"So O'Neil is your stalker," Joe said, frowning thoughtfully. "It kind of makes sense. I mean, we have known him for awhile. He transferred from Miami almost two years ago."
"But why go after Frank?" Callie demanded.
"Chief Collig is running a check on him," Frank said with a shrug. "There may be something in his background that would help us understand."
"Didn't they check him out when he was hired?" Camille asked in surprise.
"I doubt it," Frank answered. "He was already a cop, he just transferred."
Joe sighed. "And I told him about Reynolds," he said. "I hope O'Neil didn't hurt him."
Camille grasped his upper arm. "I'm sure he is," she said. "Since Reynolds is an expert, O'Neil will probably keep him to obtain tips on how not to get caught."
"Oh yeah," Joe agreed sarcastically. "That's why he has disappeared. That really won't draw suspicion." Camille released him and her face fell at the unwarranted attack. "I'm sorry," Joe apologized, at once contrite. He snagged her hand and raised it to his lips for a brief kiss. "I'm just worried."
"About Frank," Phil put in, nodding. "We are too."
"But we won't let him out of our sight for a second," Tony promised.
"We need to check out O'Neil's place," Joe said.
"As soon as school's over," Frank concurred.
"One more period to go," Frank said, falling into the chair next to Phil's.
"In a hurry?" Phil teased him.
"Yes," Frank admitted, running a hand through his hair worriedly. "There's something bothering me about this case."
"What?" Phil asked. "The fact that it's a cop behind this?"
"No," Frank denied with a shake of his head. "We've dealt with crooked cops before."
"Then what?" asked Phil.
"I don't know," Frank said, scowling. "I just feel that there's something I'm missing."
"Attention!" The principal's voice through the PA system interrupted the boys' conversation. "There will be an assembly in the gymnasium at this time. Everyone please proceed to the gym in an orderly fashion."
When Frank and Phil entered the gym Chet, Tony, Biff, Callie, Camille, Karen and Helen immediately surrounded them. "Where's Joe?" asked Frank, not seeing him.
"He got called to the office at the end of last period," Helen informed him. "He should be along soon."
"Why was he called to the office?" Frank wondered aloud.
"A phone call," Helen answered.
Frank frowned. "Then he should be here," he said. "And who called him anyway?" Frank turned away from the growing crowd before him. "I'm going to the office," he said. "If Joe shows up, keep him here."
"We're going with you," Biff and Phil chimed in. Joe would kill them if they left Frank alone until O'Neil was captured.
"Fine," Frank agreed. He was in too much of a hurry to argue or explain what had just occurred to him.
They reached the principal's office in less than five minutes. Not seeing Joe about, Frank stepped up to the desk. "When did Joe leave?" he asked the school's secretary.
"He never," was the answer.
"But didn't he get a call?" asked Frank, his forehead furrowing.
"He did," Mrs. Anderson acknowledged. "It was from Chief Collig. But Joe never did come to answer and when I went to tell the Chief he wasn't available, he had already hung up."
"May I use the phone?" Frank asked, his face paling.
"Of course," Mrs. Anderson said, setting the phone over so Frank could reach it.
"Why didn't Joe come to the office?" Biff asked.
"He did," Frank said, dialing the police department. "I'm betting the call was from O'Neil and he hijacked Joe after he left his last class."
"Which is in the back of the next building," Phil said. "But why take Joe when he's after you?" he asked, perplexed.
"Phil's right," Biff agreed. "Joe probably is in the gym right now."
Frank held up his hand for silence when Chief Collig came on the phone. "Chief, this is Frank Hardy," he announced. "Did you call Joe a little while ago?"
"No," Collig answered. "Why?" Frank repeated what the secretary had told him. "Blast it!" Collig snarled. "Where are you?"
"In the office," answered Frank.
"Stay there," Collig ordered. "I'm on my way over."
"Chief!" Frank shouted before Collig could hang up. "You don't seem surprised."
"We went over O'Neil's place with a fine toothcomb," he informed Frank. "We found a stash of pictures under a floorboard under his bed. They were all of Joe spanning the past two years."