Slowing down, he watched as Justin pulled into an empty space at the far end of the lot. Waiting until Justin got out of his car and disappeared down a path between two rows of boats, Fenton sped forward, parking close to Justin’s car. He got out of the car as Frank and Vanessa quickly scrambled out and joined him.

"Vanessa," Fenton turned to her, fearing he was in for a battle. "Why don’t you stay here while Frank and I…" his voice trailed off as Vanessa shook her head fiercely.

"No. Not a chance!" She said vehemently. "I’m coming with you."

As Fenton looked to Frank, hoping for some help in convincing her, the sound of a motor starting up split the silence of the winter night. Frank’s eyes grew wide as he turned in the direction of the sound. "Come on! He’s getting away!"

*****

Joe sighed heavily and tugged at the rope binding his wrists behind his back for the umpteenth time. He winced as the rough twine rubbed at his raw skin, evidence of his futile attempts to escape. Cursing silently, he kicked at the back of his prison in frustration.

It had seemed an eternity since he’d awakened in total darkness. His hands and feet were numb, his muscles screamed painfully at their unnaturally restricted position and he was shivering violently from the cold January night air. Joe was certain, had he not been gagged, his teeth would be chattering incessantly. At one point his imagination tried to convince him he’d been there for days on end with no one searching for him, a thought he crushed into submission and tossed aside.

‘Vanessa knows I’m gone. She knows I’m in trouble. She’ll tell Frank. He’ll be here any minute now…just wait and see…wait…he’ll be here….ANY TIME NOW, FRANK!!’

Accepting that rescue would be a little longer in coming, Joe reviewed the facts, and the theories, he had on Justin Hahn. ‘Idiot!’, Joe thought. ‘Everything I had on him was circumstantial! None of it would hold up in court. He could’ve gotten away with everything, but he went and kidnapped me anyway. How stupid can he be…’ Joe kicked out again in aggravation. ‘So if he’s the stupid idiot how come I’m the one tied up in a footlocker?’ he asked himself sarcastically.

With another resigned sigh, Joe tried his best to relax by thinking ‘warm’ thoughts. He periodically reminded himself Frank would be there…sooner or later…

His attempts at relaxation were rudely brought to a halt as the boat suddenly rocked back and forth, alerting him to the presence of another person.

‘Hahn!’ Joe thought angrily.

His anger quickly turned to apprehension and downright fear when the engine started and he felt the boat slowly backing out of its slip.

*****

Fenton grabbed Vanessa’s hand and took off at a dead run. Their feet pounded down the wooden dock as they tried to keep up with Frank who still had Justin in sight.

"The last one," Frank pointed to the speedboat Justin had boarded at the very end of the dock.

Looking around frantically, Frank saw just what he needed. "This way!" He veered right and jumped onto the only boat in sight that hadn’t been prepped for winter storage. Fenton and Vanessa quickly followed.

"Keep him in sight!" Frank ordered as he lifted the motor cover. Bending over the imposing piece of machinery Frank repeatedly tried to hotwire the motor, cursing when he couldn’t get it to catch.

While Vanessa had heeded his call to watch Justin, and was now perched on the bow, memorizing his every move, Fenton stared at Frank intently, silently urging him on to success. Feeling his father’s eyes on his back, Frank glanced over his shoulder apologetically.

"Joe usually does this. He’s a lot faster at it than I am," he muttered by way of explanation.

Fenton blanched, his eyes huge. "Joe usually does this?!" he repeated, incredulous. "Exactly how often do you and your brother steal boats?!"

Frank felt himself flush with embarrassment. "Only in the line of duty – YES!" he exulted when the motor finally roared to life.

"Hurry up, or we’ll lose him when he turns out into the bay!!" Vanessa cried anxiously.

"We won’t lose him, Van," Frank assured her, determination in his voice. "And he’s going to lead us right to Joe."

Only the sound of the motor was heard as Frank steered the craft masterfully across the bay. Despite the fact that there were few other boats on the water, Justin did not appear to notice he was being followed. Having found a pair of high-powered binoculars in a quick search of the stolen boat, Fenton was now giving a terse report on Justin’s activities, which consisted mainly of him glancing back at the footlocker every few minutes. Several tense moments passed when Justin suddenly came to a stop at the deepest part of the bay.

"What’s he doing?" Frank asked confused. He idled the motor, close enough to keep an eye on Justin, but far enough away not to be spotted. "Why would he stop in the middle of the bay?"

"I don’t know," Fenton murmured. "He’s opening the footlocker. It looks like he’s trying to pull something out but…he’s having trouble," Fenton continued, puzzled. A moment later, he gasped loudly. "Oh, my God! Go, Frank, go!"

Reacting to the urgency in his father’s voice, Frank gunned the motor. The boat leapt forward as spray from the water shot across the bow. Hearing the sound of his father flinging the binoculars to the floor of the boat, Frank looked back over his shoulder. Fenton Hardy was frantically removing his shoes, heavy winter coat and the woolen sweater beneath it. Frank looked up into Vanessa’s eyes, which he was sure held as much trepidation as his own.

"Dad," Frank said refocusing his attention on steering the boat. "What did he pull out of the footlocker?"

Before Fenton could reply, Vanessa scooped up the binoculars and saw for herself what had Fenton so upset. "JOE!!" she cried out, anguished.

"Joe," Fenton repeated his voice tight. "He was in the footlocker – bound, gagged and blindfolded."

"Is…is he conscious?" Frank asked, pushing the boat to its limit, cursing as the darkness made it impossible for him to see anything of Justin’s boat other than the running lights.

"I think so," Fenton replied standing. He moved to the rail, leaning as far forward as he dared, as if that would make the boat go faster.

"Oh, no!" Vanessa gasped. She watched through the binoculars, helpless, as Justin pushed Joe up against the rail and gave him a hard shove.