Disclaimer: I don't own either of the Hardy Boys or related characters from the Hardy Boys books.

A/N: This is the first Hardy Boys story I have done on my own! I would really love it for you to let me know what you think! Please R&R.

Chapter One

Sitting in class one day, only half paying attention to what the teacher was going on about, I found myself thinking about the most random things, when my best friend Reed interrupted my thoughts.

"Are you even paying attention?" He poked my side.

"Huh? What? Oh. Sorry." I looked up at him.

"Yeah sure." He laughed, "But you may not want to say that to me." He pointed up at the teacher who was red in the face and staring at the two of us talking.

"Sorry, Mrs. Kingston. I'm listening now." And just as I said that, the lights went out sending the whole room into darkness. "What the---?" I thought aloud.

"Don't panic! The lights will come back on soon." I heard the teacher say from the front of the classroom.

"Reed?" I called his name into the darkness.

"I'm right here." I could feel his hand reach out for mine and we held hands until the backup generator booted up and the emergency lights came on. "I wonder what that was all about."

"I don't know but I intend to find out."

Reed knew right were my mind went. I am always solving cases with the Hardys. Everyone knows who the Hardy Boys are, but what they don't know is that they are some of my best friends. I have known both Frank and Joe for years now. We have gone to school together for as long as I can remember. They helped me to find my mother's shooter. My mother was shot on duty as a police officer. Ever since that day I have been working with them on any cases I can.

"Charlie," Reed looked at me. "I wouldn't. Not at school."

"Why not?" I looked up at him.

"Charlie, they are not going to let you look into it and you know it." He said.

"Who said I was going to---" But gunshots interrupted me.

"Get down!" Mrs. Kingston yelled at us as she went to lock the classroom door. We all did what we were told and got under our desks.

"Reed?" I looked to my best friend. He reached out and grabbed my hand. I could hear some of the other girls crying. Some of the guys were trying to get the girls to calm down.

"It's okay. We're safe in here." I heard the guy, Eric, on the other side of me telling his girlfriend Angie.

I turned around to look at them. "He's right. Right now I don't think anyone could get through that door with how much stuff is in front of it." I said as our teacher added more chairs to the pile she had in front of the door.

"Charlie we're not all you." She said to me with tears in her eyes. "We don't find this as a normal thing. Ya know?"

"It will all be okay." I forced a smile at her. "Really. Those gunshots were not anywhere near here."

"Are you sure?" I heard Mrs. Kingston ask from behind me. I turned to look at her.

"Yeah they are most likely down stairs in the courtyard." I informed the class.

"That's on the other side of the school." Reed looked at me. "Could we hear them this clearly from that far away?"

"If the gun is big enough." I knew it was the wrong thing to say the minute I said it. The girls in the small classroom started whimpering again at my statement. "Sorry."

Another round of shoots rang out in the air only this time they sounded much closer.

"We're going to die! Aren't we?" I heard one of the girls say.

"Don't say that. Never say die! I won't let that happen." I told the whole class hoping to make myself believe it too. Reed, still holding my hand, slid over to give me a hug and we held that potion as yet another round was heard.

"Aren't they out of ammo yet?" Reed looked down at me.

"I have no clue. They could have four or five clips full for all I know." I answered gravely, then added. "Or more. The cops should be here soon though." Just as I said that we could hear the sirens of the police cars growing steadily louder. "See right on time."