Accusations

Date: September 22

   "They're what?" Hazel sputtered.

    "They're accusing Frank of taking the Snapchat," Nico said.

   "That's not right," Hazel said.

   "Yeah, they're saying Jason asked Frank to film the video," Nico said. "Both of them are facing criminal charges."

    Hazel winced. This was more than she wanted to deal with. Then, a thought hit her like a brick.

   "Frank doesn't have a Snapchat!" she said. "That proves he's innocent. Come on. We have to go to the police station and tell them!"

    Hazel and Nico went downstairs where their parents were eating dinner. Persephone looked up and smiled at her step-kids.

   "Nico, Hazel," she said. "Join us for dinner."

   "Mom, we can't," Hazel said. "We need to go to the police station."

    Hades frowned and asked, "Is this about the Snapchat incident?"

    "You know about that?" Nico asked.

    "The school sent out emails to parents," Hades said. "Well, is it?"

   "Yes," Hazel said. "Two of our friends have been accused and we have information that can prove the innocence of one of them."

   "Alright, I'll take them," Persephone said, standing up.

    "Be careful," Hades said.

   "Of course," Persephone said. "Kids, grab something to eat in the car and we'll head out."

       Five minutes later, Hazel and Nico were sipping pomegranate tea from reusable water bottles and eating saltine crackers. Persephone chatted about how someone asked for dandelions for a funeral. Hazel knew she was just trying to calm herself.

   "Nico, Hazel," Persephone said as she parked. "I understand that you guys might meet someone that you think you love, but please don't send them explicit photos of yourselves."

    "Don't worry," Nico said. "I only send photos of my Happy Meals."

   "Yeah," Hazel said. "I wouldn't do that. Thanks for taking us."

   "I'll wait in the car," Persephone said. "I figure you guys might want to tell the police things you don't want your father or I to know."

   "Well, you're smarter than Mrs. Dodds then," Nico said as he and Hazel stepped out of the car.

    When Nico and Hazel stepped into the police station, the first thing Hazel noticed was that Frank and Jason were being handcuffed.

    "Officers!" she said, running forward. "Please, don't arrest Frank."

   "We can prove his innocence," Nico said beside her.   

   One of the officers raised an eyebrow.

   "Frank doesn't have a Snapchat account," Hazel said quickly. "Check his phone."

   The officers did and one of them asked, "What if he deleted the app?"

   "Check the App Store," Hazel said, "and you'll see if he ever had it."

   "He never installed Snapchat," the officer said after checking it. "But he's still suspect because his friend took him to the party."

   "That's ridiculous," Hazel said. "Frank had nothing to do with it and Jason didn't either."

    "Why don't you just look at the username of who sent the earliest snap?" Nico asked.

   "You know, this boy has a good point," one of the officers said.

   "Fine," the other officer said.

    They removed the handcuffs from Jason and Frank's wrists.

    "If either of you are guilty," the officer told them. "You'll face much worse than handcuffs."