The Ice-cold Case (2 page)

“You think this is all a big joke, don't you, Ray Nelson,” Ernie said as he put the ax back on his tool belt. “Well, I've seen you checking out the houses around here. I know what you've been doing.”

“You'd better watch what you say, old man, or I'll shut you up for good,” Ray threatened. He crouched low and picked up speed as he skated toward Ernie.

“What's it take to calm this guy down?” Frank asked his brother.

“Maybe he needs a nice trip,” Joe said. He circled Frank once to gather speed and set off on an interception course. Just as Ray was bearing down on Ernie, Joe casually stuck his skate-shod foot out, closed his eyes, and braced himself for impact.

Instead of getting the expected jolt, he felt himself showered in ice chips at the same moment he heard police sirens. He opened his eyes to find Ray stopped, inches away from his face. Behind him, in the distance, three police cars were disgorging cops, who foolishly came charging onto the ice.

Both Joe and Ray found it hard to keep from laughing as the officers slipped and slid toward them.

The first officer on the scene was the Hardys' friend Con Riley.

“We got a call about a disturbance,” Riley said as he surveyed the two groups.

“Tuttle thinks he owns the ice,” Ray shouted from the group of skaters, where he had retreated.

“These punks are going to get someone killed,” Ernie shouted back.

Then everyone else seemed to join in, shouting at once. Riley closed his eyes and shook his head. “One at a time,” he yelled above the noise.

Frank and Joe skated up on either side of Riley.

“Don't tell me you're involved in this?” Riley said in disbelief.

“We would have been if you hadn't shown up,” Frank said.

“So, tell me what's going on here, as if I didn't know.” Officer Riley took Frank and Joe aside while the other officers stood between the two groups.

“Apparently the lake isn't big enough for fishing
and
hockey,” Frank said.

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Riley said with a groan. “I've been out here at least a dozen times in the last three weeks.”

Frank and Joe looked puzzled. “You don't want to hear what we have to say?” Joe asked.

“Talk all you want,” Riley replied. “I just pulled you over here to wait for the chief to arrive. He told me to notify him the next time something like this happened and he'd come out himself. So, go ahead—talk if you want.”

“See,” Joe began, “the fishermen complain—”

“Hey,” Frank interrupted. “Do you know those two guys?” He nodded in the direction of Tuttle's Bait Shop.

Two young men had come out the door and were heading toward the crowd on the lake. Ernie quickly went to talk to them. One was blond, about six feet tall, the other had dark hair and was a few inches shorter. Frank guessed they were in their twenties. The eyes of the whole crowd were on them as Ernie pointed Ray out to the two young men.

“They're Ernie's grandsons,” Riley said. “Ernie introduced us. The tall one is Stu and the other is Neil. They come up from Maryland a few times a year to help with the shop.”

At that moment, Chief of Police Ezra Collig arrived, and Riley hurried across the ice to meet him halfway. When the two policemen reached the crowd, Riley silenced everyone with a sharp whistle.

Collig addressed the gathered Bayport citizens. “Since you're all here, I want to know if anyone can tell me anything about the robbery this morning at the Anderson place.”

Frank and Joe looked over the crowd to see if anyone would respond.

“I sure can,” Ernie called out.

“Don't get involved.” Stu tried to silence his grandfather.

“What do you have for me, Ernie?” Collig asked.

“I saw Ray Nelson snooping around there,” Ernie said.

Ray heard this and exploded. “I warned you, old man. You'll pay for this, I swear.” Ray was waving his hockey stick, and his face turned bright red.

“Now, take it easy, Ray,” Collig said.

Joe skated over to Ray.

“Take it easy?” Ray shouted in disbelief. “That old jerk's been out to get me and my dad for years. Are you going to listen to his lies?”

“I'm going to hear what he has to say,” Collig said. “When was this, Ernie?”

“All week, every night just about. And it wasn't the only place I saw him looking at, either,” Ernie added.

“Are you willing to come down to the station and make a formal statement?” Collig asked.

“Sure I am. I'm not scared of these punks,” Ernie said.

“Well, maybe you should be,” Ray said.

“Why don't you arrest that bum,” Ernie asked Collig.

Chief Collig rolled his eyes. “Ernie, it doesn't work that way. We'll get your statement and we'll get Ray to answer some questions.” Collig waved an officer over. “Bring him in for questioning.”

The officer made his way across the ice to Ray and his friends.

Ray turned to Joe. “Do something, Hardy. You know I'm no thief.”

“Ray, they're just going to ask you some questions,” Joe said.

The officer took Ray by the arm.

“C'mon, Joe. What about when I helped you find that kid who ran away, or when we caught Rob Dee stealing stuff from the gym lockers . . . ?”

“Ray, just don't make any trouble. I'll do what I can,” Joe said. He didn't think of Ray as a close friend, but despite Ray's tough attitude, he had helped out the Hardys on a few cases.

The officer led Ray over to the police cars.

“Okay, Ernie, you, too,” Collig said. “Do you need to close up shop before we go?”

“No, Stu and Neil can handle things,” Ernie said. He followed the chief across the ice.

Frank, who was standing next to Stu and Neil, reached out his hand. “Frank Hardy. You're Stu and Neil?”

Stu shot Frank an angry glare.

“Hi. I'm Neil Tuttle.”

Neil shook Frank's hand, but Stu just kept glaring.

“What was all that about seeing Ray checking out the places around here?” Frank asked.

“It's none of your business,” Stu said coldly. He turned and walked away. Neil looked unsure for a moment but then followed his brother.

Joe skated over to Frank. “Ray wants me to help him,” Joe said.

“Which side of this case are you working, Mr. Kwan's or Ray's?” Frank asked.

Chet had just skated over from Sarah Kwan's party. “Mr. Kwan was the one who called the police,” Chet said. “He thought you guys were in trouble.”

“We might have been in another few minutes,” Frank said.

“Mr. Kwan is freaked out. He made everyone come inside until the police got here,” Chet said.

“But we're a half mile away from the Kwans' house,” Joe pointed out.

“Yeah, I mentioned that, but he said, ‘Better safe than sorry,' ” Chet reported.

“We'll be back in a few minutes,” Frank said. “We just want to hang out awhile and see if we hear anything interesting.”

“You guys are on the case already?” Chet asked.

“Yeah, we're just choosing sides,” Frank said.

Chet looked confused. “What?”

“It's a joke,” Joe said.

“Sure, whatever, Hardy,” Chet said, shaking his head as he skated back to the party.

As the fishermen and the hockey players separated, Ray's friends Vinnie and John skated over to Stu and Neil, nearly hitting them with their hockey sticks, though making it look unintentional. Frank and Joe stayed close enough to hear their exchange.

“Keep an eye out for thin ice,” Stu said.

“You're going to be sorry you messed with us,” Vinnie snarled. Vinnie and John turned on the ice neatly and raced away.

“Ernie's grandsons sure have a way with people,” Frank said to Joe as they watched Neil and Stu go back to the bait shop.

“Must be a family thing,” Joe said, remembering Ernie swinging his ax at Ray. “And that makes me think I'd rather not meet Vinnie's and John's families.”

“You want to go check out the Anderson house?” Frank suggested.

“I didn't get any lunch. I'd rather stop at the Kwans' first and see if there's any food left,” Joe said.

Sarah, Iola, Callie, and the others were just coming back outside when Frank and Joe reached the far end of the lake. Mr. Kwan ran outside to get the last few burgers off the grill. They were little more than charcoal.

“Sorry, I got kind of sidetracked,” Mr. Kwan said as Frank and Joe reached the house. “Let me put fresh ones on for you.”

“Don't bother,” Frank said.

“Yeah,” Joe agreed. “Don't worry about it. We both like them well done.”

“Thanks for calling the police,” Frank said as Mr. Kwan brought them the overcooked burgers.

“Are you on the case?” Mr. Kwan asked.

“Just doing some legwork,” Frank said.

“We're going to make a quick stopover at the Anderson place,” Joe said as he wolfed down his burger. “Then I'm going down to the station to see how the questioning turns out.”

After finishing their lunch and thanking the Kwans, Frank and Joe went around front to get their van. They saw Phil diligently working on the snow scene. He and Chet had made a snowwoman, and now Phil was trying to make a satellite dish out of snow, twigs, and ice behind the snow television.

“Hey, Phil, don't forget there's a party inside,” Joe said as he got in the van.

“Life is not just a party. There must also be
satellite television,” Phil said emphatically without looking up from his work.

“Wouldn't it be easier just to give them cable?” Frank asked Joe as they pulled the van out of the Kwans' driveway.

“Oh, I get it,” Joe replied with a blank face. “Cable instead of a satellite dish. You're a real comedian, you know that, Frank?”

Frank answered with a jab to his brother's ribs.

The Anderson house was a large A-frame with a wall of windows facing the lake. A few police officers were there, still looking for clues, Frank figured. He and Joe looked around and found their friend Officer Riley.

“Do you have any leads yet?” Frank asked.

“If Ernie is telling the truth and not just venting his anger at the Nelsons, we may have already solved this one,” Riley said.

“What did Ray mean that Ernie had it in for him and his dad?” Joe asked.

“Ernie and Ray's dad used to be business partners,” Riley said. “The relationship didn't end well.”

Riley was obviously not going to elaborate, so Frank changed the subject.

“How many houses have been hit?” Frank asked.

“All told, nearly two dozen over the last three years,” Riley said.

“What's been stolen?” Frank hoped Riley wouldn't realize he was being grilled and clam up on them.

“Mostly silver and jewelry, watches, that kind of
thing,” Riley said. “And none of the usual fencing operations got any of it. We've checked all the way into the city.”

“You think they're stashing it, then,” Frank continued.

“Either that or traveling a good way before they sell it,” Riley said. “Do you think Ray is in on this?”

“I hope not,” Joe said. “He can be a world-class jerk, but he did help us out on some cases. Deep down, I think he's okay.”

“Let's hope so,” Riley said.

Frank and Joe thanked Riley and then took a look around the Andersons' yard. With the footprints of so many police officers in the snow, it was impossible to identify where the robber might have stepped.

“Let's walk back to Sarah's,” Joe said. “Maybe we'll see something new from that perspective.”

“You know,” Joe said after they'd gotten their footing on the smooth ice, “Ray couldn't have done it.”

“Why not?” Frank asked.

“Didn't Riley say this has been going on for the last three years?” Joe asked.

“Yeah,” Frank said.

“Ray went to live with his mother last year in Michigan,” Joe said.

“Good point,” Frank said. “Besides, do you think Ray would be stupid enough to antagonize everyone in the area and then rob their homes?”

“You'd think he'd keep a low profile,” Joe said.

“So if it isn't Ray, who is doing it?” Frank asked.

“I guess that's what we've got to find out,” Joe said.

When they returned to Sarah's house, they found everyone in the huge living room gathered around a roaring fire, drinking hot chocolate. Bundled up in the center of the crowd was Phil Cohen. Phil had been out working on the snow sculpture so long his fingers were nearly frozen.

“Who wants ice cream?” Mrs. Kwan asked as Frank and Joe came into the living room.

“I don't suppose you could serve it hot,” Phil said with a groan.

Mr. Kwan took Frank and Joe aside. “So, did you guys find out anything?” he asked.

“Nothing definite,” Joe said.

“The police are still looking for clues,” Frank said.

“Leave them alone, dear,” Mrs. Kwan said, handing them each bowls filled with chocolate, butter pecan, and mocha chip ice cream. “This is a party!”

But Joe wasn't about to let go of the investigation for the sake of a birthday party. Instead, he drew Mrs. Kwan into the discussion.

“What do you think about the break-ins, Mrs. Kwan? Have you seen anything?” Joe asked.

“Every time there's a robbery, the police ask us the same thing,” Mrs. Kwan said. “And every time, I give the same answer: we didn't hear or see any cars pass by.”

“And I don't think you could get a car by my house without me knowing about it,” Mr. Kwan
added. He put his ice cream down and put his arm around his wife's shoulder.

“Why is that?” Joe asked.

“Because the road is so near the house on the one side. We built too close, but it was either that or we would have had to blast out a boulder.”