Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

Joe slowed the van down, his eyes searching both sides of the street for a parking space. He hummed tunelessly under his breath as his fingers tapped the steering wheel to a beat that only he could hear.

It felt good to be driving again. It had taken two trips to the motor vehicle office before he finally got his driver's license replaced. He probably would not receive the permanent license for another month yet, but the temporary license, which he now held, at least afforded him the freedom of driving to places by himself again. Not that he got the van much to himself anyway as Frank, by some unspoken rule, always seemed to get priority over him in the use of these wheels. He must challenge that rule one of these days.

Getting the van tonight to himself had been no easy feat either. He was only slowly getting back to his feet, having been confined to his bed for nearly a week with the worst case of the flu/cold that he could remember. Both his mother and Frank had hovered endlessly over him during those bedridden days, driving him to the point of being nearly suicidal toward the end. It had taken some major convincing on his part before he could persuade them to allow him to venture into the outside world again, and tonight was the first time that he was actually out on his own, without the hovering presence of his nursemaid brother.

Joe shook his head as he recalled snatches of the conversation he had earlier with both mother and brother before he was at last allowed out of the house. Yes, I shall call when I get to the Center. Yes, my cell phone is working and charged to capacity. No, I will not stay late and yes, I will be home no later than ten o'clock. Yes, I will come home right away if I feel the least bit lightheaded, nauseous or even if my baby finger starts to tingle. For crying out loud, can I leave before this century is over?

Still shaking his head, he smiled to himself as he maneuvered the van into a tight parking spot. He could almost picture his mother and Frank taking turns hovering by the front window, seeking signs of his return as the evening wore on. He hoped they would at least give him a few minutes' grace before reporting him as missing to the police should he fail to show up at the house right at the prescribed time.

After locking up the van, he headed in the direction of the Youth Center a block away. It felt strange to be going there again, after an absence of nearly three weeks. He wondered offhandedly if he would be seeing new faces, and how many of the old ones he would run into tonight. He hoped Jason was there. He wanted to know how he did on the project that they had both worked on.

He had already met the quota for the hours of volunteer work needed to obtain the credits for school. What he was doing now was strictly on his own time, and more befitting of the word 'voluntary'. He supposed no one would fault him if he should stop coming to the Center since the curriculum requirement had been fulfilled, but it did not feel right to stop so abruptly. He needed at least a few more visits to say his good-byes. Or perhaps he would not say good-bye at all. He was beginning to feel a certain attachment to some of those kids.

As he passed by a shadowy lane-way, his eyes caught sight of the figures at the far end and the familiarity of one of the figures made him call out happily.

"Hey, Jason, is that you?" Even before he received a reply, he began making his way toward them.

It was indeed Jason, and the psychedelic Bobbsey Twins, whom he recognized too late. Bracing himself instinctively, he smiled cheerfully at the threesome nonetheless.

"Hey, guys, what are you doing standing out here in the cold? Why aren’t you in the Center?" he asked.

Jason was stuffing something into his pockets as he eyed Joe warily. "What are you doing here? I thought you had quit coming to the place."

"I was sick as a dog for a while. That's why I haven't been here. How are you?" he asked, his eyes sweeping the two colourful girls into his inquiry.

Bella or Brandie (damn, he really needed to distinguish between the two of them) smiled and sidled up to him almost predatorily. "Hi, Blondie. We've missed your cute face around here. Thought you had abandoned us. Want to join in our fun tonight?"

Her companion was also crowding closer. "Yeah, have we got what's needed for a night out of this world." She reached out with one long finger and ran it down the side of Joe's face. "You will not regret coming with us, Goldilocks. We will make your every minute with us worthwhile. It will be a sweet threesome."

Joe backed away a few awkward steps, and felt the blood rushing into his face. "Uh, no thanks. My mom told me not to go out with strangers."

Both girls laughed delightedly and one said to the other, in between giggles, "Don't you just love him to death?"

"You guys go ahead and have a good time. I'm heading to the Center," Jason announced as he began to move away.

"Wait, I'm coming with you," Joe said and turned quickly to follow him.

The green-haired one reached out and snatched one of Joe's arms. "Stay with us, sweetie. I guarantee you that we will be much more interesting than him."

Joe pulled his arm free. "Sorry, girls, I'm afraid that I'm just as boring as Jason here so we'd be good company for each other."

Before either girl could snare him again, he hurried after Jason while hoping fervently that his face would resume a near normal shade by the time they reached the Center.

"Hey, Jason, wait up!" Joe called out.

The other made no attempt to slow down and Joe had to trot the last few steps to catch up with him.

"What's your hurry?" Joe asked.

"Got to meet somebody at the Center," the other boy answered.

"Oh, I was hoping to talk to you a bit," Joe said.

"About what?"

"Nothing in particular, just want to see how you've been these past weeks," Joe said as he pulled open the door that led down to the Center.

"Fine. I've been fine," Jason said rather flatly and headed toward a table in the farthest corner of the room.

"Hey Joe! Haven't seen you here for ages! Thought you weren't coming back," Carl greeted him.

Joe stopped and smiled in return. "Been sick. I've only started coming back to civilization this past week or so."

Carl studied him carefully. "Yeah, you still don't look too hot."

Joe winced. "Words like that don't do too much for my ego."

Carl laughed. "You know what I mean. Glad to have you back. Take it easy, okay?"

Joe nodded. "I will, thanks."

"So, how's school?" Joe asked as he sat down by Jason.

The younger boy shrugged. "The same."

"How did you do on that project?"

Jason's face darkened. "Don't want to talk about it."

"What happened?" Joe asked. "You handed it in, didn't you?"

Jason looked away, but Joe caught the flash of anger across the young face.

"Did we do something wrong?" Joe pressed.

"I wouldn't know, as the teacher refused to accept it. Said it was too late," Jason answered tersely.

"She wouldn't accept it?" Joe echoed. "But -- so what happened?"

"I know what will happen. I'm gonna flunk that class," Jason said. "And my old man will have a field day with me as a punching bag."

Joe pressed his lips together. "Did you try seeing your principal about it? Maybe he/she can intervene on your behalf."

"Nobody is going to intervene on my behalf. Oh, screw it! I don't care anymore. So what if I flunk? I hate school anyway. And if my old man gives me any grief, I'll just up and leave."

Joe regarded him with a frown. "Up and leave? And go where? You're a minor, Jason. It's illegal for you to be out on your own."

"Well, go and tell that to the street kids out there," Jason retorted angrily. "Go and round them up and throw them in jail."

Joe chewed his lower lip. "If you want, I can go with you to talk to your father. We can show him the project. He will understand--"

"No, he won't. He won't understand! And you don't either. What do you know? You don't know crap!" Jason said roughly.

Anger flared in Joe at the other's words and it took all his efforts not to hurl his own words back at the other boy. "So suppose you tell me then. Tell me so that I can understand, so that I can help you if I can."

Jason shook his head angrily. "No point. I'm sick of all this. I'm gonna start living life my way. Nobody's going to boss me around no more, not the old man, not those crappy teachers, nobody!"

Joe placed a tentative hand on the other boy. "Whoa, slow down, Jason. You need to think this out before jumping into things."

Jason yanked his arm away and stood up. "Forget it, Hardy. There's nothing more you can do. It's my life, so leave me to it. Stick your nose elsewhere, but I'm done with you."

Joe watched in stunned silence as Jason hurried toward the doorway where a newcomer had just come through. The two spoke briefly before quickly leaving together.

"What the hell was that about?" Joe muttered to himself, shaking his head in disbelief.

Before he could dwell further on what had happened, a shadow fell across him, forcing him to look up.

"Hi, Joe," the young girl said shyly. "Do you remember me?"

Joe forced a smile to his face. "Sure, it's Carlie, isn’t it?"

The girl nodded happily and held up the book in her hand. "Do you think you can help me with some math questions?"

"Sure," Joe said, feeling both relieved and thankful that someone needed his help still. "Sit down and we'll see whether we can figure them out together."

The bright smile that lit up the girl's face was almost enough to make Joe forget the scene with Jason.s Almost.

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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.