As Joe turned the van into the school parking lot he quickly glanced over at his brother. Frank sat up straighter as he stared at the flashing lights from the police cruisers. Finding a parking space, the brothers almost leaped out of the van as they ran towards the front of the school. Several students were standing outside as Joe and Frank made their way up front. Frank spotted Tony and motioned to Joe to follow him.

“Hey Tony – what’s going on?” Frank asked once they reached his side.

“All I know is some teacher took a header down the stairs. Don’t ask me who, ‘cause I’ve gotten conflicting answers,” Tony replied.

“Look, there’s Phil! Let’s go ask him – he always gets here early!” Joe pointed out their bespectacled friend who was standing next to Lydia.

The three teens made their way over, bumping into Chet and Biff along the way. When they finally reached Phil, Callie and Vanessa were also there.

“Morning Callie – do you know what happened?” asked Biff.

“No, Vanessa and I just got here a few minutes ago. I was just about to ask Phil if he knew anything.”

“I know as much as you do,” said Phil with a shrug.

Suddenly the school doors opened. Two police officers began moving the students back as the paramedics wheeled out the gurney. The students silently watched as the covered body was put inside the ambulance. Frank nudged his brother when Con Riley walked out behind the paramedics.

“We’ll be right back,” said Frank as he and Joe started to push forward.

“Where are they going?” Lydia asked Phil.

“They’re going to speak to that police officer, Con Riley. He’s a friend of theirs – hopefully he’ll give Frank some information.”

Frank and Joe made it up to the front of the crowd and had just ducked under the police tape when a burly officer stopped them.

“Hold on there boys – nobody is allowed pass that tape!” growled the officer.

“That’s all right Officer Simmons – you can let them pass.”

Officer Simmons was reluctant to let Frank and Joe go by until Con told him to let them come up. Frank practically had to push Joe forward as it seemed he wanted give the policeman a few choice words. As they walked over to Con, the brothers noticed the principal standing on the top of the steps.

Principal Hayden was a petite woman with light brown hair and eyes. Her stature was small but she had a commanding presence. She was strict but fair and had the respect of the student body. She held a bullhorn in her hand.

“Attention students….Attention! Due to an unfortunate…accident – there will be no school today.” Principal Hayden waited for the noise to die down before she continued: “Before you leave, please come into the office. I have a note that your parents must read. I will be in my office for the next four hours; if any parent has any questions I will be here to answer them. Please form a line starting here to receive your note. Thank you.”

Moving aside to let the students in, Principal Hayden joined Con Riley and the Hardy brothers.

“Frank, Joe, would you please come into my office so that we may speak privately? You too, Lieutenant Riley.”

“What would the principal want with Frank and Joe?” asked Lydia.

“Looks like Frank and Joe have got themselves a mystery!” Tony grinned at his friends.

Noting the puzzled expression on Lydia’s face, Callie thought she should explain. “Frank and Joe are amateur detectives.”

“They’ve helped Mr. Hardy solve a few cases and have solved some on their own!” Vanessa said with pride.

Lydia didn’t make any comments but just stared at Frank and Joe as they followed Con inside the school.

*****

Laura Hardy was surprised to hear Frank and Joe walk into the house. They had only left two hours before, for school. Joe had been sniffling; Laura hoped he hadn’t gotten sick.

“What are you boys doing back so early from school?” asked Aunt Gertrude who was coming down the stairs.

“Is Dad in his office?” Frank asked instead of answering his aunt’s question.

Laura came out of the kitchen and headed straight for Joe. She placed her hand on his forehead. “What happened – are you feeling ill, Joe?”

“I’m fine, Mom!” He glanced over at Frank.

“Maybe you should join us in Dad’s office – that’s if he’s in there?” said Frank, a questioning expression on his face.

“He’s in there. They have another mystery – I just know it!” declared Aunt Gertrude, who followed the threesome into Fenton’s office.

Fenton was typing into his computer, finishing up a report on his last case. He was waiting for Laura to bring him a fresh cup of coffee, and was surprised to see his whole family walk in.

“Frank…Joe…shouldn’t you two be in school?”

Letting their mother and aunt take the two chairs, the brothers stood behind them.

“There was an...accident at the school. A teacher was found at the bottom of the stairs in the old part of the building. Her neck was broken from the fall,” Frank explained.

“Why do I get the feeling you don’t think this was an accident?” asked Fenton as he leaned back in his chair.

“Principal Hayden asked us to look into it. Seems the principal got a call from Mrs. Tanner the other night. They were going to meet this morning but Ms. Hayden was running late,” Joe started to explain, looking over at Frank.

“Ms. Hayden isn’t sure but she thought it might be about a student,” continued Frank.

“How long has Mrs. Tanner been teaching at Bayport High?” Fenton took out a pad and pen.

“Principal Hayden said that she started as a substitute teacher during the last six months of the school year in 2005. She then did some summer classes when the school needed to hire a new English teacher. She’s only been full time at Bayport High for a year.” Frank turned to Joe for confirmation. Looking down at his notes, Joe gave his brother an affirmative nod.

“And as far as we know,” continued Joe, “all of the students liked her…even the troublemakers! I was telling Frank that I think she might have worked as a teen counselor or something because she was really good at handling them.”

“Yeah…take Ryan Jacobs for example. He got held back due to bad grades—”

“Among other things,” said Joe under his breath.

“Chet has him in his English class and he told me that Ryan is the best student in that class.”

“If she was so well liked, why would Principal Hayden think foul play was involved?” asked Laura.

“Because of the janitor, Mr. Jered. He saw a student walking in the hallway but he didn’t recognize who it was. A few minutes after that he heard a scream and found Mrs. Tanner at the bottom of the stairs.” Frank raked his hand through his hair, a worried expression on his face.

“What’s wrong Frank?” asked Fenton.

Joe glanced at his brother. “He…we…Mr. Jered has been the janitor for over twenty years. He knows every student there. Frank and I…we can think of only one person he wouldn’t know.”

Fenton, Laura and Aunt Gertrude waited patiently for the boys to name their suspect. When Frank did they immediately grew concerned.

“Lydia Barlow…Phil’s girlfriend. She’s new to the school so…”

“It’s safe to assume that Mr. Jered wouldn’t know her,” Fenton sighed.

“Do you think she had anything to do with this?” asked Aunt Gertrude.

“No but she could have seen who did kill Mrs. Tanner,” replied Joe. “Which would put her in danger!”

“I’m going to go call Phil; maybe Lydia told him something this morning.” Frank left the room to make his call.

Aunt Gertrude got up to go prepare lunch, Joe went to his room to finish up some homework that he had intended to do in study hall. Her concern for Joe had caused Laura to forget Fenton’s coffee, with an apologetic smile she left to get it; while Fenton went back to his report.

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Disclaimer

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The Hardy Boys Fan Fiction authors of the Hardy Detective Agency have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.