Eye on Crime by Franklin W. Dixon

Zybysko.”
    â€œSo far you both sound guilty,” Joe said. “What’s your connection to Johnson?”
    â€œI’m into him for a lot of money. The guy’s a loan shark. He kept letting me run up the interest on my loan. Then when I hit it big with Monty Mania, he decided to call in the marker. But by then my debt was huge, much more than I could pay all at once. He made me a deal.”
    â€œAnd what was the deal?” Frank asked.
    â€œHe wanted me to give some of the people I hypnotized special instructions. It was purely by chance whom he chose. Or so I thought. Now I’mthinking there was something particular about these people, but I don’t know what.”
    â€œThe teen gang theory,” Joe stated. Frank nodded in agreement.
    â€œWhat? Anyway, sometimes Johnson would coach me before the show on how he wanted me to do my routines. He wanted a lot of young guests. And he wanted the hypnotism routines to contain a lot of mystery and action. It sounded like good, solid entertainment, so I integrated his suggestions into the act. Anyway, after some performances, he would meet me backstage and have me give posthypnotic instructions to some of the guests.”
    â€œWhat were the instructions?” Frank asked.
    â€œSeemed innocent enough. He wanted them to go to the park, make sure that nobody followed them, and to stay out of sight for several hours. He told me to do it, and I didn’t ask any questions. He owns me!”
    â€œSo how does this all fit together?” Joe asked. “Ronald Johnson, legitimate businessman and loan shark, uses a two-bit hypnotist to give innocent teenagers weird instructions on what to do onstage and where to go later that night. I’m not sure I’m buying any of this.”
    â€œI don’t know how this ties into the robberies,” Monty said. “Maybe Johnson goes to the park and snatches the kids and uses the influence of my hypnosis to get them to hit the stores.”
    â€œGreat,” frank said. “The hypnotism probably doesn’t leave any telltale traces that can be used to prove the robbers weren’t in their right minds when they did the crime.”
    â€œSo, we know how Johnson might be doing it,” Joe said, “but that doesn’t help us catch him.”
    â€œOh, yes it does,” Frank said as the van pulled into the television station parking lot. “It gives me an idea on how to nail Ronald Johnson at his own game.”

12 Caught in the Act
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    â€œSo how do we nail him?” Joe asked.
    â€œHe’s looking for actors.” Frank smirked. “Teenage actors. Like us.”
    Joe gave his brother a questioning look. Then he nodded his head.
    â€œSo where do I fit in?” Monty asked.
    â€œYou’re going to put us on your show,” Frank said.
    â€œWhat!” Joe was taken by surprise by his brother’s request. But he immediately recovered and backed up his brother. “What a great idea.”
    â€œWe’ll be your next teens chosen from the audience,” Frank explained. “Then let’s see if this Ronald Johnson comes after us.”
    Joe stopped the van at the back door to the television studio.
    â€œAre we agreed?” he asked.
    â€œOkay, sure.” Monty reached into his jacket and pulled out two tickets to his show. “I guess I owe you guys for saving me up on that roof. You’re on Monday.”
    â€œGood,” Frank said. “Make it four tickets.” The performer produced two more tickets. Frank opened the van door and let Monty out onto the sidewalk.
    â€œJust for the record,” Joe said, “which goon is which?”
    â€œZybysko’s the one with the tan,” Monty replied.
    â€œThanks,” Joe said.
    â€œHey, what about my car?” Monty cried. “It’s still downtown. And what if Spicolli and Zybysko try to grab me again.”
    â€œCatch a cab to get the car,” Joe