Frank sat outside the office of Deputy Principal Darcy. He was dressed in jeans and a black, leather jacket that hid the listening device the special operations officer had attached to him. He had swapped his Mark Franklin disguise for a blonde wig with a fringe that successfully covered his dark eyebrows. Biff had remarked that he looked nothing like dorky Mark Franklin, but a bit like ‘Joe Hardy gone wrong’. Joe had made no comment and that had disappointed Frank.

The boys had worked out Frank’s possible approaches to Darcy. He felt ready for just about anything. He was outwardly calm, but his heart-rate was quicker than usual and his palms were a little moist.

Suddenly the door opened and two boys came scurrying out of the DP’s office and down the hall. Darcy himself was not far behind them. Frank stood up and extended his hand.

‘Mr. Darcy, I’m Jeff Brown,’ Frank said smoothly. Darcy shook the extended hand, a questioning look on his features.

‘I’ve come to discuss a business proposition with you,’ Frank explained. Darcy’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, but he led Frank into his office and shut the door behind them, just as the bell sounded for lunch break to begin.

…….

Joe and AJ put their books away in their lockers then headed off to one of AJ’s secret spots so he could have a cigarette. Joe had sworn AJ to secrecy about the previous day’s events and felt as though he could trust him. Joe had told AJ that he had been asked by the police to go undercover for them to gather clues about the serious crime going on in the school. AJ’s main concern was about whether he was going to be taken to task over the graffiti and other pranks he involved himself in. Joe had assured him that would not be the case. AJ knew nothing about Mark Franklin’s or Joe’s true identities. He had, however, revealed to AJ that another undercover agent was currently in Darcy’s office gathering more evidence.

‘He’d better watch himself,’ hissed AJ between drags. ‘That man is pure evil. He’s got all the teachers fooled that he’s gold.’

‘Well, this agent will be trying to get him to agree to a deal,’ explained Joe. ‘After that, we can use the tape as evidence.’

‘He’s wired?’ asked AJ in surprise. Joe nodded.

‘He’d better keep it out of sight,’ whispered AJ. ‘If Darcy sees it, he’ll get violent for sure. He doesn’t like to be made a fool of. I should know.’

‘If he gets tough,’ said Joe confidently, ‘it’ll all be captured on the tape. The police will be here in minutes.’

‘Takes less than a few minutes to kill someone,’ whispered AJ, his face white. Joe grabbed AJ by the arm.

‘What do you mean?’ he hissed, his heart rate beginning to rise.

‘He has a gun. And a knife,’ whispered AJ, his voice barely audible.

‘How do you know that?’ demanded Joe, his grip on AJ’s arm tightening. AJ swallowed anxiously.

‘He pulled the knife on me once,’ confessed AJ. ‘And another guy I know saw the gun.’

‘Why didn’t you tell anyone?’ Joe demanded, his voice rising with fear, but he already knew the answer. What had Darcy told Joe? Who was going to take the word of a brainless trouble-maker over the Deputy Principal? It was irrelevant now anyway. The only important thing was that Frank was in more danger than any of them had anticipated.

‘Come on,’ he urged AJ. ‘There’s been a change of plans.’