Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

"Don't worry, Mom. I'll see if I can track him down. He's probably just forgot about the time," Frank assured his mother. "Okay, Mom, I'll see you a bit later." With that he clicked off his cell phone and glanced over at his girlfriend, the sense of guilt already blossoming at the back of his mind.

"Callie, I --" he began.

"I know, I know," Callie said, her words preceded by a loud sigh of exasperation. "Our evening is now crashing to an early end because your brother needs you, again. Why am I not surprised?"

"I'm sorry, Cal, but Joe never showed up for dinner and Mom's getting worried. You know, with this volunteer work that he's doing at the Youth Center - Mom's just a little nervous about the people that he might run into."

"He isn't exactly a kid, Frank. The people that he might run into? Ha!" Callie snorted. "You and he probably hold the record for running into some of the most unsavoury characters on this side of the earth. Your mom should be used to that by now."

"I doubt she would ever get used to it. Besides, Joe's her baby, you know," Frank couldn't help but grin and then quickly turned serious. "Look, I'm sorry, Cal, but I told Mom that I'd see if I can track down Joe at the Youth Center . I'll drop you off at home first, okay?"

Callie pressed her lips together and remained silent.

"I'll make it up to you another night. How about dinner and a movie Saturday night? Your choice of movie, of course," Frank said, tucking a strand of his girlfriend's blond hair behind her ear.

"My choice of movie?" Callie asked with a raised brow. "I want that in writing, Frank Hardy."

Frank laughed, "You have it, babe."

Callie rolled her eyes. "Right, just promise her anything for now to shut her up."

"You know me better than that," Frank protested. "I am always a man of my word."

"Especially when that brother of yours is concerned," Callie said rather grumpily. "He always takes precedence over everything and everybody else, including me."

"He's my brother and you are my girlfriend. You are both equally important to me. You know I would do no less for you," Frank said, frowning.

"Hmm, maybe I should get myself into trouble more often like Joe. Then I would have an equal stake in your time."

" Cal --"

"All right, all right. I know what you are saying. God, we've gone through this so many times that we are beginning to sound like a broken record. Just take me home so you can start looking for that brother of yours."

Frank's frown deepened. "You're mad, aren't you?"

Callie let out a long breath and turned to her boyfriend. "No, Frank, I am not mad, but I can't help but feel disappointed. I was looking forward to spending the entire evening with you and now--." She shrugged. "Can you count the number of times that our time together has been cut short because of Joe? Because I can't."

Frank had no response for that because she was right. The guilt flared again.

Callie turned and looked at him. "It's not going to change either, is it, Frank?"

It was Frank's turn to let out a long breath. "I know it's kind of unfair to you, but I am his older brother. I'm supposed to look after him and make sure that he's all right. He's gone through enough with what happened to Iola."

"Frank, I'm not saying that you should just cut Joe out of your life, but you must remember that you have your own life too. I think Joe's a lot stronger than you've given him credit for. As for Iola, I think he's done a pretty good job picking himself up after her death." She suddenly shook her head. "I doubt that I could bounce back like he did. I can't even imagine what I would be like if -- if, God forbid, if anything like that should ever happen to you."

Frank pulled her into his arms in a tight hug. "Nothing like that is going to happen to me, Cal. You are stuck with me whether you like it or not."

Callie forced a smile. "I want that in writing too, Frank Hardy."

"And you've got it, again," Frank smiled.

"Look Frank, I know I whine to you about Joe all the time and I have to admit that I do feel jealous of him. This sounds so stupid. I don't know what's worse, being jealous of your boyfriend's brother or being jealous of other girls that your boyfriend might be interested in."

"You know that I haven't even looked at another girl since we've been together," Frank protested.

This time, Callie's smile was not forced. "I know. I guess I should consider myself lucky. I know there are guys out there who cry about their head not being able to spin fast enough to catch sight of every female who walks by them. Jerks!" She paused and then reached out to touch Frank's hand. "I am being honest when I say that I am jealous of Joe for hogging you so much and I do get angry when you dump me for him. But I think it's also one of the things that I like about you the most - this caring big brother thing. If you treated Joe any differently, you wouldn't be Frank, at least not the Frank that I love anyway. Sometimes I wish I had a big brother that cares as much about me as you care for Joe. Sounds kind of perverted, huh?"

"Not at all. Would you settle for a boyfriend then who cares the world about you instead of a big brother?" Frank asked with a broad smile.

Callie responded by giving him a kiss. "Try me."

"Cal, you can be so amazing sometimes," Frank said. "I'm a very lucky guy to have you. Not many girls can be as understanding as you."

"It's half understanding and half accepting what cannot be changed," Callie corrected with a laugh. "But don't you dare tell Joe what I said tonight. I don't want to have his image of me changed in any way. Let him continue to think me as his brother's bossy girlfriend. It will keep him on his toes."

"My lips are sealed, but Joe can be pretty perceptive, you know. He sees through a lot of people. He just doesn't make a big thing out of it."

"Hmm, he's probably just as jealous of me as I am of him and can't be bothered with trying to see the real me. That's all right. I like bickering with him. He makes a good target for some of my wittier insults. Well, you better take me home and then start hunting down that brother of yours. Joe doesn't exactly hold the track record for keeping out of trouble, you know."

Frank rolled his eyes. "You don't need to remind me. Joe has done a pretty damn decent job of pounding that fact into me over these years, not so much by words as by action."

She laughed, punching him lightly on the arms. "Well, today might be your lucky day. He might just spare you of any grief. Get moving, big brother."

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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.