The Silent Confession

Chapter Two

Frank ran his fingers through his hair, looking away from Nancy in embarrassment. Real smooth, Frank, he thought to himself. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Nancy's cheeks rising in color, just as Joe started amusing himself by chuckling.

Nancy's beautiful cherry-blonde hair fell just past her face as she distracted herself with the code printed on a small piece of paper, perhaps a replica of the original clue Alan Brixton left behind in his will. That is, if he actually existed.

"Well, I'll be darned," a man said, approaching the teenagers. "Looks like we've got ourselves a couple of kids this year."

Frank squinted at the man's badge as Nancy looked up instantly, two others walking up behind the large man. Dave Radley (Homocide Detective), it read. Dave, seeming to be in his late 40s, was even taller than Frank, full of muscle. Nancy had to look up just to glance into the man's peering emerald eyes that dared anyone to challenge his strength. The two men joining him seemed similar in size, if not a bit smaller.

"Do we know you?" Frank asked, sensing something untrustworthy about the man, even if he worked alongside the police. The way he stalked up to them, so confident in himself, threw Frank on the edge. This man was no doubt sizing up his competition as he looked upon the three young detectives.

"The name's Dave Radley, detective from Dallas, Texas. These are my partners, Dale Radcliffe and Blake Smith," Dave said, looking between the men that stood by his sides. Both of them nodded their heads in silence. "You got a name?"

Frank believed Dave's words, fixing his eyes on the man's brown cowboy hat. "I'm Frank Hardy. This is my brother Joe. We work for the Justice Department, alongside our father."

"Hello," Joe said, with a forced smile.

Frank and his brother worked for ATAC, American Teens Against Crime, before joining their father and becoming more involved in detective work. Recently, the Hardy Boys had asked Nancy to create something of a detectives business with them, however Nancy said she would have to think about the idea.

"Oh, you're Fenton's boys! Who would of thought..." Dave said, shaking his head. "Quite a man, Fenton Hardy."

"Not the toughest wolf in the pack, though. Is he?" One of Dave's friends spoke. Frank wished he would take the words back.

Frank noticed the muscles in Joe's jaw clench as a frown set in. "Our father can take care of himself just fine," Joe snapped.

"That's what we heard when he told us that you've solved a couple of cases for him," Dale replied smoothly.

Joe gritted his teeth. Wishing to change the subject before his younger brother pounced, Frank looked at Nancy. "This is-"

"I'm Nancy Drew," Nancy said boldly. She stared at Dave, distrust in her eyes.

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance ma'am," Dave said with a tip of his hat, inspecting Nancy. Frank felt the urge to pull Nancy beside him as Dave looked the girl up and down. The man grinned, possibly impressed with the female detective.

Dave looked to Frank, smiling, as if sensing his tension. Glancing at their badges, he said, "Two detectives from the Justice Department and one part-time Investigator. Looks like ya'll aren't the amateurs I assumed you were."

"Well, I don't recall ever hearing your name before, but maybe that's because you're from Texas," Frank said, crossing his arms. He knew he had hit the nail on the door by insulting the man's hometown.

"Watch your tongue boy," Dave said, pointing at Frank with a frown. "I'm here for the same reason ya'll are. I was rightfully invited. Now, if you'll excuse me..."