(I don't own the The Hardy Boys)

Hi I'm back! Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I have been working on editing by chapters, with the help from a beta reader.

A special thanks to (JustAnotherGirlInTheWorld) who has been helping me with my grammar and improve my story.

You have been a great help! :)

The Hardy Boys

(Heartless)

Sequel: A Friend in Need

Chapter 13

It was around ten o'clock at night at the safe house. Laura had already gone to bed, wanting to get a good night sleep before their long trip home in the morning. She was so relived to have her Joe back, she could barely keep herself from smiling. He was recovering well from his ordeal. Joe was even acting like himself, now: laughing, joking around with Frank and Tony, and just being center of attention like always.

Aldo went to check on his grandson sleeping upstairs before turning in himself. After the horrific ordeal Tony went through this past summer, Aldo was grateful Tony had friends like Frank and Joe. They never gave up hope on his son. He knew they wouldn't give up until Tony was back home safe, and Heartless was out of business for good. It was a great comfort to Aldo, knowing his grandson had people like that he could count on.

Fenton and Sam went into the study to check in with Chief Collig of the Bayport Police. They wanted to see if there was any news on Heartless, and to see if there were any leads on the two boys who attacked Joe.

Frank and Joe were sitting outside on the back porch with Tony. Frank couldn't believe they were finally going home to Bayport. Now that he had his little brother back, he could focus completely on Heartless. He vowed to make them pay for hurting Tony and Joe, no matter what.

"I can't believe you guys are going home..." Tony said, his voice trailing off as sadness filled his voice.

Frank felt bad for his friend. He knew Tony wanted to go home more than anything.

Tony had finally agreed to take medication for his anxiety, and he really was doing better. He was even letting his father help him out with the baby, now. Dr. Stevens had left just a few days ago, feeling confident leaving Tony and Joe in good hands. He would check in on them from time to time, but for now he was gone.

"Tony, I have a feeling," Joe said, breaking into Frank's thoughts, "You might be coming home sooner than you think."

"What do you mean?" Tony asked, perking up immediately until he saw the hesitation in Frank's eyes.

"I can go home," he asked him desperately, "Right?"

"Well... not just yet," Frank said, taking a deep breath and wishing Joe hadn't said anything, "There is something you have a right to know, but you have to promise to stay calm before I tell you."

Tony could see Frank was serious, and he began to feel a bit nervous. "Okay," he said, "I promise. I'll stay calm."

Frank sighed, took a deep breath, and just spit it out.

"Robert Santos, or Sei Duro, is dead."

Tony's eyes widened. "Dead?" he gasped.

"It's for real this time," Frank stated grimly, "He killed himself."

"How did you find this out?"

"All I can tell you," Frank replied, "Is that Heartless has a new leader. His name is Daniel Kasey, known as D.K. Mathers."

Frank continued to explain, feeling that Tony had a right to know. "He is just as dangerous as Sei Duro. D.K. Mathers is heavily trained in martial arts with a military background."

Fumbling through his pockets for a moment, Frank handed Tony a photograph of him. "He is a tall, muscular man in his late forties or fifties, with a short, military-style haircut. The man wears military fatigues. We believes that Mathers has a secret hideout either in Bayport or any of the surrounding areas."

"What does this mean?" Tony asked, pointing to the black heart tattoo on the man's left bicep.

"It means Heartless is in charge," Frank said, letting out a heavy sigh and running a hand thorough his hair, "Heartless is trying to take over Bayport as their territory. Just like you, Tony."

Suddenly, Frank turned his head to look at Joe, who was watching quietly from the sidelines.

"Heartless is already trying to recruit Joe," he said, "I found this same card with a black heart on him at school. The day of the attack."

Frank could see Tony was starting to panic, so he tried to calm him down. "Tony, you know I'm not going to let anything happen to Joe."

Tony looked at Joe. He took a deep breath and asked worriedly, "Do you know who attacked you?

"Yes, I do," Joe answered, looking nervously at Tony, "Kurtis Shepherd, and Jackson Fontain."

"I think I've seen those two around school," Tony nodded, "You think they are with Heartless?"

"Yeah, we do."

Tony's face practically went ghost-white when Joe told him about the attack, and the horrible things they said about him. There was a heavy sting of silence in the air, the tension nearly palpable.

To break the silence, Tony spoke up. "So... what does this mean for me?"

"It means, " Joe said with eagerness, hitting his fist in the palm of his hand, "That we're gonna to kick some Heartless a..."

"What Joe means is," Frank said, interrupting his little brother, "You're going to have to stay here. It's not safe for you to come home just yet. Not while this Mathers is the leader of Heartless."

Tony sighed sadly, as if expecting this.

"I do have a bit of good new for you, though," said Frank cheerily, hoping to bring up his spirits.

"What's that?"

"Tony, Santos forced you to sign a contract to join Heartless, right? But now that his dead..." Frank said, thinking out loud, "I would think the contract would be invalid. Which would mean..."

"You are no longer part of Heartless!" Joe interrupted, picking up on what his brother was suggesting.

"We are going to clean up Bayport by putting Heartless out of business for good," Frank added," So Little Antonio can have a safe place to grow up. Tony, you have the most important job of all of us. Taking care of our Godson."

Upon hearing this, a smile spread across Tony's face. His voice quivered, fighting back tears. "Thanks guys, and I know you will. Please... just be careful."

"We will," Frank replied with a smile. Then he continued, yawning, "Now I think we need to turn in. Dad wants to get an early start going home."

After Tony said goodnight and went to bed, the brothers were heading to their room when Fenton stopped them.

"Frank, Joe!" he shouted, "Hold on."

Frank and Joe spun around to see their father rushing up to them. Just by the look on his face, they knew right away that something was very, very wrong.

"Dad, what's wrong?" Frank asked hurriedly.

"I just got off the phone with Chief Collig," Fenton replied, " A crime wave of teenage boys has hit our town. Reports of violence, vandalism, robberies... you name it! Chief believes Heartless maybe involved in this."

"How do you know that, dad?"

"Apparently, some of the boys they brought into the police station had black heart tattoos on the arm."

"Did the Chief get any information out of them?" Joe asked excitedly.

" No. I'm afraid not, Joe. The boys are refusing to give up any information or the whereabouts of Mathers."

"They're probably too afraid of losing their life," Frank said, thinking out loud.

Fenton letting out a deep sigh, nodding slowly. "Officer Riley just brought in a couple of boys to the station. They fit the description of the two boys who attacked Joe, but the chief needs Joe to identify of them."

Suddenly, Joe tensed, starting to get very nervous. "When are we leaving?" he asked.

"We are leaving for Bayport tonight." Fenton said, putting a comforting arm around his son, "I promise, It's going to be okay."

To be continue...please review tell me what you think. thank you.