Free Bound for Danger by Franklin W. Dixon Page B

position.
    But the ball bounced off the back of Pete’s hand. Jayden intercepted it and began dribbling the ball toward the other basket.
    Coach Perotta’s whistle split the air, and he yelled that that was enough—we could all head to the showers.
    Relief flooded through me. I survived another practice! And now I got to take a shower, go home, and die on the couch, which was all I wanted in the world.
    But as I met up with Joe and walked back to the locker room, I couldn’t help but notice Jason walking up to Pete and whispering something in his ear.
    Was it just my imagination, or did Pete turn pale?
    Jason grinned and walked away, heading toward the locker room himself. Pete lingered for a moment in the same spot, then turned and walked slowly toward Coach Perotta, who was just outside his office. As I watched, Pete said something to the coach, who nodded and led him into his office.

10
HAZED AND CONFUSED
JOE
    W E WERE CHANGED AND READY to leave when Coach Perotta called the entire team back out of the locker room.
    â€œCome back here and sit your butts down,” the coach said, his voice nearing a growl. “There’s something we need to talk about. Right now.”
    I glanced back at Frank, who was rubbing his shoulder.
    â€œYou saw Pete talking to him, right?” I whispered.
    Frank nodded. “Right after Jason said something to him ,” he said.
    â€œDo you think he told him everything?” I asked.
    Frank shrugged, then winced. “I don’t know. Could it be that easy?” he asked.
    From the way Coach Perotta was glaring at all of us aswe sat down, I didn’t have a good feeling about this. Coach Noonan was standing behind him, and beside him was a shell-shocked-looking Pete. Coach Noonan put his hand on Pete’s shoulder as Pete seemed to sway nervously.
    â€œI’ve just had a private meeting with Pete,” Coach Perotta said, slowly scanning everyone’s face with a look of disgust. “He’s told me some very upsetting things. Things that seem to corroborate something Frank and Joe told me yesterday.”
    He caught my eye briefly and looked just the tiniest bit sorry. I looked back in disbelief. Really?
    â€œI spoke to you earlier today about hazing because I didn’t want to believe we had a problem on this team,” Coach Perotta said. “No one has ever said a word about it to me. And I hope you all know how I feel about hazing. It’s a disgusting, cowardly, unsportsmanlike thing to participate in. Not to mention, if the word ever got out that this was happening on this team, it would disqualify us for any championships. Everything you boys have been working so hard for all winter, gone. Not to mention, the seniors who’ve won sports scholarships could lose them.” He shook his head, clearly appalled. “But it seems like some things have been happening after hours that I had no knowledge of. And worse, these cowardly players have been wearing masks and disguises, going to absurd lengths to keep their identities secret.” He paused and glared at us, looking from face to face like he was holding each team member personally responsible.
    Coach Noonan spoke up. “Will any brave boys come forward and tell us anything they know about who’s behind these incidents?”
    All the players seemed to pause and look around at one another uncomfortably. I wondered how many of them knew the true identities of the masked players. Maybe only the masked players themselves knew.
    â€œCome on,” said Coach Perotta, unable to hide his impatience. “This is too important to pretend you know nothing. The future of the team is at stake.”
    More silence. Then suddenly, after a minute or two of awkward shifting, Dorian stood up.
    â€œCoach Perotta,” he said, “I don’t know who the hazers are, but I have something you should see.”
    He walked up to Coach Perotta and pulled a smartphone out of