Eight years ago:

The man was furious. There had been a mistake.  One stupid – but costly – mistake; that was all it took.

Greed.

And now because of it, Fenton Hardy was almost on their doorstep.

“Well I won’t allow that,” he snarled at the bound and gagged red-haired man just before he slammed the trunk shut.

Taking out his cell phone, he punched in a number and then snapped at the man on the other end:

[The wolf’s at the door]

He heard a pause and then a heavy sigh before he got the answer he was expecting:

[I’ll bring the lamb. You know where]

Ending the call, the man tossed the cell phone onto the passenger seat and started the car.

“You did this to yourself, Fenton,” he said, pausing for a moment to shake his head.  “If you weren’t so damn good…”

And then he pulled out of the alley and back into the Bayport city lunch hour traffic.  He had one stop to make before he met the other man.

One stop to fix the mistake.

* * *

Nine-year-old Joe Hardy was the proudest kid at the baseball park.

It was a beautiful summer day and he and his ‘Hero’ - a 150-lb. black Newfoundland dog named Hero - were watching his older brother, Frank’s, Little League baseball team as they played against the current number one Little League team, the Ospreys.

Joe and Frank’s parents weren’t supposed to be home until after supper, and the younger boy was relieved when his Aunt Gertrude finally gave him permission to go and watch Frank play.

The blond-haired boy figured his aunt was just tired of him being underfoot all morning, and was more then happy to send him and Hero to the park.  Besides, Frank was there, and Gertrude knew the older boy – even if he was only older by a year – would take care of his brother and that drooling, hairy beast that seemed to shed everywhere this time of year!

So Joe and Hero made quick tracks to the park where the afternoon game was being played.

“Frank!” Joe shouted excitedly as he saw his brother taking a drink from the fountain near the playing field.

The dark haired ten-year-old grinned when he saw his younger brother.  Wiping the water from his mouth with his sleeve, he said, “Joey!  Auntie let you come?”

“Oh yeah.  I did just what you said.  I sulked all morning and made sure I was right in her hair!” Joe announced proudly.  He had been disappointed when their aunt first said he had to stay home, until Frank came up with this brilliant plan.

The success of which just helped cement his belief in the superhero status of his older brother.  Frank could do no wrong in his hero-worshipping mind!

“See, I told you,” Frank bragged, equally pleased with the success of his plan.  “I know adults!  Now come on, I’m sure Coach Iago will let you sit with me on the bench!”

Joe had no doubts about that either. The coach was always very nice to him and let him sit with his brother, even going so far as to call Hero their honoree mascot.

Damien Iago was a well respected jeweler in town and his store “Another Fine Gem” was the sponsor for Frank’s team, the Diamonds.

Iago himself served as their coach.

* * *

“Well, little Joey,” Damien Iago smiled down at the boy.  At nine, Joe was still a bit smaller than his peer group, but what he lacked in size he more than made up for in spunk.  “I was just beginning to get worried. You know the team can’t play without its mascot or good luck charm.”

“Good luck charm?” Joe looked up at the coach, who was almost as tall as Joe’s own father’s 6’2, so a giant in the child’s mind.

“Yeah, you, squirt,” Iago explained before he ruffled Joe’s hair and then turned his attention back to the team.

Joe beamed proudly.  I’m a good luck charm!  Settling down on the bench next to Frank, Joe watched with avid attention as the two teams squared off.  Hero lay placidly under his feet.

Nine innings later, Joe wanted to be his brother so badly it hurt!

Frank’s team had just beaten the Ospreys so now the Diamonds were first in their division!!

* * *

Joe was waiting for his brother by the drinking fountains. It was a hot day and he had brought Hero over to get him some water while he waited for Frank to say good-bye to his teammates.

He waved at Coach Iago when he saw the man glance up from a phone call he was on, and the coach waved back.

“Oh come on Frank, you gotta come!” 12-year-old Chuck Roy was coaxing his teammate, “My mom said we can use the pool and everything!”

Joe turned as he heard Chuck’s voice and frowned. Two years older than Frank, Chuck thought it was very ‘uncool’ hanging around with younger kids – ten-year olds he tolerated, especially his teammates, and especially when his teammates were as good as Frank – but he considered Joe too young.  And made no bones about telling him so!

So Joe knew that the invitation to this pool party was not an open one for him.  Kicking up the dirt with his shoe, the nine-year-old looked down at Hero and sighed.

“I can’t,” Frank said as he and Jerry stopped in front of the fountain and Chuck leaned over to get a drink of water, “I gotta take Joey home.”

Joe scowled – he didn’t need to be babysat!

And then Coach Iago, who had been close enough to hear about the party, smiled and patted Frank on the back even as he winked at Joe.  “Ah, Frank, why don’t you go and hang out with your teammates for a while?  Joey can hang with me and then go home with you afterwards.”

Frank paused, looking from his brother to his coach.  He knew how Joe felt about people he didn’t know, but then again, his younger brother did know the coach….

“If that’s okay with Joey, that is,” Iago added, looking at the younger boy.  “I’m sure he wouldn’t want to be the reason why you couldn’t hang out for a bit.  I can call and let your parents know that you’ll both be late.”

Joe’s scowl deepened.  He didn’t like the insinuation that if Frank didn’t go to this pool party, then it would be his fault.  He loved and idolized his big brother, and owed him his life on more than one occasion – which wasn’t an exaggeration….!

“Fine,” he said glumly, hoping deep down that Frank wouldn’t go, but his brother, excited to be invited to one Chuck’s parties, didn’t notice. Instead he just nodded encouragingly.

“It’ll be okay, Joey.  I won’t be long.  I promise!”

And then with a final wave at his brother, Frank trotted to keep up with Chuck’s longer strides.

“Okay Joey, let’s call your folks first thing.  We don’t want you getting into trouble, now do we?” Iago said as he put a large hand on the little boy’s shoulder and directed him back towards the field.

“They’re not home,” Joe said as he glanced back over his shoulder at his brother’s retreating form.  Hero lumbered contentedly beside him.  “Our aunt is watching us.”

Frank turned at the same time, saw his brother looking at him and gave a quick wave before he disappeared around the corner.

A strange look filtered over the coach’s face as he said to the boy, “Oh really?  What are your folks doing today?”  He knew the kid was too young to be guarded around that question, and was rewarded a moment later when Joe sighed.

“Well, Mom’s helping out Chet’s mom today.  His mom had some sort of operation so she can’t do much.  And Dad…” his eyes shone brightly with pride as he talked, “well, Dad is on the trail of some bad guys!  He’s getting close; he told me so at breakfast!”

“Wow,” Iago said, as his mouth tightened slightly, “that sounds exciting.”

“Yeah,” agreed the blond child.  “When we grow up, me and Frank are going to be just like him – detectives!”

“Say Joey…” the coach said, after a moment, “After we put the equipment away, would you like to go on a little adventure?  I’d love to show you—” he glanced around conspiratorially and then said in a hushed tone, “my ‘secret place’.”

Joe looked at him cautiously.  He might like Coach Iago, but his own past experiences with strange adults left him a bit more wary than the average nine-year old.

“It’s really cool,” the coach coaxed, seeing the hesitation.  “When I was your age, I found it.  And now whenever I need somewhere to go, just to get away from things, I go there.”

Joe was still unsure, and reached out to pat Hero’s head comfortingly.  “I don’t—”

“Oh come on, Joey,” Iago cajoled, “Hero can come too.  I thought you said you wanted to be a detective when you grow up?  Detectives like to find things don’t they? To go on adventures??  Well, trust me, Joey…this will be a big adventure.  And we’ll be back before Frank even knows we’ve gone!”

Feeling his resolve waver, the blond child couldn’t help but grin – he did like the idea of an adventure….

Ten minutes later, Joey found himself in the backseat of Coach Iago’s car with Hero sitting beside him.  His face beaming with excitement, the child stared out the window at the passing scenery.

That would be the last thing he remembered from that day….