Joe lay curled up on the floor, whimpering softly as he thought of Frank. Slowly he uncurled his body and crawled over to his brother. Sitting with his legs crossed, Joe cradled Frank’s head and stroked the hair away from his face.

As he gazed at his brother, Joe paused as he got a good look at Frank’s forehead. He pulled back Frank’s hair and stared intently at the hairline. Where was it – where was the scar? Joe traced his finger across his brother’s hairline as a memory began to form.

Joe and Frank were visiting their grandparents. Grandpa and Grandma Hardy had bought a condo in Florida. The boys were playing in the guestroom while the grownups took a nap. There was a ceiling fan in the bedroom and Frank and Joe were throwing their toy soldiers up in the air. They had made parachutes for the soldiers and the breeze from the ceiling fan made them fall better. Joe had tossed his soldier but he threw it too high and it got caught on one of the blades.

“I’ll get it for you, Joe.” Frank flipped the switch on the wall and the fan came to a slow stop. Climbing up on the bed, Frank reached up to get the soldier. Joe, wanting to be of some help, stood by the switch ready to turn the fan back on. Just as Frank removed the soldier, Joe in his excitement turned the fan back on.

Before he knew what happened, Frank was hit by the blade. He let out a yell as he fell onto the bed. Joe started screaming when he saw the blood flowing down Frank’s face.

Ever since that day, Frank had a small scar from the cut. ‘This isn’t, Frank,’ Joe thought. Just then the door opened and Roger stood looking at the two teens.

“Joe, what happened here?!”

Joe didn’t reply, just stared numbly at Roger.

*****

Vanessa didn’t know how she made it through the weekend, much less this school day. Joe had been missing since Friday, that was four days ago. Four days and still no one knew where he was or if he was still….

Vanessa shuddered, she didn’t want to think about it. The bell ending the school day rang. Vanessa sighed sadly; it was on days like this that she wished Callie was still in high school. She could really use the older girl’s support right now.

The only good thing that happened today was the fact that Mrs. Hardy was conscious. Maybe now things could get rolling. As Vanessa passed by Joe’s locker, she glanced at it, then wiped away a tear and hurried over to her locker. As she stood in front of her locker she felt a hand fall on her shoulder.

“Frank will find him – you’ll see.”

Vanessa turned her head and smiled at Biff and Chet. Biff softly squeezed her shoulder.

“Thanks Biff – I know he will, but – but it’s nice to hear someone say it.”

“Where’d you park? Biff and I will walk you to your car.” Chet gave Vanessa a pat on the back.

“That’s okay, Chet – I was late today so I’m on the other end of the parking lot. Thanks for the offer though.”

“Are you sure? Chet and I won’t mind the walk. Besides, Chet could use a good long walk!” Biff ducked away as Chet tried to hit him.

Vanessa laughed at their antics. “I’m sure – but thanks.”

Waving goodbye, Vanessa left the two friends behind as she walked towards her car. Suddenly a tall man came out from between two cars.

“Vanessa Bender?”

Too shocked to speak, Vanessa just mutely nodded her head.

“You need to come with me.”

As the man moved to take her arm, Vanessa took a step back.

“Who are you – and why do I need to go with you?!” There was something about the man that Vanessa didn’t trust.

“Network business – I’m not at liberty to say,” the man replied as he tried to reach for her again.

“Show me some ID! I’m not going anywhere with you until you do!”

Vanessa continued to step back only to bump into another body. She whirled around and saw another man. Hoping that Biff and Chet were still around and close by, Vanessa opened her mouth to scream. Before she could, the first man came up behind her and placed a cloth over her face. The young girl breathed in the chloroform and slumped against her captor.

“Let’s get her out of here before someone sees us!” hissed the second man.

The two men carried Vanessa over to a dark sedan and dumped her inside the trunk.

*****

Frank drove into a neighborhood that catered to the out-of-state students who went to Bayport University. There were small apartment buildings and duplexes that rented to the university students. Checking the address that Charlie had given him, Frank drove into the driveway of a duplex. It was a pretty little blue house with white trim. Wildflowers grew along the edge of the sidewalk. There was a small porch with a porch swing in front.

Frank and Charlie got out of the van; as they neared the house a cloying stench filled the air. Frank wrinkled his noise as did
Charlie – but she also had an uneasy feeling.

“Did he leave the gas on?” Frank wondered out loud.

“No, that’s not gas.” Charlie replied sadly.

At first Frank wasn’t sure what she meant, then suddenly understood. There was a dead body inside. Taking out his lock pick, Frank opened the door. He saw that Charlie had covered her face by pulling her shirt up over her nose. Frank did the same as they entered. As they walked into the living room, Frank and Charlie found a man with brown hair lying on the floor.

“I think we just found the real Roger Covington,” said Charlie.

Getting out of the house as quickly as they could, Frank took in several deep breaths of the fresh air. Charlie had taken out her cell phone and was calling the police. When she was done, her phone rang.

“Hello.” She listened for several minutes. “I’m on it.”

“Was that news about Joe?”

At first Charlie thought about lying to Frank, but looking into his eyes so filled with worry – she knew that she couldn’t.

“Yes, that was Gray. Our undercover found out where he is – in fact, our operative is with him right now.”

“Then what are we waiting for – let’s go get my brother!” Frank started for the van when Charlie took his arm.

“No, Frank – you can’t come with me. I have – I have to do this alone.”

“What – what do you mean...?” Frank became angry; there was no way he was staying behind. He grabbed Charlie by her arms.

“What do you mean you have to go alone? Why – what’s so special about you that Gray trusts you and only you?! As far as I’ve seen you haven’t done anything to show you are special! Joe got kidnapped while you were supposed to be protecting him!” Frank yelled while he shook the young woman.

Frank suddenly realized that it had gotten very warm. He felt a burning sensation on his hands.

“Ow!” he yelped as he released his hold on Charlie. She suddenly felt red hot.

As he stood staring at the young woman trying to comprehend what was happening, a red van came to a screeching stop at the curb. Two men jumped out of the van, guns raised.

“Hold it right there, Hardy!”

One of the men fired his gun at Charlie.

Frank could feel the temperature rising, sweat was falling down his face. He stared wide eyed at Charlie; one of the men had fired his gun at her.

The dark-haired man smiled evilly as he fired his gun, but his expression turned to fright when the bullet exploded in mid-air. He heard his partner scream; turning to look he saw the other man was on fire.

The dark-haired man turned back to the young woman, but he stumbled back, trying to reach the van when he felt that his clothes were on fire. He managed to jump into the van, all the while screaming in pain.

Just as suddenly as it had begun, the temperature returned to normal. Frank noticed a bucket nearby with water boiling inside.

Charlie turned to Frank: “That’s what makes me so special.”

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Disclaimer

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The Hardy Boys Fan Fiction authors of the Hardy Detective Agency have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.