Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

“He’s perfectly fine. And he’ll stay that way as long as you do exactly as you’re told. However, if you don’t, that will be the last conversation you ever have with your brother.”

Joe stared at the list in his hand trying to focus, but the words echoing in his head made it increasingly difficult. The seeming randomness of it all only added to his confusion. Why would someone kidnap Frank to force Joe to steal components for a homemade bomb? The last few cases they’d worked on had been boring in the extreme and couldn’t possibly be related to this.

As far as he knew, neither his father nor Sam Radley had been working on anything beyond insurance fraud and cheating spouses. All in all it had been a rather boring month or so at Hardy and Sons Investigations.

Refocusing on the list, one item caught Joe’s eye and he stared at it, puzzled.

‘Strip of leather, 12” long, 3” wide’

‘A strip of leather? Okaaaaaay…’

Joe shook his head at the strange item and sighed in frustration. Most of the items on the list were actually fairly common and could be found in most homes. He knew for a fact that he could find several of the items in Frank’s obsessively neat garage. What he didn’t know was whether or not his every move was being watched and if so, would it appear that he was trying to get help or alert someone to what was going on.

After briefly considering the pros and cons, he dismissed the idea, not willing to risk Frank’s life on the off chance that his captors would understand Joe was simply trying to acquire everything on the list as quickly as possible.

Glancing at his watch, Joe cursed silently. It was already after midnight; he had less than six hours. He headed back to his car, knowing he’d need a few things he kept in the trunk, including a change of clothes. Joe had already resigned himself to the fact that he’d have to break into more than a few stores to get the items on the list and rather than stand out and risk getting caught by the police, he needed to blend into the darkness of the night, which required a change into dark clothing. Making a mental list of what else he could use from the trunk, Joe began what was going to be a very long and harrowing night…

*****

Vanessa looked up at the clock tower anxiously. It had been twenty-two minutes since Joe, Phil and Biff had left. Twenty-two very long and tense minutes. A noise to her left caused her to turn and she saw Callie pulling out her cell phone.

Callie looked at Vanessa defiantly. “I gave him two extra minutes,” she said and began pressing buttons.

“Wait!” Chet exclaimed, grabbing Callie’s arm with one hand and pointing across the square with the other. “Here they come!”

Vanessa whirled around – and froze. “Where’s Joe?!” she asked no one in particular. Taking off at a run, she met Phil and Biff halfway, asking again, “Where’s Joe?” even as she peered over their shoulders hoping to see him.

“There’s been um…uh…” Biff began, but quickly looked to Phil to explain.

“A development,” Phil finished.

“Did you find Frank?” Callie asked anxiously, finally catching up to Vanessa.

Vanessa saw a look pass between Phil and Biff and her stomach dropped. “Where are they?” she demanded.

“Come on,” Biff said gently. “Let’s sit down over here.” He gestured toward a gazebo in the middle of the square.

Reaching out, he tried to put an arm around Vanessa and shepherd her in that direction, but she backed away. “Where is Joe?!” she hissed, fire in her eyes.

“Phil,” Callie’s voice pleaded, “what happened? Where are they?”

Biff shrugged his shoulders helplessly and let out an audible sigh of frustration. “We went to those condos on the waterfront – near the marina. Joe thinks that’s where Frank was headed. When we got there we found an envelope addressed to Joe.”

Instinctively Vanessa knew the news her friends were about to deliver was not going to be good. She had moved close to Callie, and now loosely clutched the older girl’s hand in hers, listening as Phil picked up the story.

“Joe opened it and found a note and a list of items inside. The note said Joe had to collect all the items by six a.m. in order to ‘get Frank back’. His own personal scavenger hunt, it said.”

“What?” Callie asked, confused. “You mean someone has kidnapped Frank?”

“Well…yeah, that’s how it looks,” Biff confirmed.

“And they want Joe to go on a scavenger hunt – by himself – to get Frank back?” Vanessa repeated, sounding just as confused as Callie. “That doesn’t make any sense!”

“There’s a little more to it than that,” Phil interrupted. He waited until he had the attention of all his friends. “All the items on the list were components to make a bomb.”

He heard a few gasps and muttered curses and then Tony’s voice. “Have you called the police yet?”

“No.”

“Why not?!” Callie demanded.

“Because the note said Joe had to do this alone—” Biff managed to get out before he was cut off again.

“And you let him?!” Vanessa cried out angrily. “You’re supposed to be his friends! Even I can see he’s walking right into a trap!”

For several seconds, the raised voices of their friends overpowered Phil and Biff’s efforts to explain until finally Phil’s voice rose above the rest.

“SHUT UP!” he yelled, effectively silencing everyone. “Now, please, just listen…” He waited until he had everyone’s undivided attention and then carefully explained what had taken place, beginning with finding the envelope, and leaving nothing out. He told them about the phone call Joe had received, that he’d spoken with Frank who seemed fine and their pleas with Joe to call the police, his father or at least let them help, with Joe adamantly refusing on all counts. When he finished there was stunned silence for several moments, finally broken by Callie’s voice, soft and shaky.

“Frank was okay, though? When Joe talked to him?”

“Yeah, it sounded like he was,” Biff replied, giving her a hug and letting his arm settle around her shoulders comfortingly.

“Where’s Joe now? Do you know?” Vanessa asked, sounding more worried – and scared – than angry.

Phil and Biff exchanged a look and shook their heads no. “But Phil had an idea…a good one,” Biff announced as all heads turned to Phil expectantly.

“Joe said he couldn’t go to the police or his dad…he didn’t say we couldn’t,” Phil explained, glancing at his watch. “I’m thinking if we go tell Mr. Hardy what happened, right away, he might have a chance to pick up Joe’s trail.”

“Well, come on! Let’s go!” Tony urged, already starting off across the square.

“No, wait!” Phil commanded, waiting for Tony to rejoin them. “Whoever did this was watching Frank and Joe tonight – all of us, really. The guy who called knew Biff and I were with Joe. He knew all of you were waiting back here in the square. There’s a good chance whoever it is, is still watching us. We have to leave, make it look like we’re following their instructions to the letter.”

“So you want us to just go home?” Chet asked confused. “What happened to telling Mr. Hardy?”

“The rest of you go home,” Biff replied. “Joe specifically asked Phil and me to make sure Cal and Van got home okay. We’ll leave with them, make it look like we’re taking them home and then backtrack to the Hardys’. But if we all try and do that…” he let his voice trail off.

He watched as his friends exchanged dubious looks, debating what to do. Finally Chet let out an exasperated sigh. “I guess that’s the best thing to do,” he agreed. “But you’ll call and let us know what’s going on, right? Let us know if we can help?”

“Absolutely,” Phil promised.

After a round of hugs and encouraging words for Vanessa and Callie, the friends split into two groups and reluctantly left the town square.

*****

Fenton Hardy yawned sleepily as he checked the lock on the back door and turned off the lights. He trudged to the front door, checking the lock there and making sure the porch light was on. As he turned towards the keypad on the wall to set the alarm, he saw twin beams of light sweep across the thin pane of smoked glass next to the door and continue up the driveway. Glancing at his watch, he noted it was well past midnight and frowned slightly.

Unlocking the front door, he opened it slightly and peered out into the night. The car pulled to a stop and seconds later a familiar looking SUV pulled in behind it. He watched curiously as it came to a stop and the doors of both vehicles opened. His daughter-in-law Callie emerged from the car, along with Frank’s best friend, Phil Cohen. Seconds later Biff Hooper climbed out of the SUV and was joined by Joe’s fiancée, Vanessa.

The late hour and glaringly obvious absence of his sons quickly kicked Fenton Hardy’s detective’s instincts into high gear, yet the primary emotions that welled inside him were those of a concerned father. Instinctively Fenton’s gaze strayed to the street where, despite knowing it was in vain, he hoped to see Joe’s black Mustang or Frank’s burgundy Lexus pull into the driveway.

But as the four young people huddled together and slowly walked towards him, solemnly looking at him as they climbed the steps of the front porch, he felt a chill sweep over him. Whatever the news he was about to receive, he knew it wasn’t going to be good.

Nodding wordlessly, he opened the door all the way and ushered them inside. With a final, hopeful glance at the street, he closed the door behind them. Looking up the darkened stairs Fenton hesitated a moment and then motioned towards the offices of Hardy and Sons Investigation.

“Laura’s asleep,” he said simply, by way of explanation.

As Callie and Vanessa turned away, he couldn’t help but notice the worry and fear in their eyes. Herding the small group towards the hall connecting the offices to the house, Fenton followed, a growing uneasiness gnawing at the pit of his stomach… where were his sons?

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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.