Biff Hooper was growing impatient. Here they were- him, Chet, and Vanessa- hundreds of miles away from home sitting outside what appeared to be an extremely ominous and foreboding mansion in Maine. He wanted to move, and move NOW- but, of course, Chet seemed more concerned with devouring the pizza they had picked up along the way than with devouring the trail that lay before them. As Biff sighed in impatience, he thought back to how they had ended up here so quickly...

After the Hardys had stormed out of Chet's farmhouse, they had disappeared relatively quickly. Biff had known, of course, that it would be difficult to track the ever-elusive Hardys anywhere. Still, he felt responsible for a lot of this, and he knew that if Callie was in trouble, he owed it to her to get her out. And, on the small chance that Iola was still alive, what an incredible added bonus that would be! By paying close attention to Frank, and by utilizing some lock-picking skills he had picked up from Joe one day, he had managed to sneak into the Hardys' basement and find the file that had the heading "Lazarus" written across it. He had been amazed at all of the files that looked liked they belonged to Frank and Joe from over the years. No wonder they got out of so many football practices! he thought.

Unfortunately, as he had been crawling around on their basement floor reading the file, he heard a noise and found himself looking at the top of some very nicely polished shoes. Immediately stuffing the file under his shirt, Biff rearranged himself and managed to poke his head out from under the desk.

"Uh... hi, Mr. Hardy." Gee, that sounded convincing. How was he going to get out of this one?

For once, Fenton Hardy did not look amused. Still, he had kept an even pitch. "Biff. I'd tell you to make yourself at home, but I can see you've already done that."

Biff had waited expectantly, hoping for some epiphany to come to him as he waited for Mr. Hardy's wrath. "Uh, yeah. Hi again." Hello! Could this possibly get any worse? Biff bit his lip.

"Well, you may as well come out of there."

Biff immediately stood up, and stretched out his tall frame. It was nice not to be cramped, anyway.

Mr. Hardy simply looked at him. "Biff, I am sure that you have a perfectly good reason, however illogical and inane it probably really is, to be here. I could ask you why, but I know perfectly well you wouldn't tell me. I could ask you where my sons are, but I can assume you won't tell me that either, right?"

Biff gulped. "Uh..."

"Biff, I have known you for a long time, and I am quite certain that your vocabulary cannot possibly have regressed to monosyllabic tones in a matter of days. However, can you at least nod and tell me that my boys are okay?"

Biff nodded.

"Fine. Can I assume that whatever folder you're attempting to hide from me now, under your shirt, would be for the benefit of their case alone, and that you would not possibly be violating any breech of contract or confidential information in taking a closed file?"

Dang, Biff thought. This guy is good. "Y.. Yes, Mr. Hardy. I'll, um, give it to them and tell them to give put it back, okay?"

"Well, then, son. I highly suggest you get going now. But I do have one piece of advice for you."

"Sure."

"Don't try to break into a detective and police officer's house. The doorbell is just as easy."

"Yes, sir." Biff blushed. With that, he had left.

After gathering the information, he had immediately proceeded back to Chet's. Although he didn't want to involve his friend, particularly because of the sensitivity due to Iola, he knew that Chet had more right than him to be involved in this one. Of course, Chet had looked interested right away, and he saw a look of fire in his friend's eyes that had not been there in a long time. Just as they had been about to head out, they realized that they both had one serious problem. There, somehow managing to block both his and Chet's cars, was Vanessa Bender. And she hadn't looked happy.

"Going somewhere, boys?"

Chet managed to stammer, "Yeah. We, ah, we're going on a trip."

Way to avoid the truth there, Chet, Biff thought.

"I figured that."

"Listen, Vanessa, we have to go. Now. It's important, and we don't have time to chat." Biff hadn't meant to sound rude, but clearly they couldn't involve Vanessa in this story. What would they say? "Gee, we're off to find your best friend who we made up rumors about and who now might be in serious danger from terrorists. Oh yeah. And we're also looking for Joe and Frank. And Joe's dead girlfriend. Did we forget to mention that?" That would go over REAL well.

But... Vanessa had insisted. She had refused to move, and demanded to know what was going on. After realizing all the time they had been wasting, Biff and Chet had finally looked at each other. They were defeated. There was nothing they could do.

In the next few minutes, they informed Vanessa about everything, and saw her expression change from shock, to horror, to absolute disbelief. She was disturbed greatly by the narrative, but was, naturally, quite astounded at the thought that Iola might be alive. They saw her face whiten, and tears well in her eyes. They had expected her to leave, since they knew this was a lot to absorb and to have to deal with. However, she had shocked them. Quietly, but with a firm resoluteness altogether typical of her, she had stated, "I'm going with you. That's it. End of story." And, no matter how they argued, she wouldn't give in.

And here they were.

Biff couldn't take it anymore. "Chet!" he finally shouted. "Can you stop eating for a minute here? We have to start looking for the guys. Or..." He paused. "Or anyone else. They have to be here."

Chet looked up and gobbled the last piece of pepperoni. "I just needed nourishment."

Vanessa chimed in. "I think you would have made it."

Chet just glared at her.

Together, all three checked the premises of the mansion upon which they had stumbled. Going slowly at first to avoid detection, they soon sped up their pursuit. Somehow, although none of them knew the extent of danger into which they were headed, they all had a feeling that time was, somehow, of the essence, in this case. Eventually, they came to a small doorway on the right hand side of one of the walls. Lord! This place was HUGE! They knew that somehow they had to try and get in, but, as they were about to try, they suddenly looked at one another.

"Um, guys," Vanessa began. "How're we all going to fit?"

Biff had to admit she had a point. "It looks like a midget doorway or something, " he said.

Vanesaa tried to assess the situation. Chet- well, there was no way he'd fit through- a few too many pizzas for him. Then, there was Biff. Nope. Although not fat, Biff was huge. Solidly built with broad shoulders, he'd get about halfway through. "Well, guys, I guess it's me, then." Vanessa took a deep breath. This would be a challenge for her, too. Although slender, her height of almost six feet was going to make this hard. What kind of door was this, anyway?

She paused. "We really need Frank or Joe here. This is like the blind leading the blind."

Chet chuckled. "More like the blonde leading the blonde," he joked, looking at all three of them.

Vanessa shook her head. Like Joe, Chet had a knack for humor at somewhat inappropriate times.

"I'm going now," she said.

"Wait." Chet was suddenly serious. "You can't go alone. That'd be terrible. We'd be separated."

"Chet," Vanessa began. "We have no choice. The guys- Callie- Iola (she choked slightly at the name)- they're probably in there. I'll go in. Then, I will call to you and I will find another door or something to let you in, okay?" With that, Vanessa crept down low, and wormed her way, slowly, down to the floor inside the mansion.

"Hey!" she called up. Vaguely, she could see shadows, presumably of Biff and Chet, in the light. "I'm in. I..."

All of a sudden, Vanessa heard what sounded like a lot of footsteps rushing towards her at once. Then, she heard it. First, in the distance, and then, suddenly, quite close by. Growling. Barking. Vanessa froze as the realization hit her. No wonder the doorway was so small! It was an entryway for animals. Shaking, Vanessa corrected herself. Attack animals. Around the corner, she caught in her peripheral vision first one, then five, then as many as a dozen dogs. Right behind them, she thought she saw men. Covering her face with her hands, Vanessa sunk to the floor, cowering. All she could do was scream.

***

Vanessa had been gone for nearly five minutes before the boys heard what sounded like screaming from somewhere inside the mansion into which Vanessa had disappeared. Looking at each other in horror, Chat and Biff began to yell loudly after Vanessa. They screamed themselves, but to no avail. It was suddenly very quiet inside the house.

Panicked, Chet trembled, "We have to get in there," all the while looking into the doorway and trying to see. When Biff didn't respond, Chet called out, louder this time, "Biff! Do you hear me?! We have to get in! Come on! Are you with me or not?"

Biff was still unresponsive. Finally Chet turned around, and he realized why Biff wasn't answering. He was otherwise occupied by three men in suits who happened to have his attention, since they were pointing guns right at him. With a start, Chet realized that Biff wasn't the only one in trouble. Immediately, Chet and Biff were ordered to put their hands against the wall. Then, in an instant, they were handcuffed with their arms behind their backs. "Come with me, boys," one man snarled. With that, they were led through a large area of forest until they came into the fortress on the other side.

***

Frank and Joe Hardy, in the meantime, sat frozen in their chairs, barely able to speak or to breathe. The reality of the situation was preeminent in their minds, along with the abhorrent words that Jeff had left them with. They looked at the clock, as they listened to the walls move slowly towards them. Frank noticed that they had forty- nine minutes and 53 seconds left to live. This was sure to be the shortest hour that had ever passed. With his mind spinning, Frank was desperately trying to come up with a plan. He wondered why Joe wasn't talking.

"Joe?"

No response.

"Joe? Are you okay? I need you here, bro. Let's try to figure this out."

"Frank? Do you think we're gonna die?" Joe's voice held a pleading quality to it that Frank hadn't heard since they were kids. His heart went out to his brother, but he knew he had to think.

"Well, yeah, Joe, unless we can think of some alternative."

"Frank?"

"Yeah?" Frank noticed that there were now 49 minutes and 5 seconds left. This was not the time for a heart to heart.

"Do you think they meant it? Do you believe that Iola hated me, and she blamed me for everything? I couldn't live with that."

As badly as he felt for Joe, Frank was losing his cool. "Joe. I honestly have no idea."

He noticed Joe didn't respond, and he changed his tactic.

"Joe, I really have no way of knowing. But you know Iola. She was- is- I don't know- a sweet and understanding person. They could just be toying with you. But, Joe? Come on here. You literally won't be able to live with ANYTHING in less than an hour. I need help."

"I guess. I just wish I knew. "

"Joe!" Frank was at the end of his rope. "Joe, if what they say is true, then Callie is dying. DYING Joe. Now." Frank swallowed the lump in his throat. How much those words ached to say, he could never express. "Iola at least has a chance. But we can't help them if we can't help ourselves. So please help me in the next-" Frank shook his head and glanced at the clock - "47 minutes we have left."

With that, Joe seemed resolved, and he was just about to say something when he noticed the clock stop. Frank noticed it, too.

At once, the door opened. Jeff stood there, a self-satisfied smirk on his face. At once, the blinding flashbulbs went off again, as two bodies were thrown unto to floor. As Frank and Joe blinked, they heard Jeff say, "There's nothing like having some friends around to share your final moments with. Enjoy boys!"

With that, the clock again began to tick.

In stunned horror, Frank and Joe found themselves looking at the bodies of Chet Morton and Biff Hooper. Neither boy was moving.

The walls continued to close in....

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The Hardy Boys Fan Fiction authors of the Hardy Detective Agency have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.