"Frank is obviously trying to get at you," Darryl said. "We'll set a trap for him. We'll get your Dad back and you can make the Hardys pay at the same time."
"Can I belt him him we get him?" Joe asked, itching to make Frank pay for siccing the cops on his dad.
"All you want," Darryl promised. "But we have to have him if we want to get your dad back."
"All right," Joe said. "What's the plan?"
************************************************************************
"We've got to get him away from those other two hoods," Chet said, picking up a sandwich and taking a bite.
Assembled in the living room of the Hardy house were Fenton, Laura, Frank, and Chet as well as, eighteen-year-old, dark-headed, dark-eyed, olive-skinned, Tony Prito, blond, beefy, seventeen-year-old Biff Hooper, eighteen-year-old, brown-headed, brown-eyed, brainy Phil Cohen, eighteen-year-old, black-headed, brown-eyed, dark skinned, Jerry Gilroy, seventeen-year-old, blond-headed, green-eyed, Callie Shaw, Frank's girlfriend, and sixteen-year-old, raven haired, brown-eyed, Iola, who was not only Chet's sister, but also Joe's girlfriend. Also present were Fenton's personal pilot and close friend of the family, black-headed, blue-eyed JackWayne, and brown-headed, green-eyed Sam Radley, an associate of Fenton's and life long friend of the Hardys.
Fenton had explained the situation to everyone and asked for suggestions.
"We have to find him first," Phil pointed out.
"There's an APB out on Joe and the other two men," Fenton informed the group. "I jsut hope Joe's found before they stop playing this sick game."
"And kill him," Laura said softly, finishing Fenton's thought.
"When we do get Joe back, do you think he'll want to see us?" Iola inquired. "I mean, he'll think we're trying to help you."
"She has a point," Frank said, discouraged. He leaned back against the sofa and ran a hand through his hair for the umpteenth time.
"Stop that," Callie said, grabbing his hand and holding it tight. "You'll be bald before next week."
"What we have to do is go out and find Joe. Remind him of the times we've had together without letting him know we're friends with the Hardys," Sam suggested.
"Right," Jack agreed. "We need to get out there and start looking for him. Places where he would go if he were in hiding from the cops, which he kind of is," he added ruefully, starting to run a hand through his curly black hair but stopping when he caught Callie frowning at him.
"Then let's go," Jerry said, standing up. "Tony and I will head go to the docks," he said. "That's generally a good place to hang out if you're trying to be unobtrusive."
"Jack, you check out the bus stops," Fenton ordered, standing up and taking charge. "Phil, Biff, would you two check the places around the high school?" At their nod, he continued. "Chet, Iola and Callie, hit the mall. He's probably going to need clothes. Sam, you take the west end."
Sam nodded and stood up. He was going to need to change to fit in there. It was a bad part of town with drug dealers, hookers, and gang members on every corner.
"If he sees us, he'll run," Fenton said, "so we'll leave it up to you. Frank and Laura will be here at home, so if you see Joe, call them. I'm going down to headquarters and see if I can get Dobson to talk."
"Let's split up," Callie suggested when they got to the mall. "We'll be able to cover more ground."
"I'll take the food court," Chet volunteered. "Callie, you can take the west wing and Iola, you get the east," he ordered. "We'll meet back here in two hours."
"Nice try, brother dear." Iola said with a grin. "But we're here to find Joe, not feed you. I'll take the food court and you can take the east wing."
Chet grinned sheepishly but took off for the east side. Callie laughed and headed west.
Iola entered the food court and walked slowly up the right aisle. She pretended to be looking at the menu boards, but kept glancing around at the customers. After going completely around the court once, she gave a small sigh and began the circuit again. Halfway through, she saw Joe in line at the Burger Barn.
Getting in line, she bought a burger, fries, and a shake and followed Joe to a table. "Joe," she said, coming to stand across from him. "I thought that was you," she said and sat down.
Joe looked at the raven haired girl in front of him, his annoyance vanishing when he saw her smile. "Do I know you?" he asked, tilting his head over to the side.
Iola looked hurt. "What kind of question is that?" she asked him.
"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I hurt my head and my memory's kind of whacked."
"Oh, Joe," Iola gasped, feigning surprise. She reached over and covered his hand with hers.
At once, Joe felt a jolt and a picture of this girl looking up into his eyes with tender eyes flashed through his mind. "We dated?" Joe asked hesitantly.
Iola smiled as hope chorused through her. "We still do," she told him, squeezing his hand. Joe was silent, so she suggested, "Maybe I can nudge your memory."
"That would be great!" Joe enthused. "Dad, Uncle Darryl and Uncle Billy have tried, but it's just not working," he told her.
"Oh?" she asked.
"Yeah," Joe said, his blue eyes filling with a deep sadness that nearly broke her heart. "They have tried to get me to remember my mom, but for the life of me, I can't." He looked into Iola's eyes, his own bright with unshed tears. "Why can't I remember her?" he asked.
"Oh, Honey," Iola said, her voice breaking. "You will," she promised. "In time."
Joe looked down at his half eaten lunch and pushed it away. "They took mom away and now they've taken Dad too," he said, anger in his voice.
"Who?" Iola asked.
"The Hardys, of course," Joe spat the name.
"What?" she asked, her eyes going wide in real shock.
"Didn't I ever tell you?" Joe asked, amazed. Iola shook her head. "Fenton Hardy shot my mom in a shoot-out at a restaurant on my parents' anniversary."
Iola stared at Joe, unable to speak. 'How could they do this to Joe?' she thought.
Unaware of her thoughts, Joe continued. "And this morning, Hardy's brat called the cops. When Dad and I got back from Fairfield, they were waiting at our place. They arrested Dad. Hardy tried to get me, but I got away."
"Oh, Joe," Iola said, tears spilling down her cheeks at the horrible trick they were playing on Joe. She had to get through to him. "Why don't you come to my place?" she invited him. "We can talk and you might get your memory back."
"Can't," Joe repled, shaking his head. "I'm going to get my Dad back."
"But if he's in jail..." she began, but Joe cut her off.
"My uncles came up with a plan," he informed her, smiling.
"What kind of plan?" she inquired nervously.
Joe shook his head. "It's better if you don't know," he told her. Another vivid flash filled his head. He could see this girl and a stout blond-headed guy having a mud fight. He frowned when the picture vanished. "Do you know a chubby blond guy?" he asked her.
"A year older than me," she added, with a nod. "My brother," she informed him. "See, being with me is bringing your memory back. You really should come home with me."
"I can't," Joe said, although it was obvious he wanted to. "I've got to hang out where the Hardy's might see me," he explained.
"Why?" she asked.
Joe shook his head. "Uh-uh," he said. "I've told you too much all ready."
Iola ate a couple of fries and watched as Joe pulled his lunch closer and started eating again. "Hey," she suddenly said, getting his attention again. "Try to remember the time we went to Biff's Halloween party."
"Biff?" Joe asked, his forehead wrinkling as he tried to put a face to the name.
"Muscular guy, blond hair, blue eyes, about fifteen pounds heavier and two inches taller than you," Iola described him.
Joe shook his head. "Sorry."
"Well, you and your br...your best friend arrived at his party," she said, hoping he didn't catch her slip of the tongue. "And your friend and my brother were both wearing the same costumes. Gorillas. They carried on for ages."
"Sounds fun," Joe said a bit forlornly. "I wish I could remember."
"Don't you remember anything?" Iola asked.
"Not really," Joe answered. "I keep getting flashes, but nothing stays in my head long enough."
"Pick one," Iola ordered.
"What?" Joe asked, not understanding.
"Pick one of the flashes and concentrate really hard on that person's face," she told him. "Maybe you'll be able to remember something."
"Okay," he replied with a shrug. He closed his eyes and concentrated real hard on Iola's face. At first, nothing came to mind, but as he thought about her long silky hair and bright smile, more images started to appear.
He saw her wearing faded blue jeans and a sweatshirt two sizes too big for her. He saw her wading in a creek, laughing.
"What's going on?" Darryl's voice abruptly brought the memories to a halt.
"She was helping me to remember," Joe told his uncle, smiling up at him.
"Was she trying to help you remember when she dumped you for Frank Hardy?" Darryl demanded, glaring at Iola.
"What?" Joe asked softly, his eyes widening in shocked disbelief. He turned to look at her.
"No!" Iola denied. "It isn't true!" she shouted, standing up and glaring at Darryl. "Why are you doing this to him?" she demanded. "He doesn't deserve this!"
"What he doesn't deserve, are your lies," Darryl snarled at her, pulling Joe up by his arm. "You and your friends stay away from my nephew," he told Iola menancingly. "If you keep trying to interfere," he added, "someone your really care about will suffer for it." He walked away, pulling Joe with him.
Iola watched them go, a look of terror on her face. She knew exactly what the man had meant. If she or anyone tried to get close to Joe again, he would kill Joe.
"Can I belt him him we get him?" Joe asked, itching to make Frank pay for siccing the cops on his dad.
"All you want," Darryl promised. "But we have to have him if we want to get your dad back."
"All right," Joe said. "What's the plan?"
************************************************************************
"We've got to get him away from those other two hoods," Chet said, picking up a sandwich and taking a bite.
Assembled in the living room of the Hardy house were Fenton, Laura, Frank, and Chet as well as, eighteen-year-old, dark-headed, dark-eyed, olive-skinned, Tony Prito, blond, beefy, seventeen-year-old Biff Hooper, eighteen-year-old, brown-headed, brown-eyed, brainy Phil Cohen, eighteen-year-old, black-headed, brown-eyed, dark skinned, Jerry Gilroy, seventeen-year-old, blond-headed, green-eyed, Callie Shaw, Frank's girlfriend, and sixteen-year-old, raven haired, brown-eyed, Iola, who was not only Chet's sister, but also Joe's girlfriend. Also present were Fenton's personal pilot and close friend of the family, black-headed, blue-eyed JackWayne, and brown-headed, green-eyed Sam Radley, an associate of Fenton's and life long friend of the Hardys.
Fenton had explained the situation to everyone and asked for suggestions.
"We have to find him first," Phil pointed out.
"There's an APB out on Joe and the other two men," Fenton informed the group. "I jsut hope Joe's found before they stop playing this sick game."
"And kill him," Laura said softly, finishing Fenton's thought.
"When we do get Joe back, do you think he'll want to see us?" Iola inquired. "I mean, he'll think we're trying to help you."
"She has a point," Frank said, discouraged. He leaned back against the sofa and ran a hand through his hair for the umpteenth time.
"Stop that," Callie said, grabbing his hand and holding it tight. "You'll be bald before next week."
"What we have to do is go out and find Joe. Remind him of the times we've had together without letting him know we're friends with the Hardys," Sam suggested.
"Right," Jack agreed. "We need to get out there and start looking for him. Places where he would go if he were in hiding from the cops, which he kind of is," he added ruefully, starting to run a hand through his curly black hair but stopping when he caught Callie frowning at him.
"Then let's go," Jerry said, standing up. "Tony and I will head go to the docks," he said. "That's generally a good place to hang out if you're trying to be unobtrusive."
"Jack, you check out the bus stops," Fenton ordered, standing up and taking charge. "Phil, Biff, would you two check the places around the high school?" At their nod, he continued. "Chet, Iola and Callie, hit the mall. He's probably going to need clothes. Sam, you take the west end."
Sam nodded and stood up. He was going to need to change to fit in there. It was a bad part of town with drug dealers, hookers, and gang members on every corner.
"If he sees us, he'll run," Fenton said, "so we'll leave it up to you. Frank and Laura will be here at home, so if you see Joe, call them. I'm going down to headquarters and see if I can get Dobson to talk."
"Let's split up," Callie suggested when they got to the mall. "We'll be able to cover more ground."
"I'll take the food court," Chet volunteered. "Callie, you can take the west wing and Iola, you get the east," he ordered. "We'll meet back here in two hours."
"Nice try, brother dear." Iola said with a grin. "But we're here to find Joe, not feed you. I'll take the food court and you can take the east wing."
Chet grinned sheepishly but took off for the east side. Callie laughed and headed west.
Iola entered the food court and walked slowly up the right aisle. She pretended to be looking at the menu boards, but kept glancing around at the customers. After going completely around the court once, she gave a small sigh and began the circuit again. Halfway through, she saw Joe in line at the Burger Barn.
Getting in line, she bought a burger, fries, and a shake and followed Joe to a table. "Joe," she said, coming to stand across from him. "I thought that was you," she said and sat down.
Joe looked at the raven haired girl in front of him, his annoyance vanishing when he saw her smile. "Do I know you?" he asked, tilting his head over to the side.
Iola looked hurt. "What kind of question is that?" she asked him.
"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I hurt my head and my memory's kind of whacked."
"Oh, Joe," Iola gasped, feigning surprise. She reached over and covered his hand with hers.
At once, Joe felt a jolt and a picture of this girl looking up into his eyes with tender eyes flashed through his mind. "We dated?" Joe asked hesitantly.
Iola smiled as hope chorused through her. "We still do," she told him, squeezing his hand. Joe was silent, so she suggested, "Maybe I can nudge your memory."
"That would be great!" Joe enthused. "Dad, Uncle Darryl and Uncle Billy have tried, but it's just not working," he told her.
"Oh?" she asked.
"Yeah," Joe said, his blue eyes filling with a deep sadness that nearly broke her heart. "They have tried to get me to remember my mom, but for the life of me, I can't." He looked into Iola's eyes, his own bright with unshed tears. "Why can't I remember her?" he asked.
"Oh, Honey," Iola said, her voice breaking. "You will," she promised. "In time."
Joe looked down at his half eaten lunch and pushed it away. "They took mom away and now they've taken Dad too," he said, anger in his voice.
"Who?" Iola asked.
"The Hardys, of course," Joe spat the name.
"What?" she asked, her eyes going wide in real shock.
"Didn't I ever tell you?" Joe asked, amazed. Iola shook her head. "Fenton Hardy shot my mom in a shoot-out at a restaurant on my parents' anniversary."
Iola stared at Joe, unable to speak. 'How could they do this to Joe?' she thought.
Unaware of her thoughts, Joe continued. "And this morning, Hardy's brat called the cops. When Dad and I got back from Fairfield, they were waiting at our place. They arrested Dad. Hardy tried to get me, but I got away."
"Oh, Joe," Iola said, tears spilling down her cheeks at the horrible trick they were playing on Joe. She had to get through to him. "Why don't you come to my place?" she invited him. "We can talk and you might get your memory back."
"Can't," Joe repled, shaking his head. "I'm going to get my Dad back."
"But if he's in jail..." she began, but Joe cut her off.
"My uncles came up with a plan," he informed her, smiling.
"What kind of plan?" she inquired nervously.
Joe shook his head. "It's better if you don't know," he told her. Another vivid flash filled his head. He could see this girl and a stout blond-headed guy having a mud fight. He frowned when the picture vanished. "Do you know a chubby blond guy?" he asked her.
"A year older than me," she added, with a nod. "My brother," she informed him. "See, being with me is bringing your memory back. You really should come home with me."
"I can't," Joe said, although it was obvious he wanted to. "I've got to hang out where the Hardy's might see me," he explained.
"Why?" she asked.
Joe shook his head. "Uh-uh," he said. "I've told you too much all ready."
Iola ate a couple of fries and watched as Joe pulled his lunch closer and started eating again. "Hey," she suddenly said, getting his attention again. "Try to remember the time we went to Biff's Halloween party."
"Biff?" Joe asked, his forehead wrinkling as he tried to put a face to the name.
"Muscular guy, blond hair, blue eyes, about fifteen pounds heavier and two inches taller than you," Iola described him.
Joe shook his head. "Sorry."
"Well, you and your br...your best friend arrived at his party," she said, hoping he didn't catch her slip of the tongue. "And your friend and my brother were both wearing the same costumes. Gorillas. They carried on for ages."
"Sounds fun," Joe said a bit forlornly. "I wish I could remember."
"Don't you remember anything?" Iola asked.
"Not really," Joe answered. "I keep getting flashes, but nothing stays in my head long enough."
"Pick one," Iola ordered.
"What?" Joe asked, not understanding.
"Pick one of the flashes and concentrate really hard on that person's face," she told him. "Maybe you'll be able to remember something."
"Okay," he replied with a shrug. He closed his eyes and concentrated real hard on Iola's face. At first, nothing came to mind, but as he thought about her long silky hair and bright smile, more images started to appear.
He saw her wearing faded blue jeans and a sweatshirt two sizes too big for her. He saw her wading in a creek, laughing.
"What's going on?" Darryl's voice abruptly brought the memories to a halt.
"She was helping me to remember," Joe told his uncle, smiling up at him.
"Was she trying to help you remember when she dumped you for Frank Hardy?" Darryl demanded, glaring at Iola.
"What?" Joe asked softly, his eyes widening in shocked disbelief. He turned to look at her.
"No!" Iola denied. "It isn't true!" she shouted, standing up and glaring at Darryl. "Why are you doing this to him?" she demanded. "He doesn't deserve this!"
"What he doesn't deserve, are your lies," Darryl snarled at her, pulling Joe up by his arm. "You and your friends stay away from my nephew," he told Iola menancingly. "If you keep trying to interfere," he added, "someone your really care about will suffer for it." He walked away, pulling Joe with him.
Iola watched them go, a look of terror on her face. She knew exactly what the man had meant. If she or anyone tried to get close to Joe again, he would kill Joe.