Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. They are the sole property of Franklin W. Dixon and the publishing company. I'm just borrowing them for a bit. ;-)

Okay, so this is my first fanfic ever. I know that it's starting off somewhat in the middle of the story but I wanted to get a feel for things and make sure there was interest in the story before I decided to continue. Please, rate and review so that I can make my first Hardy Boys fanfic awesome!

Wednesday, January 19th

Joe was haphazardly shoved further into the room. He stumbled a bit before catching himself and standing to his full height. He shot a glare over his shoulder at the smirking guard who had stationed himself in the doorway along with the other one Joe had deemed Shorty. He briefly debated on fighting them but any thoughts he had were instantly dispelled as Tall Boy brandished his weapon. Frowning, Joe let his eyes rove over the darkened room.

"Welcome Joseph." A deep voice called out which brought his attention to the center of the room. The room was suddenly filled with light as a lamp was turned on, revealing a suave looking individual seated behind a rather large oak desk. "I am happy to see that you appreciate the direness of this situation." The man said in a business-like tone as he flashed a set of pearly whites in a smile. Joe flinched slightly at the nonchalant way in which the man was speaking. Calm bad guys were never a good thing. They made fewer mistakes than those you could get riled up.

Great... Joe thought to himself as he eyed the man. "Well, I did what you said and I'm here." He all but growled at the man behind the desk, glad that his voice had come out stronger than he thought it would. "Now tell me where my brother is!" His brashness was answered with a low laugh from the man.

"I am nothing if not honest." The older individual said with an oily grin. He turned his chair toward one of his associates and snapped his fingers. Instantly, a phone appeared in Oily Grin's hand. "Here you are." Oily grin remarked as he handed the phone to Joe. "You may call your parents and tell them where your dear brother is. However," His hand clapped firmly onto Joe's before he could dial home. "I will not take kindly if any hints of YOUR location were to be given during the course of the conversation. Understood?"

Joe stared hard at the man, his blue eyes burning with tempered frustration. He's good. I'll give him that. I can't risk getting Frank hurt. I'll just have to play along and hope I can think of a way to tell them where I am. Hesitantly, he gave a small nod of agreement.

The other man's grin broadened and he chuckled heartily as if amused by the defiance in the younger Hardy's eyes. "Very well then…here are the directions to your brother. You may dial when ready." Oily Grin said removing his hand from Joe's while sliding a piece of paper with scribble on it in front of him.

Joe's blue eyes narrowed at him before he lowered his gaze to the paper he had been given. As he read, his eyes grew flared with anger and he nearly jumped over the table, ready to throttle the man for playing games. "I thought we had a deal." He stated in a voice laced with disdain, barely keeping himself in check.

Oily Grin's brows quirked in a questioning gaze but his brown eyes showed his laughter. "My dear boy, we DO!" He answered cheerily. "I swear on my mother's grave that the directions in your hand will lead dear ol' mom and dad straight to older brother- alive and well and none the worse for wear." His hand moved in an insistent wave, urging Joe to call.

Taking a deep breath, Joe let it out slowly and began to dial the number he had memorized since he was 6 years old. The dial tone hadn't even sounded when it was picked up on the other end. "Joe?" A worried voice came over the line. "Yeah, it's me dad." He responded in a neutral tone. He didn't want to give the monster sitting across from him the pleasure of seeing him get emotional. This could very well be the last conversation I have with them… No, I won't think that way. I've gotten out of worse.

"Are you okay?" His father asked in a husky voice, trying to keep himself from asking the questions blaring in his mind. It was natural for a father, especially a detective and former police officer, to want to gather as much as he could from his son. However, Fenton knew that there was the very real possibility that Joe's conversation was being monitored and that any slip up on either of their parts could mean a loss that neither were prepared to face.

"I'm all right." Joe's solemn voice interrupted his thoughts. "Is mom there?" "I'm here honey," came the strained words of Laura Hardy from beside Fenton. He had put the telephone on speaker so that both of them could speak and offer their support. "Have they hurt you? If they have so much as laid one finger on you so help me I'll-"

A small smile tugged at Joe's lips when he heard his mother's muttering. Even though she was petite, Laura Hardy had some fight in her when it came to her family. "No, mom, I'm okay. They haven't hurt me." Yet. Joe added silently to himself. He heard somebody clear his throat and he lifted his eyes to see Oily Grin twirling his hand in a "get on with it" motion. Glaring daggers at the man, Joe returned his attention to his dad's calling his name. "Uh, yeah…I'm still here. Listen, I know where Frank is but you're probably not going to believe it when I tell you." Silence settled over the line for a brief instant before Joe started reading off the directions on the piece of paper.