Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

Fenton went inside the gift shop and was able to obtain directions to where the tunnel was located. The tunnel was a block away from a bookstore. Fenton parked the SUV there and the foursome walked the rest of the way. Before arriving at the zoo, Fenton had stopped to buy a couple of flashlights. He gave one to Frank as they entered the tunnel.

“Here are my footprints and Callie’s,” Frank pointed out.

“Fenton…I think I found some other footprints.” Laura was standing a few steps away. She could just make out the soft impression.

Fenton knelt down to get a better look. “You’re right, Laura…it’s a different set. The imprint gets a little more defined here.”

“This is weird!” Frank was following the footprints, coming to a stop near the end of the tunnel. “The footprints just disappear right along here!”

Fenton put his hand on the wall and began knocking on the wood, listening for any changes in the sound.

“Frank, come over here and help me – there could be a hidden passage around here.”

As Frank took a step forward he stepped on a rock. He felt the rock sink into the ground – and when it did a part of the ground opened up. Fenton almost fell in but managed to right himself.

“I see can see some steps. Laura, you and Callie…”

“No, I’m sorry Fenton – I am not staying behind! I’m going with you!”

Fenton tried not to smile when he saw the determined expression on his wife’s face…so much like Joe.

“Laura, I need someone to stay behind – what if Frank and I run into trouble? If you and Callie are with us – who can we call for help?”

“And you’ll be a big help to me, Cal, if you stay with my mom.” Frank looked pleadingly at Callie.

Callie let out a sigh – she could never say no when Frank gave her that little-boy-lost look. She turned to Mrs. Hardy and placed her hand on the older woman’s shoulder.

“Let’s give them one less thing to worry about, Mrs. Hardy. As much as I’d like to disagree with them…Mr. Hardy is right. If they run into any trouble we can lead the police here.”

Laura frowned; she knew that Fenton was right as was Callie. But darn it – that was her son! She acquiesced to Fenton’s decision, but something occurred to her just as Frank and Fenton began to descend down the stairs.

“Fenton!” Laura stood shaking with excitement. “Joe’s cell phone! The GPS system!”

A huge grin formed on Fenton’s face. “Of course – how could I have forgotten?!”

“Don’t feel bad, Dad – I did too!” Frank took out his cell; hitting a few buttons he quickly had the GPS tracking system working.

“The signal’s fairly weak – Joe must be just inside the 20 mile radius.”

“That at least gives us a heads-up. Change of plans, Frank. You and Callie check out this hidden passage. Your mother and I will follow Joe’s signal – hopefully we’ll end up meeting each other.”

“And when we do?” asked Frank.

“I’ll make a few calls – I’m sure once the Network knows that their best man has been captured they’ll send a rescue team out.” Fenton glanced down at his watch. “I think we should check in every half hour. Frank, it’s half past one – call me in thirty minutes.”

“Okay, Dad. Ready, Callie?”

Callie silently took Frank’s hand, giving him a small smile. Frank returned the smile – he knew that she was ready. He looked at Laura and gave her a reassuring smile before he went down the stairs.

Fenton marked the rock that triggered the opening. Then he and Laura left the tunnel and walked back to the SUV. Fenton drove while Laura held the cell, giving him directions on where to turn. Laura sent a silent prayer that Joe and Vanessa were still unharmed.

*****

“Kill the girl.”

The phrase kept running through Joe’s mind when Bruce and then Linda left the room. He had quickly assured Vanessa that that wasn’t going to happen. The Assassin was trying to frighten them – and succeeding, thought Joe. He wasn’t sure if it was a ploy to scare him or if Bruce was going to kill Vanessa. With the Assassins, one never knew!

Joe heard grunting and panting before it registered that it was coming from the Gray Man. He looked towards the Network agent and saw his body squirming around the floor. Was the older man having an epileptic fit? As Joe continued to watch Gray a slow smile crossed the young teen’s face. The Network agent was trying to wiggle out of the straitjacket! It took less than half an hour for the Gray Man to wriggle his way to freedom.

Arthur Gray stood up and flexed his arms, trying to get some of the circulation back. He then went to the other side of the room and knelt down in front of Joe.

“Turn around so I can unbuckle this thing.”

“That was cool! I don’t think even Houdini could have done it any better!” said Joe as he complied.

Gray chuckled softly. “Thanks, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Once he freed Joe, Gray went to Vanessa. Joe threw off his straitjacket and with Gray’s help, removed Vanessa’s. Joe helped Vanessa up then turned to the other man.

“I know we don’t always get along but…I’ll do whatever you say to get Vanessa out of this.”

“Just stick close to me.”

They walked over to the door and Gray started to tear away the padding. Joe and Vanessa did the same. They could see the metal of the door now.

“Um…excuse me…Vanessa.” Gray turned around; he rolled the top of his pants down pulling the thread off the seam. He then took out what looked to be a credit card. Adjusting his pants Gray turned back around holding up an old American Express credit card.

“Never leave home without it!” chuckled Gray. With practiced ease he pushed the credit card in and unbolted the door. Using his fingers to pry the door open, the Gray Man made sure the hallway was clear before signaling to Joe and Vanessa to follow.

As the threesome walked down the empty hallway, they could see faces peering from the door windows. It was the patients of Riverview hospital. Gray stopped when he came upon a locked, gated door.

“Joe, please tell me you have your lock picks with you.” The Gray Man glanced hopefully at the younger Hardy.

Joe checked his jeans pockets. “I did but they must have taken it.”

“Will this work?” Vanessa pulled out a bobby pin from her hair.

“I love this girl!” exclaimed Joe as he kissed Vanessa on the cheek. He then studied the lock before he bent the bobby pin into shape. Five minutes later, several minutes longer than Joe liked – the lock clicked open.

Once again the Gray Man led the way. They came upon the nurses’ station. There were three nurses inside an enclosed room – no one had seen the Gray Man, Joe or Vanessa. One nurse was sitting reading a romance novel, the second nurse had a small television on and was watching a soap opera, and the third nurse was on the phone...and from the animated look on her face she was not speaking with one of the doctors.

Joe noticed a storage closet a few feet away from the nurses’ station. He silently pointed it out to the Gray Man. Luckily the room was in the opposite direction of the nurses’ station. Joe, Vanessa and the Gray Man could easily sneak over towards the room – and they did.

Gray found several white coats; one had a doctor’s badge pinned to it. He gave Joe and Vanessa each one.

“I think you two could pass for medical students.”

Vanessa found a clipboard; she put in some scrap paper and gave the clipboard to the Gray Man. Going through another box, she found some notebooks, and took one for herself and one for Joe.

“I’m beginning to like this girl,” said Gray. “Are we ready?”

Joe and Vanessa nodded affirmatively. Gray exited the storage closet, walking purposely toward the nurses’ station. The nurse reading the romance novel barely glanced up when she heard Gray, Vanessa and Joe walk by. She buzzed them out and went back to her book.

Walking as if they belonged there, Joe, Vanessa and the Gray Man found an elevator. They got in, joining a group of medical students who were leaving for lunch.

A second after the elevator doors closed, another elevator came to a stop. Bruce walked out with two other men following him. The Assassin was ready to transport Joe and Arthur Gray out of the hospital. He was about to get a nasty surprise.

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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.