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them.”
    â€œCome on,” Debbie said. “We’ll use my car.”
    â€œNo,” Steve said. “We’ll use my car.”
    â€œWe’ll use our van,” Frank said. “I don’t like the idea of you guys following Ted Whalen through the streets of Bayport on your own.”
    The Hardys, Steve, and Debbie slipped into the parking lot as Ted Whalen’s limousine turned onto the street. As Frank opened the door of the Hardy van and climbed into the driver’s seat, the other three simultaneously went to open the passenger door.
    â€œHey,” Frank said, settling down behind the steering wheel. “There isn’t room up front for four people.”
    â€œI’ll share the seat with Joe,” Debbie said, as she climbed into the van and perched herself on the inside edge of the seat. “There’s room for both of us.”
    â€œLook, Debbie,” Joe said with a sigh, “you can have the whole seat, okay? I’ll ride in the back with Steve.”
    When his three passengers were settled, Frank pulled out of the parking lot and bolted in the direction Ted Whalen’s limousine had vanished. As Frank steered the van, he spotted the limo at the next traffic light. A moment later the light turned green, and Whalen’s chauffeur stepped on the gas. Frank did the same.
    â€œMaybe he’ll lead us to Clarence,” Debbie said. “I’ll bet that’s where they’re heading now.”
    â€œNah,” Steve said. “Clarence is probably back at the TV station. Whalen will lead us to the rest of the gang that kidnapped Clarence.”
    Joe stared at Steve. “Gang? What gang?”
    â€œYou don’t think Ted Whalen is in this alone, do you?” Steve asked.
    â€œI don’t know if Ted Whalen is in this at all,” Joe retorted. “So far, nothing that he’s done proves he’s behind Clarence’s disappearance.”
    â€œIf Whalen doesn’t have a gang,” Steve said, “who trapped us in the basement and tried to kill us?”
    â€œWe don’t know if Whalen is behind it in the first place,” Joe reminded him.
    Steve continued as if he hadn’t heard Joe. “Guys like Whalen don’t like to get their hands dirty. That’s what he’s got those thugs for. I bet they’re the ones who bopped me and Debbie over the head.”
    Whalen’s car veered onto a side street. As the limo turned at an angle to the Hardy’s van, Frank saw the tall man in the backseat roll down his window and look out at them.
    â€œOh, no,” Frank said, following the limousine onto the tree-lined street. “They’ve spotted us.”
    â€œAnd they’ve got guns!” Debbie cried. “They’ll probably start shooting at us.”
    â€œIn broad daylight, in the middle of a residential neighborhood?” Joe asked. “From a clearly marked car belonging to a prominent local businessman? Get real!”
    â€œThese are desperate characters,” Steve said seriously. “You never know what they’ll do.”
    â€œTrue,” Frank joked. “After that scene with Whalen this morning, he’s probably given his men orders to shoot you and Debbie on sight.”
    Suddenly the limousine accelerated and pulled rapidly away from the Hardy van.
    â€œSpeed up,” Steve said. “You can’t let them get away.”
    â€œHaven’t you ever heard of speed limits?” Frank asked. “It’s dangerous, not to mention illegal, to drive fast through a neighborhood like this. People live around here.”
    â€œNobody told that to Whalen’s driver,” Steve pointed out. “He just floored the accelerator.”
    â€œThey’re getting away!” Debbie cried.
    Far ahead, the limousine turned onto a side street and vanished from sight.
    â€œThey’re gone,” Steve said. “What do we do now?”
    â€œKeep looking for