The Hardy Boys

Previously, on Hardy Boys...

The other day, I met someone on the beach.

I saw a parachute,

so I'm pretty sure it was that guy from the paper

that jumped out of the plane.

If I can get this radio fixed, I can call someone to come get me.

I'd have to get my tools.

Your name engraved. That's cute.

You don't seem like a cop's daughter.

You don't seem like a cop's son.

Your wife was investigating something,

and my nephew Rupert was her source.

I think that whatever he told her got her killed.

Joe, Mom signed this out the day that she died.

There's a chapter missing. "The Tragedy at Demon's Paw,"

written by Anya Kowalski.

The tale of Demon's Paw dates back to 1915,

when the town of Bridgeport had yet to be founded,

and the land was nothing but fields and hills.

My father led an expedition to dig the ground.

But they found something down there.

- Where is it? - I don't have it. I swear!

Run!

I think that's what the tall man was after.

It has powers.

I had it with me during the carnival,

and I didn't lose a single game.

The symbol Mom drew.

This was on the box that the Astghik pulled out of the water.

Whatever Mom was working on,

this has to be a part of it.

Uh, 7C and 7B.

All right. Got it.

That's the last one.

Please no toolbox, please no toolbox,

please no toolbox.

And that's this one, too.

Hey, Jesse, what's your status?

Just finished my search of the fugitive's campsite, Sarge.

Gonna add these last few boxes with what I've already got in the trunk.

Okay. Finish up and head back to the station.

The chief needs that evidence tagged and cataloged.

This is a high priority case.

Copy that, Sarge.

All right, guys. Let's wrap it up.

Watch your step, there. Watch out.

Please no toolbox, please no toolbox,

please no toolbox.

Looking for something, Hardy?

Who, me?

No. The other kid poking his nose into my mom's trunk.

Well, I, I just saw that your mom's trunk was open,

so I decided I'd close it before someone sketchy came around.

So, you're being a good Samaritan?

Yeah.

Hey, Joe.

- Hey, Officer Hooper. - How are things?

Hey. Good.

It's... It's all good. Um...

I'm gonna go.

I, I'll see you later. Uh, thanks.

Does Joe seem a bit weird today?

Well, on a normal day, he's about a four or five on the weird‐o‐meter.

Today we're looking at a solid 8.5.

Hmm.

Sounds like nothing ever happens in Bridgeport.

Must be so boring.

Well, it's definitely not boring.

Great. So you're having fun.

Are you making any new friends?

Yeah, some, I guess.

Anyone I should know about?

What's that supposed to mean?

I guess I just‐I don't really know what's going on with you anymore, so...

Just regular stuff, Em.

Yeah. Regular stuff.

Hey, do you have any idea when you're gonna be home?

I don't know, Emma.

It's just, you said that last time, Frank.

Look, with, with my dad gone, it's...

Everything's kind of up in the air right now.

Yeah.

Yeah, including us.

What?

Look, Frank, I‐‐

I know you've

been through a lot,

and I know you're still going through a lot, but the thing is, I‐‐

Em, what are you talking about right now?

I'm saying I need to move on.

Frank!

And I think it would be a good idea if you moved on, too.

Frank, we have an emergency!

Not now!

Frank, I really need your help.

Something crazy happened‐‐ Joe, get out of my room!

Sorry, Em. I guess‐‐ Meet me in the attic, okay?

Look, I can tell you need to go.

Em, can you just talk for like, one second, please?

Bye, Frank.

Emma...

Remember that guy that Dad arrested for bank robbery?

Uh, Terry Kovak. His brother went down, too, right?

I still can't believe she dumped me.

Do you need a minute?

No, I'm fine.

You know what? I'm gonna call her.

It's a bad idea. She said it's over. I need to respect that.

Right?

Right. Back to Kovak's brother.

He got arrested, too. Remember?

Yes, because he was aiding and abetting a criminal.

He gave him food, clothing, a bus ticket‐‐

A toolbox, by any chance?

What are you talking about, a toolbox?

Well, let's say a hypothetical kid

lent a hypothetical criminal

their hypothetical toolbox,

which the cops just found on the beach.

Hypothetically speaking.

So you gave your toolbox to the guy on the beach,

and the cops found it.

I didn't give it to him. I lent it to him.

It doesn't matter. It's still aiding and abetting a criminal!

I didn't know he was a criminal! All right?

Great. This is great!

You don't think I should call her?

I don't know!

I'm 12 years old. I'm not a dating expert!

And I don't want to go to jail.

So, how about we just focus on this toolbox?

There's nothing we can do.

How would the cops even know that it's your toolbox?

I engraved my name onto the soldering iron.

Who engraves their name in a soldering iron? I like to engrave things, all right?

Point is, we need to get it back.

If they find out it's your toolbox. If.

They're just gonna assume he stole it.

You're fine!

Besides, I'd never let anything happen to you.

I've always got your back.

Right?

You better be right about this, Frank.

'Cause I'm not going to kid jail. All right?

You're not going to "kid jail." Just focus on our next move, please.

So, the tall guy killed all the people on the Astghik.

Probably for the idol.

And whatever it is that was inside of it.

Him and the guy from the beach. I think they're after the same thing.

I still don't get how any of this connects to Mom.

Just don't know yet.

I think I know where to start.

What am I gonna do?

Just... stay home.

Relax. Stay out of trouble okay?

Where are you going?

Going to work, but first I'm gonna go to the library.

Ask about this.

Hey. You look nice.

Thanks.

Someone's in a hurry today.

Yeah. Totally.

Seems like you're always rushing off. We don't get a chance to talk.

Talking now, aren't we?

Frank.

It's like, ever since the carnival, this wall's gone up.

You're not communicating with me.

I'm so sorry, Aunt Trudy. I, I‐‐

I really didn't mean to make you feel that way.

You know you can trust me, right?

Yeah.

Oh, look, I'm gon‐‐ I'm gonna be late.

Yeah.

Oh, your grandmother keeps calling.

She says she needs to talk about something of the utmost importance.

Yeah, that sounds like Grandma.

I'll stop by later.

Frank?

Be careful.

She bite?

No, but she's cut from a different cloth than the rest of us.

You mean 'cause she's rich.

There's a lot more than money that separates

the Hardys from the Estabrooks.

Your mom was in that world, and she left...

for a reason.

She's still my grandma, right?

Yeah.

Of course.

Gotta go.

Hi. Can I ask you a question?

I don't know. Can you?

May I ask you a question?

Yes, you may.

After you observe the library's no chewing gum policy.

Now, how can I help you today?

Um, I just, I wanted to ask you about this book

that was taken out on June 30th.

Hmm.

There's a chapter torn out. Are you responsible for this?