled them toward a tall, dimpled guy with dark brown hair. He was about six-foot-one and eighteen years old, same age and height as Frank — only he looked as though he had just stepped out of a movie.

  "Frank and Joe Hardy, meet Harley Welles." Harley's teeth were blindingly white as he grinned and said hello. "

  Next to Harley was a tiny, white-haired woman who looked about fifty years older than anyone else in the room. Her gray-green eyes twinkled behind thick glasses as Tessa introduced her. "And this," Tessa said, "is my very dearest friend, Dr. Harriet Lansdale. I've known her longer than anyone in the world:"

  Dr. Lansdale's shoulder shook as she chuckled. "That's because I delivered her!" she said. "Welcome to Cliffside Heights. I hope the two of iu will come back in the daytime to see the grounds someday. Tessa has lovely gardens."

  "Aunt Harriet is semiretired," Tessa said. "She works only part-time now, at the Cliffside Country Club — the rest of the time she spends gardening here and at her own home."

  Frank nodded and looked around. They were in a huge parlor, its walls crammed with gold-framed paintings. A towering marble statue of a Greek warrior stretched to the ceiling in a corner between a bookcase and a sideboard.

  Just then the doorbell rang. "Harley, be a dear and go into the kitchen for some more cups! Excuse me," Tessa said, and she went to open the door.

  "Come and look at the collection," Dr. Lansdale said, leading the way for Frank and Joe to follow. "Personally, I'm trying to convince her to return everything, but we might as well appreciate it while it's here."

  : Joe looked longingly at the buffet table that stretched across the middle of the room and ended near the Greek statue. They were moving toward the old sideboard.

  Three teenagers dressed in fringed leather jackets were standing around a glass case resting on top of the dark carved-wood piece.

  "Excuse me, Muffy," Dr. Lansdale said to one of the girls in the group. They parted as the doctor edged up, pointing to the glass case. Inside it, on a purple satin cushion, was a long knife that refl
ected the light off its gold-and-jeweled handle.

  "Here's the centerpiece of the collection," Dr. Lansdale continued, "the Borgia Dagger that you've probably read about."

  "Oh, wow, it is incredible!" Muffy said, lifting up the lid of the case and taking out the dagger.

  Suddenly a voice bellowed, "See what I mean? Look at that—they think it's a toy!"

  Frank and Joe turned to see Albert Ruppenthal rushing across the room, followed by Tessa. Ruppenthal grabbed the dagger from Muffy and put it back on the satin cushion.

  "I really didn't mean to interrupt, Miss Carpenter," Ruppenthal said. "I thought I'd come over, apologize, and quietly try to persuade you to give back the collection — but this is outrageous!" He glanced at the dagger, which was now being examined by several other guests. "Do you realize how much that dagger is worth?"

  Tessa smiled sweetly. "Of course I do, Albert!" She picked it up, and a hush fell over the room as, carrying it, she sauntered over to the buffet table.

  Timidly, one of the teenagers said, "Tessa, remember the curse on that thing! If the owner touches it, it's curtains!"

  Tessa threw back her head in defiant laughter. She turned to Ruppenthal, pointing at him with the dagger. "Albert, you look hungry. Would you like an appetizer?"

  Ruppenthal's face went white with shock as Tessa sliced into a wedge of cheese with the Borgia Dagger. She stabbed the tip of the blade into the slice she had cut, then walked back to the sideboard and offered the cheese to the curator with a mocking smile. A split second later the lights went out, and the music cut off in midsong. All the partygoers held their breath in a silence that seemed to last forever.

  Then came a crash and a scream — Tessa's scream.

  Chapter 4

  The lights came back on, and Frank and Joe stared at the marble statue—or rather, at its pieces on the floor. Part of the sideboard was splintered, and shards from shattered glassware lay all around.