Two days later the boys were in their chum Chet's backyard, roasting smores', and trading stories. Chet, Biff, Callie, and Iola were listening to the young detectives' story.

"I can't believe O'Bannon blackmailed all those people in the dock district." Callie remarked to Frank, who sat next to her.

The group nodded in agreement. Chet took another marshmallow. "So why did she target Jones anyway?" he queried with a full mouth.

The kids laughed. Biff replied. "You got marshmallow in your ears there Chet?" Chet pushed Biff off his seat, and instead turned to Joe and Frank for an answer.

Joe replied, smiling. "He had security footage of O'Bannon's whole gang. Even a minute of it would have been enough to convict her for a long time. I'm just glad we got there in time to help Jones."

Iola said teasingly to Joe, "And to try out some new fight moves."

Joe blushed, throwing an accusatory glace at Frank. "Whatever flair for the dramatic I have is exactly the same as Frank."

The group laughed while Iola patted his shoulder consolingly. The gathering continued in like fashion until Mrs. Morton called out from the back door for attention. "Hardys!" she hollered, "Your father wants you home, he says it's important!"

The boys thanked her and bid farewell to their friends. Walking to their motorcycles which stood in the front drive, Joe asked, "Do you think Dad has another case for us?"

Frank responded, "Gee, I sure hope so!"

With this postulation both boys eagerly jumped on their motorbikes and raced home. While the victory of a solved mystery was sweet, the feeling of anticipation at the advent of a new case was even sweeter.

Arriving home, their mother pointed Frank and Joe straight upstairs to their father's office, a warm smile on her face. They took the stairs two at a time, and knocked at their Father's door.

"Come in."

The boys greeted their Father who was standing at a corkboard assembling pictures, maps, and news clippings in an organized spread. Being a detective, and a good one at that, this was hardly unusual behavior for Fenton Hardy. "What's up Dad?" Frank asked.

"Hey Boys," he said as he turned around, "What do you know about Danny Spendlove?"

Joe answered, with a shrug, "not much, he's in Frank's grade, kind of an edgy sort of fellow."

Frank gave his assent. "He's in my science class, he mostly keeps to himself, but he spends a lot of time with Ron Jameson. They both love their cars, which are really nice."

Joe chuckled, "Way nicer than Chet's jalopy."

Fenton smiled, but quickly returned his features to the serious. "He's been attacked, and is in the hospital."

Instantly sobered, the boys sat at the chairs behind their father's desk and waited for him to deliver the whole story.

Fenton joined them at the desk. "Paul Alton runs the car shop on 2nd and Pine. He's a pretty private fellow, but he's really kind to High School boys who are at risk of dropping out. He gives them jobs, helps them with school, and is a good friend to these boys. Danny has worked for him since he was 12 or 13."

Their Dad double checked his notes. "He went down to the basement of the shop yesterday morning and noticed the tools weren't properly put away. As he was cleaning up, he saw Danny, pretty beaten up, lying on the floor. He called the ambulance, but seeing as no one else has a key to the building besides Danny and him, he's facing possible charges for class A assault. However, there's no motive, only opportunity. Furthermore, Paul is an older fellow, and it seems unlikely that he could have beaten Danny in a fight. Danny's unconscious, with pretty severe injuries. There's no way of knowing his side of the story until he wakes up."

"Was there a weapon at the scene?" Joe asked.

Fenton shook his head. "No, but the injuries are such that it was probably done with a metal weapon, such as brass knuckles, or maybe a pipe. He has a few broken ribs, a pretty severe concussion, and probably internal damage. It's not pretty."

"Do we know when the attack occurred?" Frank asked.

"No, but we can guess. Danny closed up every night, usually around 9. From there he locked up, put away the tools, and cleaned the place. Presumably, the attacker knocked, and Danny let him in. There was no sign of forced entry, but it does seem odd that Danny had no defensive injuries."

Frank speculated, "The guy probably surprised him, maybe jumping from behind. For some reason Danny trusted the guy enough to let his guard down."

Joe queried, "So, was Danny the target, or was Paul?"

Fenton responded, "At this point, we don't know for sure, but I'm guessing the target was Danny. You mentioned Danny's friend Ron Jameson. He also works at the mechanic's shop and he was in a car crash about a week ago."

Frank nodded, "I heard about that. The car drove right into the side of a building. It was pretty amazing he was okay. But, was that an accident?"

"That's the thing, Ron said he was driven off the road by another car, but he failed a breathalyzer test so police assumed he was just drunk. (In the late 1950s when this story is set, there is such a thing as the breathalyzer test, but I'm not sure what the New York State/New Jersey penalties are at this time for underage DUI.) The only response they gave him was a severe fine. He'll be working it off for a while."

Frank asked, "So you think someone is targeting high school kids who work for Paul?"

Fenton answered, "Yes, that does seem to be the connection. We likely won't know for sure until Danny wake's up, so until then, it's our job to get to the bottom of this."

Joe asked, "Why us, though? What are the police doing?"

Fenton waved his hand, "Of course the police are working on their end to solve the assault, but Paul doesn't trust them. He's been on the wrong side of the law before, and is worried about the immediate safety of these kids. He's hired us because you boys can do what the police can't."

"And what is that?"

Fenton smiled, but with worry etched in the lines on his face. "Go undercover, of course."