Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

“Let’s hurry,” Chris Bayer announced as he ushered Catherine and the boys down the hall and out the door of the building that housed the sheriff’s office.

“Wait, Honey,” Catherine cried out, “we need to get Joe.”

“He’s not here,” Chris said in way of a reply. He got behind the wheel of Catherine’s Envoy.

Chet Morton grinned as he climbed in the back with Phil Cohen. “I bet he went with the sheriff!”

Catherine glanced at Chet, but then turned to face Chris. “Is that true?”

“Yes,” Chris sighed. “He’s a stubborn kid, Cath. I don’t like it any more than you do, but what could I do to stop him?”

“So, Joe got on board the helicopter somehow,” Phil surmised. “I’d calculate at this point that you’re not planning to head home, are you?”

“We’re going to Balcony House,” Chris answered. “If we descend into the canyon by the steps, we’ll make good time in getting to the cave where Joe and I were held prisoner.”

“But the park is closed up. It’s almost 3 in the morning,” Catherine responded.

Chris steered the SUV down the back streets of the town, heading toward Mesa Verde. “We’re going in the back way. I’ve still got my keys since Bull never searched me when he put me in the cave.”

* * *

“No engine sound,” Biff Hooper whispered to Frank. The older Hardy boy nodded silently.

“We need to go by foot from here,” Frank said quietly, motioning for Luke Martin to stop, also.

The trio of teenagers soon had their horses secured to a sapling among the pines, and proceeded ahead, walking cautiously.

Wanting to remain as silent as possible, Frank went back to communicating in sign-language. ‘This canyon is an off-shoot of Soda Canyon,’ he signed. ‘The walls are higher and steeper here.’

Frank soon faced his friends and placed his index finger against his lips, indicating the need for absolute silence. Biff and Luke nodded, as they too, heard voices not far ahead. Staying in the shadows, they eavesdropped on the conversation.

“Don’t you want to check on Bayer and the kid first?” Byron’s voice asked.

“You said they were secure,” Matoka responded. “Why do we need to check them?”

Bull Byron shrugged. “I guess we really don’t. Let’s get this done.”

Frank took a risky peek around the slightly curving canyon wall and saw the two men carry bundles of dynamite to the mouth of a small cave. Frank glanced upward and, while it was too dark to see anything clearly, he guessed that the structure of Balcony House could be compromised by an explosion this close.

He turned to Biff and Luke, quickly signing, ‘We have no choice. We need to stop them right away.’

‘Agree,’ Biff signed. ‘No time to wait for police.’ Luke, watching them sign, nodded in agreement.

‘Let’s get closer, but stay in the shadows,’ Frank silently said with his hands. The three teens crossed over the small stream and pushed themselves flush against the canyon wall, staying in the darkness of the deep shadows.

As they inched closer to Byron and Matoka, Frank thought he heard a soft thump somewhere above them on the canyon wall. He peered into the darkness, but saw nothing. Dismissing the sound, he focused on the two men. He signaled to Biff and Luke.

“Now!” Frank shouted and dashed forward with Biff and Luke on his heels.

* * *

As soon as the ‘copter took off, Joe tethered his rope and a safety line to a bolt anchor and rappel ring. He didn’t have boots to wear and hoped his sneakers would give him enough traction.

As Joe eased over the edge, he could barely make out the form of the sheriff and deputies walking away in the distance. Joe began his descent, praying silently that he could get close to the cave before giving away his presence. He knew the canyon wall near Balcony House was 112 feet tall, and he knew that this wall was probably a little higher.

A natural athlete with a strong upper body, Joe rappelled down the canyon wall with ease. He’d gotten about half-way down, when his foot slipped and he crashed into the rock face with an audible thud.

Joe froze, willing himself to blend into the shadows. He didn’t dare move or cry out, no matter how much his shoulder was hurting from the impact. He waited silently.

When it seemed that he was still safely invisible to anyone below, Joe started down again, a bit slower this time.

He was close enough to hear the muted whispers of the two men working near the cave, when Joe heard his brother’s voice cry out. He hurried to get closer to the action.

Joe eased himself to a stop about 20 feet above the cave entrance. He knew that the two men planting explosives would see him if they looked up, but they were both focused on Frank, Biff and Luke.

Joe caught the attention of his brother and friends but motioned for them not to give his location away.

Frank suppressed a smile, but his heart leaped for joy at the sight of his younger brother. Joe was not in the cave and very much alive – that meant that there was a good chance Chris wasn’t in the cave either.

He felt Luke and Biff tense up for the fight they faced, but Frank felt confident as he took a step forward. They held all the cards – they out numbered the bad guys, the sheriff was on the way and they had Joe, their ace in the hole.

“Give it up,” Frank ordered. “You’re out numbered.”

Bull Byron and Matoka Hrappowi turned to face the trio of youths head-on. Neither appeared to be carrying a gun, for which Frank was grateful.

“You brats think you can take me?” Byron growled, flexing his muscular arms and stepping forward. “I can take down all three of you without even working up a sweat!”

Joe knew he had to move before Byron was out of his range. With a grunt, he shoved off the canyon wall and aimed his feet at Byron’s bald head.

The head of I-Corp fell hard as Joe released his grip on the rope and crashed on top of the man. Byron never knew what hit him as unconsciousness claimed him.

Meanwhile, Frank, Biff and Luke surrounded Hrappowi and the older man, raised his hands in defeat. But as he approached the man, Frank realized too late that he’d underestimated the old man’s speed.

Before he could get out of reach, Hrappowi had grabbed Frank’s wrist and twisted his arm painfully behind his back. Frank tried to break away but stopped cold when he felt the knife blade press into the skin of his neck.

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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.