Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

By the time the brothers returned to the house, it was late into the afternoon. Both of their parents were home. Their mother was busy in the kitchen preparing that evening's dinner and their father, the very picture of a seasoned couch potato, was in the living room watching TV. Being away on a too frequent basis because of his profession, Fenton Hardy enjoyed every minute that he could snatch at home, surrounded by his family. When he saw the boys enter the room, his face lit up.

"Your mother was getting concerned about the lateness of the hour. Thought all her cooking efforts were going to be wasted on me only," Fenton smiled in greeting.

Frank sat down by his father, whose dark, handsome looks he had inherited, while Joe sprawled himself all over the adjacent chair, with one leg dangling over its overstuffed arm.

Fenton frowned at his younger son. "I suppose I should tell you to sit up properly before your mother makes her appearance. Then at least I can truthfully tell her that I did make the effort."

Joe grinned. "Not going to work, Dad. You'll get blamed anyway for my misbehavior."

His father shook his head. "I can never see the justice in that. Why do parents always get blamed when their kids behave like holy terrors?"

"Sounds like good justice to me," Joe said. "What's Mom making? Smells good and I'm starving."

"Looks like little brother is back to 100% since he's claiming to be starving," Frank said, laughing.

"You will be pleased to know that your doting mother has made your favourite supper of shepherd's pie tonight as she was worried about your flagging appetite over the last little while," Fenton said, smiling at his younger son. "Never mind what Frank and I might want."

Joe grinned happily. "Remind me to give her a big wet kiss to thank her. Mmm, I can almost taste that melted cheese potato topping."

"Joe, wipe your chin. You're drooling," Frank said, rolling his eyes.

"So you boys spent the entire afternoon at the Youth Center ?" Fenton asked.

The good cheer quickly disappeared from both of his sons' faces. Fenton glanced from one to the other.

"Something tells me that you two did not enjoy your afternoon. What happened?" Fenton asked with a raised brow.

"Two girls who frequented the Center were found dead today. Their bodies were found only a couple blocks from the Center. Died of an overdose," Joe said quietly.

Fenton frowned. "Any idea how that happened?"

Frank shook his head. "The police are still investigating. Con told us that there had been three other similar deaths this month, all in the same area."

"Con? Was he at the scene?"

"Uh, no. We were down at the police station," Frank said.

"Why were you two down at the police station? Did you two come across the bodies?" Fenton's natural instincts suddenly came fully awake.

"No, it's kind of involved," Joe said.

"Suppose you tell me then," his father said quietly.

"I saw those two girls last night, just a couple of blocks from the Center. They were with Jason, the kid that I sort of befriended from the Center. He's the one that I was helping that night with his school project," Joe explained. "You know, the night that I got roughed up?"

"So is this Jason somehow linked to their deaths?" Fenton asked, his sharp mind quickly absorbing and analyzing what he had been told so far.

"We think so, but he's missing. He's also linked to these two guys by the names of Tyrone Ribera and Hugh Scala, who are well-known to the police," Joe continued. "The police are looking for all three of them right now."

"This Jason, he's pretty young, isn't he?" Fenton asked.

"He's fifteen, Dad," Joe said, wincing.

"So this Jason and the other two fellows are the ones who sold the drugs to the victims?" Fenton questioned.

"The police seem to think so, but I guess they will have to find them first before formally charging them," Frank said.

"There's more, Dad. Ribera and Scala are hounding Jason. They went to Jason's father's place this morning, looking for something of theirs that Jason took, or so they claim. They totally trashed the place. Roughed up his father too," Joe said.

Fenton frowned. "Sounds like this Jason is in trouble up to his neck. You said you befriended him. Did you have any inkling of this at all while you were with him?"

Joe shook his head. "Not really. He seemed troubled at times and talked loosely about easy money to be made, but nothing to make me suspect anything was seriously wrong. I don't think he's really a bad kid, Dad."

Fenton looked at his son. "Good kids don't get themselves hunted by both sides of the law, Joe. Obviously, he has done something wrong."

"I don't think he set out to get into trouble like this. I think he's just confused, and angry," Joe said. "He's probably scared half to death now, out there by himself. We need to find him before the bad guys get to him."

"Joe, I think it's a matter for the police," Fenton said.

"We promised his father that we would find him," Joe said.

"We?" Fenton glanced at Frank and then back to Joe again.

"We also told him that you would help as well," Joe added.

"His father is very upset," Frank offered helpfully.

"Of course he's upset. His son is missing. I'd be upset too if one of you were missing," Fenton said. "This, however, is not an ordinary missing person case. Jason is obviously in hiding, both from the police and the bad guys. This is a situation that'd be best handled by the police. I don't want you boys to get involved."

"But Dad, we can't just sit back and do nothing. Jason needs help," Joe protested.

"When there are drugs involved, you are not dealing with amateur criminals, Joe," Fenton said seriously. "They don't think twice about killing."

"I know that, Dad. That's more the reason that we should help find Jason before it's too late," Joe was not about to give up.

"Look, the police are investigating this already. They won't appreciate you two interfering in their work," Fenton explained in a reasonable voice. "I understand your wanting to help a friend, but this is too dangerous. As selfish as it might sound, the safety of my sons comes before the safety of someone else's son."

"Maybe we can just go around the neighbourhood and ask a few questions," Joe persisted.

"You are not familiar with that neighbourhood and from what I know of it, it's not exactly a place where people will be forthcoming with information. This thing is out of your league, boys. Let the police handle it. I am sure they have all the avenues covered," Fenton said firmly.

"So we just sit back and do nothing? What do we tell Jason's dad?" Joe asked.

Fenton pressed his lips together, staring at his sons for a long moment. "I will give Ezra a call and see how the investigation is going and to see if there is anything that I can do to help, but I don't want you boys involved. Is that a fair trade-off?"

"So we still do nothing," Joe said glumly.

Fenton nodded. "That's right."

Frank looked at his younger brother. "I think Dad has a point. Why don't we see what Chief Collig has to tell Dad first. You will let us know what the Chief says, right, Dad?"

Their father nodded. "Yes, I will. And if there is some way that you boys can help without having to go into the streets, then I will also let you know. Deal?"

Frank nodded and after a reluctant hesitation, Joe assented as well.

At this point, Laura stuck her head in and called out, "Dinner's ready. Boys, come help set the table, and that includes you, Fenton."

Fenton stood up and stretched. "Well, looks like we got our orders. We best comply if we want to keep your mother happy."

Later that night, Frank let himself into his brother's room to say goodnight. He found Joe sitting in front of his computer, staring at the darkened screen.

"Ah, Joe, I think you're supposed to turn it on first if you expect to see something on the screen," Frank said as he sat down on his brother's rumpled bed.

"Ha, ha, big brother," Joe said, not amused.

After a moment's silence, Frank asked, "Still thinking about Jason?"

Joe nodded. "Yeah, I can't help it. He's just a kid, Frank."

"You're not that much older," Frank pointed out.

"But still, he's out there by himself, with these bad guys after him," Joe said. "I can't imagine how scared the kid must be."

"Maybe the police will find him first," Frank said. "Or maybe he'll get so scared that he turns himself in."

"That's what I'm hoping for too, but what if they don't find him first? What if he doesn't turn himself in?"

"You heard Dad. There's not much that we can do," Frank reminded.

"You're okay with that?" Joe asked.

"Joe, I want to help as much as you do. I don't like sitting back doing nothing either. And I feel for Mr. Grady, really I do, but I think Dad also has a point. This thing may be out of our league. Let's wait until at least Dad has spoken to Chief Collig. Don't forget, Dad has promised that he will let us help if it doesn't involve us running through that neighbourhood."

Joe banged his fist lightly on his desk. "How can we help find Jason if we don't search the streets?"

"I don't know, but Dad has promised us and he's not one to go back on his word. Besides, Dad said he will help, and you know how good Dad is."

Joe looked at his brother for a long moment and then nodded reluctantly. "Yeah, I suppose you're right. I just feel so bad for Jason's dad. Funny, before today, I always thought all sorts of nasty things about the guy. I mean, what kind of father would hit his own kid? But then after seeing him today, it seems like he does love Jason in his own way."

"Yeah, I think he does love his son, even though he gets physical with him sometimes. I guess not all fathers show their love the same way," Frank said.

"Really makes me appreciate what we have with Mom and Dad," Joe said quietly. "And it makes me glad that I have a brother like you to turn to. I told Jason that having a brother was like having a live-in best friend."

A surge of warmth swept through Frank and he reached out and grasped Joe by the shoulder. "The sentiments are the same from this end too, little brother."

Joe reached up and gripped his brother's hand. "It's too bad that Jason doesn’t have a brother. If he did, he might not be in this mess."

"Well, at least he has a friend who cares," Frank said.

"I guess that's better than nothing," Joe said, smiling tightly.

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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.