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in on an initiation prank, so he was down in the basement. But he had recognized Wendell Logan’s laugh while getting punched down there. It looked as though Biff hadn’t even been involved, although he must have had some idea of what was going tohappen. Certainly, he knew where to go. That makes at least four people who were aware of the plan….
    Plus the four guys who actually grabbed the books. And then add in the victims. The school basement must have been pretty crowded.
    Having made a start by putting faces on the bullies, Frank decided to try to identify the other side.
    He headed down to the cafeteria. Most of the kids had finished eating lunch and were going outside. Frank caught Dan Freeman just as he was moving out the door.
    â€œLooks like someone really hung one on you,” Frank said.
    â€œMore than one.” Dan’s lips tightened when he turned and realized he was talking to Frank. Then he winced in pain.
    Dan’s voice was nasty when he spoke again. “I saw you hanging around after class to speak to Mr. Weeks. So, are you and your brother going to clear up the big mystery?”
    He jammed his hands in his pockets. “Except it doesn’t look like much of a mystery. Just another case of jocks versus nerds. This time, though, one of the jocks took things a little too far. He wound up taking out one of his own guys. Typical genius maneuver.”
    Frank had hoped to work a few questions into a casual conversation. Kiss that plan goodbye, hethought. Dan read me like a book. And from the way he’s talking, he wants to cut off any conversation before it starts.
    â€œI don’t think Chet hit Biff,” Frank said to Dan’s back as he started to walk away.
    The other boy turned around. “Whoop-de-doo. I don’t care, Hardy. Since yesterday, I’ve had more people than I can count asking me questions about this nonsense. They want names of kids who might have gone downstairs to the basement. They want me to ID the goons who were waiting for us. Did I see Hooper? Did I see Morton?”
    Dan’s bruised lips were set in an ugly line. “And you know what? I didn’t tell them anything.
Nada.”
    Frank stared, a little surprised. “Don’t you want—”
    â€œI want to get out of this school and start my real life,” Dan Freeman cut him off. “I want to put this whole thing behind me. So don’t expect me to play detective games with you.”
    The bruised boy began stalking off, but he turned for one last word. “You want to help out your old teammate? Fine. Good for you.”
    Freeman jabbed a thumb at his own chest. “Just don’t expect
me
to get all teary eyed because some muscle-headed jock got what he deserved.”

9 Hits and Misses
    Frank was surprised at the spurt of anger that shot through him. “And here I thought you were a smart guy, Freeman,” he said sarcastically.
    Dan Freeman glared back at Frank. “What’s the problem? I don’t have enough school spirit?”
    â€œYou don’t have your facts straight,” Frank told him. “Bad debating technique.”
    Dan had easily shrugged off taunts from Terry Golden, but Frank’s words made him shake with rage.
    Good thing he hasn’t got a shovel handy, Frank thought.
    â€œWhat
facts?
” Freeman made it sound like a dirty word.
    â€œFor one thing, Biff wasn’t one of the guys who grabbed the bags,” Frank said.
    â€œThere were more guys than—” Dan abruptly bit off his words. “Nice try, Hardy.”
    â€œThat wasn’t a try, that was a fact. Here’s another. My brother was in the locker room when Biff heard this whole thing going down. Biff got pretty upset.”
    â€œUpset over missing out on all the fun?” Dan shot back. “He rushed right down when he heard about it.”
    â€œThat’s not what my third fact shows,” Frank replied. “And this I