During lunch period on Monday, Joe sat with Vanessa, Chet and Biff at their usual table. While it had been a quiet morning of classes, talk still circled around the bleachers collapsing at Friday night’s game.  

“It was just so surprising,” Biff said. “Those bleachers aren’t supposed to collapse.”  

“At least there were no serious injuries,” Vanessa said. “From the news reports, it seems as if most people only had cuts and bruises. It could have been a whole lot worse.”  

“That’s true,” Joe said. “But it shouldn’t have happened n the first place.”  

“Do you know something?” Chet asked quietly.  

Joe shook his head. “No, I don’t. Frank and I really aren’t trying to get involved in anything right now. Frank’s going to have that cast on for at least six more weeks. Getting a case would be bad timing.”  

“Hopefully one won’t fall in your laps,” Vanessa said. She reached over and squeezed Joe’s arm. “Besides, the homecoming dance is in a couple weeks and I’m looking forward to going with you.”  

“Well, as of right now, I plan to go with you,” Joe said.  

“I can’t believe the homecoming committee decided on a fairy tale theme event,” Biff said.  

“I think the entire committee is made up of girls and this was what was chosen,” Chet said. “This theme is really bad.”  

“What would you have suggested?” Vanessa asked.  

“I don’t know,” Chet said. “But it shouldn’t be this.”  

“Well, it’s too late now to change it,” Vanessa said. “We’ll just have to deal with the theme.”  

“So, are we setting up anything to do this weekend as a group?” Biff asked.  

“Any ideas?” Joe asked. “I mean, we know Friday is out because of the game against Porter, but we’re pretty much open for Saturday and Sunday, right?”  

“I think so,” Biff said. “I know I don’t have anything planned.”  

“I don’t have anything either,” Chet said.  

“Joe, why don’t you check with Frank and see if there’s something he wants to do?” Vanessa suggested.  

“He might be busy,” Joe said slowly.  

Vanessa, Biff and Chet looked at Joe. Vanessa spoke first. “Why would Frank be busy? College professors can’t be giving that much homework.”  

“I don’t know,” Joe said. “He just may have plans that he doesn’t want to change.”  

“I get the feeling you’re not telling us something,” Biff said.  

“It’s nothing,” Joe said.  

“It’s definitely something,” Vanessa said, turning to face her boyfriend. “Now, come on and spill what you know.”  

Joe groaned inwardly as he looked at his friends’ faces. He knew he should have kept quiet. But he had spoken without thinking again, and he now had to explain what he meant. He didn’t know what he was going to say.  

Just as Joe was about to speak, the doors to the cafeteria slammed shut. Everyone turned and saw Assistant Principal Alex Martin standing by the closed doors. The look on his face didn’t sit well with Joe.  

As silence settled on the room, Joe heard a banging sound in the hallway. The sound left an uneasy feeling inside him.  

“What’s going on, Mr. Martin?” A voice asked from the other side of the cafeteria.  

“Everyone needs to stay put. I will explain everything in due time.”  

Joe glanced as the side door of the cafeteria, where a teacher was now standing by it. He saw an officer pass by the window, with his gun drawn. Something bad was going down and Joe didn’t like it.  

* * * * *  

Frank entered his English literature classroom and slid into his usual seat. He pulled out a notebook and pen, and got ready for the lecture. A moment later, Caren slid into the seat beside him.  

“Hey,” Caren said.  

“Hey yourself,” Frank said. “How was your weekend?”  

“It was good. How about yours?”  

“Not bad.”  

“You know, Frank, I had a really good time on Friday,” Caren said.  

“I did too, but I just think we could have lived without the bleachers collapsing.”  

“I think so too.”  

“All right, people, let’s get started,” the professor said as he entered the room.  

Frank smiled at Caren and they began taking notes.  

An hour later, the professor finished his lecture and dismissed the class. Caren and Frank took their time packing up their things to give the rest of the students a chance to leave. They got to their feet and started to head out. They made their way along the paths that connected the different buildings on campus.  

“Would you like to do something this weekend?” Frank asked.  

“Sure. What do you have in mind?”  

“Maybe dinner and a movie?” Frank asked.  

“That sounds nice.”  

“Let me see what’s playing and the we can decide. I can give you a call tonight.”  

“That sounds fine.” Caren pulled out a piece of paper and quickly wrote on it. She handed the paper to Frank. “Here’s my number.”  

Frank glanced at the number before folding the paper and sliding it into his pocket. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a card. He handed it to Caren. “This lists the numbers that I can be reached at. All have voice mail if you want to leave a message.”  

“Okay,” Caren said, taking the card and looking at it. She looked back at Frank. “Well, I guess I’ll talk to you later.”  

“I guess you will,” Frank said.  

Caren smiled. “Bye.”  

“Bye.”  

As Caren headed for the student union, Frank made his way toward the building where his history class met. Stepping inside, he went down the hall and stopped quickly. A note was taped to the door window saying the class was cancelled for the day. An assignment was written underneath and he quickly made note of it.  

Letting out a sigh, Frank turned and made his way out of the building. He knew he had some time free and knew what he wanted to do with it. Making his way to the student union, he stepped inside and saw a lot of people hanging around.  

He finally spotted Caren sitting on one of the couches when the crows thinned for a moment. He slowly made his way toward her and sank into the seat beside her, without her noticing. She was staring at the television screen in the opposite direction of him.  

“Funny seeing you here,” Frank said.  

Caren spun her head around and her eyes opened wide. “Frank! What are you doing here?”  

“Class was cancelled,” Frank said. “It would have been nice to know that before I made my way all the way over there.”  

“I think it was a sign,” Caren said quickly.  

Frank looked at her, puzzled. “What are you talking about?”  

“Look at the screen.”  

Frank turned his attention to the television. He saw police with dogs were entering a building, which looked like a school. The camera shifted over and he saw the name of the school: Bayport High School .  

“I need to go,” Frank said, struggling to his feet.  

“I’m coming with you,” Caren said.  

Frank looked at her. “You have class in an hour.”  

“I can miss it,” Caren stated.  

“All right. Let’s go.”  

Frank and Caren headed to the parking lot together.  

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The authors 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.