"Hi, I'm Dale Tripplett." The young man smiled, and held out his hand. "You're Joe Hardy, aren't you?"
"Y-yeah…" Joe eyed him warily, but extended his own hand.
"I've seen your photo in the newspapers before, and I've always wanted to meet you. I've never known a teenage detective before. I was thrilled when I spotted you in the theater; couldn't believe my luck!" Dale Tripplett enthused, pumping a stunned Joe's hand.
"Hey Joe, what's up?" It was Frank, hurrying down the sidewalk but trying to look as if he wasn't hurrying. He had been slowed down by the crush of people exiting the theater, and had experienced a moment of panic when he saw the stranger looming over Joe. But to his surprise, he found Joe blushing and shaking the man's hand!
"This is Dale Tripplett," Joe introduced their fan to his brother. "Apparently, he wanted to meet me…us." he added. "Dale, this is my brother Frank." He smiled, as Vanessa opened the door of the van and climbed out. "And this is Vanessa Bender."
"How do you do - nice to meet you." Dale Tripplett bobbed his head and spoke rapidly. "Wow, both of you are here? I didn't see you inside, Frank - wow, this is so exciting! I love reading about the things you do, in the Times."
"You read the Bayport Times a lot, huh?" Frank inquired carefully. He looked carefully at Tripplett. Tightly curled brown hair…mid-twenties…about Joe's height. That is awfully close to the description Ms. Westerman gave Joe for the intruder in her house.
"Well, yeah - it's sort of an integral part of my job." Tripplett answered. "I work for the Times!"
"Oh? Is it enjoyable work?" Frank made polite conversation, mentally making a note to check out the guy, once he got home. He intended to leave nothing to chance!
"Oh, I'm just a copy boy," Dale Tripplett admitted. "But reading about your cases is very interesting." He paused briefly, debating on whether or not to ask them something. Seeing how attentive they were, he plunged ahead.
"The truth is, I want to write an article for the Times but I need something that will get the editor's attention. I was wondering if, perhaps, I could interview you two?" Tripplett asked hopefully.
Joe looked at Frank. 'Your call,' his eyes said.
"I suppose that could be arranged," Frank said. But not until after I check you out, he added silently. "Perhaps you could give us a call - say Thursday, or Friday afternoon?"
"That would be great!" Tripplett enthused. "Thanks!" he added and bid them goodbye.
"You shouldn't be so surprised," Vanessa told them, smiling proudly at Joe. "You two are pretty famous around here and everyone knows you don't give interviews except on rare occasions."
Frank exchanged a rueful grin with his brother. "Guess we got worried over nothing, huh? I'll meet you two over at Mr. Pizza." He watched closely while Joe and Vanessa returned to the van, then went to where his motorcycle was parked, and headed for the pizza place.
After their arrival, the Hardys and Vanessa were soon joined by Biff Hooper and his girlfriend Karen, and Chet Morton and his best girl, Helen. Frank definitely felt himself to be the odd man out, being the only one dateless, but still managed to have a good time, and the early evening passed quickly as the teens ate pizza, talked about the movie, and laughed and joked.
When the party broke up, it was still early, but Vanessa claimed to have a report to write which she hadn't even started yet, and which was due on Monday, plus she was worried that Joe was becoming overtired after his numerous injuries of the past few days. She and Joe got once again into the Hardys' van, and Joe drove to the Bender home, with Frank following him closely on his motorcycle. He didn't wish to take any chances with Joe's safety - or Vanessa's, for that matter! While Joe bid Vanessa a tender goodnight, Frank dragged out the collapsible loading ramp from the back of the van, then pulled his motorcycle into the vehicle. Joe joined him a few minutes later, and they drove home together.
"Guess that prediction didn't come true," Joe commented, as they pulled into the driveway.
"It did to a point," Frank corrected him. "I did think someone was following you - well, Dale Tripplett was following you, actually! - but then, we were in the mind frame for it. After reading that chapter, we were expecting it."
"You think maybe the author knows we know what she's up to?" Joe asked.
Frank seemed to think it over, then shrugged. "How could she, unless..."
"Unless?" Joe pushed, as his brother fell silent.
"Unless she is someone we know!"
When they went into the house, they found their mother watching television in the living room. She smiled and accepted their kisses hello, then told them that she had received a surprising phone call.
"My car is repaired!" she announced. "Rob Daltry, the mechanic, said we could go ahead and pick it up any time over the weekend, and square the bill on Monday." Mr. Daltry had done repair work numerous times for the Hardys, and knew the charges would be paid; this wasn't the first time he had gone out of his way to get them a car returned out of normal business hours.
"Want to go get it now?" Joe gave Frank an inquiring look.
"In a minute," Frank nodded. "First, though, I want to check for any new chapters up, in Truth and Consequences."
Accordingly, the boys checked the website, but found nothing new posted. Even the message board seemed deserted.
"We can check it again when we get home." Joe commented, and the two boys left to pick up Mrs. Hardy's car. On the way to the garage, they discussed plans for the rest of the evening. Joe indicated that he wanted to stop by Phil Cohen's house, and see if Phil had found anything out about the web mistress's profile.
"Okay, sounds good." Frank nodded, as he got out of the van at Bayport Auto Body. "I'll pick up Mom's car, go back home and log on, and keep an eye out for any new developments."
When Joe arrived at the Cohen home and rang the doorbell, Phil opened the door.
"Come on in," he invited.
"Did you find anything?" Joe demanded, foregoing preliminary remarks in his impatience to find out anything about the mysterious Mystique.
"Yeah…but you aren't going to like it." Phil told him.
"What is it?" Joe demanded. He expected Phil to tell him it was someone from school - whether student or teacher, Joe didn't know.
"It's your address," Phil said unhappily. "And the site fees were charged to Laura Hardy, on a Mastercard account."
"WHAT?" Joe exploded. "That's preposterous!"
"I know, I know," Phil tried to soothe him a little. "But like it or not, Joe, that's what the info came up."
"Well, it's not Mom!" Joe said hotly. "Whoever is running that site is a computer hacker! Did you get any information we could use at all?" he asked, more calmly.
"No, sorry." Phil shook his head. "There just wasn't anything there."
"Can we check the site from your computer?" Joe asked then. "Maybe there's new messages, or even a new chapter up."
"Sure - everything's downstairs; you know that. Let's go."
When the boys accessed the website, they never got to the message board, for indeed, another chapter of Truth and Consequences had just been posted. Joe and Phil read it, avidly.
"Jeremy arrives home from his date…finds - what?" Joe broke off, aghast.
"Finds his mother unconscious on the sofa," Phil took up the narrative breathlessly. "He starts towards her, and something strikes him on the back of his head…."
"When he comes to, he and his mother are gagged and bound to chairs, backs together in the center of the room…and…and…" Joe choked over the words.
"And the room is on fire!" Phil breathed.
"Come on! We've got to get over there!" Joe leaped up from his chair and darted towards the basement stairs, with Phil racing after him. The boys hurled themselves into the van, and Joe drove as rapidly as he dared to the Hardy home. He pulled up beside the curb with a screech of brakes, and jumped from the van, staring in horror at the living room window, where smoke could be seen billowing outward!
"Y-yeah…" Joe eyed him warily, but extended his own hand.
"I've seen your photo in the newspapers before, and I've always wanted to meet you. I've never known a teenage detective before. I was thrilled when I spotted you in the theater; couldn't believe my luck!" Dale Tripplett enthused, pumping a stunned Joe's hand.
"Hey Joe, what's up?" It was Frank, hurrying down the sidewalk but trying to look as if he wasn't hurrying. He had been slowed down by the crush of people exiting the theater, and had experienced a moment of panic when he saw the stranger looming over Joe. But to his surprise, he found Joe blushing and shaking the man's hand!
"This is Dale Tripplett," Joe introduced their fan to his brother. "Apparently, he wanted to meet me…us." he added. "Dale, this is my brother Frank." He smiled, as Vanessa opened the door of the van and climbed out. "And this is Vanessa Bender."
"How do you do - nice to meet you." Dale Tripplett bobbed his head and spoke rapidly. "Wow, both of you are here? I didn't see you inside, Frank - wow, this is so exciting! I love reading about the things you do, in the Times."
"You read the Bayport Times a lot, huh?" Frank inquired carefully. He looked carefully at Tripplett. Tightly curled brown hair…mid-twenties…about Joe's height. That is awfully close to the description Ms. Westerman gave Joe for the intruder in her house.
"Well, yeah - it's sort of an integral part of my job." Tripplett answered. "I work for the Times!"
"Oh? Is it enjoyable work?" Frank made polite conversation, mentally making a note to check out the guy, once he got home. He intended to leave nothing to chance!
"Oh, I'm just a copy boy," Dale Tripplett admitted. "But reading about your cases is very interesting." He paused briefly, debating on whether or not to ask them something. Seeing how attentive they were, he plunged ahead.
"The truth is, I want to write an article for the Times but I need something that will get the editor's attention. I was wondering if, perhaps, I could interview you two?" Tripplett asked hopefully.
Joe looked at Frank. 'Your call,' his eyes said.
"I suppose that could be arranged," Frank said. But not until after I check you out, he added silently. "Perhaps you could give us a call - say Thursday, or Friday afternoon?"
"That would be great!" Tripplett enthused. "Thanks!" he added and bid them goodbye.
"You shouldn't be so surprised," Vanessa told them, smiling proudly at Joe. "You two are pretty famous around here and everyone knows you don't give interviews except on rare occasions."
Frank exchanged a rueful grin with his brother. "Guess we got worried over nothing, huh? I'll meet you two over at Mr. Pizza." He watched closely while Joe and Vanessa returned to the van, then went to where his motorcycle was parked, and headed for the pizza place.
After their arrival, the Hardys and Vanessa were soon joined by Biff Hooper and his girlfriend Karen, and Chet Morton and his best girl, Helen. Frank definitely felt himself to be the odd man out, being the only one dateless, but still managed to have a good time, and the early evening passed quickly as the teens ate pizza, talked about the movie, and laughed and joked.
When the party broke up, it was still early, but Vanessa claimed to have a report to write which she hadn't even started yet, and which was due on Monday, plus she was worried that Joe was becoming overtired after his numerous injuries of the past few days. She and Joe got once again into the Hardys' van, and Joe drove to the Bender home, with Frank following him closely on his motorcycle. He didn't wish to take any chances with Joe's safety - or Vanessa's, for that matter! While Joe bid Vanessa a tender goodnight, Frank dragged out the collapsible loading ramp from the back of the van, then pulled his motorcycle into the vehicle. Joe joined him a few minutes later, and they drove home together.
"Guess that prediction didn't come true," Joe commented, as they pulled into the driveway.
"It did to a point," Frank corrected him. "I did think someone was following you - well, Dale Tripplett was following you, actually! - but then, we were in the mind frame for it. After reading that chapter, we were expecting it."
"You think maybe the author knows we know what she's up to?" Joe asked.
Frank seemed to think it over, then shrugged. "How could she, unless..."
"Unless?" Joe pushed, as his brother fell silent.
"Unless she is someone we know!"
When they went into the house, they found their mother watching television in the living room. She smiled and accepted their kisses hello, then told them that she had received a surprising phone call.
"My car is repaired!" she announced. "Rob Daltry, the mechanic, said we could go ahead and pick it up any time over the weekend, and square the bill on Monday." Mr. Daltry had done repair work numerous times for the Hardys, and knew the charges would be paid; this wasn't the first time he had gone out of his way to get them a car returned out of normal business hours.
"Want to go get it now?" Joe gave Frank an inquiring look.
"In a minute," Frank nodded. "First, though, I want to check for any new chapters up, in Truth and Consequences."
Accordingly, the boys checked the website, but found nothing new posted. Even the message board seemed deserted.
"We can check it again when we get home." Joe commented, and the two boys left to pick up Mrs. Hardy's car. On the way to the garage, they discussed plans for the rest of the evening. Joe indicated that he wanted to stop by Phil Cohen's house, and see if Phil had found anything out about the web mistress's profile.
"Okay, sounds good." Frank nodded, as he got out of the van at Bayport Auto Body. "I'll pick up Mom's car, go back home and log on, and keep an eye out for any new developments."
When Joe arrived at the Cohen home and rang the doorbell, Phil opened the door.
"Come on in," he invited.
"Did you find anything?" Joe demanded, foregoing preliminary remarks in his impatience to find out anything about the mysterious Mystique.
"Yeah…but you aren't going to like it." Phil told him.
"What is it?" Joe demanded. He expected Phil to tell him it was someone from school - whether student or teacher, Joe didn't know.
"It's your address," Phil said unhappily. "And the site fees were charged to Laura Hardy, on a Mastercard account."
"WHAT?" Joe exploded. "That's preposterous!"
"I know, I know," Phil tried to soothe him a little. "But like it or not, Joe, that's what the info came up."
"Well, it's not Mom!" Joe said hotly. "Whoever is running that site is a computer hacker! Did you get any information we could use at all?" he asked, more calmly.
"No, sorry." Phil shook his head. "There just wasn't anything there."
"Can we check the site from your computer?" Joe asked then. "Maybe there's new messages, or even a new chapter up."
"Sure - everything's downstairs; you know that. Let's go."
When the boys accessed the website, they never got to the message board, for indeed, another chapter of Truth and Consequences had just been posted. Joe and Phil read it, avidly.
"Jeremy arrives home from his date…finds - what?" Joe broke off, aghast.
"Finds his mother unconscious on the sofa," Phil took up the narrative breathlessly. "He starts towards her, and something strikes him on the back of his head…."
"When he comes to, he and his mother are gagged and bound to chairs, backs together in the center of the room…and…and…" Joe choked over the words.
"And the room is on fire!" Phil breathed.
"Come on! We've got to get over there!" Joe leaped up from his chair and darted towards the basement stairs, with Phil racing after him. The boys hurled themselves into the van, and Joe drove as rapidly as he dared to the Hardy home. He pulled up beside the curb with a screech of brakes, and jumped from the van, staring in horror at the living room window, where smoke could be seen billowing outward!