Hammerley farm.â
Clay shook hands with the boys in a friendly fashion. âIf thereâs anything I can do to help you solve the weather vane mystery, please let me know,â he offered.
The young detectives promised to do so, then left the museum and returned to Juniper Field. From there they began the long trek back to the farm. Chet was puffing when they arrived. His face was red and his feet felt sore.
Mrs. Smith told the boys that the farmer was out in the pasture. She added that he had phoned the police about the stolen weather vane and the drugged cocoa. Two officers in a patrol car had arrived and searched the farm but left without finding any clue.
Noting that the boys were hot and tired, the housekeeper brought them a pitcher of lemonade and a plate of cookies. Gratefully the trio dug into the refreshments, when the phone rang. It was Fenton Hardy.
âWhat have you been doing since we talked?â Mr. Hardy asked. âAny developments in the weather vane case?â
Frank described the theft of the Flashing Arrow while the boys had been guarding the loft.
âThose crooks are clever,â Mr. Hardy noted. âHave you been able to trace the helicopter?â
Joe explained the discovery of the chopper at Juniper Field and the paper bearing the Hammerley hex sign along with the reference to Chesapeake Crossing.
âChesapeake Crossing!â Mr. Hardy exclaimed. âWhy, thatâs the place where Clifford Hunter was last seen!â
âHis sailboat has not been found?â Frank asked.
âNo. The navy has been watching not only Chesapeake Crossing, but the entire eastern coast very closely ever since he vanished, but he has not been sighted.â
âI take it the owner of the marina where he kept his boat has been questioned?â Frank suggested.
âYes. But he could shed no light on the matter. At first nobody thought anything about Hunterâs failing to return, because every now and then he made runs down Chesapeake Bay that lasted for a few days. Besides, they knew the weather was good, so there was no reason to fear he sank in a storm.â
âMaybe Hunter got stranded on an island in the bay,â Joe said.
âUnlikely,â Mr. Hardy replied. âHunterâs an expert sailor who knows every mile of the bay. Still, the navy sent out scouting planes to look for him. They didnât find a thing. Iâm on my way to Chesapeake Crossing now to investigate.â
âWeâre on our way there, too,â Frank revealed. âLetâs meet and compare notes.â
Their father chuckled. âNot so fast. Youâve got another assignment first. I want you to go to Washington. Iâve arranged a briefing for you at the Pentagon. Be sure youâve got your I.D. cards with you.â
âWhat do we do when we get there?â Joe questioned.
âAsk for Joseph Wickerson. Heâs the head of the navy department where Clifford Hunter worked. Heâll give you the details about the missing document. After the briefing, go on to Chesapeake Crossing. Weâll meet and see if we can crack the spy case. Maybe weâll get lucky and solve the weather vane mystery at the same time. Iâll be at the Sunset Motel.â
After a little more conversation, Fenton Hardy hung up. Frank and Joe started back to rejoin Chet. Through the kitchen door they spotted Mrs. Smith standing at the sink. She was holding a cocoa can in her hand.
Frank nudged Joe. âI heard Mr. Hammerley say heâs keeping the cocoa locked in the pantry so no one can spike it with knockout drops,â he said in an undertone.
âMrs. Smith must have a key to the pantry he doesnât know about,â Joe whispered. âLetâs watch her.â
Mrs. Smith turned away from the sink and walked out of the kitchen. The Hardys followed her upstairs, where she went into one of the bedrooms.
âThat must be Mr. Hammerleyâs room,â
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