“Are you sure you’re okay?” Twenty-four year old Frank Hardy asked his fiancée, Callie Shaw, wrapping his right arm around her in a hug as he did so. They were sitting in the food court of the Bayport Mall, taking a short reprieve from shopping for so many items that just added to the endless details of their upcoming wedding in four months.

Looking up from her iced tea, which she’d just realized she’d been stirring aimlessly, Callie found herself staring into Frank’s handsome face, eyes dark with concern. Almost instantaneously, she felt the start of a smile tug at her lips, a reaction that still came so often after all of these years.

Feeling slightly relieved, Frank let out a small sigh and reached over to steal some of Callie’s half-eaten French fries from her plate. Giving her one more hug, he speculated, “I guess this means you’re not getting cold feet yet, huh?” and smiled. Chuckling, Callie reached up and gently ruffled his hair. “Nah, I’ll keep you around,” she replied. Then, leaning back, she added, “but it HAS been a long week, I’ll admit that.”

“That it has,” Frank agreed, stretching his arms across his chest. Noticing Callie’s quizzical look, he found himself laughing. “What?! You’re giving me quite the workout making me carry all of these bags everywhere!”

“Poor baby,” Callie replied, “especially since nothing in those bags is yours, right? Oh, wait,” she teased, reaching over to sort through some of the bags laid out on the table. “That’s MY ‘Computer City,’ bag, and MY ‘Photojournalism’ book, and then there’s the …”

Callie was cut off as Frank gently covered her mouth with his hand. “Point taken,” he conceded, “Even though when we’re married, all of this will be yours, too. AND… “ Frank continued, as Callie opened her mouth to speak, “before you respond ‘oh, goody’ or some other, probably well-deserved quip, can we call it a truce?”

“Good!” He smiled, taking away his hand from Callie’s mouth and replacing it with a quick kiss.

Defeated, Callie rolled her eyes, unable to resist Frank’s teasing. “Well,” she replied, looking up at him with a smile, “I’ve always liked making up—even if we didn’t have a fight to begin with!”

“Now THAT’s compromise,” he chuckled. “See? A great marriage in the works!”

After a few more minutes, the two headed out, making their way across the mall into the parking lot. Since it was a hot summer day, there were many more spaces available than usual, and, once Frank and Callie reached Callie’s car and unloaded their bags, they both sighed with relief when they were able to finally sit down again. They had been shopping since early in the morning, while most of their friends were taking the Saturday afternoon easy, going to the beach, having barbeques, or simply relaxing. With the wedding coming so soon, however, and both of them being extremely organized, they had stuck to the initial plans to finalize invitations and work out other small but necessary wedding plans.

Now, however, the day was theirs. Sliding behind the wheel of Callie’s car, Frank pressed the button for the convertible, whose roof soon disappeared. Having wanted a convertible for almost as long as he’d known her, Frank had finally convinced Callie to purchase one. And, after a lot of teasing about Frank’s insistence on a totally impractical and too expensive car, having set aside logic for fun and impracticality for once, they had both enjoyed the new car for the last several months.

Still, as he started the car, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was up with Callie. Knowing her as he did, he could pick up on the small nuances of her body language; the way she was just slightly quieter today than usual, the way she was adjusting her watch… it all added up to something, and he was determined to find out what it was. Therefore, instead of heading home, he decided to take a longer route, past the shore, and, after a little while, he pulled into a parking spot. Finally, Callie seemed to take notice of her surroundings.

“Want to take a walk?” he queried, lifting her sunglasses from face to meet her eyes.

Knowing she had been ‘caught,’ Callie replied sheepishly, “Sure. That’d be nice.”

The two started off hand in hand and walked together in silence for a bit before stopping. Motioning for her to sit next to him, Frank sat down on the sand, and Callie joined him. Facing her, Frank took her hand and gazed at her once more, closely, to affirm that he’d been right, and he knew right way that he had been.

“Ok, Cal, out with it,” he said, gently. “At the mall I asked if you were okay and I realized that I was ‘being a guy’ and didn’t give you the chance to answer. I know you and I know you’re not okay, and I want to help. Okay?” Squeezing her hand, he gave her a moment to reply, before adding, “I’ll return the book on photojournalism, if that’s it,” he teased.

Of all the things he loved about Callie, right at the top was their ability to be open and honest with each other. She probably knew him better than almost anyone, and he knew he could say the same of her. Callie was his best friend, and was truly the most thoughtful and beautiful person he’d even known. As a result, he couldn’t stand to see her upset, and he was determined now to find out what was wrong.

“I’ve been that obvious, huh?” she questioned, lacing her fingers through his.

“Maybe I just know you too well,” he replied, gently.

“It’s just a few things. Nothing to do with you. Promise.” She crossed her fingers. “I just don’t want to upset you by talking about anything that might.. you know.. upset you.” Laughing despite herself, she continued. “That was eloquently stated, right?!”

Remaining serious, Frank pushed back a strand of her golden blonde hair behind her ear. “The only thing that would upset me is you NOT telling me what’s bothering you,” he said, sincerely.

Resigned, Callie continued. She had tried all day not to think about it, but she had to. “Frank, we’re getting married in December. That’s four months away. And I just... got to thinking…well, we’ve been together a long time.” She paused, unsure of how to continue.

Seeing the look of confusion and upset cross Frank’s face, she immediately recognized what he was thinking and caught herself. “Oh, hon. No, I mean, I want to get married. I can’t wait to get married. That’s not what I mean.”

Frank let out a small breath, saying softly, “I was getting worried there for a second.”

Squeezing his hand, Callie continued. “Frank, I didn’t want to say anything to you, because I know you’d be mad at yourself for not thinking of it, but… “ She paused, then went on,…”Next week marks the anniversary of—well--- “ she paused again, momentarily struck by the image that haunted her—haunted all of them---“her death,” she finished.

Frank started at her, patient, letting her continue, knowing she needed to. “That’s why I wanted to come to the mall today. I don’t know if you realized this, but we’ve come every year around this time. I always send flowers—to her grave—from both of us, you know? Every year. And Joe,” she went on, referring to Frank’s younger brother and Iola’s old boyfriend, “he knows I do this. We talk about Iola, once a year, at this time. And even though he’s with Vanessa now, and you know how we all love Vanessa, there’s a part of all of us that will never forget. Vanessa respects that.”

Callie bit her lip, and Frank smiled encouragingly at her. “Go on.”

“Well,” she began again, “I just got to thinking. Next year, at this time, we’ll be married. So much has changed in seven years.”

Frank nodded. So much HAD changed. A part of his life, of everyone who knew Iola’s life, had been permanently altered from the moment that a car bomb, intended for him and his brother, detonated, taking away Iola’s life in an instant. His once carefree and lively brother had gone through a tremendously dark and irresponsible period that, until he had met Vanessa Bender, had threatened to destroy him. It was this guilt that, to this day, made Joe so driven to “get the bad guys”.

For Frank, the reality of Iola’s death had left him with a lot of “what ifs”. He had reflected on his life much differently from then on, and had tried to live his life as steadfastly as possible, holding those whom he loved as close as possible. Like a pebble thrown into water, the repercussions of that day were widespread and immeasurable. Now, years later, the waves were still felt.

So here he was today. Then, a high school senior. Now, a college graduate with a Masters degree in Forensics and Computer Science, engaged to marry his then high school sweetheart. He and his brother continued to work now as both detectives and law enforcement personnel. Then, he was uncertain of almost everything, although he never let most people see that. Now, he knew what he wanted and he was willing to do whatever it took to attain it. That goal, he knew, was stability and happiness. Looking at his future bride, he knew he had what he needed.

“Frank? Are you listening?” Callie looked at him with concern, snapping him out of his reverie.

“Of course, baby. I’m sorry. I was just thinking about what you were saying,” he apologized.

“I guess I just think so much of what might have been, how it could have been me, or you, or Joe… any of us. Why her? I feel… guilty.”

“Callie,” Frank responded, tipping her face towards his. “We ALL feel guilty. And no one knows why. I just thank God..” Frank heard the catch in his voice and cleared his throat, “that it wasn’t you- or Joe. And God knows I feel horrible saying that, and I miss Iola, too. If I could change that day, I would. But I can’t. And so I pray for her.”

Callie nodded, listening, blinking back tears.

“And I KNOW it’s around the time of her death. And I also KNOW that’s why we come to the mall each year.”

Surprised, Callie could only stare at him.

Forcing a small smile, Frank went on. “I guess I’m surprising you here, but I also know that you send her flowers. I always tell the people after you place the order to double it- whatever it costs. I am also well aware of the fact that, two days before the anniversary of her death each year, you and my brother spend the day together, doing.. something. That’s how you two started getting along,” he went on, reminded of Joe and Callie’s somewhat hostile feelings towards each other in their youth,” and maybe why you’re so close today. I mean, I pretty much ruled out the thought that the two of you were having some secret affair behind my back—it wasn’t hard to figure out.”

“You are something else,” Callie managed, in awe.

“Callie,” he went on, now holding both of her hands, “ I also know that you’re still upset about what happened last month. And you SHOULD be. So stop pretending to be so independent. You ARE brave, I know that. But stop pretending to be okay for my sake. Let me be here for you. Let me protect you, however I can. Talk to me. And you know I don’t need an excuse to just hold you sometimes.”

Callie looked down at their joined hands, trying to block out that terrible day last month. She, Vanessa, and two other acquaintances had been out shopping. They had gone to lunch, and simply enjoyed each other’s company. As the day had waned away, and light began to cast its shadows, they departed for their respective homes. Deciding to walk part of the way, they had heard screaming and a scuffle in the distance. Running to find out what had been happening, they had heard gunshots go off, and watched as three men, dressed in dark clothing, had run out of an alley.

For a moment the men froze. All three girls had seen them, and they KNEW they had been seen. Callie was certain that, if they had still had their guns, they would have used them on the girls. Since Vanessa had called 9-1-1 when the scuffle had begun, there were sirens in the distance by the time they saw the men.

Two had taken off. But one- with cold blue eyes- stopped, looked right at them, and said, “There will be no witnesses. I promise that”. He had pointed at each girl individually, brandishing a knife, taking them in with his eyes, and said, “I keep my promises.” He had run off, along with the others, into the night.

Shaking, the girls waited for the police who had arrived within minutes. The three men hadn’t been found. The girl in the alley, they later found out, had been beaten, raped, and killed.

Thus far, none of the suspects had been apprehended. Two weeks later, Mandy, a work friend of Vanessa’s, had gone on a camping trip with her boyfriend. He had come back, but she was still missing, having disappeared on a trail. Although it could be a coincidence, and Mandy had not been found, living or dead, both Callie and Vanessa were terrified.

So were Frank and Joe, although neither one told each other just how much.

Knowing they had police connections, and their own detective skills, Frank and Joe had decided to start investigating this case on their own. It was far too personal not to. Knowing that they might need some help, Frank had called a close friend whom he hadn’t seen in years, although they’d always kept in contact. Nancy Drew and her boyfriend, Ned Nickerson, would be arriving this week to help.

“Cal? It’ll be okay.” Reaching over to her, he hugged her tightly.

“Thanks,” Callie managed, after a few minutes.

“For what?” Frank asked.

“For taking the time to ask; to care,” Callie replied quietly. “For teaching me to remember Iola’s life, and not focus on her death. For being a shoulder to cry on, and a hand to lift me up.”

Despite the tenderness of the moment, Frank added, “For better or worse, for richer for poorer, till death…”

That got a gentle smack from Callie. “Hey!” Frank responded, holding up his hands. “It sounded like a wedding vow. I was just practicing!”

Shaking her head, Callie replied, “You have one job- show up. And you have two words – ‘I do.” Hopefully, you can handle that.”

Smiling, Frank stood up and extended his hand to Callie to help her. At that moment, the sun glinted off Callie’s engagement ring. “You know, Cal,” Frank said, slipping an arm around her waist as they headed back to the car, “Your ring. The way it hit the light..”

“Were you blinded?” Callie teased, snuggling into his side.

“I AM wearing sunglasses,” he smiled. “But.. I don’t know. It just struck me. Can something look like fire…”

“And ice?” Callie completed the thought, “at the same time?”

“Yeah,” Frank replied, “exactly.”

“I sometimes think that two opposites bring out the beauty in ach other, don’t you? You know, like tall and dark next to small and blonde, male and female…”

“Right and wrong?” Frank laughed.

“For better or worse…” Callie teased.

Laughing, they headed off into the distance.

Despite the heat of the day, in the shadows, ice blue eyes followed their every move.

Let the author know what you think of this story

email your positive feedback to hdafeedback@yahoo.com

Home Library Authors Rogue's Gallery Vehicles Chums Message Board Rap Sheet Links Contact

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.