(I don't own the The Hardy Boys)

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 14

It was around mid-morning when Fenton pulled up to the newly remodeled Bayport Police station. A solid, old-fashioned, brick building. It was an icon in this town; the building even had its own brick jail-house with an updated security system. It, too, had fallen victim to Heartless this past summer when a bomb ripped through the building.

Fenton rubbed his tired eyes. He had spent most of the night explaining to a visably-upset Laura about the crime wave that had hit Bayport. Chief Collig needed Joe to identify the boys who attacked him. She wasn't too happy about having to stay at the safe house with Tony, Aldo, the baby, and Sam, but he would have to deal with his upset wife later. Right now, he needed to focus on Heartless and, more importantly, Joe.

The Hardys' made their way inside. They met Chief Collig, a middle-aged, athletic man, with dark hair and a touch of gray, standing outside his office. It was next to a two-way mirrored interrogation room.

"Good morning Fenton, Frank, Joe," he greeted, rubbing his tired eyes, "I'm sorry about calling you here so late, but you know its important. How are you feeling, Joe?"

"I'm feeling better," Joe answered, "Thank you, Chief."

"I'm having my officers work double-shifts ever since this crime wave started."

"When did all this start?" Fenton asked curiously.

"Just before you left town," Chief Collig said in a stern voice, "I'm taking my shift now. The Bayport Police will not rest until we get Heartless."

Chief Collig then turned back to Joe. "Do you think you can identify the boys who attacked you?"

Joe let out a nervous sigh."Yes."

Frank, sensing Joe's nervousness, went into big-brother-mode and started rubbing his little brother's back. As soon as he did that, Joe began to calm down.

Chief Collig nodded firmly. "Okay, follow me."

He lead them to a room. Joe watched as Officer Con Riley, a good friend of the Hardys, escorted two boys into a two-way mirrored interrogation room.

"Just take your time, Joe," Fenton replied, reassuring his son, "Just remember you're safe. They can't see or hear you."

Joe felt Frank and Fenton's hands on his shoulders giving him the strength and support he needed. He studied the two boys closely. They were about eighteen. Both had a stocky build, but one had a more athletic build, to him. They both wore t-shirts with explicit words on them, and baggy jeans down to their waist. One of the boy's head was shaven. The other one had a Heartless symbol tattooed on his left arm.

"I'm sorry, Chief. They are not Jackson Fontain and Kurtis Shepard," Joe finally answered.

"Joe," Fenton asked hesitantly, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, Dad, I'm sure," Joe said, shaking his head and clutching his fist into a ball, "I don't understand it. I was sure it would be them."

"It's okay, Joe," Chief Collig said, squeezing Joe's shoulder, "We won't give up until we find them."

"I guess you've been pretty busy since we've been gone," Fenton stated.

Chief replied grimly. "It seems like everyday we're getting calls of teenage boys, ages sixteen to eighteen, causing a violence, vandalizing property, committing robberies... it's madness."

He sighed deeply before continuing.

"Officer Riley picked up these two boys for vandalizing a store front. We are still trying to find their parents."

"They could be runaways," Fenton suggested.

"That is what we were thinking," Chief said, shaking his head, "I've checked around so far and there are no reports of missing boys of with their descriptions. If only we could get them to talk or give up the whereabouts of Mathers."

"What if Mathers is protecting them?" Frank spoke up, feeling all eyes on him.

"That doesn't make sense," Joe responded, trying to understand, "Why would Mathers want to protect them?"

"Well, my guess is..." Frank began slowly, "Because they attacked you. Fenton Hardy's son. So naturally ..."

"...Mathers knows I'm coming after him," Fenton said, picking up on what Frank was suggesting, "And, he's right. I am coming after him."

"I know this is going to sound crazy," Frank continued, "But what if this is Mather's way of calling us home?"

He turned to the Chief, asking, "This whole crime wave started after we left Bayport. Right?"

"Yes, that's right," Chief replied, rubbing his chin, "Frank, what are you getting at?"

"What if he wants us to come after him?" Frank said, "I think Heartless is planning something big."

He looked at the two boys in the two-way mirror. "Unfortunately, they are the victims caught up in his little game."

"Heartless probably threaten them," Fenton said, letting out a frustrating sigh, "To keep their mouths shut."

"So what do we do now?" Frank asked, also sighing.

"I have an idea," Joe spoke up, feeling all eyes on him. Then he shook his head. "No, forget it, It's probably a bad idea."

"Go ahead Joe," Frank said, encouraging his little brother to continue, "What's your idea?."

"Go ahead, son," Fenton said, also encouraging Joe.

Joe nodded at the boys in the two-way mirrored interrogation room.

"Well, I was just thinking..." Joe voice trailed off as he slowly told them his idea.

"Frank," Joe turned to this brother before going into the room.

"Yeah?"

"I know your always coming up with good ideas. Just wanted to thank you for listening to mine, this time."

"Hey, that's what partners are for! I always listen to what you have to say. You have good ideas... once in awhile. "

A smile spread across Frank face. He put an arm around Joe. "By the way, it's a good idea, and your welcome. Are you ready to go in?"

Joe took a deep breath, and then looked at Frank with a big smile on his face,

"Yes, I'm ready."

The brothers walked into the room. Officer Con Riley was standing just a few feet away from them.

"Hello boys." He greeted, "They're all yours."

"Oh look, Jase." The tattooed boy said sarcastically, "Now they're sending in the boy scouts."

"Oh no, Blade!" the other boy said, pretending to shiver, "Now I'm really scared!"

"Oh, you shouldn't be afraid of us," Joe said, taking a seat across the boys, "Right, Frank?"

"That's right, Joe," Frank said, following Joe's lead, "I'll tell you what they should be afraid of."

"What's that, Frank?"

"Prison."

"Prison?" Joe's eyes widen. "They can't put you in prison for vandalizing property, can they?"

"Sure they can," Frank said, nodding. He turned to see a worried look in Jase's eyes. "That's what I heard the Chief tell Dad."

Joe shook his head, "I've heard about some scary things that go on in prisons."

"Like... what scary things?" Jase asked, swallowing a lump in his throat.

"Shut up," Blade hissed, "They are just trying to scare you."

"I don't want to go to prison," Jase said to his friend. He turned back to Frank, asking, "What scary things?"

Blade rolled his eyes and shook his head in disgust.

"Just things that would make your skin crawl," Frank said, shrugging his shoulders, "But we could help you out."

"How?"

"If you tell us where we can find Mathers," Joe answered, "We might talk to the Chief for you. He just happens to be a good friend of ours. He might go easy on you. And don't worry about any threats... Chief Collig and our Dad will do everything they can to protect you from Heartless."

Silence filled the room. Frank and Joe could see the hesatation on the boys face

"Okay," Jase spoke up finally, looking a bit nervous.

Excitement flooded both Joe's and Frank's bodies. They looked at each other and gave identical smiles.

"Where is Mathers?"

"We don't know," Jase said, looking nervously at Blade, "You don't find him. He finds you."

"Okay, what about Jackson Fontain and Kurtis Shepard? Where can we find them?"

"Oh, those guys? They hangout at Scoreboard Arcade."

please review. Tell me what you think.( I promise the next chapter will have the Hardy Boys kicking some Heartless a...)