Chapter 1

Iola Morton answered the door of her home, a restored stone farmhouse just outside the city limits of Bayport, to find her boyfriend, Joe Hardy, standing next to his older brother Frank. Joe was 14, with wavy blond hair, blue eyes and an athletic build. Frank, almost sixteen, was slightly slimmer in build and had straight black hair and brown eyes.

"Joe! You didn't tell me we had a date."

"Sorry, Iola, but we're here strictly to see Chet. Apparently we've been drafted into participating in his latest hobby, whatever it is."

"Spelunking."

"I suppose we should be glad he's not trying to jet-propel his bike again."

"Or doing scrimshaw."

"Hey, that actually helped us bust up a gang of carnival pickpockets," Frank reminded her.

"But we were picking bits of whale teeth out of the carpet for the next six months. Come on, he's in the barn."

The Hardys followed Iola out to the Morton family's barn, where Chet was busily arranging an assortment of ropes.

"How'd you two like to go exploring Pirate's Cave Saturday?"

Joe ran a hand through his hair. "Sorry, Chet. We're working all Saturday."

"I didn't know you guys had jobs."

"We're helping the police department bust convenience stores that don't card minors. It's not exactly The Wire, but you could see why we don't want everyone talking about it. What about Biff?"

"Biff and Jerry have a baseball game, Phil's going to his cousin's bar mitzvah in New Haven, Tony's working, and everybody else is either out of town or doesn't want anything to do with caving."

"If Tony's working Saturday then I definitely know where we're going for dinner," Joe said.

"That's just what I was thinking, but it isn't safe to go spelunking by yourself."

Joe looked at his girlfriend. "Iola?"

"Forget it. I'm getting pizza with you guys."

"What about Sunday?" Frank asked.

Chet thought for a moment. "That'll work."

"We just have to ask our parents," Frank responded.

"Well if Joe comes, I suppose I could be persuaded."

After a lengthy discussion of various school-related matters, the two Hardy brothers rode their bikes back to the family home at the corner of Elm and High streets. The garage was already home to a yellow 1964 Ford Mustang that Frank was hoping to have restored by his 16th birthday and a wide array of surveillance equipment, which Professor W. Fenton Hardy IV was examining.

"What's up, dad?" Frank ask.

"You've heard of the Arm Mangler?"

"The serial killer that's leaving severed arms all over New York?"

"That's the one. Some of my old friends on the force want me to help them out." Professor Hardy had been a detective with the New York City Police Department before earning his doctorate and accepting a position teaching criminology at UMass Bayport.

"Did you boys need something?"

"Actually," Frank spoke up, "Chet wants us to go spelunking with him Sunday afternoon."

"Spelunking?"

"It's his latest hobby."

Professor Hardy sighed, "At least it's not taxidermy."

The boys nodded in unison, remembering the six week period during which Chet had constantly smelled of formaldehyde.

"Ahh…the thing is, my sister Trudy's coming to visit."

"Oh." Joe was unable to hide his disappointment.

"Go ahead and ask your mother. She might prefer for you two to be, out of the way, as it were."

"Good idea."

Frank and Joe found Mrs. Hardy in the kitchen braising lamb chops.

"Something sure smells good," Joe remarked.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to butter me up," his mother responded.

"As luck would have it, we were coming to ask you something."

"Out with it."

"Chet Morton wants us to go spelunking on Sunday…"

"Spelunking? Is this the latest hobby?"

"Yeah."

"Poor Tracy, and I thought I had troubles with you boys getting mixed up in your father's cases."

"We didn't realize Aunt Gertrude was coming."

"And I suppose a conversation about the hobbies I allow you boys to partake in will be a break from her opinions of her neighbors and my cooking. You can go, but only if the lawn is mowed and all your homework is done."

"Sure thing, thanks Mom." Frank went upstairs to assess his homework assignments. While most boys did homework at the last possible minute, the Hardys completed months' worth at a time during Aunt Gertrude's visits, having found that the need to study was the one sure-fire excuse to retreat to their room for hours at a time.

After completing the assessment, Frank went into the garage where his brother was intently studying the Mustang's engine.

"You know, it wouldn't be too hard to get a V12 in here."

"Planning on taking it to Le Mans?"

"You never know when we'll be in a high speed chase."

"Sure, but for now we're still stuck at bicycle speed. Come on, we're supposed to meet Lieutenant Riley."

Joe looked at his watch. "That we are."

The boys walked downtown to the parking lot of a convenience store, were Police Lieutenant Conway Riley was waiting for them in an unmarked car.

"Same as usual?" Frank asked.

"Yep."

The boys went inside the convenience store. Frank picked up a case of beer while Joe pretended to browse. He noticed a flashlight on sale.

That might come in handy this weekend, he thought to himself.

Joe found his older brother and they went up to the sales clerk, who was listlessly thumbing through a magazine. She looked only a few years older than the Hardys, although her weary expression suggested she had led a much more difficult life than they had. Joe couldn't help feeling sorry for her as she rang up the boys' purchases.

I'll just give her one more chance.

"Will that be all?" she asked.

"Actually, can I get a carton of Marlboro's."

Joe winced as she reached into the case. Some people you just can't help.

The boys proceeded outside with their purchases and handed Officer Riley the cigarettes, .beer and receipt.

"What's with the cigs?" Riley asked.

"I thought I'd give her a second chance," Joe explained, "no luck, obviously."

Riley shrugged, "You and your bleeding heart. But what about the flashlight."

"Oh, that's for us. We're going spelunking this Sunday."

"Lemme guess, Chet Morton."

"You must be psychic."

"Yep...and I'm seeing...me having to rescue you kids from Lover's Grotto."

"That's were you're wrong. We're going to Pirates' Cave, and I think Chet's done his homework this time."

"He did his homework before he bought that Chinese junk, too."

"Yeah, but you know how Barmet Bay gets."

"I guess, anyway, see you kids Saturday."