Frank, Biff, Phil and Chet arrived at The Excelsior almost forty-five minutes later. Tony couldn’t come because he had to be at work at Mr. Pizza. “Biff, you and Phil watch the front of the hotel and Chet and I will keep watch on the back. Call me on my cell if you spot him.”

Biff and Phil took off for the front of the hotel while Frank and Chet took up positions to the rear. Chet looked over at the two large dumpsters and frowned. “You don’t think he put Joe in one of those, do you?” he asked. Frank had told him and the others what Mr. Shaw had said about Joe being drugged and thought a dumpster would be a good place to keep Joe close by but out of the way.

Frowning, Frank considered the idea. “Let’s check them out,” he said, thinking it was a possibility after all. It wouldn’t be the first time Joe had been thrown in a dumpster. “But don’t get caught,” he warned, moving off to check the first one.

Each boy checked two dumpsters apiece and both looked in the fifth, and final, one but with no luck. They returned to their hiding place across the street. “He wasn’t in one,” Chet said, taking in Frank’s dejected form.

“I know,” Frank said. “But if he had been, we would have him now,” he pointed out.

Chet scowled as he realized not finding him in one had not been a good thing.

“Hey, look,” Frank said almost an hour later as Kent exited the back of the hotel. Chet pulled out his cell and called Biff and Phil as he followed Frank to the car.

“They’ll follow us,” Chet said when he had hung up.

Their suspect kept a steady speed and drove out of town heading south. He came to a stop in front of a two-story house with green shutters and a well kept lawn. Frank parked down the street not far from a vehicle that looked incredibly familiar.

Biff pulled his van to a stop just behind Frank less than two minutes later and he and Phil got out to join Frank. “You think this is it?” Phil asked in a whisper although they were far enough away so that no one could hear them.

Frank nodded, his eyes on the car closer to the house. “You guys wait here,” he said a minute later and headed down the street to the car.

“Imagine finding you two here,” Frank said, walking up to the window of the car and looking at Chief Collig. “How did you get here?”

“We followed the man who picked up the coin,” Collig said. “We have four more units stationed around the neighborhood.”

“Did Dad know you were going to follow him?” Frank asked.

“No,” confessed Collig. “But he does now. We already did a reconnaissance and Joe is inside. I called your father. He’s on his way.”

“How is Joe?” Frank demanded.

“He’s fine,” Collig said, quickly reassuring Frank of his brother’s safety. “He was sleeping.”

“Why didn’t you move in already?” Frank demanded.

“We were waiting for their partner,” Collig answered. “Relax, if Joe had been in any immediate danger, we would have gone right in.”

“Well their partner is here now and they have the coin,” Frank said, standing up. “He’s in imminent danger now.”

Collig nodded and touched his radio. “Move into position,” he ordered. He looked at Frank. “I suppose you want to come?” Frank nodded. Wild horses couldn’t keep him away! “Fine,” agreed the chief. “But tell your friends to stay put.”

***

Joe’s eyes flickered open and he opened his mouth wide and yawned. He tried to sit up but his hands and feet were tied. “Where...where are we?” Joe asked.

“Shut up,” snarled Ralph.

“What have you done with Mr. Shaw?” Joe demanded.

Kent backhanded Joe. “Look kid, we have the coin. You’re worthless now so keep your trap shut!”

“If I’m worthless then why haven’t you killed me yet?” Joe retorted.

“Good question,” Kent asked turning to look at Ralph. “Why do we have to keep him?”

“I thought we might need a hostage,” Ralph replied.

“Why?” Kent demanded. “I’m on vacation from my job and won’t be missed for another five days and you just finished up for the week. You have three days before you’ll be missed. Let’s kill him now.”

“What about Tobin and Jerry?” Randy asked.

“I tried to call them but there was no answer. My guess is Hardy found them,” Ralph said.

“And he’ll be after us next,” Randy put in fearfully.

“Quit your yapping,” Kent told him. “We’ve got insurance, remember?”

Ralph bent down to untie Joe’s feet. “Kent, make sure you have the coin.”

“We taking him all the way?” Randy demanded.

“Only as far as the river,” Ralph answered. “If we make it that far without Hardy on our tail then we’re in the clear,” he added as the front and rear doors burst open at the same time.

“Police!” shouted Collig. “Freeze!”

“Back off or I’ll kill him now,” Ralph ordered, pulling Joe in front of him like a shield.

“Let him go,” Collig ordered as Frank entered the room behind him. “You don’t want to add murder to your charges.”

“There won’t be any charges if we don’t get caught,” Ralph retorted. “Now back off or he will die and it will be your fault.”

Ralph pushed Joe forward but Joe had no intention of being their ticket to freedom especially when he knew they were going to kill him once they were under way. Joe took one step forward then keeled over sideways, causing Kent to trip over him. Joe felt Ralph’s foot on his back as he stepped on Joe and tried to get away but the police quickly moved forward and grabbed Ralph’s arms. Randy had lifted his arms in surrender as soon as the police had entered the room. Kent was hauled off the floor as Frank and Collig knelt beside Joe.

Fenton entered the house at that moment followed by the Hardys’ friends and saw Joe lying on the floor. “Joseph!” the name erupted from his lips as he rushed forward, certain they were too late.

“I’m okay, Dad,” Joe said through swollen lips when he heard the anguished cry of his father.

Fenton fell to the floor beside Joe and pulled him into his arms gently. “We have to get you to a hospital,” he said.

Collig silently agreed and moved away to call for an ambulance as Joe spoke. “I’m fine, really,” Joe said. “I look worse than I am. But Mr. Shaw...”

“Is safe,” Fenton interrupted him, pulling back and inspecting his youngest son’s face. “He’s at Bayport General and regardless of what you say, that’s where you are going too,” he declared firmly.

***

Two weeks later, Frank and Joe joined their parents and friends at a welcome home party for Mr. Shaw at the Shaw’s house. Joe’s bruises had almost faded and even Mr. Shaw was starting to look like his old self again.

Frank went to help Mrs. Shaw with the drinks and Callie took Joe’s arm and pulled him over to a quiet corner of the room. “Tsk, tsk,” Joe said, smiling. “You’re Frank’s girl.”

Callie rapped him lightly on the arm as she grinned but then her expression turned serious. “Mom told me about how you handled the situation when she lost it,” Callie said. Joe blushed but said nothing. “I just wanted to thank you for being gentle and offering support without taking advantage of her.”

“It’s the least I could do,” Joe said, looking up as his brother and Mrs. Shaw returned to the room. “After all, you’re always there for Frank. And that means the world to me.”

“I always will be there for him,” Callie promised, looking over at the boy she had fallen in love with and the man with whom she intended to grow old with. “You can count on that.”

End

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.