HDA - Where Troubles Melt by Cherylann Rivers Introduction

Frank rose early the next day, eager to get a head start on the case. He and Joe would be leaving later that morning to speak with their friends at the police department in order to see if they had found any information. They also wanted to inform Chief Collig about their father’s suspicions. Actually, if past experience counted for anything, they’d be informing Con Rielly, their ally on the force, about it. The Chief often had a problem with Frank and his brother investigating anything.

Before he headed out with Joe, though, he wanted to stop by and see Callie. She told had told him the previous evening on the phone that she would be up early. As Frank dressed, he tried to not succumb to the emotions that threatened, each day since Callie’s news, to eat him up. He knew that there was still a chance, however small, that Callie would be okay, and that the tumor would be benign. He had to cling to that hope now; it was the only thing that allowed him to have the strength to be there for Callie. As desperately as he wanted to hold her, and to yell and scream about how unfair life was, he knew that he had to hold himself together. It was one of the hardest things he’d ever have to do—but if Callie could do it, so could he.

He also knew it was totally irrational and illogical for him to be so consumed with getting back this ring for Callie. Chances were excellent that even if he and Joe did catch whomever was behind the robbery, that the stolen merchandise would already be disseminated and beyond recapture. Still, holding the ring in his hand had given him a sense of empowerment; that even if he couldn’t help Callie physically, he could at least help her emotionally. And if he could do something, anything, to lessen her pain, then he would, no matter what the cost.

Soon, Frank found himself at Callie’s door. Knocking, tried to keep his thoughts from wandering past anything beyond the present. At last, the door opened. As soon as he saw Callie, he knew something was wrong. Her face was pale, and she had the beginning of dark circles under her eyes, which were glassy.

"Callie!" he gasped, stepping in and wrapping an arm around her immediately. "What’s wrong? Are you okay?"

Callie looked up shakily at him, and then leaned her head against his shoulder. She spoke softly to him. "Frank, I know we were planning to go out today, and I hope you’re not mad. I… I barely slept last night, and this morning I have a really bad headache." She covered her mouth with her hand. "I feel a little nauseated, too. My parents are out at the library seeing if they can find any information about… what I might have. I hate to ruin your day. I’m sorry." Her voice was so low that Frank had to lean close in order to hear her, and she wobbled a bit as she felt weakness spread to her legs.

"Oh, Callie," Frank replied gently. "Don’t be silly. Come here." With that, he lifted Callie into his arms and picked her up. Although he had playfully carried her around many times before, he tried not to let the shock register in his face when he felt how light she was. How much weight had she lost? His mouth went dry, and he closed his eyes for a brief moment to get his bearings.

"Hey," she replied, her voice strained. "I’m okay. I can walk."

"Well, can’t a guy carry his lovely girlfriend around sometimes?" He tried to joke with her, but his voice sounded distant and flat even to him.

"Well, if you put it that way…" She tried to joke back, but her head was throbbing.

Frank carried Callie into her living room, and gently placed her down on the couch. "I’ll be right back," he said quietly to her. Quickly, he rushed up the stairs to Callie’s bedroom, and grabbed a pillow and blankets from her bed. He tried not to think about the fact that it was June, and almost 80 degrees out.

Within moments, he was downstairs with Callie again. She had her eyes closed and her hands covering them. He knew from experience with her how badly light affected her eyes when she had a migraine. Gingerly, he placed a pillow under her head, and a blanket around her. He turned off the lights, and turned the television down low. He wanted to ask her if she needed anything, but, in moments, she had fallen sound asleep.

Frank reached out to her and stroked her cheek with his hand. At that moment, a gust of wind blew outside, moving the branches that covered the window on the other side of the room, and thus letting the sunlight cross the room and shed of beam of light on Callie’s face. Frank felt his heart skip a beat. With her golden blonde hair over her shoulders, her hands clenched together on her chest, and the dark mahogany couch with the velvet on which she was lying, she looked for an instant to Frank as if she was lying in a coffin.

For the first time in a long time, Frank Hardy gave into his emotions, and, silently, he started to cry.

Several hours later, Joe was beginning to get worried. He knew that Frank had been going to see Callie, but he should have been back at least an hour ago. He had tried to call Callie’s home, but the phone was off the hook. Joe could think of several reasons why that might be the case, but he was seriously beginning to consider going over to Callie’s himself to get his brother, who also was not answering his cell phone.

Just as he was about to leave, he saw Frank coming up the to the front door. He was about to tease him about being late when he saw the expression on Frank’s face and how upset he looked. Instantly, Joe wanted to help. "Frank! Are you…"

"Ready?" Frank cut him off, still not meeting his brother’s eyes. "Yes, I am. Let’s go. I was just coming in to get you."

Joe, upset, followed Frank to his car. He knew Frank would eventually talk to him, but he tried to be patient and to give him time, although patience was never one of his strong points. "Let me drive," he said to Frank.

Frank looked at him and nodded slightly in gratitude. They switched places. Frank didn’t speak the whole way there, and although it was driving Joe crazy that Frank wasn’t talking to him, he managed to not pressure Frank. Instead, he turned on the radio. A station was playing old movie classics. On the way to the police station, Joe listened to "The Circle of Life," from the Lion King, "People," "When You Wish Upon a Star," "I Will Always Love You," and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." He knew something was definitely wrong with Frank when he didn’t say anything about this channel selection. Joe listened to a lot of rock and roll generally, and only Vanessa- and Iola- knew about his propensity for sentimental old favorites now and again. Frank would have normally laughed him out of the car.

At the police station, the boys spoke with Con Rielly, as they expected. The police were at a standstill as well, following several leads, but thus far turning out nothing. The one piece of information that the brothers did manage to gather was that several witnesses to the crime identified the getaway car as a big Oldsmobile Toronado from the 1970s.

"That’s unusual, Con," Joe said slowly. "Who’s seen that car in ages?" Joe was a car buff, so he knew the type of car that was being described. Frank had a blank look on his face.

"Yeah, Joe, you’re right." Con replied. "Want to hear the strangest part?"

"Absolutely! What else do you have?" Joe was feeling good about this lead. How many Oldsmobile Toronados could be in existence?

"We even got a license plate that said "Totowas." We tried to run it though, and we got no response. Of course, no one could identify the state. They said it was a multi-colored license plate. Actually, it was either that, or covered with mud!" Con laughed. "But, you fella’s shouldn’t worry about it. With those clues, we should get a lead fairly quickly. Let me know if you find anything out."

"Totowas," huh?" Joe asked. "Totowa is a town in northern New Jersey, Con."

"Yes, Joe, I know that," he replied. "We’re checking on it."

"Thanks, Con. I appreciate it." He glanced at his brother, who was looking absentmindedly through a window. "We both do."

Con grinned at Joe, but asked good-naturedly, "Is Frank alright? He seems to have a lot on his mind for a kid who just graduated at the top of his class and is headed to Princeton."

Joe returned the smile. Con did have a soft-side, despite his tough exterior. "Yeah, I think so, thanks. He’s got… a lot on his mind."

Joe watched as Frank walked outside. With a sigh, Joe was about to follow him when he heard Con’s voice. "Joe?"

Joe turned around. "Yeah, Con?"

"If what your dad says is right, and it is these guys who want revenge on him, you better be careful. You see, I don’t think it’s all that complicated, but your dad- he’s got an instinct for these things. And if he’s right, you better consider one thing."

"What’s that?" Joe asked.

"Crime doesn’t normally happen here a lot. There’s probably a reason that a crime so similar to the one that your dad mentioned took place in Bayport. Be careful, and avoid trouble."

"Hmmm," Joe surmised. "Thanks, Con. You know me. I always avoid trouble."

Con rolled his eyes, and gave Joe a wave goodbye.

On the way back to their house, Joe finally spoke. "The case seems interesting, huh? I mean, the unusual car, the weird license plate… it shouldn’t take too long to solve."

Frank remained silent.

Finally, Joe decided to bring up Frank’s reaction. "Bro, what’s with you? Did something happen with you and Callie? You didn’t break up, did you? Is that why you’re upset?"

Frank turned to Joe with a look of horror. "Of course we didn’t break up! How could you even ask that at a time like this?" Frank snapped angrily at him.

Joe was shocked. "At a time like WHAT?!" he snapped back. "You don’t even bother to tell me what’s going on, and then you get angry at me? What’s your problem, man?" He checked his rearview mirror and pulled over.

Frank’s face was a mixture of emotions, and Joe couldn’t read him, for once. Suddenly, Frank lashed out at him. "How did you know about Callie? How did you know what I was planning to do? Don’t you care about this? God, Joe…" His voice trailed off, but Joe saw the pain in his brother’s eyes, and he held back his own anger out of genuine concern for his brother, who was quickly becoming an emotional wreck for some reason. Joe was also trying not to panic since Frank so rarely lost his cool.

He knew he had to be honest and tried to prepare for Frank’s reaction. "Frank, calm down," he replied, evenly. "The truth is that I overheard you talking on the phone, and I didn’t want you to know that. And OF COURSE I care about this. How could I not? I’m just shocked and … well, a little horrified, to tell you the truth."

"Me, too," Frank said, choking back tears.

Joe was shocked. He couldn’t remember the last time he had seen Frank on the verge of tears. Whatever reason that Frank felt that he had to marry Callie must be pretty bad.

"You know, you can talk to me about anything, right?" Joe said earnestly to his brother. "Look, there are always options. I don’t know your reasons, Frank, for everything you do, but I know… I know you’ll do the right thing. There’s always hope. Things are never as bad as they seem. You know, if you need me to, I’ll help you- and Callie- in any way I can. You know that. Come on, Frank- I love you. I’ll always be here for you. That’s what brothers are for- to help troubles melt away."

Frank tried to wipe back the tears from the corners of his eyes, and Joe was astonished that Frank was actually in tears. Reaching over to him, he hugged Frank tightly, glad that he could at least return the favor for all the times that Frank had been there for him and had done the very same thing. So this is what it’s like to be the older, responsible one, he thought. Playing that role, Joe felt the weight of responsibility that role encompassed, and he didn’t like it. Still, he knew he had to take it on.

"Is it that bad?" he said to his brother, still hugging him.

"Yeah," Frank choked out. "It’s literally a matter of life or death—I know you know that." He pulled back from Joe. "Thanks, little brother." Frank was clearly embarrassed to have to rely on anyone, and Joe could sense that.

Rather than push the issue further, he said, simply, "Any time, Frank. That’s what I’m here for." Slowly, he started the engine and resumed the drive back, trying to figure out a way to help his brother. Nothing came to him.

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Disclaimer

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The authors 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 them without express permission of the authors.