"No, just badly bruised," Nathan admitted. "Sorry about missing our lab experiment."
"Don't worry about it," Joe told him. "Did you see anyone hanging around the gym who shouldn't have been?" he asked.
"I don't remember seeing anyone. Why?" Nathan asked.
"It just seems strange that all those balls would come tumbling out at you," Joe commented.
"Why?" Nathan pressed.
"Our dad taught us that in a mystery there are no coincidences," Joe answered.
"What mystery?" Mr. Little demanded.
"Mr. Johnson was murdered yesterday," Nathan told his parents.
"How terrible!" Mrs. Little said. "Who would have wanted to kill your history teacher?"
"And what does it have to do with someone hurting Nathan?" Mr. Little demanded, staring angrily at Joe.
"I guess I had better come clean," Nathan said in a small voice, causing his parents to turn and look at him in wonder.
"Want me to stay?" Joe offered.
Nathan shook his head. "No," he said. "I'm not proud of caving in, but I'm not afraid to take the consequences either," he said. "And Joe," he added as Joe got up to leave the room. "I didn't kill him. I kind of enjoyed it and getting good grades was a plus."
Joe's stomach clenched, but he nodded and left the room. He went down the hall and got into the elevator, wondering why someone would want to kill Nathan. Johnson he could understand, but Nathan was a victim. A willing victim, apparently, but a victim none-the-less.
Joe headed outside to his motorcycle, groaning when he saw it. Someone had gotten at his tires. 'What next?' he wondered as a pale green Acura pulled up next to him.
"Stanley?" Joe asked in surprise when the driver emerged.
"Hey, Joe!" Stanley said, noticing Joe. "What are you doing here?"
"Nathan got hurt so I came to visit him," Joe explained. "What are you doing here?"
"My grandmother is on the fourth floor," Stanley replied. He did a double take when he saw Joe's bike. "What happened?"
"Someone doesn't like me," Joe said with a grimace. "I guess I'll have to call Frank for a ride home."
"I'll give you a lift," Stanley offered, coming over to stand by Joe.
"That's okay," Joe said, bending over the bike to look for more damage. "Frank won't mind."
"But I do," Stanley said, a gleam in his eye as Joe stood up in surprise and whirled around.
"Huh?"
Joe's vocal demand was met with a right hook, which sent Joe reeling backwards into his bike. The bike crashed to the concrete lot with Joe on top of it. Stanley stood staring down at Joe as he lay unconscious among the metal.
"Is Joe home yet?" Frank asked, coming into the living room where his parents were watching the evening news.
"He stopped in and said he was going to the hospital to visit a friend of his," his mom answered.
"Who?" Frank asked, his face wrinkled in concern.
"Nathan," Mr. Hardy answered. "I don't believe I know him."
"He was one of the suspects Sergeant Talbolt came up with," Frank explained. "Joe was supposed to be working with him on a lab experiment today after school," he added with a frown. "I think I'll run over to the hospital and see how he's doing."
"Okay," Mrs. Hardy said. "Dinner will be ready at seven," she added. "I want you both to be on time."
"We will," he promised, smiling at her. He went outside and climbed in the van and headed over to the hospital. He went to the nurses' station and inquired which room Nathan Little was in. A few minutes later, he arrived at the door.
"Hello," Frank said, poking his head into the hospital room. Nathan lay on the bed staring up at the ceiling while his parents each sat in a chair on either side of him. His mother had been crying and was holding his hand.
"Yes?" Mr. Little asked, looking over at Frank as he entered the room.
"Hi, I'm Frank Hardy," he introduced himself.
"Joe's brother," Nathan acknowledged.
"Right," he admitted. "I was looking for Joe," he added. "I thought he might still be here."
"He left around an hour ago," Nathan told him. "Why?" he asked, his brow furrowing. "Is he in trouble?"
"I hope not," Frank replied, a little worried because Joe should have been home if he had left that long ago. "What happened to you?" he asked.
Nathan told Frank about his accident in gym class. He then added Joe's response to the accident. "Do you think Joe went back to the school to check it out?"
"Knowing Joe, I'd say that is exactly what he did," Frank admitted. "I'd better run and see if he needs any help," he added. "Feel better," he added, leaving.
Frank pulled into the parking lot at the school and looked around for Joe's bike. He didn't see it but he decided to go in and look around the gym anyway. He met Mr. Phillips, the janitor, as he was entering the building.
"It's after hours," he told Frank. "You aren't supposed to be here."
"I know," Frank replied. "But I was wondering if you had seen Joe this evening?"
"Not since he left about three thirty," was Mr. Phillips reply. "Did you expect him to come back?"
"Kind of," Frank admitted with a frown. "There was an accident earlier today near the equipment room," he continued. "I thought he might have come to look around."
"Principal Dylan told me you and Joe would be investigating Johnson's death, but he never said anything about the Little boy's accident," Mr. Phillips said suspiciously.
"There might be a connection," Frank informed him.
"Well then, I guess it's okay if you have a look around. Don't go messing anything up though. I had a hard time getting all that stuff put back"
"You have already taken care of the place?" Frank inquired, disappointed. At his nod, Frank asked, "Did you notice what had caused the balls to go rolling out?"
"Mischief!" Mr. Phillips shouted in disgust. "Some hoodlum had cut the nets holding the balls."
"Where are the nets now?" Frank asked.
"On their way to the dump."
"Okay, then," Frank said with a sigh. "I won't need to go in now. Thanks for your help," he added.
"Anytime," Mr. Phillips said, waving at Frank as he ambled away.
Frank left the school and climbed back into the van. He called home. "Is Joe there yet?" he asked his father when he had answered.
"No," Mr. Hardy answered, his face mirroring the concern his eldest son's was showing across town. "Are you still at the hospital?"
"No," Frank replied and told his father about Nathan's accident and what the janitor at school had told him.
"Come home," Mr. Hardy told Frank.
"But..." Frank began only to be interrupted.
"But nothing," snapped his father. "You don't know where Joe is and there isn't anything you can do until we plan a course of action."
Frank gritted his teeth, knowing his father was right but not wanting to admit it. "I'll be home in a few minutes," he said, finally.
"Mmmm," Joe groaned, moving his head sideways.
"Well, look who has finally rejoined the living," Stanley sneered down at Joe who had his hands tied behind his back.
"St..Stanley," Joe whispered, looking up at him. It hurt his head to look much less think. "What...why.." he kept beginning, never finishing his questions.
"What does it really matter what happened or why I killed Johnson?" Stanley demanded. "You won't care about anything soon."