DISCLAIMER: None of the Hardy Family, Drew Household, or any other characters featured in the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew books belong to me. All those featured at the boarding school with the exception of Frank, Joe, and Nancy are my own creation.

Author's Note: I must say, you guys are getting a treat! The inspiration for this chapter has been flowing much more than my other story, so I decided to focus my efforts on this and then focus back on that when my head wasn't spinning with plot twists and clues. I think I'll keep this intro short so you can jump right into the reading. Hope you all enjoy Chapter 9!

A short while later, a certain someone entered the room. Walking in and turning towards one of the windows, they kept an eye out, but nobody came by.

Quickly they moved to the vials that contained the red liquid. The blood was the key, and a dangerous one at that. Grabbing a pair of latex gloves, the criminal lifted the vials in their hands, and one by one drained them in the sink. Then, moving to the doorway, they peered out into the hallway. The coast was clear. Setting the tubes down just inside the doorway, a tissue box was taken and used to slowly crush the glass until it shattered. Replacing the tissues and carefully avoiding the glass, the perp stepped out of the classroom and closed the door. That would teach Maria Hyde what happened to those who got involved. Reaching a trash can, the gloves were removed and placed in the garbage, before the person pulled out their cell phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey. I finished that up. What do you suggest we do now?"

"We can't be too aggressive," the voice on the other end warned. "This will send another strong message. And if it still doesn't get through... then we'll talk."

Meanwhile, Joe sat across from Nancy in Mr. Cochran's room. Despite Nancy's insistence that she was fine, Joe had dismissed Ryan anyways and gotten an empty room after the two had served their detention. Mr. Cochran seemed to understand that the two wanted to have a private conversation and decided to "make some photocopies" at the other end of the building.

"Alright, we're going to get Frank in on this conversation, too," Joe started, pulling out his phone. After two rings, Frank picked up.

"Hey Joe," Frank said.

"Frank, you're on speakerphone," Joe told his brother. "I'm in an empty room with Nancy because we need to start putting some puzzle pieces together. And," he added, with a glance at the other detective, "some boyfriend advice."

"Why are you dragging me into this?" Frank groaned.

"Yeah, why are you dragging him into this?" Nancy asked incredulously. "This is between me and Ryan."

"If he weren't a suspect, I wouldn't have a problem with it," Joe countered. "It also doesn't help that you went behind my back to tell him all about our undercover operation."

Nancy gaped at him. "I talked to you about that. Do you not remember?"

"Oh I remember," Joe replied scathingly. "I also remember my reply, which I believe was, in no unclear terms, absolutely not. And you still go and freaking blow our cover."

"Would both of you shut up?" Frank shouted. Neither Nancy nor Joe had realized how loud they had been getting, and the silence was deafening following Frank's outburst.

"I know both of you are frustrated with each other," the detective said over the phone. "Joe, I understand the fact that you are pissed about Nancy's behavior. But you've been spending too much time focusing on that rather than the case. And Nancy, you need to keep in mind why you're at the school. Your room and board is being paid for by the school, so it is your responsibility to make work your top priority."

Frank's statements were followed by more silence. Both teens in Mr. Cochran's room looked around uncomfortably, not making eye contact. Finally, when no one spoke, Frank picked up the conversation again.

"Okay then. You still there? Let's actually start on the case now. Did you guys find anything relating to that blood?"

"There was no sign anywhere of dead animals," Joe replied. "I think there's a possibility that if an animal was murdered out somewhere outside, they were smart enough to turn over the snow so that any traces were covered even from the closest observation."

"Yeah, it was a bit of a dead end," Nancy agreed. "I think rather than trying to figure out who did it, is there anyone we can eliminate from our list of suspects?"

"That would be a good starting point. Let me grab some paper." Frank could be heard rustling around in the background before he returned to the phone. "It would be easier to type this but I've already been chewed out by both Mom and Dad today for using the laptop too much. Anyways, list off who we have for suspects."

Joe thought for a moment. "Well, for guys we have Ryan and Phil. Also Sergio, though he's been gone since he was suspended."

Nancy held up a finger. "But he lives in the area, doesn't he? And I know he has his license. It could've been possible for him to make the return trip."

Joe shrugged. "I'd say it's unlikely simply because it would be in broad daylight. Someone would have to see him. The chances of him being able to get some blood and then plant it in my room without anyone noticing him are low. After all, everyone knows him, whether they like him or not."

"But we can't say it's impossible," Frank concluded. "So for now we'll keep him on the list, just maybe on the lower end."

Joe looked around before continuing. "I think that including the dean on the list wouldn't be a bad idea."

"And why is that?" Frank inquired. "After all, she did hire us to take the case."

Nancy tilted her head to the side, thinking. "But maybe she did that because she figured that it would be easier to continue these accidents with three amateur detectives rather than the police swarming all over."

"Plus she can view almost anywhere on campus," Joe added.

"But what about when the pot hit me?" Frank countered. "She was in a meeting with Joe at that time."

"And Phil and Ryan were both with me on the opposite end of campus," Nancy added excitedly. "That leaves our suspect list rather short."

"True. I can think of three left," Joe said. "Natalie, Louise, and Phil Grady, Sr. That's a pretty nice list to be working with."

Mr. Cochran popped his head in the doorway, making Nancy and Joe both jump. "Hey guys, sorry to bother you, but something's come up. They need me over at the science center. Another incident it sounds like. Could you just lock the door when you leave?"

The two detectives exchanged a glance. "Hey Frank, we're gonna go now. We'll talk later though, okay?" Joe said.

"Keep me informed," Frank replied before ending the call.

At that point the teacher had already left, so Nancy flicked the lights off and exited into the hall, followed by Joe, who closed the door behind him.

"Joe, I think it would be better if we split up here," Nancy told him. "I'd like to go see the dean and see if she'll allow me access to the room Natalie and Louise live in. Probably not, but it's worth a shot if it means there is a chance we can find some incriminating evidence on one of our suspects."

"And I'll go see what's up at the science center," Joe added. "Keep your phone on so if I need to get in touch with you. Although maybe leave it on vibrate in case you end up in a dumpster again."

"Yeah, I'll keep that in mind," Nancy said, sarcasm dripping from her voice. She departed in one direction and Joe took the other. Seeing the swarm of kids around the door to the science center and the ambulance that sat nearby, Joe took a route around the other side of the building, where he saw the dean sitting with several other staff members.

Knocking on the window, all the heads in the room turned to Joe outside. Mr. Cochran, who was seated closest to the window, opened it.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked.

"Gordon, it's fine. Let the boy in," the dean commanded. Joe squeezed his way in, fully aware that every eye in the room was upon him. "I think it's time you all should know," the dean addressed the room of teachers. "Nancy Drew and Joe Hardy were both hired to attend this school in order to determine the cause of the accidents – no, the attacks – that have happened at the boarding school. The information regarding the case was on a need-to-know basis, and none of you needed to know." Joe could see a bit of coldness in most of the faces present. "Now I feel it is time for us as staff to work alongside these two, as well as Frank Hardy, who was also hired but promptly released after his injury. Mr. Hardy, Mr. Cochran will escort you upstairs."

The history teacher stood up, shot a quick glance towards Joe and the dean, and moved to the door, which he opened for Joe. The teen stepped into the hallway and the teacher followed.

"Well, I must say I'm not surprised," Mr. Cochran said.

"Why not?" Joe asked, a bit taken aback. "Did we blow our cover in some way with you?"

The burly man laughed. "Please. You two kept it under wraps pretty well from students and staff alike. That meeting you had today was a bit suspicious, though."

"So what exactly is going on anyways?" Joe inquired.

"Well, someone left some shards of glass right just inside the door to Mrs. Hyde's room."

Joe was confused. "But Mrs. Hyde was in the room with the teachers. Who stepped on it?"

"Well, I hate to break it to you," Mr. Cochran said, "but it was Phil Grady."

Joe's eyes widened. "You're kidding! But we have a track meet coming up!"

Mr. Cochran nodded. "If you want my opinion, though, it wasn't meant for Phil. He was supposed to be meeting with Mrs. Hyde to retake a quiz, but Mrs. Hyde was held up. I also noticed that there was no sign of the test tubes that contained the blood."

"Huh. Interesting," Joe said. "I'll take a look around if the paramedics are all set."

By the time the two reached Mrs. Hyde's room the paramedics were gone. Joe crouched down in the doorway to take a look at the remaining glass.

"I'm assuming the paramedics cleaned up all the glass that was bloody or contaminated," Joe mentioned to Mr. Cochran. Taking a quick picture with his phone, Joe carefully observed where he stepped as he entered the room1731.

The first thing he noticed was that there were some empty test tube racks. The test tubes were nowhere to be seen.

"Joe, technically I don't think I'm supposed to leave you up here on your own, but this is your show," Mr. Cochran told him. "I'm just going to chill out here in the hallway and do some paperwork."

"Sounds good." Joe moved to the sink. "So it looks like our saboteur made their first mistake," he said to himself. Grabbing a latex glove and a paper towel, he carefully swabbed up a trace of the red liquid still sitting in the sink. "Someone forgot to run the water after they dumped these samples."

Joe moved to the cabinet next to the cabinet and grabbed a small container, dropping the paper towel in before sealing it and disposing of the glove. He did a quick take of the room, and after completely sweeping it from top to bottom, found no more clues.

"I guess this will suffice." Holding the container in one hand and his phone in the other, Joe hopped his way out into the hallway, where Mr. Cochran sat in a chair he'd pulled from another room, writing away.

Looking up, the teacher said, "Are you all set?" Joe showed him the container and nodded. "Alright. Let's head back downstairs."

While Joe collected evidence, Nancy was walking at a rather brisk pace across campus to the girls dorms. She felt a bit bad for Mr. Tyler, who she hoped wouldn't notice the missing master key which allowed access to all student rooms that typically sat on his desk.

Moving to the second floor of dorms, Nancy glanced around to make sure the coast was clear. Knocking on the door, she hoped there would be no response. Her cover story wasn't one of her best, but it would suffice if Natalie or Louise opened the door.

When after a minute no response came, Nancy slid the master key into the door. Hearing a click, she pushed the door inwards, making sure to close it gently behind her. The room was similar to the one she shared with her roommate, with slightly different decor. It was a rather plain room, with nondescript sheets and comforters and no posters on the walls. The only things that seemed to personalize the room were the two desks, which had large mirrors set upon them and several containers of various makeup products surrounding them.

Suddenly she heard giggling out in the hallway, and the sound of a card sliding into the reader that locked and unlocked the door. Nancy looked around before rapidly diving under the bed on the left. She just pulled her legs under when the door swung open, and two sets of feet appeared in the room. The door closed, and instantly the giggling stopped.

"Listen, you've got to stay absolutely silent while you're here." That was Natalie. "If you don't I will kill you before anyone else gets a chance. Understand?" There was silence. "Good. There's a commotion over at the science center that I have to go check in on. I'll see you later."

"Yep." Nancy's eyes widened. The second person in the room was Sergio!

She watched as the high heels exited the room, but the other set of feet kicked off their shoes and Sergio sat on the bed. Nancy cringed. She was going to be stuck for awhile. (2311, 20,428)

I know, that took a lot longer than I expected. I ended up splitting the work between this story and my other one (which is almost complete and should hopefully be out by the end of the week). I thank you all for your patience, and please review to help me improve my writing, and make sure to follow and favorite if you love this story!