"Chemo, this is Jar, comms check," Joe Hardy said through his earpiece. "Jar" was the code Joe Hardy used for the communications between him and Chet who was manning the communications center in the Hardys' police van. "Jar" was a mix of "J" from Joe and "ar" from Hardy, while "Chemo" was a combination of "Che" from Chet and "mo" from Morton, and pronounced as "keemo". The Hardys decide to change up their usual communication names, or what they referred to as "call stations" in order to help mask their identities from potential criminals if their communications were intercepted. They also changed up Chet's call station for the same reason.
"This is Chemo. Read you loud and clear, Jar," Chet responded from the chair inside the police van.
"Chemo, this is Far," Frank Hardy said through his earpiece, using the same method as Joe for his call station by combining "F" from "Frank" and "ar" from Hardy. "Comms check."
"This is Chemo. Read you loud and clear, Far," Chet responded as he paid attention to the radar screen at the communications center console. The Hardys also attached trackers to their clothing that was picked up by the van's radar. Chet was watching the Hardy boys' motions on the radar.
"Far and Jar, this is Chemo," Chet said in his headset. "I also have your motions tracked on the screen." Joe's tracker marked him a "J" on the radar, while Frank's tracker marked him as "F" on the radar. The trackers, earpieces and radar screen were recently purchased by their father, Fenton Hardy, a former NYPD investigator and now a world-famous private investigator. Because of his connections with the New York City Police Department, Fenton was able to purchase this used equipment as a Christmas present for his sons. Frank and Joe had spent a couple of days installing this equipment, and had taken the van to downtown Bayport to do a test run of their new gear. Chet had been helpful in previous cases by manning the communications station in the van, and had agreed to go with Frank and Joe to downtown Bayport to test out everything.
"Jar, you're 2 blocks east of me," Chet said, "and Far, you're 4 blocks south of me."
"Affirmative!" Joe confirmed.
"Affirmative!" Frank also confirmed. "Safe to say our test run is a success!"
"Now that we've done the test run, how about that dinner at Mr. Pizza that you promised me?" Chet asked.
"Leave it to Chemo to be thinking about food!" Joe's laughter could be heard through his earpiece.
"We'll be back in a few minutes so that you can test run your stomach," Frank chuckled.
Chet removed his headphones, and set them on the communications console. He sighed as his stomach growled. Chet Morton's appetite was legendary in Bayport, and although Frank and Joe teased him from time to time about his appetite, they've been best friends since their early childhood. Chet was very helpful on many of the Hardys' cases, and ever since the Hardys got their police van after solving the Mystery of the Desert Phantom, Chet developed a knack for operating the communications, as well other features of the police van while the Hardys were "out in the field" on their cases.
The passenger door opened, and 6 foot 1-inch-tall, dark haired Frank Hardy plopped himself into the passenger front seat.
"No Joe yet?" Frank asked as he turned back to look at Chet.
Chet shook his head. "No," he responded. "And you were further away from the van than Joe. I hope he didn't freeze to death out there. It's so cold out tonight!"
Just as Chet finished speaking, Joe opened the driver's side front door and slid his 6-foot-tall frame into the driver's seat.
"Took you long enough," Frank teased. "What were you doing, picking up a quarter that was superglued to the sidewalk?"
Chet laughed out loud, and blond haired Joe grinned. "On my way back here, I ran into Jenny Holden. She found out that Iola and I broke up, and she gave me her phone number."
Chet rolled his eyes. "Get a load of Mack Daddy Joe!" he chuckled. Jenny Holden was considered by many Bayport High School boys to be the most beautiful girl at Bayport High School.
"Iola's dating James Grant now, so why can't I date?" Joe shot Chet a look. "Besides, maybe I'll show up where Iola is with Jenny on my arm. I know that would make her regret dumping me."
Chet held up his hands in defense. "Hey, whatever is going on between you and Iola, that's between the two of you. It's none of my business, and neither you nor Iola will get me to take sides."
The various cases Frank and Joe had taken had led to numerous broken dates between Joe and Iola Morton. Iola had finally had enough, and had broken up with Joe two weeks ago so that, in Iola's words, "I can be with a guy who's actually here to pay attention to me."
Joe started up the van. "Thanks, buddy," he said as he looked at Chet in the rearview mirror. "I'm glad we're still friends."
"Aw, shucks," Chet said in a mock Southern drawl, causing Frank to break out in laughter. "Just get me that pizza and I'll be your friend forever!"
Joe laughed. "You got it, buddy!" he exclaimed as he backed the van out of the parking lot.
A few minutes later, Frank, Joe and Chet were parked at Mr. Pizza. The boys got out of the van, and started to walk in when Frank checked his wallet.
"Everything okay, Frank?" Chet asked with a concerned look.
Frank frowned. "Huh, I only have two hundred dollars in my wallet," he said, winking at Joe. "I don't know if this will be enough to cover your meal."
Chet gave Frank a mock look of hurt feelings and then started laughing. "I have a surprise for you two characters! I just got my first paycheck from my new job at the gas station, and tonight's meal is on me!"
Joe feigned a heart attack. "Chet's paying for a meal?" he looked at Frank, still clutching his chest. "Be still my beating heart!"
"We can go Dutch treat if you want," Chet shot back, "and that means I can buy more pizza for myself! Or you can shut your trap, and let me buy a pizza for you since my sister broke up with you."
Joe gave Chet a playful punch on Chet's shoulder. "Just messing with you, buddy! And thanks in advance for the pizza!"
The trio laughed, and found a booth. A couple of minutes later, their friend, Tony Prito, walked up to them with an order pad in hand. Tony Prito worked as an assistant manager at Mr. Pizza, and was also one of the Hardys' best friends.
"What's up, dudes?" Tony asked, removing the pencil from above his ear and opened the pad. "How was your Christmas?"
"Dad hooked us up with some new gear for our van, and Chet was helping us field test it," Frank said. "I hope you're having some fun and not working here for the whole Christmas break! You missed out on Phil Cohen's Christmas party!"
Tony smiled. "I'm fine with working on break. I almost have enough money saved up to go to Italy in the spring. My dad still has family in Venice, and one of my cousins who lives there said I can stay with him."
"Nice!" Joe exclaimed. "And if you have a mystery that you need solved there, don't forget to call us!"
Tony laughed. "So let me get your order put in. Let me guess, Joe, you want a pepperoni and sausage pizza. Frank, you want pepperoni, salami, onions and olives. And Chet, you want the works with extra anchovies. And 3 cokes for you guys"
Chet smiled. "Yep, and put it all on my tab! My treat tonight!"
Tony held a hand to Chet's forehead. "You're buying? Are you feeling okay? You're not running a fever, are you?"
"Haha, wise guy," Chet rolled his eyes. "I told these two characters that I would treat them."
Tony raised his eyebrows and finished writing the order on the notepad. "Alright, guys, I'll have your pizzas out soon! Oh, and heads up, Joe, Iola and James Grant are walking through the door!"
"Great," Joe grumbled, sinking himself lower in the booth. "That's the last thing I need tonight. More drama!"
The Hardys and Chet had known James Grant since kindergarten, and James also had a crush on Iola since kindergarten. James was constantly trying to swoon Iola, which made Joe and James enemies. The last thing Joe wanted was James trying to throw Iola in his face. Joe hid his face behind the large menu.
"It's all good, little brother," Frank said to Joe in a low tone as he peered over their booth. "They're making their way towards a back booth in the next aisle over. I don't think they even saw us."
"Good," Joe muttered as he drank from his glass of water, still sunk low in the booth.
Tony dropped off three glasses of Coke. "Here you go, guys," Tony said. "The pizzas should be out in about ten minutes."
"Can we get them to go?" Joe asked, clearly irritated. "This isn't how I thought tonight would be."
"You're gonna let James Grant get to you like this?" Chet asked. "Man, you've wrestled with dangerous criminals, and you're afraid of this guy?"
Joe stared at the table. "I'm not afraid," he said angrily. "But I'll punch him in the face if he walks over here, and I don't want to make a scene at Tony's place of work."
Frank arched his eyebrows. "Joe's trying to control his temper. Impressive!"
Joe gave Frank a weak smile. "Thanks," he mumbled.
Chet looked at Tony and nodded. "Let's get them to go, Tony. Any way you can make the Cokes to go as well?"
"You got it, guys," Tony said as he strolled off to take James and Iola's order.
Chet looked at Joe sympathetically and clapped Joe on the shoulder. "We'll get in the van, and park at the waterfront. We'll eat our pizzas in peace. Then you can drop me off at home afterwards."
"Sorry to drag you into this, Chet," Joe said.
"Say nothing of it," Chet responded, holding up a hand. Then he whispered, "For the record, I think James Grant is a grade A jerk. I don't want my pizza dinner ruined by him either."
Just then, Tony stopped at their table. "Don't worry about the bill, guys. James Grant just paid your bill for you."
"What?" Chet exclaimed. "Why?"
"I don't know, man," Tony said. "But he paid your bill and tipped me well."
"That's it!" Joe fumed. "I've had enough of his garbage!"
Joe stood up from the booth and rushed to the booth where athletic, red-haired James Grant and Iola Morton were sitting. James had his arm around Iola's shoulder, much to Joe's anger. Iola glared at Joe and then turned her head.
"What's the big idea?" Joe exploded.
"What's wrong with paying for your meal?" James responded back. "I'm showing Iola what a gentleman does."
"What? Stealing a guy's girlfriend?" Joe shot back, fists clenched.
James smirked. "Not at all. Gentlemen know a charity case when they see it, and you seem like a guy down on your luck. So you can thank me for that act of kindness and generosity."
Joe started to grab James by the collar when Chet put Joe in a bear hug and moved him away from the table.
"Let's not do this here, Joe," Chet said. "Let's get our pizzas and Cokes. Then we'll get out of here."
Joe freed himself from Chet's bear hug and stormed off. "Fine," he muttered. "Let's get out of here."
"That's a good idea, Joe Hardy. Maybe you should get out of here," James said, still smirking. "Gosh, had I known you would be so ungrateful for me buying your pizza, I wouldn't have bothered. But Iola's been turning me into a better man. I have no mysteries to distract me. She's my only distraction!"
Joe's face reddened, and Chet grabbed Joe by the shoulders. "Focus, Joe! We have pizza and Cokes to go. Let them be."
Chet grabbed the pizzas while Frank grabbed the Cokes, and they headed back into the van.
"Maybe I should drive," Frank gently suggested as he slid into the driver's seat. Joe jumped into the passenger's seat and slammed the door.
"She gets mad at me for being a detective, and then dumps me for that dirtbag!" Joe fumed. "He's never worked a day in his life, and his dad spoils him with nice cars and money."
"He's a jerk," Chet interjected. "I know my sister. He won't be around for long. His superior act will wear on her really quick. Besides, you got Jenny's phone number. You don't even know how lucky you are to get her phone number! I asked her out last year, and she laughed at me."
"She laughed at you?" Joe said with a look of disgust. He then tore up the piece of paper with Jenny's phone number. "Nobody laughs at my best friend! What's the deal with women, anyways?"
Chet laughed. "You're taking her laughing at me harder than I did! It's okay, Joe." Chet then flexed his muscles. "Her loss," he said, causing Joe to burst out in laughter.
"Thanks, friend," Joe said. "I needed that laugh. Let's enjoy our dinner."
Frank parked the van at the waterfront and they ate their pizzas and drank their Cokes while they talked about football and girls. Joe was now in a much better mood, and soon, Frank drove Chet to the Morton farm to drop him off. Chet waved good-bye as the Hardy boys departed from the Morton farm.
"I'm sorry that you're hurting, Joe," Frank said. "Callie Shaw and I have had our arguments over me being gone on cases. Maybe you two will work things out."
"I suppose," Joe said, staring out the window. "I need a good distraction, like a case!"
"You never know what's around the corner," Frank responded. "It's been a bit since our last case."
Fifteen minutes later, Frank and Joe pulled into the driveway at the Hardy home on Elm Street. When they walked in, they found their father, Fenton Hardy, sitting in his easy chair, watching TV.
"Hey, Dad!" Joe greeted him. "Where's mom and Aunt Gertrude?"
Fenton Hardy smiled. "It's bingo night at the Bayport Auxiliary, and they're at the Auxiliary tonight, so I bought a pizza and watched this police show."
Frank laughed. "Don't you wish you could solve a case in an hour with commercial breaks like they do on TV?"
Fenton laughed. "It would have made my life easy years ago! Hey, by the way, how's the new van equipment working?"
"Works like a champ, Dad!" Joe exclaimed excitedly. "I'm so glad you got us those for Christmas!"
Fenton looked at his sons and smiled. "So am I. Because I'm going to need your help on a case in New York City!"