Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

"Hey," Frank said, winded from the sprint through the stable, "I see you found my long, lost brother." Frank pasted on a fake smile and extended his hand toward the man.

"Who are you?" the angry young man asked, ignoring Frank’s hand.

"Frank Fredricks," the older Hardy brother stated, "and that’s my brother Joe you’ve got scared half to death."

Ryan eased up on Joe and stepped back, gazing at both the boys. "You’re the new kids my daddy hired," Ryan said, thinking out loud.

"Why would your watch be in here?" Ryan asked, directing the question at Joe. Frank quickly stepped between Ryan and his brother. He quickly signed to Joe what Ryan had asked.

"I-I lost m-my watch w-when I was cleaning the stalls t-today," Joe answered, talking and signing at the same time.

"How come he could hear me when I talked to him before?" Ryan asked suspiciously.

"He can read lips," Frank replied, never taking his eyes off of his brother. To Joe he signed, "Did you find your watch yet?"

"N-no," Joe said, glancing past his brother at Ryan.

"I’ll help you look," Frank signed, then eased Joe down to the straw, both of them feeling around the scratchy straw. In just a few seconds, Frank held up the ‘missing’ watch.

The two Hardys brushed the straw from their clothes, and Frank handed Joe his watch. Frank turned to face Ryan Wagner, who stood silently watching them.

"The band is broken," Frank explained, "I should have had it fixed for him."

"Tell him that this stall is off limits. Mc Intyre shoulda’ told him that!" Ryan snapped, "Now get outta’ here and go home."

"Yes, Sir," Frank replied, pulling Joe toward the aisle. Joe stopped and turned to face Ryan.

"I’m s-sorry," Joe said simply, "I-I just wanted m-my watch."

* * *

Sheriff Marcus Williams couldn’t believe his eyes. He was sitting at a corner booth in ‘Becky’s Diner’, enjoying a supper of ham and eggs, when he saw Colt Tanner eating with his sister and nieces.

Williams watched the group and contemplated why Tanner suddenly had the urge to visit his sister. He knew it had something to do with Collin Anderson and that terrified him.

The sheriff paid his tab and headed out the door. He went straight to his office and made a brief phone call.

"Colt Tanner’s in town," the sheriff stated, "we’ve got to do something."

* * *

Deputy Ronnie Benson had returned from his patrol and was anxious to get to the Fredricks place. ‘Maybe I can still get out to the Hiller Ranch after I talk with Fredricks.’

He changed out of his uniform into his street clothes. Ronnie checked out at the main desk, surprised that no one was around. He then passed Sheriff Williams’ office on his way out.

Ronnie stopped dead in his tracks as he heard the sheriff’s voice. Williams was telling someone about Tanner being in town. A finger of fear ran up the young deputy’s spine. He knew at that moment, without a doubt, Sheriff Williams was involved in whatever the conspiracy was in Silverthorne. Ronnie quickly hurried out the front door of the Sheriff Station and climbed into his issued SUV.

* * *

Frank Hardy ushered his younger brother through the Wagner’s stable, putting his arm around Joe’s trembling shoulder. Caring more about his brother’s well-being than their cover, Frank whispered in Joe’s ear, "It’s okay, little brother. Time to calm down. Dad’s right outside with the jeep." Joe acknowledged Frank with a barely discernable nod of the head.

Meanwhile, Fenton Hardy was growing more worried as the minutes ticked by and there was no sign of Frank or Joe. ‘Where in the world could they be?’ he wondered, a knot of fear building in his gut. His instincts were telling him that the boys were in trouble.

Not hesitating another moment, Fenton started for the stable door that Frank had entered earlier. Before he’d moved three feet, the boys emerged from the stable.

Fenton immediately noticed Joe’s pale face and Frank’s protective posture. Something pretty bad had to have happened in that stable to have Joe so visibly shaken.

Fenton jogged to Joe’s opposite side, and the two of them helped Joe into the back seat of the jeep. Rather than abandon his brother, Frank climbed in beside Joe, keeping a reassuring arm around the younger boy’s shoulder.

"Just go, Dad," Frank ordered, "We’ll explain what happened. Joe will be fine in a minute or two."

As the Hardys drove off down the road, three pairs of eyes followed the red taillights of the Jeep Cherokee. Two of the men wore deep frowns as they watched the departure. The third man bore the hint of a smile on his lips.

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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.