Joe scowled. “Great until I got to Scottsdale's class,” he said. “I got there two whole minutes early and he asked me a question that had nothing to do with history or any subject for that matter and because he didn’t like my answer he assigned me an essay in addition to the homework he ended up giving.”

“Don’t take it to heart,” said Steve Fledge, a tall, lanky youth whose serious expression reminded Joe of Frank. “All of the teachers here are tough.”

“Amen to that,” seconded Ken Wingate, a boy with the same general build and characteristics as Joe. “I swear, the teachers are more like drill sergeants than teachers.”

“And the rules!” Steve added with a shake of his head. “Have you read them all yet?” he asked Joe who nodded his head glumly. “It’s like you can’t breathe without permission.”

“You know, you’re right,” Joe agreed thoughtfully. “I’ve got a few friends who go to boarding school in Europe and this place is nothing like they’ve mentioned. He looked at Steve and Ken. “Did you two beg to come here too?” he asked, tossing an unbelieving glance at Jeff.

“No way!” denied Ken as Steven shook his head. “My dad’s a marine and he said I needed to grow up and stop wasting my time. He thought this place was perfect.”

“Why are you here?” asked Joe of Steve. “Is your dad in the service too?”

“No,” Steve answered. “My dad owns a novelty shop in New York City. I kind of got involved with a gang and he blew his top and sent me here.”

“Hmm,” murmured Joe. “I wonder why the other kids are here?”

“Why do you want to know?” asked Ken curiously.

“Well, the four of us are a strange clientele,” Joe pointed out. “I always thought boarding schools were for the rich: not the offspring of marines, shop owners and detectives.”

“And crooks,” Jeff added wryly. Joe looked at him in surprise. “It’s okay,” Jeff told him. “I don’t keep secrets from my friends.”

“Want to ask around?” Joe asked in a conspiratorial whisper.

“You really do want to be a detective, don’t you?” asked Jeff.

Joe nodded. “And boarding school isn’t going to stop me.”

***

“Hey!” Phil greeted Frank as he hobbled into the building. “How’s the ankle?”

“Getting better,” Frank replied. “Listen, can you do me a big favor without letting anyone know?”

Phil looked hurt. “You know I can keep a secret.”

“I know,” returned Frank. “But that isn’t what I meant. I need the lowdown on the school Joe went to but you can’t leave any tracks.”

“None?” Phil asked with a worried frown. “Why? What’s going on?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure,” confessed Frank. “But the boarding school Joe went to isn’t a real boarding school.”

“Your dad know that?” asked Phil sharply. Frank nodded. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“McFadden is after Joe,” Frank said. “Some of his men broke into the house last night while we were sleeping and turned it upside down . If they did find anything about the school, I want to know how secure it is.”

“It won’t be easy,” Phil said. “Even for a hacker like me.” Frank just looked pleadingly at him with his big brown eyes that so resembled those of a puppy. “I’ll do my best,” Phil said with a sigh.

“Thanks, pal,” Frank said. “I appreciate it.”

“You better,” Phil growled before smiling. “What’s the name of the school?”

“I don’t know,” Frank admitted. “But I did get Dad to tell me that it was in southwestern Virginia.”

“Oh, boy,” Phil said softly. “Come on,” he said. “I’ll walk you to class.”

The day passed quickly but still, when the final bell sounded, Frank heaved a sigh of relief and hurried to his locker.

“For a man with a bum ankle you’re hard to catch up with,” laughed Callie coming up behind him.

“Sorry,” apologized Frank with a sheepish grin. “I’m just in a hurry to get home.”

“Why?” asked Callie.

“Someone broke in last night,” Frank informed her. He had skipped lunch choosing instead to get a start on his homework in the library, and so hadn’t seen her to tell her about the break-in. “I want to see if the police have come up with anything.”

“Need a lift?” she offered.

“No thanks,” Frank replied with a smile and a shake of his head. “Dad’s picking me up. But thanks,” he added, closing his locker.

“Anytime,” Callie said. “Call me later?”

“You bet,” he agreed. After a quick kiss, he made his way outside and down the sidewalk to where he saw his father’s car parked.

“How was school?” Fenton asked as he got out to help Frank into the vehicle.

“Long,” was Frank’s response. “Any word on the break-in?”

“No,” Fenton replied and shut Frank’s door. He returned to the driver’s seat. “We’ll just have to keep our guards up until the trial.”

“Does Joe have to testify?” asked Frank.

“Maybe,” Fenton admitted. “But his won’t be the main testimony,” he added.

“Then why is McFadden so set on finding Joe?” wondered Frank.

“Revenge for getting him to go to Morrison’s?” suggested Fenton with a slight shrug. “We have a tail,” he announced a few minutes later. “A gold Taurus.”

“I see it,” Frank acknowledged, looking out the side mirror. “He’s getting closer.”

“Figures,” said Fenton. “This patch of road is deserted,” he added, stepping on the gas. He hoped he could get to the main turn off before the Taurus got close enough to attack.

Fenton glanced in the rearview mirror and saw it gaining fast. “Dad!” Frank shouted, reaching over and jerking the wheel out of his hands.