Disclaimer:

I don't own any of these characters except for Ross, Mike and some unnamed bad men. There are several mentions of other Hardy Boys Novels; some ideas and character/group/place names are borrowed from these books. Other Hardy Boys book titles are also mentioned. I don't own those either.


Chapter 1

"Think fast!" 18-year-old Frank Hardy thrust a firm fist into the face of his attacker. The masked man recoiled as Frank threw another punch. "Oh, no you don't!" Frank lunged at the masked criminal, "You're not going anywhere!"

Frank and the masked man hit the wharf. He pinned the smuggler's arms behind his back. The man thrashed around trying to get loose.

A strong hand grasped Frank's shoulder and thrust him upward. Frank lost his grip as a muscular smuggler spun him around and threw a punch at his jaw. Frank avoided the blow and twisted out of the man's grasp. He ran down the wharf. His attackers followed.

He soon found himself trapped at a dead end. Dozens of wooden crates blocked his path. Frank turned and backed away slowly from the assailants, whom were now closing in. Frank glanced wildly around him looking for a means of escape. He found none.

"This is the end of the line Hardy!" The muscular thug sneered, "You've got no where to run!"

"Neither do you!" An avalanche of empty wooden crates rained down upon the two smugglers. Frank looked up to find the source of the slide. The sun glinted off the blonde hair of his rescuer, perched high above him on a mountain of packing crates.

"Joe! Great timing!"

Joe grinned at his older brother. "Sure thing! Be down in a bit." Joe began to ascend from the top crate. Upon reaching the base he raced over to his brother, "Guess we've got to dig them out, huh?"

"You've got it!" Frank replied removing a crate. They soon uncovered the two smugglers. Bruised and scratched the two thugs didn't attempt any more attacks.

After securely tying the criminals with their belts. The two brothers raced back down the dock toward the anchored freightliner. They were welcomed by another group of masked villains.

"Oh, no! Not again!"

"Well, at least they're not armed," Frank positioned himself for another attack.

"Really?" Joe answered back, "I count fifteen sets!" He ran forward at top speed to meet his competition. He lunged for the knees of the one nearest to him. The man went down like a rag doll, but not before his buddies joined in the fight.

"Not so fast, kid," One growled, prying Joe out of the hold. The downed smuggler jumped to his feet. He was about to take a swing at the youngest Hardy when Frank plowed into him. He was flung off his feet and pitched into a mass of fishing net.

Joe took the chance to escape. He stepped hard on the foot of his captor. The man howled with pain and loosened his grip. Joe broke free and threw a kick at the man's ribs. The impact made the man loose his footing sending him headlong into the water, but not before another man advanced upon the younger Hardy.

Joe backed away from an approaching opponent. He stumbled over an empty crate. He heard the sound of cracking wood as the crate splintered under his weight. He picked up a broken board and swung at his adversary. The man, caught off guard, received the blow and toppled backward joining his pal in the cold waters below.

Another thug advanced upon the older Hardy. Frank's fists flew at his attacker. The man dodged each blow.

"Frank, catch!" Joe hurled a broken board to his older brother. Frank caught it and swung. The masked figure continued to dodge as he crept closer to his victim.

Frank continued to swing at the smuggler. "Ugh!" the man groaned as the thin plank hit him square in the jaw. He sunk limply to the ground.

Frank chanced a look at his younger brother. "Joe! Look out!" he warned as another masked figure jumped off a pile of wooden crates falling right toward the unsuspecting younger Hardy.

Joe dodged the attack and spun around just as his attacker threw a punch. Joe received the blow and stumbled backward. Frank ran to his brother's aid, but before he could take a swing another masked figure shoved him to the ground. Frank cried out in pain as his face met with the damp wooden planks of the dock.

"Frank!" Joe leapt to his feet and ran toward his brother. He dodged the other masked brutes that blocked his way.

Suddenly he felt a sharp pain shoot through his right leg. His legs collapsed beneath him and he found himself plummeting headlong off the dock and toward the churning waters below.