Frank's POV

"Dad's in jail!" Mia cried as she burst through the door.

"What?" Joe and I said in unison.

"Dad, he got arrested!" She shouted.

"How?" Joe wondered.

"I don't know something do to with the case he's on. Come on we have to go get him!"

With that we all raced to the van.

HARDYHARDYHARDYHARDYHARDYHAR DYHARDYHARDYHARDYHARDYHARDY

Once we piled in, with Joe driving, we were on our way to the town's prison.

"This doesn't make sense," Joe began. "Dad's a detective. He solves the crimes, not commit them."

"Joe, for all we know this could have been a big misunderstanding." I said, trying to reassure my siblings as well as myself. "Now Mia what exactly did the police say on the phone?"

"Nothing besides the fact that Fenton Hardy was arrested at 12:32 p.m. last night."

"That's right! Dad never came home last night." Joe proclaimed.

"But why wouldn't the police call us then instead of the next morning?" Mia questioned.

"Dad probably told the policeman not to call till the morning. He knew it wouldn't have been a big deal plus we were all asleep at that time." I explained.

"Wait, what exactly is this case dad's been working on?" Joe asked.

"Something with a diamond I think." Mia muttered, trying to remember.

"The Star!" I cried.

"What?" Joe gave me a look like I'd gone insane.

I looked at Mia to see if she understood, but she looked as confused as Joe. 'Little siblings', I thought to myself.

"The Star," I began, "Is the name of the world's largest diamond owned by Dr. Alexander Fray."

"Oh! I've heard of him! Isn't he like a billionaire?" Mia asked.

"He's not like a billionaire, he is a billionaire! Anyway, dad and two other men were hired to protect and transport the Star from England to here in America where it could be studied more closely." I explained.

"Why protect it?" Mia wondered.

"A week before it was supposed to be transported, Fray found a note in his mailbox. The note was a threat that the Star was to be handed over or people would get hurt. The police feared whoever sent that note would try to take the Star or hurt Dr. Fray."

"So if dad was hired to protect it-" Joe began saying, but I cut him off.

"Then why is he the one in jail?"

We pulled into the parking lot that was swarming with a dozen cop cars. We got out of the van and headed towards the small tan building. As the three of us walked in, I noticed something. Down a little ways from the door, a policeman was talking to a couple of men. The two were about my height and were probably in their mid-30's. Something about them looked so familiar.

"Frank!" Joe called from inside.

I realized I was staring at them when Joe snapped me out of my thoughts. The three men turned to me and I quickly hurried inside. Standing in front of the main desk were two policemen. Joe was talking to the one on the right. I glanced from them to where Mia stood. She was rubbing her arm anxiously. Her facial expression told me she was worried. Her dark blue eyes looked as if tears could spring from them any minute. This was the Mia I knew. She was a brave girl no doubt, but she always had that moment of weakness. I rested my hand on her back.

"You okay?"

"Not-not really." She responded with a shaky breath.

"Hey," I said, bending down next to her. "It'll be alright. Like I said it was probably just a big misunderstanding."

"Yeah, I know." She said a little more steadily. "But what if they don't let him go?"

"They will. We'll do whatever it takes to get him out of here." I promised.

A small tear escaped from the corner of her eye. I wiped it away with my thumb.

"Why are you crying? Aren't you the same Mia who has fought off bad guys, explored dangerous warehouses, and survived being arrested twice herself?" I exclaimed with a smile.

She giggled and nodded.

"Good."

Just then Joe came over to us.

"They're going to get dad."

I nodded as I stood up straight.

A few moments later the policeman came back, dad by his side. He looked awful! His face held a hardened expression. Bags hung under his eyes as if he didn't sleep at all last night, which I could believe. His face read sorrow and depression. I felt bad that he had to spend the night in a jail cell.

"Dad!" Mia cried as she rushed at him and threw her arm around him.

"Hi sweetheart." He said in a soft voice. His handcuffs restrained him from hugging her back. Mia had noticed this. As soon as she pulled away she turned to the policeman.

"Why is my father in handcuffs?" She yelled. "He's not a criminal!"

"Actually that hasn't been determined." The policeman barked back as he glared at Mia. He towered over her like the Empire State Building did to passing bystanders.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"You're wrong! My father would never steal or hurt anyone!" Mia cried in frustration. Joe had to pull her back to keep her from jumping at the guard.

"Well maybe that's true, but right now he's one of three of our only suspects. The policeman continued.

"Suspect's for what?" Joe wondered.

"The break-in at Mr. Fray's mansion last night. Mr. Hardy, Mr. Whitman, and Mr. Grey were all taking the diamond there. We suspect some sort of bobby trap was set and chloroform was used because when we got there the diamond was gone Mr. Fray, Mr. Whitman, and Mr. Grey were out cold right inside the front door."

"What about our father?' Mia interrupted. The policeman gave her an angry scowl then turned back to me and Joe.

"Your father was not there. When we inspected the rest of the house we found him," he jabbed his thumb at dad, "Snooping around the master bedroom."

"I told you I woke up in there! I was trying to find everyone else!" Dad protested.

"You keep quiet!" The officer ordered. Dad did as told.

"Sir, do you have any evidence of this? How do you know he had something to do with it?" I questioned.

"Like I said; we don't. We are still investigating and we're keeping our eyes on the other men as well."

"Where is Mr. Fray's mansion?" Joe asked.

"I can't exactly tell you that. It's classified."

"We just want to help." Mia spoke up, clearing still annoyed with the officer. "We only want to clear our father's name. You could tell us, right? Or are you really that cruel?"

The policeman's face turned a deep red. I tensed. I'm pretty sure Mia went a little too far.

"Alright look," The policeman boomed. "Either you take her out of here or I'm going to charge her for insulting a cop!"

"Oh please! I-" Mia was cut off by Joe's hand clamping over her mouth.

"We'll get going now." Joe said, eagerly. "Bye dad!"

Joe guided Mia away and hurried out the door.

"Guess I'll go too." I sighed. "Bye dad." I leaned in and gave him a hug. "We'll get you out of here, I promise."

I started to pull away, but then dad said, "Wait."

I leaned forward again. Dad put his lips right next to my ear.

"The address is 82 East Madison Street." He whispered.

I pulled back glancing from him to the policeman. The officer looked at me with a suspicious look. I nodded at my dad saying, "I love you too."

I then hurried out to meet Mia and Joe.