They veered away from the crowd of tourists, walking along the grass until they found a park bench beneath a tall tree. They sat down in the shade. Vanessa waited patiently for Joe as he sat quietly staring at the ground.

“You know about…Iola.”

“Yes…you told me how she was murdered by a terrorist group known as the Assassins.”

“Yeah…well, when Frank and I went after them we ran into this other group…some kind of government task force – kind of like the FBI or CIA. But they’re more secretive…I mean…no one is supposed to know about them. The Network was formed to get rid of the Assassins. Well…Frank and I met one of the big guys…his name was Mr. Gray. Yesterday…that guy I ran into…that was the Gray Man – that’s how he’s known in the Network.”

“Okay…is that woman a part of the Network?”

“That’s what Gray told me yesterday! You see…this is really strange…well you might not think it’s strange but you don’t know this guy like I do! He told me he was on vacation and he came with that woman, Miss Green!”

“Then why was she telling you she didn’t know him or what you were talking about?” Vanessa had a puzzled expression on her face.

“I don’t know! Something’s wrong, Van – I can just feel it!”

*****

Buchannan turned to Linda, a scowl on his face. “What was that about?”

“He ran into Gray the other day…he must have seen me, or Gray pointed me out.”

“We’ll have to move up our plans then. Or…”

“Or what?” asked Linda worriedly.

“Or we just get the blond…you know he’s the one they really want!” Buchannan smiled evilly.

“That’s true…plus the price for his life is much higher than his brother’s!”

*****

Joe checked his watch; it was almost time to meet up with Fenton and Laura. “We should be going; it’s almost to time to meet Dad at the entrance.”

“Okay…how are you feeling – still upset?” Vanessa took Joe’s hand and squeezed it gently.

“I’m okay…at least I will be once I talk to my dad.”

Joe and Vanessa began to make there way back to the entrance. They bumped into Frank and Callie and the four tried to stick as close together as possible.

“Hey Van,” whispered Joe getting as close to Vanessa as he could. “Can you think of a diversion to get Mom and Callie out of the hotel?”

“So you can talk to Frank and your dad about that Network guy?”

“Yeah – think you can do that?”

“Sure! I saw a cute shop and I’m sure I can convince them to come with me!” Vanessa giggled at the face Joe made when she mentioned shopping.

Frank was the first to see his parents waiting for them; he turned to Joe and pointed them out. As the group walked back to the hotel, it turned out that Vanessa didn’t have to suggest the women go shopping. Laura had seen the same quaint store and asked Callie and Vanessa if they would like to join her. When Fenton grimaced, Laura laughed.

“You don’t have to come…I’m sure Frank and Joe wouldn’t mind a little bonding time!”

“I know I would!” exclaimed Joe as he placed his head on Fenton’s shoulder.

Once Laura and the girls left Joe turned to Fenton and Frank.

“Can we find someplace quiet? I need to tell you something.”

The Hardy men sat in a booth located in the back of an ice cream parlor. Joe had finished telling Fenton about meeting with Arthur Gray and what happened with he bumped into Miss Green.

“Do you think something happened to the Gray Man?” asked Frank as he took a sip of his soda.

“Yeah, I do,” replied Joe.

“What did this Mr. Buchannan look like?” Fenton asked.

Joe got up and walked over to the front counter. He spoke with the girl working the counter. When he went back to the table he had a piece of paper and pencil. Joe did a quick sketch and showed it to Fenton.

Fenton stared down at the rough sketch – it was of a man with a buzz cut, a strong nose and jaw line and a cleft in his chin – there was a small scar across his right eyebrow.

“The hotel has a fax machine – I’ll fax this to Sam and see what he comes up with.”

Frank noticed how hard Fenton was staring at the sketch.

“What is it, Dad – do you recognize him?” Frank looked questionly at Fenton.

“I’m not sure but…” Fenton frowned then put the sketch in his pocket.

Joe did another rough sketch, this one of Miss Green. “Might as well send this to Sam too.”

“Well, I think we’ve given your mother and the girls enough time to shop! I think we should go find them before your mother puts a pretty dent in my credit card balance!”

Although he sounded distressed, the twinkle in his eye told Frank and Joe that he was only teasing.

*****

The next day Frank, Callie, Vanessa and Joe rode the bus to the zoo. When they arrived Callie saw the old-fashioned carousel, while Joe noticed the miniature train, the Brackenridge Eagle that the bellhop had told him about. Frank took Callie to the carousel

and Joe and Vanessa went to ride the train. No one paid attention to the two men who followed after Joe and Vanessa.

Vanessa took a few pictures of Joe and the conductor standing next to the train. She then asked a passerby if they would mind taking a picture of her and Joe. That done, the two teens boarded the train.

The train rode past the zoo, and Joe and Vanessa could see the children’s zoo. They rode over a bridge that crossed the San Antonio River. The conductor pointed out the Witte Museum. Vanessa snuggled close to Joe. The train was coming up to a tunnel and Joe teased her about going into the dark tunnel.

The two men were seated two rows down from Joe and Vanessa who were in the last car. As the train entered the tunnel it slowed down and then came to a stop. The conductor announced that they were taking a little break.

“Feels like we’re in the Tunnel of Love,” Joe whispered as he nibbled Vanessa’s ear.

The two men silently approached the two teens, their steps muffled by the sounds of children making scary sounds and giggling as the noises they made echoed off the tunnel walls.

Vanessa thought she saw a shadow come up to Joe, but before she could tell him she felt a sharp prick on her arm. She slumped sideways and fell against him.

“Vanessa…?”

Joe felt a sharp pain on the back of his neck then…nothing.

*****

Callie and Frank waited for the train to return; once Joe and Vanessa came back they were going to the zoo.

“Here it comes.” Callie pointed to the oncoming train.

As the train came to a slow stop, Frank searched for his brother. He walked up and down the three car train. His heart began to race…for Joe and Vanessa were nowhere in sight!

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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.