Thick as Thieves Read Free Page A

let through the barricade and shortly found themselves in the museum curator's office, where Chief Collig sat on a couch, with Officer Con Riley nearby, leaning against a wall. Both sets of eyes were on Renner. Renner was speaking on the phone, but he talked too quietly to be heard across the room. Though good friends, Collig and Riley didn't speak. Right then there was nothing to say.
    Riley's eyes rolled up as the Hardys entered the room. Unlike Chief Collig, he had never minded the Hardys helping out on cases, but he also knew that wherever Frank and Joe were, trouble was sure to follow. "Your father know you're here, boys?"
    The Hardys' father was Fenton Hardy, a former New York police detective who had become a world-famous private investigator. It wasn't unusual for him to take off across the globe at the drop of a hat—which Frank and Joe sometimes did as well.
    "Mom and Dad are in Boston for the week," Joe said. "Dad recommended us for this security gig because he couldn't be here."
    Riley grinned. "I suppose he thought it would be easy."
    "Wipe that stupid grin off your face," Renner growled as he slammed the phone down.
    He pointed to the chief. "I want this man arrested."
    All four stared at Renner, stunned. Chief Collig bounced to his feet, angrily asking, "And what am I to be arrested for?"
    "You stole the Star," Renner said, glaring at Collig. "You stole it while I was out front talking to these kids." He waved a hand in the direction of the Hardys. "Then they concocted this story about a jewel thief to cover your tracks."
    "She was there!" Frank protested.
    "Says you," Renner said bluntly. "I didn't see anyone. Suddenly you three were tripping alarms and pulling stunts, till I couldn't tell what was what. But the thief had to be someone who knew how to turn the alarms on and off and who could get to them. That means Collig or me. And I was with the boys."
    "It was Charity," Joe said. "We have proof." He held up the scrap of paper. Renner snatched it, studied it for a moment, then crumpled it into a little ball and tossed it back to Joe.
    "Stray garbage," the insurance man said. He pointed a finger at Collig again.
    Con Riley glared at Renner, his hands on his hips. "There's no evidence against the chief, and he's too fine a man for you to accuse."
    "I should have figured you hick-town cops would stick together," Renner snarled back. "But I know what my report is going to say."
    "If you think you've got something on me, do whatever you have to," Chief Collig said. "But don't you speak to my officers like that. And don't forget that I'm still chief of police in this town."
    "You won't be much longer if I have anything to say about it," Renner said. "And I will. The insurance company I work for has lots of pull in this state. No yokel cop is going to make fools of them. Collig, you can kiss your job goodbye." He eyed the Hardys. "Now, what about these two?"
    "They're free to go," Riley said.
    "No, we're not free." Joe gave Renner a look so menacing the insurance guy jumped a step back. "We're going to find Charity, bring back the sapphire, and wreck this little frame you're trying to put around the chief and Frank and me."
    "I've got it!" Frank cried. "Joe, where's that scrap of paper?"
    As Joe handed him the numbers, Frank went behind the curator's desk and dug out a phone book. "Airlines, airlines ... " he mumbled, running a finger down a column in the Yellow Pages. He picked up the phone and dialed a number.
    "Hi," he said in a cheery voice. "I'm afraid I've destroyed my plane ticket, and all I have left of it is the order number. I think it was with your company. Could you check? ... Thank you." He rattled off the number on the paper.
    "Oh. Transcontinent Air. ... I see. Thank you. And that flight was to ... ? Sorry, but my appointment book was destroyed at the same time. I go so many places on business, I can't keep track of them. ... Thanks.
    "Of course. Thanks. And the flight is leaving ... It just left.