and Hardy Boys Rendezvous Presents:
hardy boys fan fiction
CONTRACT FOR A DEAD MAN
3rd Place - McFarlane Location Contest
- 2004
hardy boys nancy drew fan fiction
by
CQB
Chapter
5
hardy boys fan fiction
THE CHAPTERS
Poole knocked, and when no answer came from within, he glanced quickly around, and then withdrew a lock pick kit from his breast pocket. In seconds, he had the door opened.
He quickly searched the building. He found no one, but came across two sleeping bags on the upper level. He also found two backpacks, each loaded with food and basic camping gear.
"Well, well, Mr. Walsh," Poole grinned as he settled down comfortably behind an old desk, helping himself to an apple in one of the packs, "when you and your guest return, I’ll be waiting for you."
* * *
Frank had silently moved back to where his three friends were waiting, a few feet away. He briefed them on the situation.
"So, what’s the plan, Boss?" Biff Hooper asked expectantly.
"Doesn’t look like Mike brought a lot of supplies with him. I’m betting that he’ll head back to the mill for our food or to the river to fish," Frank replied, having noticed the stolen fishing pole nearby. "Biff, you and I will be waiting for him near the tunnel entrance. If he heads for either place, we’ll see him."
"Then Tony and I can free Joe," Phil added, guessing Frank’s plan.
"Right," Frank smiled. "In the meantime, I think Joe’s safe. This guy doesn’t seem dangerous. He acts more like someone who is scared."
"It’ll be noon soon," the older Hardy brother stated, glancing at his watch. "Let’s get into position and hope he’s hungry."
A few yards, away deeper in the cave, Joe kept trying to get Mike to open up and tell his story. Meanwhile, Joe was slowly rubbing his wrists against the rock behind him. He could feel the twine beginning to unravel.
"You hungry, Joe?" Mike asked, avoiding Joe’s further questions. "I don’t have the conveniences and comforts of home, but I’ve got some food stashed in a tree by the river. I’ll go grab us some grub."
Mike started to leave, but then turned back to look at Joe. "Joe, I really hope you won’t try anything stupid," Mike warned. "I’d hate to have to hurt you just to keep you here."
Mike left and Joe began fervently rubbing the twine against the rock behind him. Hearing a noise, Joe froze, thinking Mike was returning. The younger Hardy stared in shocked silence as Phil Cohen and Tony Prito rushed into the cave room.
Figuring that Frank had called their friends when he failed to return after chasing the burglar ghost from the mill, the blond teen smiled at the approaching youths.
Tony pulled a pocket knife from his jeans and quickly finished cutting through the twine that barely held Joe’s wrists. He winced as he noticed how raw the skin was on Joe’s arms where the twine had twisted repeatedly.
"Boy am I glad to see you guys," Joe whispered, rubbing his sore wrists as Phil cut the twine from Joe’s ankles.
"Frank called us this morning," Phil said quietly.
"Biff found your belt and that led us here," Tony added. "Biff and Frank are going to jump your friend, Mike."
Joe frowned. "I hope they don’t hurt him. I think he’s in some kind of trouble and I’d like to help him."
Tony chuckled, "Only Joe Hardy would want to help out a guy who has kept him tied up in a cave overnight!"
Tony and Phil took hold of Joe’s arms as the teenager stood up. Joe was grateful for the support as a wave of nausea and dizziness washed over him.
"Whoa, Joe," Phil admonished, "Take it slow. Looks like you’ve got a nasty bump on the head there."
"Compliments of Mike, I’m sure," added Tony sarcastically.
As if on cue, Mike dashed into the cave room and stopped, staring at Joe and the two other boys. Frank and Biff closed in behind the man, sealing off the only exit.
"No!" Mike wailed, "I won’t let you take me! It’ll be suicide! I can’t go!" The boys stood still as the man ranted. He was acting like a caged animal.
Suddenly, Mike ran up and fell at Joe’s feet, grabbing the boy’s ankles. "Please! Joe, tell them! I can’t go! Tell them that I didn’t mean to hurt you!"
Joe looked down at Mike, who was now sobbing on the ground. He looked at Frank questioningly. Frank nodded. It would be Joe’s call.
Joe knelt beside the trembling form on the ground. "Mike, I think you need to talk to us. I think we need to know what you’re so afraid of, and we need you to tell us now."
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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.