Read Online Blood Relations by Franklin W. Dixon - Free Book Online Page B

danger."
    "That's right," said Joe. "We have to find these guys by ourselves."
    "What evidence do we have?" asked Dunn. He pointed at the microfilm canister on the coffee table in front of them. "Anybody check it out yet?"
    "I gave it a quick once-over," said Frank. "It's a record of a lot of checks in large amounts over the years. They're from some company called Intertool, with an address in Lichtenstein and a checking account in an off-shore bank in the Bahamas."
    "And who are they written to?" asked Greg. "Or can I guess?"
    "I'm sure you can," acknowledged Frank.
    "My dear stepfather, right?" Greg said, his mouth curling into a bitter sneer.
    "It's still so hard for me to believe," Linda Rawley said.
    "We have to face the facts," said Frank.
    "Anything else on that microfilm?" asked Joe.
    "A number—and the name and address of a bank in Zurich," said Frank.
    "A numbered Swiss account," said Dunn, nodding. "It figures. It's the logical place for Rawley to squirrel away his dough."
    "On our ski vacation in Switzerland last year, Walter did go off for a day to Zurich," Linda Rawley said, remembering. "He said it was business."
    "Yeah. Funny business," commented Greg. "We've got the noose around stepdaddy's neck now."
    "The question is, how do we pull it tight— without breaking an innocent neck," Frank said.
    They sat silently thinking. But before any of them could come up with an answer, the phone started ringing.
    "I'll get it," said Frank. "It could be Callie's parents. They're used to me waiting around the house for Callie, so they won't be suspicious."
    "Callie was right. You do cover all the angles," said Linda Rawley as Frank reached for the phone.
    "She really say that?" said Frank, ignoring the ringing for a second.
    "She really admires you," Linda Rawley assured him. "She talked about nothing but you while we were here."
    Beaming, Frank picked up the phone and said hello. But his face fell instantly when he heard who was on the other end. He identified himself to the caller, then silently listened for a long time. Finally he said in a clipped voice, "Yeah, I hear you," and hung up.
    He didn't have to tell the others who had called. They knew from the look on his face.
    "The kidnappers want the microfilm fast—or else we get Callie back fast, in a box," he announced grimly. "They also say we shouldn't even think of making a copy of the film, since they're going to be watching us all the time. Personally, I think they're bluffing about that — but I'm not sure enough to risk Callie's life." He paused to see if the others agreed. They nodded. Then he added, "One more thing. They said they don't care what we tell the police about Clark. Seems they've done a real thorough houseclean-ing job. There's not a trace of the crime left — no corpse, not even a fingerprint."
    "They don't miss a trick," said Dunn, shaking his head.
    "So what," Joe said with a hint of anger in his voice. "Frank and I are pros. And we've been up against some of the best. These guys will make a mistake somewhere along the line. And when they do, we'll jump on it with both feet."
    Frank, thinking of Callie, said, "I hope you're right."
    So do I, Joe thought silently. But out loud he said, "Like I keep telling you, Frank, you've got to have faith."
    At two A. M. Joe was still waiting for the kidnappers to make their first mistake.
    He was standing hidden behind a stairway at one end of the platform inside a deserted subway station in the farthest reaches of Brooklyn.
    At the other end of the platform Frank was hiding beneath an identical stairway.
    Dunn was at the center of the platform with a briefcase containing the microfilm canister.
    Their orders had been simple. Frank was supposed to show up with the microfilm and stand in the center of the platform. There the exchange would take place: the microfilm would be traded for Callie. After that, they were to forget all that had happened. This was to assure Callie's future safety. There would be