Fright Wave

by Franklin W. Dixon

  "I hope you get a good night's rest," a voice murmured in the receiver. It sounded like a man with ice water in his veins. It sounded like Pete Gordon. "Because tomorrow morning at eight o'clock sharp you're going to deliver the girl to me at Sand Island Park."

  "What if we don't show?" Frank snapped. "What can you do about it?"

  "We can kill Kevin Roberts," came the cold reply. "Very slowly - and very painfully."

  Chapter 13

  Frank didn't say anything about Gordon's threat when he got back in the jeep. He wanted to talk to Joe alone before telling Jade. He finally got his chance when they got to Al Kealoha's house.

  "You guys don't mind waiting here a minute, do you?" Jade asked. "Let me just talk to Al alone first and make sure it's all right."

  "No problem," Frank replied. "Take your time." After she was gone, he turned to his brother and said, "We've got a problem. We're running out of time."

  "So what's our next move?" Joe asked after Frank told him about the phone call.

  Frank looked at his watch. "I don't know - but we've only got about eight hours to come up with something."

  Jade waved to Frank and Joe from the front porch of the house. They got out of the jeep and joined her.

  Al Kealoha was standing in the doorway. The big Hawaiian surfer studied the Hardys for a moment. "Jade tells me you guys saved her life," he finally said. "I also saw what you did for Connie after that wipeout at Waimea. You can stay here as long as you want. Anything you need, just ask."

  They followed him inside. Joe looked around and saw electronic equipment everywhere. Televisions, radios, videocassette recorders, even a couple of microwave ovens.

  "How about a stereo?" he asked.

  Al Kealoha smiled. "Don't get the wrong idea. This stuff didn't fall off a truck. Most of them are broken. Like this TV here. I buy it cheap, fix it up, and sell it. Surfing's my life, but it doesn't pay the rent."

  Joe picked up a remote control for a garage door opener. "This isn't worth much all by itself."

  "You'd be surprised," Kealoha replied. "You can change the radio frequency so that it works with almost any garage door opener."

  Frank was inspecting a digital clock that showed the time as 88:88. He looked up at the Hawaiian. "What did you say?"

  "I said you can change the radio frequency so - "

  "That's what I thought you said," Frank cut in. "You wouldn't happen to have an old radar detector around here, would you?"

  "I had a couple," Kealoha said. "But they go fast. Maybe there's still one around somewhere."

  The Hawaiian poked around inside a few cardboard boxes. "Got one," he finally said, holding up a small, black object.

  "What are you going to do with it?" Jade asked.

  "I'll tell you in the morning," Frank said. "But right now, you should get some sleep. I have a feeling tomorrow's going to be a long day."

  It was still pitch black out when Joe woke up. He hadn't meant to fall asleep at all. He had dozed off in a chair while his brother and Al Kealoha puttered around with the insides of the garage door remote control and the radar detector. He glanced at a clock on the table. He thought he must still be asleep. According to the clock, the time was 88:88.

  "What time is it?" he asked groggily.

  Frank looked at his watch. "A little after two."

  "How much longer?" Joe wanted to know.

  "Almost got it," Frank replied. He took the back-plate from the remote control and screwed it back in place. "Okay, Al - ready?"

  "Go ahead," came the reply. "Hit the switch."

  Frank aimed the remote control at the radar detector on the workbench across the room. He pressed the wide, rectangular button on the top. "Take that," he whispered.

  The tiny red light on the radar detector winked on. Frank watched the numbers climb in the LED readout next to the indicator light: 2 - 3 - 4 - 5. The display held steady at 5. Frank moved the remote control slightly to one side. The numbers started to fall. He waved it back, and they rose again. He took his thumb off the button, and the red light on the radar detector winked off.

  "It works!" he shouted.

  Joe put a finger to his lips. "Shhh! You'll wake up Jade!"

  "It works!" Frank whispered excitedly. "You know what this means?"

  The big Hawaiian smiled sleepily. "Yeah, it means we can go to bed now."

  Frank aimed the remote control and pushed the button again. The light on the radar detector glowed red. "It also means we now have a radio homing device."

  ***

  The next time Joe woke up it was because the sun was shining in his eyes. He sat up and squinted out the window. It looked like it was going to be another perfect day in paradise. Then he remembered they had an appointment, and suddenly the sun didn't seem so warm and bright anymore.

  Al Kealoha was fast asleep in another chair. Frank was curled up on the couch, eyes shut tight. Joe shook his brother's shoulder. "Come on," he said. He grabbed Frank's wrist and checked the watch strapped to it. "It's six-thirty. We've got to roll."

  The bedroom door swung open, and Jade shuffled out. "What's going on?" she asked.

  Joe looked over at her. He didn't have the heart to tell her, but he didn't have the stomach to lie either. "Just give us a few more hours," he said. "Then I'll explain everything. Okay?"

  She frowned. "Do I have any choice?"

  "Not really," Frank mumbled as he got up from the couch. He picked up the modified remote control and the radar detector and grabbed a roll of black electrical tape off the workbench.

  "Just a few more hours," Joe repeated as they headed out the door.

  "Where are you going without a car?" Jade called out.

  Joe gave her a sheepish grin and held up a set of car keys.

  "How'd you get those?" she demanded.

  "I kind of borrowed them from your purse while you were sleeping," he told her.

  As the Hardys drove away in the jeep, Joe watched Jade in the rear-view mirror. She was standing in the doorway, hands on her hips. She looked beautiful. He hoped he'd get a chance to see her again. Reluctantly he shifted his gaze to the road ahead. They had a job to do, but first he had to make sure they got there in one piece.

  He glanced at his brother sitting in the passenger seat next to him. "What do you think Gordon will do when he finds out we didn't bring Jade?"

  "That's my problem," Frank said. He was busy wrapping electrical tape around the garage door remote control. "He's not even going to see you."

  Frank wound the tape tightly over the wide button, making sure it was pressed down firmly. He kept the tape clear of the front end of the unit so it wouldn't interfere with the signal. After he was satisfied that the tape would prevent the button from popping up, he tore a few more long strips off the roll. He stuck them on the remote control unit, but he didn't wind them around it. Instead he left them dangling down like long, black spider legs.

  "There's the entrance to the park," Joe said. "Are you ready?"

  Frank switched on the radar detector and aimed the remote control unit at it. The red light glowed and the numbers crawled upward. He checked his watch. It was seven-fifteen. "Ready as I'll ever be," he answered grimly.

  Joe drove into the empty parking lot. "There's only one thing wrong with this plan," he said.

  Frank nodded. "We don't know where Gordon will park." He looked around the parking lot. On one side, it was bordered by a small, open field. On the other, there were bushes and trees crowding in close to the pavement.

  Frank pointed toward the bushes. "Park over on that side."

  Joe backed into a space, and they got out of the jeep. Joe walked over to the bushes. "These will give me plenty of cover - if Gordon parks on this side, too."

  Frank shook his head. "Gordon won't park here. He's cautious. He'll suspect a trap." Frank gestured toward the field. "He'll pull in over there."

  "But there's no place to hide over there," Joe protested.

  "Sure there is," Frank rep
lied. He pointed at a large garbage can, sitting alone in the clearing. "Right there."

  Joe glanced at his brother. "Why do I always let you come up with the plans?" he muttered.

  "You don't have to get in it," Frank said. "Just crouch down behind it. And don't forget this." He handed Joe the remote control wrapped in electrical tape.

  Joe had barely gotten into position when a black van rolled into the parking lot. Frank checked his watch again. It was only seven-thirty. Gordon had shown up early, too.

  Frank leaned against the hood of the jeep and waited. The van paused in the entrance, and then slowly angled over to the far side of the lot, next to the clearing. A faint smile passed over Frank's lips.

  Pete Gordon stepped out of the van. He glanced over at Frank. Then he turned around slowly, surveying the entire area. Finally his cold gaze returned to the jeep. He took a few steps forward to get a better look. "Where's your brother?" he asked.

  Joe watched the rogue FBI agent step away from the van. It was time to make his move. He edged out from behind the garbage can and darted over to the van.

  Frank kept his eyes on Gordon. "He couldn't make it," he said coolly. "He had other plans."

  Gordon came closer. "Where's the girl?"

  Frank shrugged. "She couldn't make it, either."

  Joe slid under the side of the van and slapped the remote control unit onto its underside, using the long strips of tape to hold it in place. Then he quietly sneaked back to his hiding spot.

  "You just signed Kevin Roberts's death warrant," Gordon growled.

  Frank looked him right in the eye. "I don't think so. If you wanted to kill him, he'd be dead already."

  The agent glared at him. "I'll give you two hours to change your mind. If you're not back here with the girl by then, the old man dies."

  "I don't know if I could even find her in two hours," Frank replied. "My brother took off with her. I don't know where they are."

  "Six hours, then," Gordon hissed. "No more. Tell the girl. Let her decide."

  He spun around and strode back to the van. He opened the door and paused. He was looking at the open field. Had he seen something? Frank couldn't tell.

  Suddenly Gordon whirled around and pointed a gun right at Frank. There was a fat silencer on the end of the barrel. One side of Gordon's mouth curled up in a menacing sneer. "Sorry, kid," he called out. "I just can't trust you."

  Chapter 14

  There was a soft thwump and then a loud blam - right beside Frank's foot. The sudden noise made him jump. He spun around and saw the right front tire in shreds.

  Gordon was laughing as he got back in the van. He pulled up next to Frank and leaned out the window. "Looks like you've got a flat tire," he said. "I hope you weren't planning on following me or anything like that." He laughed again and drove away.

  As soon as the van was gone, Joe raced across the parking lot to inspect the damage. Frank was already unbolting the spare tire with a lug wrench. Joe grabbed the jack and stuck it under the front bumper. By the time Frank had the spare off its mounting, Joe already had the front end jacked up.

  Two minutes later, they were ready to roll again. "We make a pretty good pit crew," Joe said as he cranked up the engine. "All we need now is a good race car."

  Frank switched on the radar detector. He looked at the digital display and frowned. "Looks like we're going to need one if we want to catch Gordon. He's too far away. I'm not getting any signal."

  "Hold on," Joe replied. "I'll get a signal." He slammed his foot down on the gas pedal and the jeep swerved out of the parking lot.

  Joe peered up the road. There was no sign of the black van. "He must have turned off somewhere," he said.

  "The only question is, where," Frank replied.

  Joe shrugged his shoulders. "One street's as good as another." He turned the wheel suddenly, and the jeep veered off onto another street. There was still no sign of the van. Joe pressed down on the gas pedal, and the old jeep picked up speed.

  Frank glanced over at the speedometer. It was edging past 50 MPH.

  "Don't worry," Joe said. "You'll pick up any speed traps with the radar detector."

  "We altered the frequency on both units," Frank replied. "This will only register the signal from the remote control."

  "So are you getting anything yet?" Joe asked.

  Frank shook his head. "Nothing."

  Joe made another sharp turn.

  "Where are you going now?" his brother asked.

  "To the Pali Highway," Joe responded. "Gordon picked the opposite side of the parking lot, why not the other side of the island, too?"

  Frank thought about it for a moment and nodded. "It's possible. Anyway, we'll cover more ground that way. If we get within a half mile of that garage door opener, this thing should light up like a Christmas tree."

  The jeep chugged up the steep highway and over the mountain pass. Joe kept his eyes on the road ahead, and Frank kept his on the radar detector. There was no sign of the black van and no sign of life from the little black box in Frank's lap.

  They drove down into the town of Kailua. Frank studied his brother. There was fierce determination in Joe's eyes, but Frank knew there was almost no hope of finding the renegade FBI agent now.

  Frank turned away and gazed out at the town.

  "What's that?" Joe asked excitedly.

  "What's what?" Frank replied.

  "The box!" Joe exclaimed. "The light's on!"

  Frank picked up the radar detector. Sure enough, the red light was glowing. The digital readout registered 2 - 3 - 2 - 1. Then it was gone, and the light blinked off.

  "Go back!" Frank shouted.

  Joe slammed on the brakes and threw the jeep into reverse. He backed up to a side street they had just passed, and the red indicator light winked on again.

  "Go down this way," Frank gestured.

  They followed the winding road. As they slowly went downhill, the glowing numbers on the front of the black box climbed. The road ended at an ornate iron gate. Through the gate Joe could see a huge mansion at the end of a long driveway. Beyond that was the ocean.

  Frank scanned the area. The compound appeared to be surrounded on three sides by a high brick wall. He nudged Joe and pointed to the top of the wall. Video surveillance cameras, silently rotating back and forth, cast a sleepless eye over the entire perimeter.

  "This must be the place," Joe said.

  Frank nodded. "Now all we have to do is figure out how to get in and out without being seen."

  Joe shrugged. "I always wanted to be on television."

  "How about on a game show where they shoot the losers?" Frank replied.

  "Okay," Joe said. "Then we can approach it from the beach. It doesn't look like there are any cameras down there."

  Frank shook his head. "They'd see us coming a mile away."

  "Maybe," Joe said. "But maybe a few surfers wouldn't attract too much attention."

  ***

  Back at Al Kealoha's house, Jade was sitting on the front steps, waiting for them. Her elbows were on her knees, her chin resting in her hands. Joe had hoped to keep her out of danger, but now they needed her help to save her father.

  Joe got out of the jeep and walked up to her. He reached down, took her hand, and pulled her to her feet. "Come on," he said. "Let's go get your father."

  Jade looked into his eyes. "Really?" she said hopefully. "You know where he is?"

  Joe nodded silently.

  "Let's talk about it inside," Frank said. "We're going to need Al's help, too - and anybody else's."

  After Frank and Joe laid out their plan, Al got out a map of Kailua. "It's not going to be easy," he said, pointing to the cove where the mansion was located. "There's a small beach - but it's cut off by cliffs on both sides. We'll have to hit the water about a half mile away and paddle the rest of the way."

  "Won't they see us coming?" Jade asked.

  "That's why we need as many surfers as we can get," Frank answered.

&nbs
p; Joe smiled. "We're just a bunch of surf punks looking for a good beach for a party."

  The big Hawaiian ran his hand through his dark, curly hair. "Kind of short notice. How much time do we have?"

  Frank checked his watch. "Three hours at the outside."

  Kealoha frowned. "Almost everybody's up on the north shore. That's a long drive. The only person in town today is Connie. This is one of the days she works as a waitress."

  Jade shook her head. "I don't want to drag Connie into this."

  "You don't have any choice," a voice called out.

  Frank whirled and saw Connie Lo standing in the doorway. "How did you know we were here?" he asked.

  Connie shrugged. "I didn't. Nick told me everything last night. I wanted to help, and I figured Al would, too. Looks like I figured right."

  Joe didn't give Jade a chance to argue. "And you're just in time for a little surprise beach party," he said to Connie. "Come on in. We were just about to get out the paper hats and the noisemakers."

  ***

  On a lonely stretch of windswept beach, they unloaded five surfboards from Jade's jeep and Connie's car. Joe glanced over at Frank and grinned.

  Frank shot him a look. "What are you smirking about?"

  "I was just thinking," Joe said, his grin widening.

  "None of those old beach movies was ever anything like this."

  "Yeah," Frank replied. "The stars never did any real surfing."

  "Just follow my lead," Jade said, "and don't try anything fancy."

  "You mean I don't get to hang ten?" Joe said in mock disappointment.

  "Get with the program," Connie said. "Nobody does that anymore."

  They waded out into the water and paddled the surfboards out past a rocky point. On the other side of the point, Joe spotted the mansion nestled in the small cove. He let out a sigh of relief - the beach was deserted. There wasn't a guard or video camera in sight.

  Jade paddled over next to him. "Ready to ride your first wave?" she asked.

  "Sure," Joe said. "Do we get to shoot the tube?"

  "You don't even get to do a bottom turn," she answered. "Just wait for the wave and ride it straight in. I'll be right next to you all the way."