Joe’s blue eyes skimmed the list. There were five names on them.

"The first one…Janet Coulter, from Big Mesa High. 18 year-old, straight-A student, disappeared last Thursday night on the way back from school." Under that was her address and telephone number. Frank went to the next name on the list.

"The next one is Trevor Dalton, also from Big Mesa High. Hmm, I wonder if there’s any connection to the first one…"

"Trevor Dalton? I’ve heard that name," Joe said, trying to remember. "Oh yeah. My friend Roy from BM told me he’s bound to be the class valedictorian." His forehead wrinkled. "Frank, don’t you think it’s strange? All these kids who disappeared are either straight-A students or pure geniuses. Look at the third one. Valerie Houston. Ring a bell?"

"Isn’t she the one who won the Whiz Quiz on TV a few months back?" Frank realized with a start. Joe was right. Whoever was behind this had definitely targeted the brainiacs. Frank couldn’t help wondering why, feeling slightly uneasy.

"Yep. Hmm, that’s a good start. All the brainiacs in Bayport better start congregating fast. I’m sure that will lead us to the culprit," Joe said casually. Gee, even kidnappers go for smart kids now, he thought sarcastically.

"I’m sure it’s just a coincidence," Frank said uneasily.

"I wonder what the police is doing," Joe said, changing the subject. "Three days have past without so much of a clue as to where these kids might be. Or whether they’re still alive or dead."

Frank’s phone suddenly rang. It was their father. "Right on cue, Joe," Frank laughed.

"Hey, Dad." Joe watched as his brother listened to what their father was saying.

"Yeah, Joe’s here…What?" Frank’s mouth hung open.

"When?" Frank’s face went hard, his eyes serious.

"OK, Dad. I’ll be careful." Frank hung up, a shocked expression on his face.

"What is it?" Joe asked, curious.

"They found the bodies."

Frank drove them home from the police station in silence, each of them deep in his own thoughts. His mind was racing, shock and disbelief still fighting dominantly with each other to conquer his senses. When Con showed them the reports and the gruesome crime scene pictures, it took him a lot of effort to keep from throwing up.

Joe sat next to him, his face pale. He too had been shocked by the horrifying discovery.

"How could someone do something like that?" He wondered aghast to himself. All five of them were found dead in various hotels around Bayport and New York City, brutally murdered. And all evidence showed that they had been slowly tortured to death, some found with missing body parts and some with their insides turned outside. Though Joe was not exactly a stranger to heinous crimes and brutal murders that came with the job, the sight of those mutilated, bloodied corpses of what once was living, breathing, human beings turned his stomach.

"I want you kids to stay out of this." Joe could remember what Chief Collig said. Though the police chief had always been reluctant to admit that their constant interference with police business proved to be of value, Joe had never seen him that serious before. He had warned them about the murderer who was still running loose and their safety should come first.

When Frank told him about their theory of the serial killer pursuing clever, smart students, the police chief told them that they had checked into the matter and were in the process of drawing up a list of suspects. But he wouldn’t tell the brothers anything when they pressed him for more information.

"What you kids are doing is very dangerous. You should leave this to the police," he had said. Joe could understand his concerns. But he knew what the police was trying to hide; the fact that they still had no idea who could be behind these barbaric acts of crime. No suspect, no witness, no fingerprints, no murder weapons, nothing. It was the work of a professional.

Frank’s mind was also racing. But truth be told, he was more concerned about what his father had said in the phone rather than what Chief Collig had said. He stole a glance at his younger brother, who was staring blankly out the window. Joe still didn’t know about it and Frank didn’t know whether to tell him or not.

"I want you to be careful, Frank. He might be coming after you, son." His father’s words had been ringing and echoing over and over again in his head. For the first time in his life, Frank was afraid. He was terribly afraid. There had been too many deaths already and if he were to be the next victim- A lump rose in his throat at the thought. He gave himself a mental shake. Don’t be ridiculous, Frank. That’s not going to happen.

"And you did not see anything or anyone suspicious?" Frank asked. The Hardys had gone to Trademark Hotel, where the first body, the body of Valerie Houston had been found and fortunately, the hotel guest who was staying in the room next to the one Valerie was found was still there. Though still terribly shaken, the 25 year-old university student who was in town to visit some friends was more than willing to answer their questions.

She shook her head. "I didn’t see anyone coming in or out of that room. I was gone the whole time, sometimes for the whole day, returning to my room late at night. The next morning the police came and when I saw the body-" Jessica Hooper shuddered. "It was terrible."

"So Jessica, you didn’t see or HEAR anything the night before?" Joe asked. She must have heard something, a scream, a cry… Jessica put down her cup of coffee, her brows furrowed deep in thought.

"I-" Jessica hesitated. "I’m not sure whether I was dreaming or not, or maybe it was just my imagination, but I thought I could hear someone singing. Oh well, it’s probably nothing important-"

"No." Frank shook his head. He’d learnt from past experience that in any investigation, even the slightest, minor detail could in the end be the most important. "That could be as good a clue as anything. What did you hear exactly, Jessica?"

"Or it could be the radio, I’m not sure. But I could have sworn I heard someone singing that old song about- something about ribbons around a tree- I can’t remember the name of the song, but my mom loved that song…" Jessica began humming a tune. Joe recognized the tune instantly.

" ‘Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree’," Joe guessed.

"Yes, that’s it," Jessica said excitedly. "Boy it was so loud if I wasn’t half-dead in bed, I would have gone and knocked on the door or called the hotel management or something." Then her face clouded over. "Or maybe if I had, that girl would still be alive."

"Hey," Frank said, touching her hand gently. "It wasn’t your fault. Nobody could have guessed that something like this would happen."

Joe’s mind was racing. "Frank, what name did the murderer go under for the hotel rooms?" When the police found the body, they ran a check through every hotel in and out of town with the name the killer had registered under at Trademark, and that had led to the rest of the four bodies.

Frank answered instantly. "T. Orlando."

Joe immediately turned to Jessica, his face grave. "Jessica, thank you so much for your help. This is the first real lead we’ve had so far."

Frank stared at his brother in confusion. "Yeah?"

"The yellow ribbon song? It was sung by a singer named Tony Orlando."

"Joe?"

"Hey. Vanessa." Joe forced himself to smile. Vanessa had been so distant these past few days he was beginning to wonder if there was something going on between her and Craig. She had spent more time with the new guy in one day than with him in one week. He had tried calling her day and night but every time he did, he got a busy connection and every other time he got through, Mrs. Bender would tell him that Vanessa was either out or busy. Somehow Joe knew why Vanessa was avoiding him.

"Craig had just asked me to go with him to the convention center downtown," Vanessa began hesitantly. "Thought we might check out the new technology trade show featuring the latest in software, hardware and robotics. Uh, do you mind if –"

"No, I don’t. Why should I? You can go if you want," Joe answered curtly, turning sideways. He could feel his face burning up with rage and jealousy. His girlfriend was undoubtedly a whiz with computers, and he knew for a fact that that was something he wasn’t.

"Joe-" Vanessa could sense how mad Joe was.

"Look Vanessa, all you’ve talked about these past few days is Craig, Craig and Craig. How clever he is, how smart he is- and now I’m telling you this, Vanessa, I am sick of it, do you hear me? SICK of it all. Why don’t you just go to him? What do you need my permission for?" His words were harsh and bitter but Joe didn’t care. "I know why you’ve been avoiding me these past few days. You’re ashamed to be seen with me, aren’t you? I am not a genius like Craig is. Hell I couldn’t even solve a simple calculation-"

"Until you met her," Vanessa interrupted, her eyes flashing angrily. Joe’s body jerked as if startled. Vanessa smiled bitterly.

"You think I don’t know, Joe? Oh I know all about your secret study dates, I know that she looked a lot like Iola-that’s the real problem isn’t it, Joe? You’re the one sneaking behind my back, thinking I didn’t know-" Vanessa choked on her words. She was too angry.

"The problem is not about you who can’t compare to Craig! It’s ME who can’t compare to HER!" Vanessa said furiously. Joe swallowed hard, saying nothing, staring at anything but Vanessa. She had accepted the fact long ago that Joe had been hurt before, and God knew she’d been trying her damnedest to mend his broken heart after Iola died. But sometimes she felt as if Joe didn’t WANT to let go. She’d seen the way Joe stared at Tessa the first day the Swedes came to school. And the way he had stared at her ever since.

"But at least I’m not hiding anything from you. In fact I am even telling you now that I am planning to go out with Craig. After all it is for educational purposes," Vanessa continued sarcastically. With that, she threw him a disgusted look and stalked off, leaving Joe standing at his locker.

I spy, he thought with a leering smile. Oops. Pressing himself flat against the tree, he held his breath. Did he see me?

Guess not, he thought a while later when he heard the sound of engine roaring away. I’m going to get you. I’m going to get you tonight.

How he hated smart people. Intelligence never did anything but to boost one’s own ego, intelligence never accomplished anything but to make one a slave to one’s own pride, intelligence never gave people like him a second glance.

But that would change tonight, he would make sure of it. Oh yes, it will, he thought gleefully. I’m going to make you scream, I’m going to make you beg, and I’m going to make you suffer. Like my father did at the hands of smart, intelligent people like you. Oh, how I’d love to break you to pieces.

Soon. Tonight. You will be mine. And he whistled a familiar tune as he walked down the lane, away from the Hardys’ residence.