Joe Hardy was on the computer when he recieved an IM. It read.

Shygirl: Help, I am held captive.

Joe answered with this.

JHardy: Where are you?

Shygirl: I dont know. I just know that I want to go home. What is your name?

JHardy: My name is Joe. What is yours?

Shygirl: Oh, I got to go. They are coming. I will talk later.

JHardy: Wait, where are you?

Then Joe gets a message that she has disconnected before he could get an answer.

Joe went to talk to Frank. "Frank, I got an IM, from a girl that say's she is in trouble."

Frank not looking up from his book. "Now come on. I know you like to help damsals in distress, but come on, do you really thing?"

Joe looking at his brother disgusted. "Come see for yourself. I still have the IM up."

Frank looking up at his brother seeing how upset he is. "OK, I will go see. Did she say who she was?"

"No, before she could, they got back, and she had to go."

"They? Who are they?"

"My guess they are her kidnappers. She didn't say."

Frank getting up. "Okay, I am starting to get interested. Let me see this." Frank follows Joe to his room, and reads the message. "This is interesting. Let's check to see if there are some people that have been missing recently. Just one problem, we dont know where she is from. She could be from anywhere."

"Well, I could check her profile, and see if she mentions it in there." Joe clicks on her profile. "It say's she is originally from New York, and also asks for help. I guess they dont check her computer."

Frank looking at the profile over Joes shoulder. "It also said that she has been online for a few weeks. It dont show a pic though."

"We are lucky we were able to get this much, with her being kidnapped."

"That is true. Let's go tell Mom, and Dad that we are leaving for a while, and tell them what is going on. Dad may know someone that can help. Dad may have some connections, with the police department."

Fenton Hardy is a well known detective, that his boy's likes to help with cases once in a while.

Joe, and Frank goes downstairs where their parents are. "Mom, Dad, we need to help someone in New York. We need to get to your contacts too, Dad."

Fenton looking at his boy's. "What is going on? Why do you need to go to New York so bad."

"Joe, is leaving a few minor things out." Frank answered look at Joe, then back at his father. "Joe got an IM from a young lady that say's she is in trouble. I think we should investigate."

Fenton skeptical about the whole internet thing, replies. "How do you know she is in trouble? She may be just tricking you. You don’t know."

Joe with disgust in his voice. "We even looked at her profile, and it said that she was from New York, and she is in trouble. My guess her kidnappers don’t check her computer too often. She really needs our help."

"Do you know her name?" Asked Fenton.

"No, before she could reply on that, her kidnappers came, and she had to leave." Frank replied.

Frank picking up the phone. "Okay, I know some people in the New York Police department, I will call them there." As he was dialing the phone. "Do you happen to know when she had first gotten on line?"

Frank thinking. "Well, according to her profile, she had been on for at least two weeks."

Fenton, when someone came on the phone. "Hi, may I speak to a Jerry Johnson?" Putting his hand on the speaker part of the phone. "I will see what I can do. I cant promise anything. You might want to take your laptop computer with you, so you might be able to keep in touch with her." Back into the phone. "Hi, Jerry. It is Fenton Hardy....Good to hear from you too. How are the family?....Good. Well the reason that I called is that, my youngest boy,...Yes, Joe....They are doing fine....Anyway, he got an IM, from someone that said she had been kidnapped....Well, she wasn't able to say a name...Well, the boy's looked at her profile, and was able to tell that she is from New York....Yes, they said about a few weeks ago....That is all they have. I was wondering if you had a missing person around that time....You do. Okay, would you give me the info....Well, my boy's are known for the detective work, and they are wanting to help. I guess Joe feels responsible since she IMed him.....Yes, Okay...." He wrote down some information. "Thank you Jerry....You have a good evening too. Bye." He hung up the phone. Handing Frank the paper. "Okay he gave me this info with a warning not to get in his way. He is a good guy. Just be careful boys."

"We will." Answered Frank taking the paper.

Couple of day's later, they looked up the family of the missing girl. It was a house on Main street.

Her mother answered the door. "Hello."

"Hi, I am Frank Hardy, and this is my brother Joe. We would like to talk to you about your daughter. May we come in?" Replied Frank.

"Why do you want to talk about my daughter? Your not the ones to kidnap her, are you?" Yelled her mother. With a look of mad in her eye's.

Joe trying to calm down. "Mrs. Acker, please, no. We want to help find your daughter. I got an IM from her a couple of day's ago, asking for my help. Please, I want to talk to you, and help you."

Mrs. Acker stood aside to let the boy's in. "Okay, I will let you in. Come on in. Why would you want to help me. We dont have much money. I cant pay you."

Joe, and Frank came in behind her. Joe replied. "No, Mrs. Acker. We dont want pay. We just found a young lady that is in danger, and we want to help you find her."

They sat down in the living room. "Okay, what all do you need to know about her?" Asked Mrs. Acker.

Frank replied. "Well, first off. When was the last time you seen your daughter?"

Mrs. Acker answered. "It was a few weeks ago. She was headed for work when, and I never seen..." She takes a napkin and wipes her tears. "I am sorry. I just cant get over this."

Joe simpathetically said. "That is alright. What is her name? She wasn't able to tell me much, before she had to go."

"Her name is Edith. I will get her picture for you, so you know what she looks like." Mrs. Acker gets up, goes, and returns with a picture of Edith. "I think she has cut her hair since this picture was taken. But here is the latest I have of hers."

Frank takes the picture from her. "Thank you, Mrs. Acker. We will get your daughter. I promise. Where does she work, so we can ask around there?"

"She works for the restaraunt in town, called Tonies. They should be open for the rush hour." Replied Mrs. Acker. She gave them the address, and they said goodbye, and was gone.

Joe after they got into the van, he looked at the picture. "Wow, this is her? She is pretty."

Frank looking at his brother. "We are not here, looking for you a date, come on. We got to go talk to this Tony fella."

They make it to Tonies. They go in, and see a man at the register. He is about 30, with red blondish hair, and glasses. Joe goes up to him. "Hi, I am looking for a Tony. The owner of this place."

A big fella, that is about in his fifties, comes out of the kitchen. "My name is Tony. I am owner of this place. How may I help you?"

Joe shows the picture of Edith to Tony. "Have you seen this young lady in the past few weeks?"

Tony looking all mad. "No, and if you do, tell her she is fired. She just dont disapear like that, without notice. Oh, and she can forget her last paycheck too. She's not getting it."

Joe getting all mad. "HEY LISTEN BUD. BUT EDITH IS MISSING. HAS BEEN FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TALKING LIKE THAT."

Frank trying to calm his brother down. "I am surprised the police hasn't been here to ask you questions themselves."

"Well, this is the first I have heard of it." Replied Tony with a stern voice. "Now get out, unless you are ordering something."

"We are leaving. Don’t worry. But we will be back." Frank replied, while they are heading out the door.

Joe looking at Frank. "You know, he is at the top of my list of suspects. I dont know what was up his sleeve, but I didn't like his attitude."

"I agree. But if he is behind this, I don’t want him to know we are suspecting him, not yet anyway

Last month Joe got an Instant message from a young lady that was in trouble. Joe, and Frank went to see what they could do. Finding out that she is from New York.

Scene: Back at the hotel. Joe is on the computer again, trying to find a way to get ahold of Edith. Frank is on the phone talking to the local police.

Frank speaking in the phone. "Yes, officer....I will....Thank you." He hangs up. Looking at Joe. "Anything yet?"

Joe looks away from the computer at his brother. "No, she hasn't been on yet. I hope she is Okay."

"I hope so too." Replied Frank looking at the computer.

Joe looking back at the computer gets into his email. "I got an email from her. It say's that she doesn't know where she is, but she thinks she is outside of town. She said that she has been hearing animal sounds, and no trafic on the road. She also told us that her name is Edith, which we already found that out."

"Email her back, letting her know that we are on our way. Did she say who she was keeping her hostage?" Asked Frank.

"She said something about a big fella. My guess is her boss. I still dont like that guy. He just gets on my last nerve."

"Yeah, he didn't fit too well with me either Bro. Why dont one of us rent a car, and the other take our van. We can cover more ground that way."

"Sounds like a plan to me."

"We can stay in touch with our cells. If either of us find anything, then we give the other a call."

"Sounds good. But who does what?"

"I will keep my eye on Tony. You can go out in the country try to see what you can find out there. Maybe some clue or something."

"That is not going to be easy. But I can see what I can do. For Edith."

"For Edith."

After going, and renting a car, Joe takes the car, while Frank takes the van. We are following Joe, out to the country. Joe comes up to a house. An hour has past by already. He goes up to the door, knocks, and Tony comes to the door.

"Hi, Remember me from the restauraunt?" Asked Joe looking around him, trying to find some clue of some sort.

"Yes, you, and your brother was nosing around, trying to find Edith. Any luck?"

Joe sets his eye's on a womans coat. "No, we are still trying. Since she isn't here, I guess I better go, and look somewhere else." They say their goodbye's, and Joe takes of for the car, as Tony goes back into the house.

Joe goes around the house, looking in some windows. As he does, he see's Edith typing on a computer. "So this is where you are being held?"

Then you hear Tony's voice. "I dont think so." Joe looking around, he see's Tony, and Tony knocks him out with the butt of a gun.

TO BE CONTINUED

Joe wakes up to a sore head, and Edith looking over him, with concern in her eye.

Edith brushing a strand of Hair out of his eye's. "Hi, my name is Edith. Who are you?"

Joe looking up at her, and saying. "I am Joe." Putting his hand on the back of his head. "Oh, that is smart. Yeah, your mom gave me a picture of you. So I knew who you are."

"You are the guy that I have been talking to on line. Nice to meet you. What are you doing?"

"Well, I am here to rescue you." Joe starts looking around. Then back at Edith. "Nice rescue huh?"

"You tried. I hope you brought back up."

"Yeah, my brother knows I am out in the country looking for you. What happened?"

Edith sits down next to him, after he scoots over to give her room. "I was at work a couple of months ago, when I seen Tony with some equipment. The only thing I can think of is that it might be some kind of machine to make counterfeit money with. I seen some kind of plates that have money print on them. I watch a lot of mystery shows. Any way, when he seen that I had seen it, he snatched me, and I have been here, since. I want to go home. I hope your brother will come to our rescue."

"Knowing Frank, he will."

"I am scared. I have never been in this kind of trouble before." Edith looks down at her hands on her lap. "For someone that would like to be a detective, I am scared."

Joe takes her head in his hand, and have her looking at him. "Edith, even I get scared. Dont worry about it. We will get out of here."

Edith recognizing him from some pictures in the paper. "I have seen you in some news paper clipping. You are part of the Hardy Boy's aren't you?"

"Yeah, Joe Hardy at your service."

"Wow, being rescued by Joe Hardy. So what is the plan?"

Joe gets up, looking around the room some more. Seeing the door, he goes up to it, and see's it is locked. "I guess I should have known it would be locked." Going over to a window, he checks it. "It has bars on the outside. I guess he has been expecting some company." Looking at Edith again. "Where is your computer? I need to get a hold of Frank."

"Unfortunately he figured out that, that is how you found me, and decided to take it out of here." Rubbing her head, where there is a bruise on her forehead.

Joe comes over, and looks at the bruise. "He did this to you, didn't he?"

Edith looks down at the floor. "I guess I was stupid to try to get a hold of someone to help me."

"Edith, that was not stupid. You were scared. Now let's see how we can get out of here. When will he be in next?"

Edith looking at her watch then up at him, she replied. "Anytime now for Dinner. Why?"

"Maybe we can jump him. You ready for a good jumping?"

Edith kind of gets excited. "Remember I like mysteries. I thrive for excitement. Maybe I can join you sometime?"

Joe grins at her. "I am sure we can work on that. Come on, lets go to each side of the door, and attack him as he comes through."

Joe goes on the right, and Edith on the left. Just then Tony comes in, and Joe attacks, and Edith goes up to him, and notices another guy with a gun. "Uh, Joe, you might want to let him up. I didn't realize this guy was here too. Sorry." She raises her hands, and Joe gets up, and does the same.

TO BE CONTINUED

We are back in town, and Frank is talking to his Dad on the phone. "I dont know Dad. He hadn't shown up the whole night....I know, it isn't normal for him to just disapear like this.....Well I know where abouts he went. He was going to check on some houses just outside of town.....Yeah, that is what Edith's email told us....No, more emails from her either.....Well, by the time you get here, It may be too late. I will get the local police involved....Ok, Dad. Give Mom my love. Bye." He hangs up. "Well, it is to the police department I go."

Back at the police station. Frank goes up to the desk. Once he got there, he talked to the chief. "Well, He has been missing since last night. Hasn't called in since he left."

"Well, I cant make out a missing persons report till they are missing for 48 hours. My hands are tied." Replied the Chief.

Frank starts pacing the floor. "We are working on a case at the moment. He wouldn't just disappear, just like that. I am going to look for him myself if I have to."

"Now you listen to me....." Replied the Chief, then Frank interrupted him.

"No you listen to me. My parents taught us to respect the police, but I cant just stand back not knowing where my brother is, not knowing what is going on. If we weren't working on a case, that would be another thing, but we are working on a case and you know about it. You have since we got here."

"Whatever. But young man you be careful."

"I will." Frank leaves, and goes into the car, and starts out in the country, looking around, when he gets to the house that Joe, and Edith, is in, he recognizes Joe’s car, and goes right up to the house, hides the car, and goes up to the window. He sees Joe, with Edith. When he does, he taps on the door.

Joe goes up to the door, whispering, while Edith comes up behind him. "Frank, oh thank God." Pointing at Edith. "This is Edith."

Edith extends her hand, and they shake. "Hi, nice to finally meet you."

"Nice to meet you. Now we need to get you two out of here." Replied Frank.

"Not with Big man on our tails all the time. Tony watches us like a hawk, especially since Joe came." Answered Edith really nervous at the moment. "What are we going to do?"

"Well, I am coming in through this window. Joe help me in, would you?" Frank replied while Joe helps him in. "Where is he now?"

"I believe they are both here, in the living room. Are we going to climb out the window?" Asked Edith.

"No we need to get Tony and whoever else is in with him. How many do you know that is in this?" Asked Frank, thinking.

"As far as we know, just two. That is all that I have seen all this time." Answered Edith. "What do you have in mind. We already tried to jump them when they came to feed us dinner, last night."

"Well, I have my lock pick kit with me, so we can get out that way." Frank replied getting his kit out, and starting working on the lock. After a few minutes, he is finally able to get it unlocked. The snuck into the living area, seeing Tony, and his partner, Frank motions Edith to stay put, and Joe to follow him. When they got behind them, while they are on the couch, He grabs the lamp, and Joe grabs the other one, and knocks them out with it. "OK, now to get the police involved." Looking in Edith's direction, he replies. "It is alright Edith. You can come out now."

Edith comes out, seeing that Tony, and his partner is out. "Whew that was a close one. Thanks Frank."

"My pleasure. Come on, lets get these two goons tied, up and lets get out of here."

The next day, they are at Edith's Mom's house.

Mrs. Acker replies. "Thank you boy's for getting my daughter back for me. I am really happy to see her safe and sound."

Edith hugging her. "Well, I am moving to Bayport where The Boy's live. Joe and I talked, and would like to start dating."

Mom started to say something. "Mom, don’t give me that. I am moving no matter what you say."

"But where will you live?"

"I will be getting an apartment there. Everything will be fine."

"We will be taking good care of her, make sure she wont get into any more trouble, Mrs. Acker." Replied Joe, with a wink to Edith.

"OK, but I don’t like this." Replied Mrs. Acker, giving Edith one of her looks.

"Mom, break the apron strings. If you don’t like it, then you will just have to live with it. I am moving whether I have your permission or not. I am over age, you know."

Mrs. Acker, just gave a huff, and left the room.

THE END.