Bound for Danger by Franklin W. Dixon

daytime TV.”
    â€œAmen,” said Frank.
    â€œWow.” I sat stock-still, thinking this over. Suddenly my appetite was gone. I pushed my tray away.
    â€œSo we can add some attributes to these masked hazers, whoever they are,” said Frank. “They have major tech savvy. They must have a hacker among them.”
    â€œAnd they use their skills to ruin lives, ” I said, crinkling my napkin into a little ball. “Frank, this is getting serious. I know you want to defeat these bullies. But I think we have to go to Gerther now—”
    â€œNO!” cried Frank. “Then they win!”
    I shook my head. “Let me finish. We go to Gerther and tell him what’s happened. Then we at least get to find out whyhe wanted us to join the team. You and I both know this isn’t really about our lack of extracurriculars.”
    Frank was quiet, apparently thinking that over. “You’ve had worse ideas,” he admitted finally.
    â€œWe need more details,” I went on. “Whoever these guys are, they’re a formidable enemy. We need Gerther to know how bad this is, and we need all the information he has, if he wants us to solve the problem.”
    â€œYou’re right,” Frank said, looking down at his sandwich. “And maybe talking to him will bring my appetite back. Shall we go now?”
    I stood and threw my tray into the nearest trash can. I felt bad about wasting the daily special, but we had bigger fish to fry. (Not that the daily special was fish. At least, I didn’t think so.)
    We lost no time in making our way to the office. Inside, the receptionist was on the phone. We waited patiently, staring at Gerther’s closed door. So he’s in there with a student, I thought.
    Finally the receptionist hung up the phone and looked up at us. “Yes?”
    â€œWe’re here to see Principal Gerther,” Frank said.
    â€œI’m afraid that’s impossible,” the receptionist replied.
    â€œLook,” I said, “I don’t mean to be rude, but we’re not going to take no for an answer. We have something of great importance to discuss with Principal Gerther. It’s an emergency. Can you tell him that Frank and Joe Hardy are here, and it’s urgent?”
    The receptionist blinked at me, unimpressed. “I’m sorry, I can’t do that, young man.”
    â€œWhy not ?”asked Frank. “Don’t tell me he told you not to let us in. Did he tell you not to let us in?”
    Now the receptionist turned and blinked at Frank. “May I suggest that you two cut down on the caffeine?” she asked. “To answer your question, I can’t do that because Principal Gerther is out today. He took a personal day. Now, would you like to leave a message for him?”
    A personal day? I looked at Frank. I could tell he was thinking the same thing I was. Principal Gerther has a life?
    â€œNo,” said Frank, looking a little sheepish. “We’ll, uh, come back tomorrow.”
    â€œHe’s out tomorrow, too,” the receptionist said, turning back to her computer. “Try the day after.”
    â€œOkay, the day after,” Frank said.
    He looked at me and nodded toward the door. I wished I hadn’t thrown away my lunch. What was I going to do for the next twenty minutes until the bell rang?
    Then I saw a familiar face stalk into the office and take a quick right, into the mailroom.
    Coach Perotta.
    I nudged Frank and pointed at him. Frank looked, then turned back to me, eyes wide.
    â€œCoach Perotta,” he whispered, stating the obvious.
    â€œWhy didn’t we think of talking to him?” I whispered back.
    Frank shrugged. “I’m not sure. I guess it’s possible he already knows about the hazing.”
    â€œBut if he doesn’t ,” I hissed, “he should . And maybe hecan help us figure out who’s behind it.”
    We both turned and watched as Coach Perotta