Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

Arthur Gray had slightly been taken aback when he met Linda Green at the airport. Accustomed to seeing her dressed in dark conservative colors and wearing her hair in a tight bun, he was unnerved to see her wearing a multi-colored floral dress and her hair cascading down her shoulders. He looked down at his light gray business suit, shook his head and chuckled softly. He was supposed to be on vacation!

“I should have followed your example. I’m afraid the rest of my wardrobe is the same as what I’m wearing!”

“I’m sure we can find you something more appropriate to wear once we reach our destination!” laughed Linda as they boarded the plane.

A few minutes after takeoff, Gray closed his eyes and began to relax. I should have done this a long time ago, he thought to himself.

Linda had a book open but she wasn’t reading it. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Gray. She thought about the sleeping pills in her purse. She didn’t know why he didn’t want her to use them. It would be so easy! Linda contemplated going against his wishes but thought better of it. She would just follow the original plan.

Linda closed her book and then followed Gray’s example. She shut her eyes, relaxing and enjoying the plane ride.

*****

Fenton checked that everyone had their plane ticket while they waited for the boarding call. Joe and Vanessa were taking turns playing with a Gameboy. Frank and Callie were working on the New York Times crossword puzzle. Laura and Fenton sat quietly watching their sons and the other passengers.

Fenton found himself checking for suspicious characters. He put his arm around Laura’s shoulders and tried not to laugh. He really needed this vacation! He reluctantly removed his arm from around Laura as the boarding call was announced. Joe hastily turned off the Gameboy and gave it to Vanessa, who put it in her purse. Frank kept the paper but gave Callie the pen they were using.

Fenton and Laura sat together, with Fenton giving his wife the window seat. Joe and Vanessa sat in the middle row, leaving Frank and Callie on the opposite end. Frank let Callie have the window seat.

Joe took Vanessa’s hand, trying not to wince when she squeezed it tightly. Although she loved to fly, take-offs and landings were not her favorite part. Once the plane was up in the air and Vanessa’s hold on his hand relaxed, Joe rested his head on her shoulder and fell asleep. Vanessa took out the latest Stephen King novel, finding the page where she left off. Frank and Callie returned to the crossword puzzle. Fenton and Laura were holding hands and listening to soft jazz playing from the plane headphones.

Arthur Gray looked over the other passengers on the plane. The majority were businessmen who were working – laptops and file folders open. If he were on a mission he would be doing the same – working out any kinks or learning more about the intended target. This was the first time he had nothing to do, and he was feeling lost. He heard a soft giggle.

“Here, why don’t you get lost in another world?”

The Gray Man stared down at the hardback that Linda held out to him.

“Harry Potter? Isn’t this a…children’s book?”

“I think it’s time for you to find your inner child, Arthur!” Linda gave him a teasing smile.

“What are you reading?”

“Jackie Collins – romance, intrigue and lots of s-e-x!”

Gray made a face before glancing at the book he was given. On the cover was a picture of a young boy with a zigzag scar on his forehead. He turned the pages, thinking he would read a few paragraphs to pass the time. Thirty minutes later he was thoroughly engrossed in the book.

He looked up in surprise at the captain’s announcement that they would be landing soon. He made a mental note of what page he was on and closed the book. He tucked it in between the seat and his leg so he could buckle up.

“Here, I’ll take that,” said Linda, holding her hand out, a sly grin on her face.

“Okay, okay – I’ll admit it was…a rather interesting story!” chuckled the Gray Man as he handed her the book.

Joe watched the different pieces of luggage go round the carousel, waiting for his to appear. Vanessa stood by his side, smiling happily. Fenton saw his and Laura’s bags, and reached out and took them both off the carousel. Joe began to impatiently shift his weight from his right leg to his left. He felt Vanessa place her hand behind him and gently rub his back.

“Finally,” he whispered when he caught sight of his bag. He noticed that Vanessa’s was behind his. He got hers first, then his own. Vanessa took her bag from him, seeing that Frank and Callie had gotten theirs too.

“Off to the car rental!” exclaimed Fenton as he led his family down the airport terminal.

As they rode the escalator up to the main floor, Joe happened to turn his head to glance at the other vacationers and traveling businessmen. He saw a man dressed in a light gray business suit, and was about to turn away when he did a double take. ‘No way,’ he thought and looked again. A pretty brunette was now by the man; she said something and the man laughed. Joe shook his head – there was no way that could be who he thought…that man didn’t smile, much less laugh!

The Gray Man had only a small carry-on bag. He waited for Linda to get her luggage from the baggage carousel. He looked from his one bag to the two pieces of luggage Linda had.

“I guess I under-packed.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll soon have you looking like a native!” Linda pointed to a man dressed in T-shirt, jeans and cowboy boots.

The Gray Man laughed and then helped carry one of bags.

*****

The first thing that hit the Hardy family and friends as they walked outside was the intense heat. Frank couldn’t believe how hot it was – he could literally see steam rising from the concrete. He glanced at a thermometer hanging on a wall and was surprised to see that it read ninety degrees. He could already feel beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He glanced over at Joe and noticed that his brother’s face was a little pink – so was Callie’s. He noticed something else as well. It seemed that both Joe and Callie’s hair was starting to curl and frizz.

“I can’t believe it’s only ninety degrees!” Frank commented.

The rental clerk turned around and smiled. “That’s the humidity – makes it feel almost ten degrees higher.”

“Oh swell!” exclaimed Callie. “I can feel my hair frizzing!”

Fenton rented a large SUV – it was almost the size of a van, so there was enough room for everyone to fit comfortably. Frank and Joe helped Fenton store the luggage in the back while Laura, Callie and Vanessa waited inside the vehicle. As soon as they were in the SUV, Fenton cranked up the air conditioner. Laura held a piece of paper that the rental agent had given them, with directions to the hotel.

As Fenton drove out of the parking lot Frank was looking out the window. He almost gave himself whiplash when he did a double take, for he thought he saw someone very familiar. He noticed a pretty brunette with a man dressed in light gray. The couple was getting into a red Mustang convertible, the woman in the driver’s seat. Frank mentally shook his head. Couldn’t be who he thought it was. For one thing he wouldn’t drive a sports car! And as far as Frank knew, he didn’t have a girlfriend.

The Gray Man couldn’t believe they were renting a convertible. He hadn’t ridden in one of these since he was a teenager. For the first time Arthur Gray was starting to get excited. This was going to be a fun vacation.

Fenton drove up to the front of the Sheraton Hotel. A valet walked over to the driver’s side as a bellhop stood ready to help with the luggage. Everyone tumbled out of the SUV, the summer heat somehow feeling even hotter after their air-conditioned ride. The automatic doors of the hotel gave the group a tantalizing feel of the cool air inside.

Leading his family and the girls inside, Fenton went to the front desk while the others waited off to the side. Joe looked around, admiring his surroundings. He smiled at Vanessa, happy that she was here with him. He glanced at Frank and noticed a puzzled frown on his face. He wondered what was bothering his older brother, and then thought about what happened at the airport. Joe wondered if Frank had seen the same person he had. He would have to ask him once they were alone.

Frank and Joe were sharing a room, as were Callie and Vanessa. The brothers’ room was next to their parents, while Callie and Vanessa’s was across the hall. Tired from the plane ride, they all decided to rest before going out to dinner in a couple of hours.

Joe opened his suitcase but didn’t put anything away. He lay on the bed watching Frank unpack his suitcase. He was trying to think of how to tell Frank who – or rather, who he thought – he had seen earlier that day.

“You know bro, I’m really glad Dad suggested this trip. I didn’t realize how badly I needed the rest,” began Joe.

“Yeah, me too – I didn’t realize how tired I am. I’m even seeing things!” laughed Frank.

Joe sat up and stared hard at Frank. “Yeah…so am I.”

Frank stopped what he was doing, slowly turning to look at his brother. “How so?” he asked cautiously.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“I don’t know, Joe…I just might.”

“Frank, I could swear I saw the Gray Man at the airport!”

The stunned expression on his older brother’s face told Joe that so had Frank.

“But it couldn’t have been! I mean…he was standing by the luggage carousel, then this really pretty woman walked up and…he laughed!”

“Was she a brunette?”

Joe gave a slight nod.

“I saw them too….He was getting into a convertible…and he was smiling.”

“It couldn’t be him, then…he never smiles, much less laughs at anything! The man has no sense of humor!” Joe said, trying to convince himself.

“Yeah, besides if it was him – he would have contacted us by now.”

Joe agreed and lay back down, but deep down he had a bad feeling.

Let the author know what you think of this story

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.