Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

Twenty-five-year old Frank Hardy strolled down the street, his wife Callie’s hand clutched loosely in his. The early summer evening was beautiful with warm sunshine and a slight breeze lazily moving the few puffy white clouds that dotted the blue sky. It was perfect weather, he thought, for the charity scavenger hunt that would raise money to replace the old and sometimes dangerous playground equipment at the local women’s and children’s shelter.

From the group of eight young people walking just ahead of him, he heard his younger brother’s voice floating back.

“…and leave ‘em in the dust!”

Frank looked at Callie and rolled his eyes. “He’s in rare form tonight.”

Ever since the group had arrived downtown, Joe Hardy had been ‘trash talking’ about how his team was going to beat Frank’s hands down without even working up a sweat. Frank knew Joe was trying to goad him but Frank was too relaxed – and much too used to his brother’s antics – to take the bait. However it didn’t stop Joe from trying to get a rise out of him.

“So how ‘bout it, bro?” Joe called out with a smirk, now walking backwards so he could look at Frank. “Why don’t we make a little wager on who’s gonna win this thing?”

“Is there anything he’s not insanely competitive about?” Callie murmured, as she shook her head in amusement.

“Not that I know of,” Frank muttered before responding to his brother’s challenge. “Sorry, but I don’t gamble… my parents raised me better than that,” he added a little dig of his own, garnering a round of “Oooooh’s!” from their friends.

“It’s not gambling,” Joe defended, ignoring Frank’s comment. “It’s a friendly little wager between loving siblings.”

“Nope,” Frank replied with a smile.

“Aw, come on, Frank,” Joe’s best friend, Biff Hooper, joined in as he walked backwards alongside Joe. “Humor us.”

“Uh-uh,” Frank shook his head.

“Bawk! Bawk!” Joe flapped his arms and mimicked the cry of a chicken.

Biff elbowed Joe with a grin. “He knows that together we’ll be unstoppable – just like we are on the football field.”

“Too much testosterone and too few brain cells,” Frank kidded his brother. Despite their teasing tone, the obvious affection between the brothers was unmistakable.

“That’s right. This is a scavenger hunt, not a football game,” Frank’s best friend, Phil Cohen, pointed out coming to Frank’s aid. “Brains are going to be more helpful than brawn tonight.”

“Thank you, Phil,” Frank acknowledged, smiling triumphantly as he made a twirling motion with his hand. “So you children just turn around and keep walking.”

Joe grinned and turned but not before Frank heard a muttered “Weenie,” float back to him.

Arriving at Bayport’s town square, the group of friends found a good-sized crowd of people of varying ages milling about. A small stage was set up at one end of the square, with brightly colored balloons swaying in the breeze. At a table just to the left of the stage, Frank saw a huge prize wheel with the logo of the local radio station sponsoring the event as music blared from the tall speakers. The perimeter of the large grassy area was ringed with a wide variety of craft vendors who looked to be doing a brisk business.

“All right!” Joe cried out pointing to a tent set up to the right of the stage. “Food!”

“Didn’t you feed him before you left?” Frank asked Joe’s fiancée, Vanessa Bender.

“That was two hours ago,” she replied, patting Joe on the back. “It’s time for his next feeding.”

“Hey, I’m a growing boy,” Joe protested, his eyes drifting towards the food tent.

“Well I think we have to pay the entrance fee before we can eat anything,” Frank pointed to several long tables, set up side by side, each with a line of four or five people in front of them. “Looks like only one person from each team needs to register,” he said reading from the sign over the tables, and then looked at Joe and raised his eyebrows questioningly.

“Okay, people, pay up and I’ll get us registered,” Joe turned to his teammates, hand out, and collected their money. A few minutes later he and Frank returned, each carrying five envelopes and five wristbands, one for each team member.

Once the envelopes were distributed and wristbands put on, the friends made their way to the food tent to fuel up for the hunt. For the next forty minutes, they meandered around the square, breaking off into smaller groups to peruse the vendors or just sit and enjoy the music and atmosphere. Shortly before six o’clock there was a flurry of activity on the stage and a stocky middle-aged man stepped up to the microphone. After welcoming everyone to the event and thanking them for participating, he began discussing the scavenger hunt in more detail. The Hardys and their friends clustered together, listening intently.

“Our hunt will begin in exactly ninety seconds - at six o’clock sharp!” He waited while the whoops of excitement from the crowd died down before continuing. “Once you open your envelopes, you’ll have four hours to collect the items on the list. And remember, it’s not just the number of items you collect but the point value assigned to them. Items that are harder to find have a higher point value so while it may take longer to find them, it might be worth your while to do so. So it’s not just a matter of collecting the most items that determines the winner; the teams that take the time to study the list, the point values and really think about which items they want to pursue will be the most successful.”

“See, brains over brawn,” Frank elbowed his brother playfully.

“Is everybody ready?” the announcer yelled, pushing the already excited crowd into high gear. He looked at his watch and began to count down the final seconds. “Ten… nine… eight…” When the countdown ended everyone in the crowd ripped open their envelopes and eagerly began scanning the list.

Joe and Vanessa stood huddled together, while their teammates Biff, his girlfriend Karen and the Hardys' childhood friend Tony Prito crowded around. A few feet away, Frank, Callie and Phil were studying the list along with their teammates Chet Morton and Liz Webling, quietly murmuring to each other.

The ten friends were so engrossed in the list of items none of them noticed the teenaged girl who approached. Tentative at first, she looked back at four other girls who made shooing motions at her with their arms. Taking a deep breath she ran up to Joe, kissed him soundly on the lips and returned to the group of girls who quickly ran off, laughing and giggling. Stunned, Joe stared after her suddenly aware of his own group of friends who were all staring at him, openmouthed. All except Vanessa who silently arched a questioning eyebrow.

“I’ve never seen her before in my life, I swear!” Joe cried out at the accusing looks.

Vanessa considered him for a moment before rolling her eyes in response. “So what do we go for first?” she asked returning her attention to the list.

As Joe was about to reply another girl, this one in her early twenties, seemed to appear out of nowhere, threw her arms around Joe’s neck, kissed him and disappeared into the crowd.

Incredulous, Vanessa stared at him, hands on her hips. “I suppose you’ve never seen her before either?” she asked archly.

Joe shook his head vigorously as he stammered, “I swear, Babe! I have no idea who she is! Honest!”

As Joe tried to plead his case to Vanessa, understanding began to dawn on Frank. He quickly scanned the list and grinned. Callie, watching her husband, also looked over the list of items and started to laugh. In response to the puzzled looks he was receiving from Chet, Liz and Phil, Frank showed them a particular item on the list near the bottom and they all started to laugh.

Irritated, Joe looked at them. “What’s so funny?!”

Holding up the list, Frank pointed to the second to last item.

Biff leaned in for a closer look and, smiling, read aloud “Stolen kiss from a stranger.”

As laughter cleared the air, Vanessa rolled her eyes and looped her arm through Joe’s. “Well they’re right about one thing,” she said eyeing her fiancé. “You can definitely be strange sometimes!”

As Joe looked at her, horrified, she tried to look stern but started to laugh herself, and kissed him.

“Hey, that doesn’t count,” Callie pointed out. “Even if he is strange!”

“And I am not strange,” Joe protested with a grin. “I’m unique!”

“Is that what they’re calling it these days?” Frank quipped.

After a few more jokes at Joe’s expense the two teams split up and started hunting for the items on the list in earnest.

The hours passed quickly with the two groups of friends periodically crossing paths. As nine-thirty approached, Frank called his teammates together for a conference. As the night had progressed, his competitive juices started flowing, egged on by the little digs Joe would throw his way whenever they ran into each other. While Frank’s motivation was fun and time spent with his friends rather than winning, he did want to beat his younger brother. Fairly certain Joe would opt for quantity over quality, Frank was bound and determined to find the final item on the list and one of the military’s highest honors – a Purple heart. Almost impossible to find, it had the single highest point value and Frank knew if he could secure that one item, he was almost guaranteed a win over Joe’s team.

“Okay, there’s no way we can find the rest of the items we want and still get back on time,” Frank began. “But, if we split up…”

“We can get all the items we’re after and beat Joe’s team,” Phil grinned.

“It doesn’t matter if we win or lose,” Frank said quickly, reddening slightly at the amused looks of his friends. “Okay, okay,” he shrugged sheepishly. “Yeah, I want to beat him. If we don’t, I’ll never hear the end of it.”

“So what’s the plan?” Phil laughed.

“You guys go round up these four items,” Frank pointed at his list, which was now covered in notations, scribbles, x’s and circles. “I’m going to find this,” he grinned broadly.

“Where are you going to find a Purple heart?” Callie asked.

“I have a few connections,” Frank winked and then kissed her on the cheek. “You guys go ahead. I’ll meet you back at the square,” he said as he hurried down the street and melted into the darkness.

*****

Joe held tight to Vanessa’s hand, practically dragging her behind him as he quickened his pace. “Come on, hurry up!” he admonished his teammates barely throwing them a glance over his shoulder, ignoring the muttered comments he got in return.

“Joe,” Vanessa finally tugged on his hand, breathless. “It’s not going to be the end of the world if Frank’s team beats us, ya know.”

Coming to a sudden stop, Joe turned on Vanessa, horrified. “Bite your tongue, woman! This is the classic struggle of a younger sibling valiantly trying to escape the shadow of his older sibling!”

“Oh, please,” Vanessa rolled her eyes as Biff hooted with laughter.

“I thought there was some law that jocks like us weren’t allowed to use big words like ‘valiantly’!” he cried out.

“Okay, okay,” Joe grinned. “How about I just want bragging rights?”

“Now that sounds more like you,” Vanessa agreed. Looking back at Biff, Karen and Tony, she jerked her head slightly towards the square and started off at a rapid clip. “Come on, let’s go!”

As the group entered the square, Joe glanced up at the old clock tower. “Yes!” he crowed triumphantly. “Ten minutes to spare!”

“Uh, you might want to hold off on the celebration,” Tony nudged him, pointing across the square.

Looking in the direction Tony indicated, Joe visibly deflated. “Oh, man! They beat us back!” he wailed. Seated comfortably on the grass, Callie, Liz, Chet and Phil were talking and laughing amongst themselves.

“No, wait!” Vanessa said excitedly. “Where’s Frank? I don’t see him!”

Joe looked in the vicinity of the small group of friends and then slowly turned in a complete circle, looking for any sign of his older brother. Without a word he took off across the square, stopping in front of Callie, an excited smile on his face. “Well? Where is he?”

Callie rolled her eyes and then shrugged. “He’s not back yet.”

“Yes!! I win! I win!” Joe punched a fist in the air happily.

“You haven’t won yet,” Phil pointed out laughing. “Frank is looking for one more thing and if he finds it, there’s no way you’ll have enough points to beat us.”

“IF!” Joe repeated stabbing one finger in the air. “IF he finds it and IF he gets back in time!” Joe checked his watch and then looked at the clock tower. “That’s a lot of ‘if’s’,” he pointed out looking down on his sister-in-law who was reclined on her elbows in the grass.

Callie raised her eyebrows and looked at the clock. “And if you don’t go check in before ten, you won’t have to worry about what time Frank gets back,” she pointed out with a sweet smile.

“Oh, crap!” Joe cried out. “Come on, let’s go!” he cried out waving his arms at his teammates and shooing them towards the registration tables.

By the time they returned to their friends it was nine fifty-nine. Joe continually alternated his gaze between the perimeter of the square, looking for his brother and the clock willing time to move faster. When the second the hand struck ten and the chimes rang out, Joe jumped in the air, doing his version of a victory dance, much to the amusement – and embarrassment – of his friends.

“Joe,” Callie said patiently, once he calmed down, “you know this doesn’t mean you won. Any one of the other teams could have gotten more points than you,” she pointed out, gesturing at the other people milling about.

Joe waved her off, grinning. “Yeah, but I beat Frank! He’s not back yet so you guys are disqualified – I win!” he crowed happily. “And that’s what counts!”

A short time later the winners were announced. As Callie predicted, Joe’s team didn’t win and in fact came in fourth; but the news didn’t deflate the younger Hardy’s enthusiasm; he was restlessly pacing the grassy area awaiting his brother’s return. Joe checked his watch again and noted the time of ten-fifteen; he huffed in mock irritation.

“He’s doing this on purpose now. He knows I want to rub it in and he’s purposely avoiding coming back so he can ruin my fun,” Joe pouted.

“Ya think?” Vanessa smiled at him teasingly. “Come on,” she urged, patting the grass beside her. “Sit down for a while. I’m getting tired just watching you.”

Plopping down between Callie and Vanessa, Joe stole a kiss from his fiancée and then flopped down on his back, gazing up at the clear, star-filled sky. “I’ve got the most beautiful girl in the world beside me,” he began, taking Vanessa’s hand in his.

“Why thank you, Joe,” Callie teased as she winked at Vanessa.

Joe threw her a sidelong glance, unperturbed, and continued. “And I beat Frank at a game of skill and intelligence. That’s gotta be good for years of bragging rights.” He sighed contentedly. “Life is good.”

An hour and a half later, Joe’s mood was decidedly less festive. All the other participants had long since gone and the only ones left in the town square, besides Joe and his small group of friends, was the clean-up crew. Joe glanced up at the clock and stared at the time, frowning. Eleven forty-five p.m.

Joe looked at the others, now clearly worried. “Okay… where the hell is he?”

Let the author know what you think of this story

Home Library Authors Rogue's Gallery Vehicles Chums Message Board Rap Sheet Links Contact

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.