Skin and Bones (4 page)

While Dave worked on Cody's desktop computer in the office, Frank
and Joe took the records of the interrupted merchandise orders and the files of the
suppliers involved up to the lab and went over them with Cody. Frank also checked out
the suppliers
through the Internet, in case there was any
information about them that would lead him to the person who had ripped Cody off. He ran
into one dead end after another.

Joe concentrated on learning how Cody developed his vendor leads to see
whether there was a pattern that might allow someone access to the orders.

Cody went back and forth, from learning the new software from Dave, to
helping Deb with customers in the shop, to answering questions for the Hardys. Dave
poked his head in the lab at about four o'clock to say goodbye and agreed to
return the next evening to go out for dinner. Deb left, and Cody closed the shop around
six o'clock.

“I'd like to head back to your father's,” Frank
told Cody. “With the news about Brando getting released, this would be a good time
to ask him a few questions.”

“Okay,” Cody said. “But remember, you promised not to
tell Dad everything that's been happening around here. When we solve the case,
then we'll tell him.”

“You know, Cody, he could be a big help to us,” Joe pointed
out.

“I know, I know,” Cody said. “But I'm not ready to
confide in him yet. Let's give it another day or two—see what we can figure
out.”

“When to tell your father will be your
decision,” Frank agreed.

“Good. Say, I'll pick up something for dinner and meet you at
Dad's.”

As they drove to Sergeant Chang's, Joe and Frank talked about the
person on the roof. “I know Cody thinks it was Mike Brando,” Frank said.
“But what would he be doing up there? Especially if he'd just clobbered Cody
and ripped off those packages.”

“Well, if he was interrupted when we came on the scene, maybe the
roof was just a handy place to hide.” Joe was silent for a minute. “No, that
doesn't make sense. It would have been easier to hide in that wooded lot behind
the shop.”

“It would have been even easier to just get out of there,”
Frank said as he pulled into Mr. Chang's driveway. “I mean, why hang around
at all? It doesn't make sense.”

The Hardys and Cody's father talked about Mike Brando while they
waited for Cody to arrive with dinner. Frank and Joe were both careful to keep their
promise not to tell Mr. Chang specifics about the problems his son had been having.

After talking about Cody's business dealings with Brando, Frank
steered the conversation to the prisoner's
release the day
before. “Cody was surprised that Brando was released so soon,” he said.

“Well, I was, too,” Sergeant Chang replied. “But
that's the way things work nowadays. He apparently was a model prisoner, so he got
time off for that. And they counted his time served while waiting for trial. He
didn't make bail because the judge set it too high. The court figured that with
all his international contacts, Brando could have easily skipped the country. I agreed
with that.”

“Are you worried about the threats he made when he was
sentenced?” Joe asked. “Cody told us Brando said he'd make both of you
pay for catching him in that sting.”

“Well, it's always wise to be cautious about any
threats,” Sergeant Chang said.

“About any what?” Cody asked as he walked in with sacks full
of dinner for the four of them.

“We were talking about Mike Brando making good on his
threats,” Frank said.

“That's right, son,” Mr. Chang agreed. “I've
talked to several people, and the consensus is that Brando'll head north to his
sister's in Seattle.”

The Hardys helped Cody lay out the white paper cartons of steamed buns,
aromatic chicken, beef with garlic almonds, sticky rice, and sweet-and-sour ribs.

“Brando behaved himself in prison,” Mr.
Chang added, taking his seat at the dining room table. “Even took some computer
training.”

Frank and Joe exchanged glances as Cody changed the subject. “I
showed the guys Bug Central today,” he told his father.

“That's really something, isn't it?” Cody's
dad said, chuckling.

“Unbelievably cool,” Joe said. “Sort of like the ant
farm I had when I was a kid—only on a galactic scale!”

“There's something weird when you think about all those fuzzy
little guys, crawling over bones, munching away,” Frank said.

“I know,” Cody said. “Don't you love it? Some
museums have used them to clean off whole elephants or giraffes. One Canadian
museum's beetle colony specialized in whale carcasses.”

Frank, Joe, and Cody told Sergeant Chang about Jennifer Payton's
request and the upcoming haunted house fund-raiser.

After dinner Sergeant Chang told them he was having trouble with the
starter on his new car. Joe offered to take a look at it, so Cody's father and he
went out to the garage. Frank and Cody cleared off the dining table.

“My dad's one of the best detectives
around,” Cody told Frank. “But he didn't know Mike Brando as well as I
did, and I can't believe that Mike has changed that much. That man seemed to be
born without a conscience.”

The Hardys, Cody, and Mr. Chang stayed up late talking so Cody decided to
stay over at his dad's that night.

•  •  •

Wednesday morning Sergeant Chang's car wouldn't start at all.
He said he'd take a bus to work, but Frank insisted he use his van. Sergeant Chang
agreed, saying he'd get his car fixed and the van over to Skin & Bones later
that afternoon.

Joe drove Cody's SUV away from Sergeant Chang's, with Cody in
the front passenger seat as navigator and Frank in the back. “I've got a
couple of stops to make on the way back to the shop,” Cody said. “I need to
pick up my new flyers and some skeleton chains. Take the next left.”

“Hey, guys,” Joe said as he turned on to Geary. “Looks
like we may have picked up a tail.”

“Someone's following us?” Frank said, sneaking a peek
out the back window.

“The dark green sedan,” Joe said, periodically checking his
rearview mirror. “He's been with us since we left.”

Joe carefully wove in and out of a couple of lanes and
drove completely around one block. He watched the green car follow each move at a
distance.

“There's the printer's,” Cody said, pointing to a
storefront on the right. “You can stop in the loading zone for a few minutes while
I get my stuff.”

Joe pulled into the loading zone. They all watched as the dark green car
slowed down, then suddenly sped up, cruising past them.

“Did you see the driver?” Cody asked. “He went by so
fast, I didn't get much.”

“Dark nylon jacket—black or maybe navy blue,” Joe said.
“Wraparound shades, black knit ski cap pulled down over the ears,
gloves.”

“I couldn't tell whether it was a man or woman,” Frank
said. “Could it have been the person on the roof, Joe?”

“Yeah,” Joe said. “It could have been. Let's split
up,” he added suddenly. “I want to go after that guy. See you back at the
shop.”

Frank and Cody jumped out of the SUV, and Joe took off after the green
car.

After they had picked up the flyers, Frank and Cody headed for the metal
craftsman's studio to get some of the special chains that held up the skeletons at
Skin & Bones.

Frank and Cody walked a few blocks to a cable car
stop. Within minutes they were climbing a series of very steep hills in the rumbling,
clanging car.

When they reached the top of the third hill, at a very busy, noisy
intersection full of cars and pedestrians, the cable car stopped. A lot of passengers
got off and even more got on before it started the steep descent down the other side of
the hill.

Frank was sitting at the front end of one of the open benches that ran
along the outside of the cable car. He could see far down the hill to Fisherman's
Wharf. In the distance, the prison Alcatraz sat on an island in the bright bay.

The cable car gripman clanged the familiar bell, alerting everyone that
the car was about to move. There was a final flurry as last-minute passengers hopped
aboard, elbowing one another.

Frank and the others already on the car were jostled in the frantic rush.
Suddenly, someone inside the car shoved Frank's shoulders forward so he was
leaning out over the street. He started to turn around to complain, but he was rammed
again from behind—this time in the middle of his back.

Before Frank could get his balance, he lurched out of his seat. He flew
forward until his forehead scraped the ground. He realized that he was only half on the
street—the rest of his torso and legs were hanging over
the cable car footboard.

He tried to roll off completely, but a sharp pain in his ankle stopped
him. With a sickening feeling, he realized his foot was caught in the vertical handrail
attached to the front corner of the cable car.

In the din of the traffic, he heard Cody call his name. He doesn't
see me, Frank realized. He can't see where I am!

Frank twisted and turned, trying to get free, but each move inched him
farther around the front of the cable car and closer to danger. He called back, but the
noisy intersection swallowed up his yells. He felt the cool slickness of metal against
his cheek and realized his head was resting on one of the tracks. His pulse seemed to
tear through his throat as he heard the grinding scrape of the grip lever.

Clang-clang.
Frank's heart seemed to stop
as the loud bell noisily announced that the cable car was about to move.

5 The Suspect Slips

Clang-clang, clang-clang.
The sound of
the cable car bell cut through the air again. The busy intersection was crowded with
cars and pedestrians. Over the din, Frank could hear Cody calling his name. He could
also hear a few people yelling at the gripman.

Either the gripman couldn't hear or it was too late because Frank
could feel the rumbling vibration of the car as it began to move downhill.

Twisting and sliding, Frank struggled to pull his body up so he could free
his leg with his hands. The vertical handrail that had his foot trapped was nearly
within reach. Calling on all his strength, he strained to raise his shoulders and head
until he was almost sitting. With a great gulp of breath, he
flung his arm out and grabbed for the handrail.

The feel of the cool steel rod in his palm renewed his energy and
determination. “Cody!” he yelled. “Down here!”

“Frank!” Cody saw him at last. So did others on the cable car.
Frank heard the grinding of the ratcheted lever as the gripman pulled it partway back.
The jaws of the cable grip released its tight hold, and the cable car vibrated to a
humming idle.

Frank and Cody worked Frank's foot out of its trap, and Frank
hoisted himself back up on to the footboard of the cable car. He was bombarded with
questions from the gripman and a few of the passengers.

“Are you really okay?” Cody asked after Frank had assured the
others he was fine.

“Yes,” Frank said, reaching down to rub his ankle.
“Thanks for the assist.”

“No problem,” Cody said. “What happened,
anyway?”

“I was pushed,” Frank said in a low voice. “I'll
tell you about it later.”

Clang-clang.
As the gripman prepared to close
the grip jaws on the underground cable, Frank noticed a
man in the
shadows of an alley straight ahead. The man seemed to be staring at him. He was tall and
built like a football receiver, solid and muscular. He wore sunglasses and a baseball
cap pulled low over his face.

When Frank caught his eye, the man turned and quickly darted back down the
narrow gap between two buildings.

“Looks like this is our stop after all,” Frank said to Cody as
he jumped off the cable car.

Frank's ankle complained painfully, but he kept running after the
mysterious man.

“What's happening?” Cody called from behind,
panting.

Frank didn't take time to answer his friend. His whole concentration
was focused on ignoring his throbbing ankle and catching up with the man. At last the
man was cornered in a courtyard. There was no way out of the courtyard except the way
they had entered.

The man turned to face Frank, who watched carefully to see whether the man
was carrying a weapon. He seemed to be unarmed. Still, Frank stayed on his guard.

As Frank and the man faced off, Cody ran into the courtyard. “Mike
Brando!” Cody yelled.

Frank's nerves tingled—even more on alert.

“So?” Brando grunted. “It's
me. So what?” His voice was deep and throaty. It sounded like faraway rolling
thunder. He glared defiantly at Frank and Cody. It seemed as if he was daring them to
take him on.

Cody took the bait. He started toward Brando, but Frank's arm shot
out to hold Cody back. “Why are you following us?” Cody asked. “And
why did you push Frank off the cable car?”

“What are you talking about?” Brando sputtered. “
I'm
the one being followed here. I'm standing around
minding my own business and you two take off after me.”

“Were you on the cable car back at that intersection?” Frank
asked.

“And what about last night?” Cody asked. “Where's
my ostrich?”

“Give me a break,” Brando said. “What's happened
to you while I was away? Sounds like you've gone a little crazy, Chang. I'd
watch that if I were you. They might lock
you
up.”
Brando grinned at Cody.