The Spy That Never Lies Read online

  Joe and Frank chuckled. They figured their guesses had hit the mark. Cindy sat silently and steamed all the way to the stationhouse.

  When they got there, the brothers escorted her into the building. Cindy went along grudgingly. As they approached the door, though, the Hardys noticed a small but wicked smile creeping across Cindy’s face.

  “Don’t worry, Joe,” Frank whispered to his brother. “We’ve got her on tape this time. The cops will have to believe us.”

  “Why do I feel she’s got something else up her sleeve?” Joe whispered back.

  Luck was with the Hardys. They ran into Con Riley just inside the stationhouse door.

  “Joe, Frank,” Con said. “What’s up?”

  “We caught her trying to flatten our tires, Con,” Frank said.

  “She did it right inside the Securitech blanket area this time,” Joe added. “So there shouldn’t be any question of guilt.”

  Cindy smiled. “These guys are liars. Call my mother. Get my lawyer. I want to prosecute them for illegal imprisonment.”

  Con looked from the Hardys to Cindy, and then back again.

  “She’s trying to weasel her way out of the rap,” Joe said. “But we’ve got her dead to rights this time.”

  “Where did this alleged incident take place?” Con asked.

  “On Scott Avenue,” Joe said. “Down by the waterfront. She led us on a foot chase through the woods in the park.”

  “They chased me,” Cindy said, “but only to harass me. I ran from them because I was scared.”

  Con showed them to some chairs near his desk. “Sit here while I try to figure this out,” he ordered.

  Con spoke briefly with a couple of other uniformed officers and then went to the phone and began making calls.

  “When my mother finds out about this,” Cindy said, “you guys are dead.”

  “What’s she going to say when she finds out you’re a petty criminal?” Frank asked.

  In reply, Cindy just smiled.

  After a few minutes, Con returned and beckoned for Frank and Joe to join him. Con took them aside so Cindy wouldn’t hear them. “I’ve got some bad news for you, boys,” he said. “I just had one of our men run the Securitech data from the areas you mentioned.”

  Frank and Joe looked at each other and smiled.

  “Great, then, you—” Joe began.

  Con cut him off. “I don’t know how to tell you this,” he said, “but it looks like there was some kind of problem in the system. That area has been blacked out for the last three-quarters of an hour.”

  “But—” Joe began.

  “I know,” Con said. “Rotten luck. You guys might want to get out of firing range before her mother gets here.”

  Frank quickly glanced at the door and said, “Too late.”

  Councilwoman Hamilton stormed into the squad room accompanied by a man Frank took to be a lawyer. Neither one of them looked very pleased. “Where’s my daughter?” Hamilton said angrily. “What have you done to her?”

  In response, Cindy jumped out of her chair and ran into her mother’s arms. “It was those awful Hardy boys,” Cindy cried. “They chased me in the park and brought me here against my will!”

  “She was letting the air out of our tires!” Joe yelled angrily.

  “Ha! He’s lying,” Cindy said. “They have no proof. They’re just trying to make me look bad.”

  “I think we may have to let the courts settle this,” Hamilton’s associate said.

  “Now, let’s not be too hasty,” Con Riley said. “Maybe we can work this out.”

  As Con tried to calm the Hardys and the Hamiltons, the police station suddenly grew busy. Another officer came up to Con and said, “Drop what you’re doing, Riley. We need people downtown, pronto!” He whispered something more in Con’s ear.

  “Downtown?” Frank said. “What’s going on?”

  “Some kind of break-in,” the officer said.

  Con turned to the Hardys and the Hamiltons. “Folks,” he said, “we’re going to have to postpone this until another time.”

  “Another time . . . ?” sputtered Hamilton. “Why, that’s outrageous.” She stopped, though, as Cindy tugged on her sleeve.

  “Come on, Mom,” she said. “I don’t think they’ll bother me again. Besides, I’ve got better places to be.” She smiled maliciously at the Hardys.

  “Well, if you think so, dear,” Councilwoman Hamilton said. She turned to the Hardys. “Next time, though, I’ll see you both in court.”

  Joe was about to say something, but Frank elbowed him in the ribs. Cindy, her mother, and her associate turned and left the police station.

  Con Riley turned to the brothers as he pulled on his jacket. “Sorry about that, guys,” he said. “But without any proof . . .”

  “I don’t understand why the cameras didn’t catch Cindy,” Joe said.

  “Well, maybe this call explains it,” Con said.

  “What do you mean?” Frank asked.

  “The break-in,” Con said, “is at Securitech.”

  13 The Securitech Heist

  “There was a break-in at Securitech?” Joe said. “How can that be?”

  “I gather that the security system is pretty much automated on the weekend—and most other times as well,” Con said. “That’s the beauty of it. There are a few programmers who work on Saturdays, but no human systems operators.”

  “No human judgment, either,” Frank said.

  “And, apparently,” Joe said, “no one watching the candy store.”

  “They didn’t know there was any trouble until a technician came in to check the system,” Con said. “I guess the main office got pretty messed up. I gotta run, boys.” With that, he headed for the door.

  “Mind if we tag along?” Frank asked.

  “Fine by me,” Con said. “Just stay out of the way.”

  • • •

  A few minutes later Frank and Joe pulled up outside the Securitech offices. They didn’t see Con, but Joe spotted Clark Kubrick standing outside. Yellow police tape was already stretched across the front of the building.

  Joe and Frank walked up to the police tape so they could hear better. A police officer was standing next to Kubrick, taking notes.

  “Nothing much taken!” Kubrick said angrily. “Maybe three computers doesn’t seem like much to you, but one of those computers had our master control disc. It runs the whole system!”

  “I’m sure you have a backup, Mr. Kubrick,” the officer said. “Was that stolen as well?”

  “Of course not,” Kubrick said. “We keep our duplicates off site. That’s not the point, though. A criminal with that disc might compromise our whole system!”

  “Do you have any idea who might have pulled this job?” the officer asked.

  “I think so,” Kubrick said. “If I were you, I’d be looking for Jake Martins.”

  “Why is that, sir?” the officer asked.

  “Because the trouble that caused the system to go down tonight was with the section of computer code that he wrote,” Kubrick said. “Plus, I got a tip that he was compromising our security. I talked to him in my office earlier today about it. Plus, Jake had the expertise needed to shut off the camera systems selectively.”

  “Is that what happened here?” the officer asked.

  “According to our preliminary analysis, that’s why the cameras went down for about an hour earlier. That would have given Martins the time to break in, bust up the place, and take those computers.”

  “I’ll have someone bring this Martins in for questioning,” the officer said. She turned away from Kubrick for a moment and spoke into a walkie-talkie.

  Frank nudged his brother. “Come on, Joe,” he whispered. “We’ve got to talk to Jake.” Joe nodded and the two of them headed for the van.

  As Joe slid behind the wheel he said, “Man, this case just gets stranger all the time. I thought we had Cindy in the bag, but then the cameras go down. Not only do we not get her, but she couldn’
t have done the Securitech break-in because she was with us at the time.” He pulled the van into traffic and headed for Jake’s apartment.

  Frank sighed. “The Kings could still be behind this somehow,” he said. “Cindy has to be connected to them. Maybe she put them up to the job.”

  “I don’t know, Frank,” Joe said. “Call me crazy, but this break-in just seems to be out of Cindy’s league—and out of the Kings’, too. Sure, I can see them, or her, pulling off a petty crime or two. Some vandalism, shop-lifting, slashing tires, even throwing bottles. But this theft required both computer expertise and planning.”

  Frank ran a hand through his dark hair. “You’re right. Cindy doesn’t strike me as bright enough to pull all this off on her own. I don’t think the Kings have that much brainpower, either. So who does that leave?”

  “I hate to say it,” Joe said, pulling the van onto Smith Street, “but Jake is a good suspect.”

  “Vanessa could be, too,” Frank said. “We know she was at Securitech today. She could have set up the robbery. And she has the computer expertise.”

  “But what’s the motive?” Joe asked. “That’s what I’m having trouble wrapping my brain around. Money? I don’t think Jake has time to spend any. And Vanessa seems to have enough money from her job. It would be foolish for either of them to jeopardize their careers by pulling a crime like this.”

  “I know,” Frank said. “I have a feeling there’s a piece missing from this puzzle.”

  “Me, too,” Joe said. “Maybe Jake has some idea what that piece might be.” He pulled the van into the parking lot next to Jake’s building. As he did so, he saw that two police cruisers were parked outside.

  As they watched, two police officers escorted Jake out of the building. The Hardys hopped out of the van and ran over to Jake.

  “Jake, what’s going on?” Joe asked.

  “They want to take me in for questioning,” Jake said. “I didn’t do anything. I was just sleeping on the couch when they banged on the door.”

  “Move back, you two,” one of the officers said.

  “Jake,” Frank said, “don’t say anything until they get you a lawyer.”

  Jake nodded mutely.

  “A lawyer can’t help this guy,” another cop said as he came out of the building. “Not unless he can explain this.” He held something up in his hand.

  The Hardys could see it was a computer disc with the words “Securitech Master 001” printed on the top. “I found it in his basement storage compartment,” the cop said.

  “That doesn’t belong to me!” Jake said.

  “You bet it doesn’t,” the cop said. “You stole it from Securitech earlier.”

  “I suppose you found the missing computers along with it,” Joe said. He crossed his arms over his chest and whispered to Frank, “This stinks. It’s a setup!”

  “Not yet,” the cop replied, “but we will.”

  “Remember, Jake,” Frank said. “Keep mum until you talk with a lawyer. We’ll see if our dad can dig one up for you.”

  Jake nodded again, but this time he looked scared. The police loaded him into one of the squad cars and drove off. The other cops stayed to complete their search.

  “Let’s go home, Joe,” Frank said. “There’s nothing more we can do here.”

  Joe sighed. “Yeah. Let’s go. I’m beat.”

  • • •

  Neither brother slept much that night. Even after their dad said he’d find a lawyer for Jake, they still couldn’t settle down. The confusing facts of the case kept running through their heads until, finally, sleep took them.

  They were sitting at the breakfast table on Sunday morning, poking listlessly at their eggs when suddenly a light went on over Joe’s head.

  “Hey,” he said, “I just realized something. Cindy knew we didn’t have any evidence against her.”

  “Well,” Frank said glumly, “Con told us as much.” He folded up the newspaper he’d been looking at. It didn’t have any new information on the case.

  “Yeah,” Joe said, “he told us as much when he took us aside—but he didn’t tell her! But she knew it, anyway. She told her mother we didn’t have any proof.”

  Frank snapped his fingers. “You’re right!” he said. “And, you know, I bet she knew it even before we took her to the police station? Remember how smug she was in the car?”

  Joe nodded. “So, she must have known the system was out. That’s why she felt so confident about sabotaging our car. The question is, how did she know?”

  “That’s easy,” Frank said. “She knew because she’s in league with whoever pulled the crime. She’s in this scheme up to her neck. The question is, who’s at the head of the operation?”

  “She was wearing a Kings jacket,” Joe said. “And we’ve seen her hanging out with Missy Gates. Seems to me Morelli and his gang are the logical suspects.”

  “Why don’t we pay a visit to the Kings’ garage,” Frank said.

  • • •

  Thirty minutes later they pulled up a block away from Morelli’s house in a rough section of Bayport. The Morelli house had been built in the 1950s and had a brick facade. It had been well maintained despite the neighborhood. The garage next to it was almost larger than the house.

  The garage had three car bays and a door. A hand-painted sign above the door read Kings’ Repair Service and listed a telephone number.

  “Hope they’re not upset that we didn’t call for an appointment,” Joe said.

  He and Frank went up to the door. The door had a small window in it, and Joe and Frank peered in.

  All the Kings seemed to be present. Vince Morelli, Harley Bettis, Jay Stone, and Missy Gates were all standing at one end of the garage, huddled over a long, well-lit work table. The Hardys could see electronics tools scattered about. The brothers couldn’t see what exactly the Kings were looking at.

  “Jackpot,” Joe whispered. He turned the knob, pushed open the door, and walked in. Frank was right behind him.

  A bell rang as they entered, and the Kings turned toward the door. As they did, Frank and Joe could see what they were working on: computers. The computers looked new and top of the line. There were three of them.

  Frank glanced at Joe to make sure he and his brother were thinking the same thing. Joe’s expression said they were.

  “What do you guys want?” Morelli said. His tone made it clear that the brothers were not welcome.

  “They’re spying, probably,” Missy Gates said.

  Harley Bettis sneered. “Let’s show them what we do to spies!”

  14 Fall Guys

  “Back off, Bettis,” Joe said. The younger Hardy balled his hands into fists and took a step forward. The other Kings began to pick up tools that were lying around the garage: tire irons, wrenches, chains.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Frank said. “Not unless you want to be in even more trouble than you’re in now.”

  “The only one in trouble here,” Stone said, “is you punks.” He swished his chain in the air.

  “That’s where you’re wrong,” Frank said. “If we figured out who had these stolen computers, how far behind do you think the police are?”

  “What are you talking about?” Morelli said. “These computers aren’t stolen. We bought them.”

  “Maybe so,” Joe said. “But the person you bought them from stole them from Securitech last night. Don’t you guys ever read the paper?”

  The Kings looked confused. They relaxed the weapons in their hands and, as one, looked at Missy.

  “That’s not true!” Missy protested. “Cindy would never—” She cut herself off before saying more, but her words were enough to confirm the Hardys’ suspicions.

  “Cindy Hamilton’s setting you up,” Frank said. “At least, that’s what I think. The police may think otherwise, though. They might think that the Kings are the brains behind the Securitech robbery and the recent vandalism. They may think she’s part of your gang.”

  “Cindy’s
just a hanger-on,” Morelli said. “She’s a friend of Missy’s. Sometimes we hang out, have fun.”

  “Does that fun include breaking into Securitech and Councilwoman Hamilton’s office?” Joe asked. “If it doesn’t, you might want to reconsider letting her hang with you—unless you want your neck in the noose.”

  “Where’d you get those computers?” Frank asked.

  “Cindy sold ’em to us,” Stone said. “She said her mom was upgrading their home systems. She’d have thrown them out, otherwise.”

  “Come on, Stone,” Joe said. “You can’t be that dumb. Those computers are state of the art.”

  “Well, they did look expensive,” Bettis said. “But if they’re so new, why would she have sold them to us so cheap?”

  “Because they’re hot,” Morelli said. “That’s why!” He threw his wrench across the garage. It hit a tool chest and clattered to the floor. “How could I have been so stupid!”

  “Cindy was counting on your greed,” Frank said. “She knew you guys liked to mess around on the Internet as well as fixing cars. She knew you couldn’t turn down a deal on decent computers.”

  “Only trouble is,” Joe said, “you didn’t know she was setting you up. Good thing we showed up to warn you.”

  “Well, okay,” Morelli said. “You warned us. Now get out of here. We’ll take care of Hamilton ourselves.”

  “That wouldn’t be smart, either,” Frank said. “She’s not in this alone. I don’t even think she’s the brains of this operation.”

  “They’re right,” Missy said. “Cindy couldn’t be behind this. I saw some of her college grades last time I went to her house. They were all pretty bad.”

  “Even her computer grades?” Joe asked.

  Missy nodded. “Yeah.”

  “I can believe that,” Stone said. “I think she hooked up with that Jake dweeb just so she could get free tutoring.”

  “She’d need a lot of tutoring to pull off this kind of caper,” Joe said.

  “But if she’s not behind this scam, who is?” Bettis asked.

  “We don’t know yet,” Joe replied.

  “But with your help,” Frank said, “I think we might be able to catch Cindy and lure the real mastermind into the open. Just give me and Joe a couple of minutes to talk in private and figure this out.”