Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

Frank parked the van behind the Bronco, just outside the locked entrance gate of the national park. He’d turned off his headlights and stayed in the shadows of the western pines that lines the road as he and his two friends watched one man emerge from the old truck.

They watched Byron unlock it. Frank doubted that the man would leave it unlocked for him, but it didn’t matter. He felt his pocket to be sure his lock-pick kit was there.

As soon as the pick-up had disappeared from view, Frank had driven the van forward. Now he stood at the gate, working on the lock while Biff held the flashlight for him. Frank pulled it open and Luke drove forward.

“We’ve got to follow him, but we need to be as invisible as possible,” Frank instructed his friends. Biff Hooper and Luke Martin nodded in silent agreement.

Keeping the van’s lights off, they followed the truck to a stable near Morefield Village.

Luke pointed ahead and both Frank and Biff saw the two men saddling horses from the stables. Frank knew from the brochures Chris had given them that behind the stable was a trail that led into Soda Canyon.

“We’ll have to mount up, too,” Frank whispered. As soon as the two men had moved to the trail head, the three teens quickly borrowed saddles and got two horses ready to ride. Frank and Luke had both ridden many times on the Morton’s farm, where Luke now lived, but Biff had only a little experience with horses. He rode with Frank on a large black stallion, while Luke mounted a smaller, chestnut brown mare.

Soon, they were on the trail into the canyon, ten minutes behind the two men that had killed Stan Lomayaktewa.

* * *

“Sagawi, you and Deputy Palemoon both have climbing experience,” Sheriff Longtooth addressed the deputy. “You’ll come with me to find the cave below Balcony House.”

“I’m going,” Joe Hardy stated in a firm voice.

Longtooth peered at the youth and replied sarcastically, “You and your brother have already contributed far more to this investigation than necessary. You will stay here, even if I have to put you in a cell to keep you here!”

Undaunted, Joe countered, “You don’t know where the cave is, I do. Plus, I’m a certified climber. Frank and I have experience in both rock climbing and mountain climbing. You need me!”

The lawman moved to stand face to face with the Hardy boy. “I told you Hardy, I don’t need you or your brother or your daddy’s reputation to do my job!”

Chris, well aware of the impetuous youth’s quick temper, grabbed Joe’s arms before the teen had a chance to react.

“Fine!” Joe replied angrily, brushing Chris away and storming out of the office.

“Maybe you should go try to calm him,” Catherine suggested to Chris. Chris nodded and followed in Joe’s wake. Behind him, he heard Longtooth and his deputies preparing to leave.

Chris moved down the hallway looking for Joe. He caught sight of the men’s room door slowly closing. He went inside.

“Joe?” Chris called out.

The boy was staring at his reflection in the mirror. Chris took note of the tension in Joe’s shoulders and the frustration on his face.

“Joe, Longtooth really does know what he’s doing.”

Joe seemed to ignore him, but then faced Chris. “I’m going. There’s a strong chance that Frank is with Biff and probably, Luke, too. They’re not going to sit around and wait for the sheriff to show up.

“Frank and I are a team. I’m not about to let him face those murderous smugglers by himself.”

Chris shook his head. “How are you going to get there? Longtooth already told you ‘no’.”

“I’ll stow away in the helicopter,” Joe grinned.

* * *

Frank, Biff and Luke stayed well behind Bull Byron and the man they knew only as ‘Matoka’. Both groups moved steadily through the trees in Soda Canyon.

Using sign-language, the communication for non-hearing people which Frank, Joe and their friends had all learned, Luke told Frank and Biff that it looked as if they were heading south, toward Balcony House.

Frank frowned. Balcony House was quite far away yet. If that was the destination, it might give the sheriff and his men a chance to get there

They traveled another quarter mile when Frank put up his hand to signal Luke to stop. He signed to his friends that he’d heard voices.

Luke and Biff stayed with the horses while Frank moved stealthily toward the voices. He moved as close as possible and peered through the trees.

He frowned as he watched them push a four-wheeled ATV onto the path. Frank hustled off to his friends.

“We’re going to have to hurry in order to keep up with them,” Frank said, explaining about the ATV. They passed the two borrowed horses the men left behind, and moved their mounts as hurriedly as possible, following the sound of the ATV’s motor.

* * *

Joe Hardy climbed out the restroom’s window and moved along the building in the darkness. He glanced at his watch. It was almost 2 in the morning.

He glanced up and saw the lights of the approaching helicopter. The air stirred by the ‘copter’s blades whipped at Joe’s t-shirt and jeans. It was a large military-style helicopter that could carry up to ten people.

Joe could see through the windshield that there was only one pilot. Taking a deep breath, the youth moved silently around the helicopter. Glancing toward the building and not seeing Longtooth or his deputies, Joe moved up beside the ‘copter, keeping his head low. He looked intently at the pilot, but noted that the man was busy checking his equipment.

With determination, Joe climbed into the helicopter’s open side door and quickly moved into a dark crevice near the back of the ‘copter. Before settling in, Joe smiled as he noticed ten climbing harnesses hanging from the helicopter’s wall.

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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.