Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

Kent Savory had worked as a Colorado State Trooper for 35 years before retiring after he’d been hit by a nearly fatal bullet. Still, since his wife Edna had passed away two years ago, he kept his hand in the law enforcement business by flying helicopters for the local sheriffs and flying planes for fire-jumpers during the dry seasons.

He’d flown for Leroy Longtooth before and knew the Montezuma sheriff to be a hard-nosed, impersonal man, but a tough law enforcement agent. As he watched Longtooth and two of his deputies approach the ‘copter, Kent couldn’t help but wonder if this present assignment had anything to do with the dead park ranger that was found in Mesa Verde National Park.

He smiled to himself when Sheriff Longtooth gave him directions to Moccasin Mesa along the border of the Ute Indian Reservation on Soda Canyon’s eastern wall. Kent would be landing his bird a quarter mile east and about 112 feet above the Soda Canyon floor. In the canyon wall of Moccasin Mesa, perched the pueblo dwelling called Balcony House.

* * *

Deputy Mace Thayer faced the group of people still assembled in the main office of the sheriff’s department. He cleared his throat and drew the attention of Chris Bayer, David Kelhoyouma, Catherine Laeche, Phil Cohen and Chet Morton.

“The sheriff said I was to…wait a minute,” the deputy frowned, “where’s the Hardy kid?”

“Joe doesn’t handle being turned down very well,” Chris quickly replied. “He’s in the men’s room trying to calm himself down.”

Thayer looked at Chris with a raised eyebrow, appraising him. Deciding it must be the truth, the deputy continued. “You are all free to go home, except Mr. Kelhoyouma, of course.”

“Why is my brother being kept here like some criminal?” Catherine protested, moving to stand beside Dave.

“It’s alright, Cat,” Dave soothingly responded before Thayer could even open his mouth. “I told you, they found the knife that killed Mark in my kitchen. Even Longtooth believes it was planted there, but we have to wait for the crime lab reports before I can be charged or released.”

Catherine frowned but nodded in understanding. She faced Thayer. “When will you have those results?”

“Ah, sometime tomorrow, Ma’am,” he replied.

“We’ll be back to pick up David then,” Catherine stated as she gave her brother a quick hug and followed Chris and the two Bayport teens out the door.

* * *

It seemed like forever as the teenagers tried to keep their horses quiet and still keep up with the faster moving ATV through the western pines along Soda Canyon’s river.

Using their ears, more than their eyes in the dark valley, Frank Hardy, Biff Hooper and Luke Martin kept as close as they dared to the men they were pursuing.

“Hold up,” Frank called out in a whisper. He stopped his mount and cocked his head. The sound of the ATV had changed. It was more muted and off to the left.

“They’ve changed directions,” the older Hardy boy announced.

“Sounds like they’re heading east now, so I was wrong about Balcony House,” Luke stated quietly, staring further south along the valley to where the cliff-dwelling would be.

Since Bull Byron and his friend Matoka had taken off on the ATV with its noisy engine, the boys had given up the use of sign-language and just spoke in whispers to each other.

“Do you hear another noise?” Biff asked, gazing up the sheer rock face of the canyon wall.

“Kind of a steady thumping…yeah, I hear it, but I can’t place it,” Frank nodded.

“We’d better move before we lose the trail,” Luke suggested, turning his horse eastward.

Frank followed his friend’s lead and they were soon tailing Byron and Matoka again.

* * *

Joe Hardy was relieved to see Sheriff Longtooth and both his deputies stay toward the front of the helicopter. Deciding to take advantage of the situation, Joe crept across the ‘copter floor to where the climbing harnesses hung.

Each weight-bearing web harness was equipped with a hammer, belay & descent line, pitons, bolt anchors, rappel rings and carabineers of various sizes for climbing. Nearby in a net covered bin, Joe found climbing gloves. He grabbed the gear and carried it to his hiding place.

As they approached the mesa above Balcony House, Joe was fully equipped and ready for his descent into Soda Canyon.

When Kent Savory, settled the ‘copter down, Longtooth moved to the back and grabbed three harnesses and two 300 foot lengths of rope. Without so much as a glance at anything else in the rear of the helicopter, he joined Deputies Palemoon and Sagawi. In minutes, the trio of lawmen were geared up and ready to go. They exited the helicopter and started trekking toward Soda Canyon, to the west.

As soon as he saw the sheriff and his men leave the ‘copter, Joe hustled out of hiding. He grabbed another 300 foot coil of rope and slid the door open on the opposite side that Longtooth and the deputies had just gone through.

Joe knew from their trip out of the canyon with Chris and Dave, that the cave was in a smaller, side canyon, not Soda Canyon. He thought about telling the sheriff, but figured the man would just send him back to Durango in the helicopter.

Kent felt the pressure change inside his bird and he looked back into the dark interior. A lone figure was jumping from the ‘copter and moving northeast, not the westerly path the sheriff was taking.

The pilot frowned. He had no way of contacting the sheriff to ask about the fourth man. But it was strange that he’d never seen another man board the helicopter.

Kent shrugged and watched as the last man out of the ‘copter ran for cover near a rock crevice as the pilot lifted off.

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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.