They made their way toward the front door just as it opened. Fenton walked out and asked, "Are you all right?"

"We’re fine," Joe said. "Just a little hungry."

As they walked inside, Fenton asked, "Where did you find cover?"

"At school," Joe said. "We were stuck there all night."

"Maybe you want to change clothes before eating," Fenton suggested. "I think Joe could find you both something to wear."

"Come on," Joe said heading upstairs.

Joe found clothes that would fit Nancy and Ned until they could get to the hotel and get their own. Nancy went into Frank’s room, changed her clothes then sat down on Frank’s bed. She looked around and wondered if he was really all right. She recalled Debbie talking about the shed. She thought, if I only knew where the shed was, maybe there’s a chance of finding Frank, unhurt.

"There was a knock on the door interrupting her thoughts. She asked, "Who is it?"

"Ned."

"Come in."

The door opened and Ned peeked his head around the corner. He saw her sitting on the bed. "Are you all right?"

"I don’t know," Nancy said.

Ned came in and Nancy noticed he was wearing a pair of tan shorts and a balck shirt Frank had worn the last time they had worked together. Ned closed the door and sat down beside her. He put his arm around her shoulder. "Talk to me. Tell me what’s on your mind."

"I’m really worried about Frank," Nancy admitted. "When Debbie walked about the shed, it set off alarms in my head. But now, I’m scared that if Frank was in the shed, it might not have survived the hurricane, and Frank might not..."

A tear squeezed out of the corner of her eye. She couldn’t finish. Ned squeezed her shoulder. "Listen to me. We both know Frank. If he’s in a tough situation, he’ll find a way out." Nancy leaned her head on Ned’s shoulder knowing he was right and realized she shouldn’t have been doubting herself.

"Come on," Ned said. "Let’s get some breakfast. Then we’ll figure out how to find Frank."

"All right," Nancy said feeling a little better.

*****

They ate a quiet breakfast. Joe pulled out his battery-operated radio and figured the whole town was without power when they couldn’t even get a local radio station. Joe also told his father about their adventure at school.

When they finished breakfast, the three of them went outside with Fenton and started cleaning up the yard with Fenton. Nancy tried to think of a way to find Frank as she carried tree limbs and branches to the curb.

They were resting on the front steps a couple hours later when a car pulled up in front of the house. Two people wearing uniforms got out of the car. They immediately recognized Chief Collig and Officer Con Riley as they came toward the house.

"Sorry it took us so long to get here. Power lines and trees are down everywhere."

"That’s okay," Joe said.

"What did you want to talk about?" Chief Collig asked.

"We know who is behind the vandalism at school," Nancy said as Chief Collig and Con Riley sat down on the porch steps.

"Who is it?" Chief Collig asked.

"Nathan Miles and Debbie Stellar," Nancy said.

"Are you sure?"

"We hid in the school last night and the two of them showed up," Ned said. "They admitted to the vandalism."

"Unfortunately, they got away during the hurricane," Joe added. "There was no way we were going to kill ourselves just to follow them."

"You were right to stay inside, but what proof do you have that these two are the vandals?" Chief Collig asked.

"We all heard them admit it," Nancy said. "They wee talking while they were stealing science tests off the computer."

"But why?"

"Debbie needed the tests because she was failing. She had to cheat to get into medical school and live up to her father’s expectations," Nancy answered.

"We also think they know where Frank is hidden," Joe said.

"How do you know?" Chief Collig asked.

"They mentioned wondering if a shed would hold together through the hurricane," Nancy said. "Debbie was also worried about someone getting killed and we think she was referring to Frank."

"Unfortunately, we don’t know where the shed is located," Joe said.

Nancy suddenly got to her feet. "I just thought of a way to locate Frank. But we need to find Debbie first."

"What’s the plan?" Chief Collig asked.

"I’m not sure of all the details," Nancy said as she began to pace. "But I guarantee I will find Frank."

"If you need any help, use your radio and notify our officers. I’ll make sure they are listening for your call," Chief Collig said rising. "But be careful. From what you told me about Debbie and Nathan, they’ll do anything to keep their secret quiet."

They nodded as Chief Collig and Con Riley left. Once they were alone, Joe asked, "What do we do?"

"We find Debbie."

"Then what?" Ned asked.

"We try to reason with her," Nancy said matter-of-factly.

"Do you think it’ll work?"

"I certainly hope so," Nancy said.

"Then let’s find her," Joe said getting to his feet.

*****

Joe drove the van through Bayport heading for Debbie’s house. They had to turn around several times to find another route due to fallen trees and downed power lines.

Ned was sitting in the back of the van and asked, "What exactly are you planning to do when you find Debbie?"

"Try to convince her she has to tell us where Frank is," Nancy said. "I almost had her convinced last night, but then Nathan grabbed me."

"Do you really think you can persuade her?" Ned asked.

"I hope so," she replied.

"And here she comes now," Joe said pointing out the window.

"Where?" Nancy asked.

"She’s in the white car coming toward us."

"We’ll have to follow her," Nancy said.

"You got it," Joe said aiming toward the curb and making a U-turn.

They followed the car at a safe distance. They drove along in silence for ten minutes keeping their eyes on the white car.

"This is Shore Road," Joe said. "I wonder where she’s headed."

"We won’t know until she stops," Nancy said. "Joe, do you still have that miniature tape recorder in here?"

"Yeah," Joe said reaching into the console between the two seats without taking his eyes off the road. He pulled the tape recorder out and handed it to Nancy. "Check to make sure there’s a tape in there."

There was one so she slid the recorder into her jacket pocket and looked back toward the road. They drove for another 20 minutes or so when suddenly the white car pulled off to the side of the road.

"Drive past her and park just beyond the turn in the road."

"Got it," Joe said as Nancy and Ned ducked out of sight.

Joe drove up the road about an eighth of a mile. Joe pulled over to the side and shut off the engine. He said, "Let’s go." He pulled two sets of spare keys from the dashboard and handed one set to Nancy and the other to Ned. "In case we get separated."

"Come on," Nancy said getting out of the van and putting the keys in her pocket. "We need to follow her."

"Coming," Ned said getting out of the van.

They made their way quietly through the woods toward the white car. They got within 50 feet of it and saw Debbie making her way into the woods. Nancy signaled Joe and Ned to stay put while she caught up with Debbie.

Nancy walked quickly and quietly up behind Debbie and said softly, "We need to talk."

Debbie turned quickly around and asked, "How did you find me?"

"I need to know where Frank is."

"I don’t know anything...," Debbie started, but Nancy interrupted her knowing there was no more time for games.

"You do know. Remember when I asked you how you’d feel if your Dad was kidnapped at the school." Debbie nodded. "As of right now, you are facing cheating and getting expelled from school. If you know where Frank is and something has happened to him, you’ll be charged with murder."

Nancy watched Debbie begin to tremble as her words sank in. Nancy continued, "But if you help me find Frank, before its too late, we may get the charges dropped as long as you help me."

"We left him in a shed," Debbie said, defeated. "I know where it is."

"Show me," Nancy demanded and followed Debbie into the woods. They walked for 20 minutes going further into the woods.

As they walked, Nancy saw there were a lot of tree branches scattered on the ground. Up ahead were the remains of a building. The roof had fallen in and the sides were on the ground. She gasped out loud and silently wondered if anyone could survive that damage."

She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned her head to see Ned standing there. Joe was right beside him.

"That is where we hid Frank," Debbie stated pointing at the pile of debris.

Joe grabbed Debbie by the shoulders and shook her. "Where exactly was he?"

"I don’t know," Debbie sobbed. "But he was on a cot opposite the door."

"Let’s find him," Joe said and they moved toward the rubble.

They sifted through the debris searching for some sign of Frank. Nancy found the door frame and worked her way toward the opposite wall hoping things had not been twisted around. Nancy pulled pieces off throwing them out of the way so they could search. She continued working until she saw a hand. "Over here!"

Joe and Ned hurried over to the pile as Nancy pointed at the hand. As soon as they saw the hand, they started moving as a furious pace tossing broken boards and shingles off to uncover the body. Joe got to the last board and said trying to keep the emotion out of his voice, "Girls, turn away. Who knows if this is all right."

Nancy put her arms around Debbie’s shoulder and turned her around. She could hear Ned and Joe struggling to lift the board. She heard it crash down and Joe cried out, "Oh, no."