Fatal Ransom

Fatal Ransom Read Free

Book: Fatal Ransom Read Free
Author: Carolyn Keene
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Mall. That’s the only place he’s been spending his time lately.” He frowned. “You know, I just haven’t known how to handle Hal these days. I guess it’s a good thing Michael isn’t around to see how he’s turned out. Michael wouldn’t be able to take it if he knew that Hal’s main goal in life is to be a roadie for a punk rock band. And that crowd he runs with—trash, all of them.”
    â€œMichael was—”
    â€œHal’s father,” Lance explained. “He’s the one who started Colson Enterprises. When Michael and Karen, Hal’s mother, were killedin a plane crash, their will stipulated that I would be Hal’s guardian and that the running of the company was up to me until Hal turns twenty-five.”
    â€œWhen did they die?” Nancy asked.
    â€œTwo years ago in March.”
    Nancy knew that kids sometimes went off the deep end when their parents died. Maybe that was what had happened to Hal. But that wasn’t the time to talk about it.
    â€œDoes anyone know Hal is missing?” she asked instead.
    â€œNo. Except you and your father.”
    Nancy couldn’t help remembering the incident earlier out on Allegheny Drive. “I know this sounds crazy,” she said, “but I was run off the road tonight on the way over here. I wonder if someone already knows I’m in on this case and would like to see me taken off it.”
    â€œOh, no,” Lance said immediately. “You weren’t hurt, were you?”
    â€œNo. Just suspicious.”
    â€œI wouldn’t be,” Lance told her. “We’ve had trouble with teenagers running people off the road out here lately. The police are trying to catch the kids, but so far they haven’t been successful. As a matter of fact, I was their target the other night.” He grinned. “But my Maserati and I outran them.”
    So the Maserati is his, Nancy thought.
    â€œDid you get a description of the car?” Lance asked.
    â€œNo. It was too dark. All I saw were the headlights.”
    â€œToo bad,” Lance said. “But, as I said, I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m sure it has nothing to do with Hal’s disappearance.”
    He shook his head irritably. “The teens in this town are really getting out of hand. I read in the paper just this morning that the blood bank had reported several pouches of blood missing—blood, for God’s sake!—and that they’d fired the teenager who’d been driving the delivery truck because they thought he’d taken it.”
    â€œPretty strange. But not all River Heights teenagers are bad. I know that for a fact—I’m eighteen myself. But to get back to the kidnapping,” Nancy reminded him, “do you have a photo of Hal?”
    Lance was just about to answer when a tall, slender, dark-haired woman came into the room. She was wearing tailored pale gray pants and a matching sweater. Her beautiful face was bored and petulant looking.
    â€œHello, Monica,” Lance said, getting to his feet. “Nancy, this is Monica Sloane. Monica, Nancy Drew. She’s here to help us find Hal.”
    Us? Nancy thought. Monica wasn’t marriedto Lance. Nancy just smiled politely and nodded at the other woman.
    Monica just stared at her. “So you’re here to help Lance find little Hal,” she said at last. Her tone was icy.
    â€œYes, I am,” Nancy answered. “Do you know anything about this case that might help me?”
    â€œNo, I don’t, Ms. Drew,” snapped Monica. “And I couldn’t care less about that stupid kid.”
    â€œMonica!” Lance protested. “This is no time—”
    â€œShe might as well know what I think,” Monica said. “She’ll probably try to ask me questions anyway.”
    â€œYou’re right,” Nancy said cheerfully. “Why don’t you tell me what you have to say now, Ms. Sloane?

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