Later, the entire Holmes family watched the local news while eating dinner.  Detective Tremain was being interviewed about the police's fruitless search at the hotel.  "I'm afraid that there was no sign of the Hardy girl or her abductors at the hotel," Detective Tremain reported.  "Our anonymous source was either mistaken or playing a practical joke."

 Practical joke? Shirley thought.  She did not understand how the police could have found nothing.  She gave the right hotel and room number.
 "Have there been any other leads on the whereabouts of Molly Hardy?" the female reporter asked.

 "I'm afraid there haven't been any," Detective Tremain answered regretfully.  "That doesn't mean we're giving up," he added with determination.  "The Redington police force will not rest until we find Molly Hardy."

 "Who would be so evil as to kidnap a young girl?" Dr. Joanna Holmes, Shirley's mother, asked.

 "Apparently, it's a bunch of radical environmentalists upset at Mr. Hardy's oil drilling operation," Robert Holmes, Shirley's father, replied.

 "I'm amazed that the parents haven't come back immediately from New York," Peggy Holmes, Shirley's grandmother, said.

 "There seems to be some computer problems with all the major airlines in the area," Mr. Holmes said, sitting some water.  "It's impossible for people to schedule flights."

  "Shirley, do you know Molly Hardy?" Dr. Holmes asked.

 "Huh?"  Shirley had been trying to figure out what was going on.  "Oh, yeah, Mom.  I know her."

"Was Molly one of your friends?" Dr. Holmes asked.

 "Actually, we weren't the best of friends, Mom."
"I see," Dr. Holmes said.

 Actually, we're pretty much the worst of enemies, Shirley thought.  As the rest of her family talked about Molly's kidnapping, Shirley continued trying to figure out what was going on.
 

 "I take it you saw the news last night?" Bo asked Shirley during lunch the next day.
 Shirley nodded and picked through her lunch.  "I don't understand it. Molly should have been there."

 "I think she learned from last time," Bo pointed out.  "You know, she could have put us on the wrong trail."

 "Maybe we missed something in Molly's room," Blake said.

 Shirley thought for a moment.  "You could be right, Blake.  We have to search Molly's room again."

 Bo groaned.  "Great, we have to break into her room again.  I thought I came to Sussex Academy to stay out of trouble."

 Blake grinned.  "You can't get into trouble if you don't get caught."

 Bart walked up to Shirley's table.  "Well, the Science Club's been granted a temporary reprieve."
"Why's that, Bart?" Bo asked.

 "The TSAC delayed its review of the school budget because of Molly's kidnapping," Bart replied.  "I guess they're hoping she'll be found soon."

 Shirley spotted Stink at a nearby table.  He was alone and staring blankly at his lunch tray.  "I see that Stink's taking this whole thing hard."
 "Definitely," Bart said, looking at Stink.  "He hasn't exactly been his usual jovial self.  All he does now is mope."

 Blake looked at Stink.  "Poor guy."

 "We'd better do something fast," Shirley said urgently.
 

 Once again, Shirley and her friends found themselves in Molly's room after school.  "Here we go again," Bo said, rolling his eyes.
 They all put on plastic gloves provided by Shirley.  Shirley was about to tell Bo and Blake to search the room when she spotted a new fax in the fax machine.
She snatched it up and read it to herself.  Bo and Blake noticed the shocked look on her face when she was done.
 "What is it?" Bo asked Shirley.

 "It's a message from the Harland Acting Agency.  It came in a while ago."  Shirley read aloud the fax.
"'Dear Y, we are unable to comply with your request for three actors at this time.  We apologize for any inconvenience.'"

 The following silence was finally broken by Bo.  "Wait a minute.  You mean Molly's actually been kidnapped?"

 "It looks like it," Shirley said.  She folded the fax and put it in her blazer pocket.

 "Seems that things didn't go according to plan for Molly," Blake stated.

 "Let's get out of here," Shirley said, heading for the closet and the secret entrance.
 

 Later, Shirley pondered the problem in the attic.  Watson, her pet basset hound, was the only company she had.  Bo had to help out at the Sawchuk Fish Store and Blake had gone home.

 "So, Watson, who do you think kidnapped Molly?" Shirley asked her pet, who was lying on the ground.  Watson responded with a little whine.
 "Same thing I've got, Watson," Shirley said with a sigh.  She was genuinely stumped.  Who would have the motive, the means, and the opportunity to kidnap Molly? she thought.  The last time Shirley checked, the police were also stuck.  Molly may not be one of my favorite people, but if I don't figure this out...

 Shirley cut the thought short.  She really did not need on her mind the possible unpleasant conclusion to the matter.
 Shirley's thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of her cellular phone.  She picked it up and answered it.  "Hello?"

 "Shirley, it's me, Blake," the voice on the other line said urgently.

 "What's wrong?" Shirley asked.

 "You'd better turn on the TV and set it to any channel," Blake instructed.  "My dad insists that you do.  He thinks you might be interested."
 Shirley thanked Blake and hung up.  She switched on the attic TV.  She saw a live news conference in front of the police station.  A large group of reporters was present.  Detective Tremain stood before it with another man in a suit.  The other man looked like an older version of Blake with dark hair. Shirley recognized the other man.  "Inspector Hewitt."

 "What's this all about, Detective Tremain?"

 "Yeah.  Why did you call all of us here?"

 Detective Tremain cleared his throat.  "It seems that the ransom note we received was either a fake or designed to hide the true identity of the kidnappers."

"What makes you think that?"

 Inspector Hewitt answered the question.  "Because we received a message via fax machine from the kidnappers about a half-hour ago."  He waved a piece of paper in the air.

"What does it say?"

 Inspector Hewitt read the note to the press.  "'A red circle representing a right in exchange for a golden child.  Contact BIG FIRE for more information.'"

 Shirley's eyes were wide open.  "It's some sort of riddle, Watson."
At that moment, she realized who had kidnapped Molly.

"What does it mean?"

 "Well, we know that 'golden child' refers to Molly Hardy, but we're still trying to figure out the rest," Inspector Hewitt revealed.

 "Do you have a positive ID on who kidnapped the Hardy girl?"

 "We have," Inspector Hewitt answered confidently.  "The kidnappers belong to the worldwide criminal organization known as..." Shirley knew the answer.  She said it in unison with Inspector Hewitt in a low voice.  "ENIGMA."

END OF PART FOUR
 

More Fanfics