"I can tell you had a wonderful night, slick. You know you're not supposed to sneak in to the theatre. It's no wonder Dad caught you! He saw the lights that weren't supposed to be on, walked in, and overheard your singing!" Frank said as he opened the door to Joe's room. Joe was lounging on his bed daydreaming and staring at the ceiling. "Who was that girl I saw you with? Was she the one you saw on the steps?"
"Yeah, she was, and she was amazing. Unlike any girl I've met before."
"That's what you always say." Frank rolled his eyes.
"Really, Frank. I haven't felt this way about anyone since Iola." Frank was shocked at hearing Joe speak her name. "That's right, I can say her name now and not feel a thing. Iola, Iola, Iola; look, no tears."
"Tell me, who was this grace that god has sent us to heal you?" Joe chuckled at himself for a moment. "You know what? I didn't even catch her name. A perfect night, and I didn't even ask her who she was. All I really know about her identity is that she recently moved here."
"Are you serious?" Frank chuckled. "Does she know who you are?"
"She only knows me as Joe. I can guarantee you I'm not the only Joe in Bayport. She didn't even see my entire face. We kept our masks on all night!"
"Oh Joe, only with you could something like this happen. You're a detective, you're supposed to know to get names!"
"I was just caught up in the moment, I guess. She called me Phantom, I called her Christine."
Frank ruffled his brother's hair, an affectionate gesture he'd developed over the years. "You know what, I guess we've got a new case now. We're on the hunt to find the angel of music!"
"Boys, are you coming with Aunt Gertrude and I to the housewarming party for the new next door neighbors?" Their father, Fenton Hardy, asked that evening as Joe and Frank were getting their jackets and shoes on.
"We'd really love to Dad, but Joe and I have prior plans. We'll have to meet them some other time, soon. We've got a new case we have to go do some research on. Tell the neighbors we're very sorry." "What's the case?"
"It's a disappearing person's case." Joe winked at Frank.
"Alright, just try to stay out of trouble. I don't want to have to leave the house to come bail you out of something or other, that's becoming a habit these days."
"Fenton, are Frank and Joe getting ready to leave?" Aunt Gertrude asked from the kitchen where she was baking cookies to bring over to the neighbor's.
"They're going to do research, so they can't make it."
"Save me come cookies, Aunt Gertrude!" Joe called as he and Frank went out the door.
"Aww, the daughter is going to be disappointed now since she won't have any kids her own age around. I promised that Joe and Frank would come."
"I think those boys are up to something. Did you see Joe last night at the Masquerade? Call it detective's intuition, but I think the answer to their case is right underneath their noses."
Joe and Frank headed down to the Bayport Town Hall. There, they would be able to find the most recent records of who moved out and who moved in to Bayport. The Hardys were good friends with the secretary of records there, Hal Bronson, so getting information was a little easier for them.
"Hi, Hal." They smiled as they entered the department of records.
"Frank and Joe Hardy, how've you boys been?" "We've been doing swell, it's great to see you again."
"How can I help you two today?"
"Well, we're on a private case, and we've got to find someone. Can we have a list of the people who have moved in to Bayport recently?"
"The best I can get for you are some real-estate records."
"That will be just fine." Joe smiled.
Mr. Bronson fingered through his files, and pulled out a small manila folder. "Here are the papers I can let you see that aren't confidential."
Joe took out his notebook and Frank began looking through the files. "These contain names and addresses; there's got to be at least twenty. There's no way we'll be able to find her anytime soon. We can't just barge in and say 'hey, we're looking for your daughter', then they'll never let you in!"
"I don't know, Frank, most parents to my give in to my innocent charm. They're impressed by my mature personality and boyish good looks."
"Mature?" Frank chuckled at him. "Sure, whatever you say, little brother."
"Just give me the names and addresses."
When Fenton and Gertrude came back from the neighbor's, they found Joe and Frank sitting in the living room discussing ways to investigate more in depth in to their case. "Oh, hey Dad. Did you two have a nice time?" Frank asked.
"Are the new neighbors nice?" Joe added.
"They're real friendly. I think you boys would have had a nice time. They do have children you know, maybe you can make new friends. There's Steve, Mandy, and Lori."
"Sure Dad, yeah, we'll have to meet them soon." Frank smiled.
"Really, boys. I think you'll like this family."