when the hardy boys visit the estate to investigate the remaining stuffed animals, they are knocked unconscious and someone steals the remaining animals. they manage to get their hands on two of them and convince their friend chet morton, who has recently taken up taxidermy as a hobby, to open them up looking for whatever may be hidden inside. after the lectrex plant is raided, the boys go with their father to investigate, and they notice a stuffed fox that had been on a ledge in the conference room has mysteriously disappeared.