“Well, what do we do now?” Joe said as they stood in front of Tony’s house trying to determine their next move. “Except for Adam Ackerman, we’ve asked all the people we know around here, so . . .”

  “I wonder who lives there now,” Frank said.

  “Lives where?” Joe asked.

  “See that brick house down the street, the one where the shrubs need to be trimmed badly?” Frank said. “The For Sale sign is gone.”

  “I hadn’t noticed,” Joe said. “It was empty a long time.”

  “Let’s find out,” Frank said. “We’ve got a good excuse for ringing the doorbell.”

  The Hardy boys headed down the street.

  “Wow!” Joe said. “This front yard looks like a jungle!”

  “We could get lost in here and never find our way back,” Frank added.

  Together, they pushed their way through the overgrown shrubbery, mounted the front steps, and rang the doorbell.

  When the door finally opened, they were both speechless for a minute.

  Finally Joe said, “Max the Magician!”

  Max grinned. “In the flesh,” he said. “If you’re looking for another magic show, though, you’ll have to pay for it!”

  Frank bit his tongue to keep from saying what he was thinking. “No, we’re looking for a missing dog,” he said. “It’s a prizewinning Chihuahua named Charlie.”

  “It belongs to our neighbor, Mrs. Briar,” Joe added. “Have you seen it? Or have your parents?”

  Max just grinned at them for a moment, then said, “Why? Did it disappear?”

  Frank and Joe looked at each other.

  “Yes, Max,” Frank said. “That’s why we’re asking you!”

  Max continued to smile. “Sorry,” he finally said as he started to shut the door, “but I don’t discuss my magic secrets with anyone!”

  4

  What’s the Why?

  Frank and Joe stood on Max’s front porch staring at the closed door.

  “If you made Charlie disappear, Max,” Joe shouted, “that’s a crime!”

  “Joe!” Frank said. “Who are you talking to?”

  “I bet he’s still standing there behind the door,” Joe told his brother. “He’s probably waiting to see what we’re going to do next.”

  “We’re going to go home, that’s what,” Frank said. “We need to talk to Dad about what our next move should be.”

  “Good idea,” Joe said.

  Mr. Hardy was pulling into the driveway when Frank and Joe got to their house.

  “Hello, boys!” Mr. Hardy shouted to them as he got out of his car. “Are you just now getting home from school?”

  “No, sir,” Joe said. “We’ve been looking for Charlie.”

  “You mean Charlie has disappeared?” Mr. Hardy asked.

  Frank nodded. “That’s exactly what we mean, Dad,” he said, “and we need to talk to you about the exact meaning of the word ‘disappeared.’ “

  Mr. Hardy blinked. “Well, I must say, this sounds like a perfect conversation for the dinner table,” he said, “so let’s go inside and get ready.”

  • • • •

  After Mr. Hardy changed clothes, he joined the rest of the family in the dining room.

  “It’s Italian night,” Mrs. Hardy informed them. She held up a book. “I’ve been reading this wonderful novel set in southern Italy. The different kinds of pizzas the family ate sounded so delicious that I got a book on Italian cooking, and . . . well, here they are.”

  “They look and smell wonderful, dear,” Mr. Hardy said. He took a slice of the first pizza and passed the pan to Frank and Joe.

  “That’s Pizza Margherita, named for Queen Margherita of Italy in 1889,” Mrs. Hardy said. “It has tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and basil.” She smiled. “Red, white, and green: the colors of the Italian flag!”

  Mrs. Hardy pointed to a second pan. “And that’s a Roman pizza,” she said. “It has a thin crust and not as much cheese.”

  For the next several minutes, while Mrs. Hardy gave everyone the history of pizza, Frank, Joe, and Mr. Hardy helped themselves to slices of other types from around Italy.

  After they had all finished eating, Mrs. Hardy held up another book and said, “I’m starting this novel tomorrow. It’s set in Moscow. So next week be prepared for a Russian dinner!”

  “We’ll be ready, Mom!” Frank and Joe said.

  “That goes for me as well, dear,” Mr. Hardy said. He turned to Frank and Joe. “Okay, let’s talk about the disappearance of Charlie. From what you told me outside, you think ‘disappearance’ has another meaning in this particular case.”

  Frank and Joe nodded.

  Frank told their parents about his new classmate, Max O’Malley, and how Max was practically a professional magician.

  “Well, he sounds like a really interesting young man,” Mrs. Hardy said.

  “I think he’s a jerk,” Frank said.

  Mr. Hardy looked at him. “Frank! That’s not a very kind thing to say.”

  “Sorry, Dad,” Frank said. “I guess we should explain.”

  “That’s always a good idea,” Mrs. Hardy told them.

  “At school Max said he could make anyone disappear,” Joe said, “but I guess we all thought he was just bragging.”

  “We even joked about his making Adam Ackerman disappear,” Frank added.

  Mr. Hardy raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything.

  “When we got home, Mrs. Briar was standing on her front lawn. She told us that Charlie had disappeared,” Joe continued. “After we searched her backyard, we went around the neighborhood asking if anyone had seen him.”

  “No one had, until we got to that house a couple of blocks away,” Frank explained. “You know the one, with the shrubs in front that make it look like a jungle . . .”

  “Oh goodness, yes!” Mrs. Hardy said. “It’s terrible!”

  “Well, we knocked on the front door, and Max answered,” Joe said. “When we told him that Charlie had disappeared, he just grinned, making us think he was the one who had done it. And when we asked him if he had, all he said was that he never discussed his magic secrets with anyone.”

  “Max sure did make a lot of things appear and disappear at school, Dad,” Frank said, “so we think he could be behind what happened to Charlie.”

  Mr. Hardy rubbed his chin, then said, “Let’s start with the six W s.”

  Frank and Joe nodded. Several years ago their father had told them that the starting point for all cases, including the ones he worked on, should be with the answers to What, When, Where, Why, Who, and How—the six Ws. At first Joe had protested that “How” didn’t begin with W like the other words, but then Frank pointed out that it ended with w, which was just as good.

  “What is the disappearance of Charlie,” Joe said.

  “When is this afternoon,” Frank added.

  “Where is Mrs. Briar’s backyard,” Joe said, “and Why . . .”

  Just then the telephone rang, and Frank excused himself from the table to answer the extension in the kitchen. When he came back, he said, “That was Mrs. Briar. She said Charlie is home. He suddenly reappeared in her backyard.”

  “Well, well, well; that’s really strange,” Joe said. “It must have happened right after we talked to Max.”

  Frank thought for a minute. “I guess the Who is Max, and the How is magic . . .” He paused. “What we need to figure out now, though, is the Why!”

  5

  Snack Solution

  The next morning at school Frank spotted Max near one of the slides.

  “How did you find him so fast?” Joe asked Frank.

  “I looked for a crowd,” Frank said with a grin. “I knew Max would be in the center of it.”

  “Come on,” Joe said. “Let’s see what he’s up to now.”

  As they approached, Max noticed them and grinned.

  “Smart move making Charlie reappear, O’Malley,” Frank said.

  “But most people in Bayport don’t like it when their pets disappear,” Joe added.

  Now Max gave them an even bigger grin.

  “Did you make someone’s pet disappear, Max?” one of the second graders asked. “That is so cool.”

  “No, it’s not!” Frank told him. “How would you like it if one of your pets disappeared?”

  The second grader turned to him. “I can’t stand my sister’s cat. It’s mean! It’s always scratching me.” He turned back to Max. “Do you think you could make it disappear?”

  “We’ll talk later,” Max told him.

  “Max!” Joe yelled, but Frank pulled him away.

  “This isn’t going to do any good,” Frank whispered. “He’s playing to the crowd now, Joe. He’ll say anything.”

  “Yeah, I know,” Joe finally agreed.

  “Come on,” Frank said. “We’ll just keep an eye on him during the day. That’s all we can do for now.”

  “You’re right,” Joe said. He shook his head. “I’m sure he’s going to try something else.”

  In class Frank made sure he watched Max’s every move. For the most part Max stayed in his seat, but since everyone was working on independent projects that included interviewing other members of the class, it was hard to keep up with everything Max was doing. He was almost always surrounded by other classmates.

  “He did it,” Frank muttered. “I know he did.”

  “Well, well,” Callie said, “Frank Hardy can actually talk.”

  Frank turned to her. “What did you say?”

  “I’ve been asking you the same question for at least the last ten minutes, Frank,” Callie said, “and you haven’t made a sound until this minute.” She frowned. “Are you all right?”

  “No, I’m not all right,” Frank whispered to her.

  “Spill it,” Callie whispered back.

  Frank told her about Max and Mrs. Briar’s dog. “Joe and I are sure he made Charlie disappear, and then reappear when he thought we were going to report him.”

  “Really?” Callie asked.

  Frank nodded. “Of course, he never actually admitted it,” he added. “He just kept giving us one of those silly grins.” He frowned at Callie. “Did you say you needed to ask me a question?”

  Callie nodded. “I’m doing my project on the need for more bicycle paths in Bayport,” she said. “What do you think?”

  “I’m in favor of them,” Frank said. “Joe and I like to ride our bikes after school. But the traffic in our part of town can be scary.”

  Callie took notes. “Okay,” she said. “Now, how do you feel about Bayport’s requiring everyone to give up automobiles for a day and only ride bicycles?”

  Frank thought for a minute. “Oh, I don’t know, Callie,” he said finally. “I don’t like thinking of my mom and dad on bicycles. It’s not a pretty sight.”

  Callie giggled. “I think I’ll forget that question,” she said.

  • • • •

  For the rest of the day, while they were in class, Frank made sure he knew everything Max was doing. Once they were outside, Joe took over. It was obvious they were the only two who were suspicious of Max. Everyone else seemed to think he was the coolest student in school.

  Max had an endless supply of tricks. When he wasn’t pulling eggs and quarters out of people’s ears, he was pulling baby chicks and rabbits out of his top hat.

  Even the teachers thought Max was terrific.

  “I think it’s a losing battle, Frank,” Joe whispered when he met his brother in front of the school for the walk home. “Max can do no wrong if you listen to what everyone else is saying.”

  “Detectives don’t give up, Joe,” Frank said. “That means we’re not giving up!”

  “Hey, look!” Joe whispered. “There’s Max now!”

  Frank looked down the street. Max was saying good-bye to some of the other kids, who were acting as though his leaving were the end of the world.

  “I think I’m going to throw up,” Joe said.

  “There’s no time for that now, Joe,” Frank said. “We need to follow Max to make sure he doesn’t make someone else’s pet disappear!”

  Frank and Joe gave Max enough of a head start that he’d only know he was being followed if he turned around and stared back down the street. From time to time, though, they hid behind bushes if they thought Max was getting suspicious.

  “Do you think he knows we’re following him?” Joe whispered.

  “It’s hard to tell with him,” Frank whispered back. “We just need to be careful.”

  Frank and Joe weren’t prepared for Max’s twirls, though. All of a sudden Max whirled around, facing in their direction, but instead of calling out to them he gave a couple of quick bows.

  Frank and Joe dived for the nearest shrub.

  “Aw, man!” Frank whispered. “He must have known we were following him all along.”

  “I don’t think so, Frank,” Joe whispered back. He peered through the branches of the shrub. “He’s still giving bows.”

  Frank frowned. “Let me see,” he said, looking. “I can’t believe it,” he marveled. “He’s practicing for his magic show. Wow! Is he full of himself or what?”

  They sat behind the shrub for a few more minutes, then peeked out again to see if Max had started back down the street.

  “Where did he go?” Joe said.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Frank said. “He just disappeared!”

  “I’m beginning to hate that word,” Joe said. “Come on. Let’s go home.”

  Just as the Hardys turned onto their street, though, they saw Mrs. Briar out in her front yard again.

  “Oh no,” Frank said. “I don’t like the looks of this!”

  “Mrs. Briar!” Frank called. “Is everything all right?”

  “No, it isn’t!” Mrs. Briar called back. “I put Charlie outside to get some fresh air, but when I went to give him his favorite snack, he wasn’t there anymore!”

  “Max!” Joe muttered.

  “His favorite snack!” Frank exclaimed. “That’s how we can get Charlie back, Joe!”

  6

  The Horrible Smell

  I think we figured out how to get Charlie back,” Frank said to Mrs. Briar. “We need some of his favorite snacks.”

  “Well, I guess I could do that,” Mrs. Briar said, “but how will you know where he is to give it to him?”

  “Is this the snack that he always goes crazy for?” Joe asked. He remembered being in Mrs. Briar’s backyard once when Charlie almost knocked him down to get this treat.

  “Well, this is a new one, Joe, not the one you might remember,” Mrs. Briar said with an embarrassed grin. “It’s made from liver, mostly. I think it has a horrible smell, but Charlie thinks it’s the most wonderful thing on earth!” She pointed to the porch. “There’s the box. Take as many as you want if you think they’ll bring my precious Charlie back home!”

  “Oh, I’m sure this will work,” Frank said. He winked at Joe. “We have a plan all figured out.”

  Before they were halfway to the porch, Joe said, “Whoa—is that smell coming from the treats?”

  Mrs. Briar smiled. “Yup,” she said. “They’re kind of strong, aren’t they?”

  “Yes, ma’am!” Frank managed to gasp.

  Frank and Joe looked at each other. They weren’t sure now that this plan would work, but there was no turning back. They had told Mrs. Briar they would return Charlie. So they’d just have to put up with one of the worst odors they had ever smelled.

  Mrs. Briar poured a cupful for Frank and one for Joe. “Now, boys, I don’t usually give Charlie this many at once, although I’m sure he’d eat them,” she said, “but it might take almost this many to coax him back from wherever he keeps going.”

  “Thanks, Mrs. Briar,” Frank said. He was trying not to gag.

  Joe swallowed hard and managed to add, “We’ll get him back for you, Mrs. Briar!” Even if it kills us, he thought, and right now I’m almost sure it will!

  Frank and Joe hurriedly left Mrs. Briar’s backyard.

  “Oh, man, have you ever smelled anything so awful?” Joe said. “What’s with that dog, that he likes this stuff?”

  “There’s no accounting for taste,” Frank said. He stopped and looked around. “Fill all your pockets with these snacks, and then we’re going to—”

  “Are you nuts?” Joe exclaimed.

  “Joe! This plan is foolproof. I know what I’m doing,” Frank said decidedly. “We’ll not only get Charlie back, we’ll expose Max for the fake he is!”

  “Hey!” Joe said. “I can live with that!” He took a deep breath and held it while he stuffed his pockets with the liver treats. Frank did the same.

  “Now then, we’re going to Max’s house,” Frank said, “and when we get there, just follow my lead.”

  “Okay, brother, I’m in your hands,” Joe said.

  Frank and Joe walked as fast as they could down the street, around a corner, and down two more blocks until they reached Max’s house. Joe rang the bell.

  When Max answered, Frank pushed past him, saying, “We came to apologize. We want to be friends, Max! Why don’t you show us your room?”

  Stunned, Max just stood at the front door as Joe rushed in too.

  “We need to get the scent of these snacks all over the house,” Frank whispered to Joe, “so that Charlie will smell it and start barking.”

  “Gotcha,” Joe whispered back.

  “What are you two doing?” Max demanded. He had shut the front door and was standing with his hands on his hips. “What’s going on?”

  “We’re trying to be your friend, Max,” Frank said.

  “I bet your room’s upstairs,” Joe said. “Come on, we want to see it!”

  Frank and Joe hurried up the stairs.

  Max was right behind them. “What’s that awful smell?” he demanded.

  “What smell?” Frank said.

  “I don’t smell a smell!” Joe added.

  “It’s awful!” Max said. “It’s the worst smell I’ve ever smelled.”

  “I bet this is it,” Frank shouted. He was standing at an open door. Inside, the room looked like backstage at a magic show. There were black capes and black top hats on wall hooks, and cages with chicks and rabbits. “Come on, Joe! Let’s look around!”