Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

"I said no such thing. I said it was interesting," Frank protested as he inserted the key into the ignition. "The movie certainly had its merits, but I'm afraid Joe's partially right about my taste in movies. A bit more action would have made it even more interesting."

Callie let out an exasperated sigh. "That movie was a character study. It was about one man's descent into madness. How can you possibly add action to that?"

"Oh, I don't know. Madness sometimes leads to violence," Frank shrugged. "He could have really gone berserk and started killing people around him."

"My God, this is scary. You are beginning to sound like Joe!" Callie cried in mocked horror.

Frank made a face. "You are right, that is scary, for both Joe and me."

Callie couldn't help but laugh. "The ultimate nightmare, I am sure. Who are you calling?"

"Just turning my phone back on. Hold on, there are a couple of messages here. Let me check them first before we get going," Frank said. As he first listened first to Joe's message and then Biff's, the nerves in his stomach tightened apprehensively.

"What is it, Frank?" Callie had noticed his growing unease.

"Message from Joe. He told me to pick him up at Jason's house. Must have called when we were in the theatre and my phone was off. And Biff's left me a message saying that he's at the Center but no Joe. I better call Biff right away and tell him where Joe is. Hope he's still around and I hope Joe's not freaking out wondering where I am," Frank said worriedly as he quickly dialed Biff's cell phone.

"Hello, Biff? Sorry about the screw up. Joe went over to a friend's place. Yeah, a kid he met at the Center. He left me a message on my phone earlier saying that I should pick him up from there. The address is 318 Greenwood Pathway. It's about fifteen, twenty minutes from the Center. You got it on the map? I'd really appreciate it, Biff, as Callie and I are halfway across town and it'll take us forever to get there. Thanks a lot, Biff. I owe you big. Oh, Joe's phone is turned off, no battery. He left the number where he could be reached. You better take it down just in case. I'll call Joe and let him know that you'll be there in a few minutes. Thanks again, Biff."

"What's happening?" Callie asked.

"Biff's still in the neighbourhood so he's offered to go and pick Joe up. I better let Joe know what's happening," Frank said as he dialed the number that his brother had left him. "Oh hi, this is Frank Hardy, Joe's brother. Is Joe still there? No? He's gone downstairs to wait for his ride? How long ago was that? Oh. Can you do me a huge favour, Jason? Can you go downstairs and let him know that Biff is on his way to pick him up now? Yes, Biff and he should be there in a few minutes. Thanks a lot, Jason. Oh, one more thing. Can you give me a call back on my cell once you've talked to Joe? Great, thanks again."

Callie couldn't help but smile. "That's my Frank, always taking care of his little brother. I certainly hope that Joe appreciates all your efforts."

Frank glanced at her. "Well, we were supposed to pick him up, but going to the later show really threw everything off. It's a good thing that Biff is free tonight to play chauffeur. I'm going to have to remind Joe that phone batteries are not meant to run forever without recharging. He always forgets and then becomes totally incommunicado without his phone. How did we become so dependent on these damn things anyway?" Frank glared at the phone in his hand, wishing that Jason would call back to reassure him that Joe was in fact still downstairs awaiting his ride.

"Well, at least he did call to let you know where he was," Callie said helpfully. "Relax, Frank. He's probably climbing into Biff's car right now."

Frank nodded. "I hope so."

Joe shifted his weight impatiently from one foot to the other and looked down once more at his watch. Where was Frank? He should have been here at least half an hour ago. He felt a sudden sense of unease. Frank was never late. Relax, Hardy. Your brother was at the movies with his girlfriend. What could possibly happen in a theatre? Maybe Frank couldn't find the place. The lobby of the apartment was dimly lit and Frank could have easily driven by without seeing him. No, he would have recognized the van if it had driven by. Still, it might be better if he waited outside, where his brother could easily see him even if he could not see the number of the apartment in the semi-darkness.

"Man, it's cold," he muttered to himself as a gust of wind caught him in its full blast when he stepped outside. "Frank, my boy, you better hurry or else you'll be picking up an icicle instead of a brother."

He thought back to the last few hours and smiled to himself. He could still picture Jason's smile when that little bulb lit up at the end of their efforts. There had been enough wattage in that kid's smile to light up this entire complex. Yes, it was certainly an evening well spent. And by the way that the kid had been chatting at the end, he was pretty sure that Jason had enjoyed the evening as well.

He glanced up and down the deserted streets, hoping to catch sight of the familiar van. It was really getting cold. Suddenly, a piercing scream cut through the frigid stillness of the night. It was a girl's scream and it had come from the back of the building. Without a second thought, Joe pounded toward the source of the sound. He only hoped that he wasn't too late to help.

The cell phone in Frank's hand finally rang. "Hello? Hi, Jason. Joe's not there? Oh. Yeah, maybe Biff's picked him up already. Thanks for checking and calling me back. See you around."

"What is it?" Callie asked, watching the frown deepened on her boyfriend's face.

"Joe's not downstairs anymore," Frank answered as he began to dial Biff's number again. "I just hope he's with Biff. Damn, Biff's line is busy."

"Maybe he's trying to call you. Wait for a couple of minutes before trying again," Callie suggested.

"Yeah, just the same, I'm going to start heading out to this Jason's house. You don't mind, do you, Cal ?" Frank looked at her anxiously.

"Pass me your phone. I'll answer if it rings. I don't want you to be distracted while driving. Go, Frank. The sooner we get there, the sooner we find out what that brother of yours is up to," Callie said.

Frank threw her a grateful look. "Thanks, Cal ."

She smiled and shook her head. "Just try not to break too many speed limits while going there."

Suddenly the phone rang again. Glancing at Frank, she quickly answered it. "Oh hi, Biff. It's Callie. Frank's here but he's driving. Did you pick up Joe yet? No?"

At this point, Frank reached over and grabbed the phone from her hand. "Are you at the right place? Yes, 318. There's no sign of him? Where can he be? Can you do me a favour? Can you drive around a bit to see if he's walking about. Maybe he got tired of waiting and decided to go home by bus. I'm heading over there right now. Thanks, pal."

Callie looked at him a little anxiously. "So he's not there?"

Frank shook his head in frustration. "I just hope he's okay and in one piece because I am going to wring his neck when I get a hold of him."

"I'm sorry, Frank. This wouldn't be happening if I didn't insist on watching the later show," Callie said.

Frank reached over and patted her on the hand. "It's not your fault. The early show was sold out and I did promise you that we would watch that movie tonight."

"Still, if we weren't in the theatre for the later show, Joe would have gotten a hold of us when he called and there wouldn't be that mix-up with Biff," Callie said. Seeing the worry deepening on Frank's face, she quickly added. "Maybe he's decided to take the bus, like you said and we are all worrying for nothing."

"Maybe," Franks said without too much conviction. Yes, Joe could have taken the bus and may be halfway home by now. Somehow, Frank doubted it. That would be too easy and Frank had learned through experience that with Joe, nothing was ever easy.

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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.