Franklin W. Dixon - The Race Is On

Catch up on all the Hardy Boys Secret Files

#1 Trouble at the Arcade

#2 The Missing Mitt

#3 Mystery Map

#4 Hopping Mad

#5 A Monster of a Mystery

#6 The Bicycle Thief

#7 The Disappearing Dog

#8 Sports Sabotage

#9 The Great Coaster Caper

#10 A Rockin Mystery

#11 Robot Rumble

#12 Lights, Camera... Zombies!

#13 Balloon Blow-Up

#14 Fossil Frenzy

#15 Ship of Secrets

#16 Camping Chaos

#17 The Great Escape

#18 Medieval Upheaval

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the authors imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Childrens Publishing Division

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First Aladdin paperback edition December 2015

Text copyright 2015 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Illustrations copyright 2015 by Scott Burroughs

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Series design by Lisa Vega

Cover design by Karina Granda

The text of this book was set in Garamond.

Library of Congress Control Number 2014957740

ISBN 978-1-4814-2271-0 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-4814-2272-7 (eBook)

CONTENTS

1

C het Morton for class president! Frank called out. He shoved buttons into Lizzy Kahns and Elisa Hernandezs hands as they walked past. He and Joe had made a hundred of the buttons last week for their friend Chet Morton. Each one said BET ON CHET! in giant blue letters.

Joe stood beside Chet as he greeted all the Bayport Elementary students that came through the front doors of the school. It was just before the first bell. Everyone was in their fall clothesbrand-new jeans, and T-shirts from different places where theyd vacationed over the summer.

I hope youll vote for me tomorrow, Chet said to Matilda Goodwin, a girl from his class. She was wearing a Disneyland shirt. Bayport Elementary is ready for a change!

Take a cookie, Joe whispered to Matilda, pointing to the table in front of them. Mrs. Hardy had sent them to school with a batch of her famous double chocolate chip cookies. It helped bring people over to their side of the lobby.

Do you really think I have a chance? Chet whispered, glancing across the lobby. Cissy Zermeo was standing there with their other friend Phil Cohen. Behind them was a whole row of posters. TRUST IN CISSY, RE-ELECT CISSY ZERMEO , and YOU THINK SHES SO NICE, VOTE FOR HER TWICE! Cissy had been president for one year already, and most of the class really liked her. Frank, Joe, and Chet liked her tooshe was one of their friends, and she played with them on their baseball team, the Bayport Bandits.

Of course you have a chance, Frank said. We wouldnt be your campaign managers if we didnt think you had a chance.

Cissys great, but its time to give someone else a try. Our class needs a change, Joe added. Whos better to do that than you?

Chet greeted a few more students as they walked in the door, shaking hands with them like a real politician. He was wearing a collared shirt and khakis. Hed worn almost the same outfit every day for two weeks, since the campaign had started. I guess Im just nervous, he said after a group from their gym class left.

Its normal to be nervous, Joe said. He was eight years old and the younger of the two Hardy brothers, with blond hair and blue eyes. His older brother, nine-year-old Frank, had dark brown hair and brown eyes, and looked much more like their dad, Fenton. Fenton Hardy was a private investigator in Bayport. The boys had learned everything they knew about solving mysteries from him.

Frank grabbed a poster from beside the table, unrolled it, and taped it to the wall. It said CHANGE YOU CAN TRUST: CHET MORTON FOR CLASS PRESIDENT in bubble letters. Maybe you should practice the speech again, Frank said. Its pretty awesome.

Joe looked around the school lobby. Most of the kids had gone inside their classrooms already. Even Phil and Cissy were packing up their table. Lets just wait until they go... , Joe whispered. He wasnt usually so suspicious of people, but everyone was saying it was going to be a close vote tomorrow. Many students had promised to vote for Chet, but promises didnt mean they would actually do what theyd said. It was going to come down to the speeches. They couldnt let Cissy know what he planned to say.

When Phil had put all the CISSY FOR PRES buttons and pens back in their shoebox, the two of them came over to Chets table. Good luck tomorrow, Cissy said, reaching out her hand. May the best candidate win.

Frank glanced sideways at his brother. Cissy was the pitcher for the Bandits, and it seemed like she was always winning at everything! But even though shed won the talent show last year and the science fair the year before that, it was hard not to like her. She was always so nice and always did the right thing.

You too, Chet said, shaking Cissys hand. Phil stood beside her, and for the first time Frank noticed that the button he wore lit up. CISSYS #1! it said, the number one glowing white. Frank could tell Phil had made it himselfhe was always making little gadgets. He loved playing with robots or taking apart his parents old computers.

Well see you tomorrow at the assembly, Phil said, before the two of them turned to go.

When they had disappeared down the hall, Chet pulled the folded speech from his pocket. The paper was worn in places because hed practiced the speech so much. Ready? he asked, looking from Frank to Joe.

You bet, Joe said.

Chet cleared his throat and began. Good morning, students of Bayport Elementary. Most of you know me already, but my name is Chet Morton and Im running for fourth-grade class president. Chet looked up at his friends, trying to see if hed read the first lines well enough. What do you think? I want to sound friendly but not too friendly.

Its perfect! Frank encouraged. Keep going!

Chet grinned and continued. We can all agree this is a great place to go to school, but I think some things around here can be better. If you elect me class president, the first thing Ill do is talk to all of you and hear about what you want to change.