Chapter 2

As Frank slowly started to come to he stared up into the concerned faces of Joe, Chet, Sara, and someone he had never seen.

"What?" he said. "Where am I?"

"You are in my office," the stranger said.

"This is my dad, Benjamin Ball," Sara said in answer to his first question.

"That guy in the orange hat, did he get away?" Frank asked remembering what had happened.

"Unfortunately yes, but Mr. Ball has heard of our reputation and would like to tell us some things. We were waiting for you to get better first," Joe said. "What is it Mr. Ball?"

"Well, that theft was one of many that have happened here so far at the show. We have called the police and they haven't found a thing, and I was wondering if you and your brother could do a little investigating for me?"

"Of course," Frank said. "Besides, I would like to get that guy who kicked me," he said rubbing his sore chin.

"Great! I will get you some passes so that you can go anywhere in the building. Oh-do you need three? One for Chet here?"

"Yes!" Chet said quickly before anyone could object. "That would be great."

"Mr. Ball, before you go can we ask you some questions?" Joe said.

"I can't right now, I have other business to attend to, but Sara will fill you in on what has been happening and we can meet at say, 9:00 in the morning?"

"That will be fine with us," Frank said. "Why don't we go grab something to eat and you can fill us in on the things that have happened around here, Sara."

"Sure, I know this great Chinese place right down the street. Let's go there."

After they sat down and ordered, Chet, who everyone could tell was about to die if he didn't find out what had been happening at the show finally asked, "Alright, what has been going on around here?"

"Well, let's see," Sara started off. "As soon as my dad started advertising this show, which he has been dreaming of doing for about ten years now, he started getting threatening letters. They said different things like, 'Quit the show or else you and your family won't live to see tomorrow,'and things like that. He got about three of those-all very similar. My dad, of course, just brushed them off and thought they were just pranks, and he continued on with the show. Well almost as soon as the show got going things started going bad for him. The first day five people, who looked to be about twentyish, came running in here and just took money out of different booth's cash-boxes. Then the next day two people walked in and threatened my dad personally. They said that if he didn't stop the show they would have to get rough. And now with what happened today, I don't think my dad can hang on financially any longer. He might have to quit the show!"

"Whew. Lets hope that we can catch these guys and not let them ruin your dad's dream!" Joe responded enthusiastically causing a couple heads to turn, he immediately calmed down after that.

Rolling his eyes at his brother, Frank said, "Sara, do you think you could introduce us to Morgan Houston tomorrow? We would really like to meet him and ask him some questions also."

"Sure, no problem. Just come on over to my booth after your meeting with my dad."

"Great! Frank exclaimed, just let me get this bill and we can all go home and get some rest."

After accompanying Sara to her house in New York, the Hardys and Chet went to a nearby hotel and checked into a room. The rooms were nice and had purple carpets and bedsheets. The walls were painted white, and the beds, Chet noticed right away as he plopped himself onto one of the beds, were very luxurious.

"I think I will go get something out of the vending machine," Joe said.

"I'll go with you," Chet said.

"How can you two get more to eat? You just had a great dinner and you want more! Whatever-go ahead-I am going to take a shower," Frank said. But he didn't think they heard him as they were already racing down the purple halls towards the elevators.

When Chet and Joe got back Frank was still in the shower so they watched some TV for a while. When Frank got out he got dressed for bed and went to check his email on his laptop. "Hey Joe, take a look at this," Frank said. "It is an email from someone I don't know and look what it says."

"WOW!" Joe said after he read the email, which said this: Hardys quit your snooping now before you see the bottom of the lake, PERMINATELY! "How could someone already know we are on the case?"

Authors Notes: Sorry this chapter and the chapter before are so short; I am new at writing and am working on getting the chapters longer.

I would like to thank LazyPanther and Catie-brie, Thanks you two.

If the rest of you would please review be it criticism or compliment. I would appreciate them both.

SnakeDude100