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investigations to be unnecessary and sometimes obstructive.
    "Mr. Addison has hired me to look into it," answered Fenton, "and I've been going on the assumption that he is innocent. The fact that he hired me gives some weight to my presumption."
    "Yes, I could see that it might appear that way," said Collig. "But it looks like you backed the wrong horse this time, Mr. Hardy. He'll be formally charged in the morning."
    "This is - of all the thick-headed - how dare you even think such a thing?" Andrea Stuart sputtered.
    Chief Collig looked at her coldly. "And you are - "
    "This is Andrea Stuart, Jim Addison's personal manager," Frank said.
    "How do you do?" said Collig. "We make arrests only if we're very sure of ourselves."
    "On what grounds, Chief?" asked Fenton. "I assume you've got hard evidence."
    Collig nodded, trying not to show his pleasure in having solved the case so quickly. "Earlier this evening we turned up an eyewitness who saw a very nasty argument between Mr. Fairburn and Mr. Addison - "
    Andrea Stuart erupted again. "Why, that's ridiculous! Who is this - this - eyewitness anyway?"
    But Chief Collig shook his head. "We don't reveal the names of witnesses, ma'am."
    "Some jealous stagehand, I'm sure," she said, pacing again. "Of course Jim and Fairburn argued. But that's no reason to charge Jim with murder. You're just trying to get publicity using Jim because he's a star."
    Collig's face turned pale. "I've got a solid case here. I don't care about publicity, and you'd better watch yourself."
    Frank tried to catch her eye. "Andrea, you're not helping your - "
    But she wasn't listening. "Our lawyers will be here in the morning," she said, glaring at Chief Collig. "And you'll be lucky to still wear a badge once we've finished with you and your two-bit department."
    Collig's lips were pressed together in a thin line. "It's a very good idea to have a lawyer here," he said to Andrea. "Make it a good criminal lawyer. Because our witness - not a stagehand, by the way, but a respected citizen of Bayport - heard Addison and Fairburn arguing only two hours before the body was found."
    "But - "
    "He was only twenty yards away, and recognized them both," Collig went on. "What's more, he heard Addison say that Fairburn had a bullet coming to him, and that he'd be pleased to deliver it personally. We got the right man, Ms. Stuart. As far as I'm concerned, this case is airtight. Jim Addison murdered Bennett Fairburn."

Chapter 7
    If the witness stood up, the case against Addison looked pretty solid. Fenton Hardy had a short private conversation with the chief and came out of his office shaking his head.
    "I tried to get Collig to release Jim to me," he said. "I argued that Jim wouldn't run because it would amount to an admission of guilt and because he's too well-known to stay hidden for long. Collig wouldn't buy it."
    Andrea Stuart's jaw was clenched. "I'm calling J. F. Graham right now to demand that he use his influence to get Jim out of there."
    "Even Graham might not be able to do much," Frank said.
    "We'll see about that!" she snapped. "Where's a phone?"
    "There's a pay phone through that doorway," Joe replied, "but - " He stopped. She was gone.
    She returned wearing a satisfied grin. "J. F. is on his way here right now," she said.
    "In that case, we'd better go," said Frank.
    "Go?" she asked. "Why?"
    "He shouldn't see us here," replied Joe. "As far as he knows, we're just a couple of kids with an interest in TV production."
    ***
    The Hardys were back home and Frank and Joe ready for bed when the doorbell rang. Frank opened the door and admitted a tired, pale Jim Addison, along with Andrea Stuart, J. F. Graham, and the tall, thin man who always seemed to stick close to Graham.
    "Jim, are you all right?" asked Fenton.
    "I guess so," the actor answered. "But being locked up gets to you. J. F., here, told the chief he'd vouch for my sticking around."
    Graham stepped forward. "Mr. Hardy, I want to tell you how pleased I am that