Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction - Presenting "Yesterdays' Dreams, Tomorrow's Memories" by CQB

Suddenly, sound exploded throughout the warehouse. All at the same time, the corrugated front door was smashed open, Frank Hardy toppled a stack of empty steel drums and Nicholas Garris fired his gun.

Joe Hardy saw Garris tighten his finger on the trigger and dove into Luke Martin, pulling him out of the line of fire. Garris turned instinctively toward the front of the warehouse and took aim at the approaching Network agents.

Frank took advantage of Garris’ distraction and quickly grabbed Joe’s arm, attempting to pull him and Luke to safety. Joe gasped as he staggered to his feet, his right hip burning. Luke pulled himself up and followed the Hardy brothers to the gapping hole Frank had entered through moments earlier.

The three teenagers crawled out of the building and sat down on the littered ground, listening to the muted gunfire inside.

* * *

2 weeks later:

"Garris was shot to death in the warehouse and the two Assassins that were sent to get Joe and Luke were caught by Network agents just outside of town," Mr. Hardy stated, filling in his wife, sister and Tigh Cassidy with the details of the case they had just closed.

"Those bodies found in the old house that was burned were just hired hands," Frank added, "They were supposed to cause enough damage that Mr. Cassidy would decide to sell the property, rather than develop it."

"That certainly backfired for them," Tigh Cassidy smiled, holding tightly to Gertrude Hardy’s hand, "My Trudy and I have big plans for that property and no amount of vandalism was going to change that!"

Laura and Fenton Hardy exchanged a pleased grin. They couldn’t be happier for the couple that sat together on the sofa.

"So it really was a coincidence that the two cases came together?" Laura Hardy asked her husband.

"Technically, yes," Fenton agreed, "The men sent to kill Luke’s parents recognized Joe’s name at the gas station. That’s what brought the two cases together. Their only contact in the area was Nicholas Garris, who was working on getting Tigh’s property for the Assassins."

"Speaking of Joe, did he go over to the Morton’s?" Laura asked, glancing at Frank, "He shouldn’t be driving after just getting out of the hospital."

"Yes, I think so," Frank replied, "But Vanessa was driving him. Besides, the bullet only grazed his hip and he’s had concussions before. He’s doing well, Mom."

* * *

Joe Hardy limped into the Morton’s living room, just behind Luke Martin. Vanessa waited by the door with Chet and his parents. Luke greeted the dark-haired girl in the wheelchair with a quick hug, but then stepped aside, letting Joe move in close.

The previous week had been emotionally tumultuous for the people that assembled together in the Morton farm house. Once recovered from their injuries, Joe and Luke told the Hardy’s of Joe’s speculations about Hope Martin. Mr. Hardy immediately asked for DNA tests to be run on the young girl. These were compared to DNA from the rest of the Morton family. The test results showed that Hope’s DNA matched the Morton family enough that, with the story Garris had told Joe in the warehouse and Luke’s account of Hope’s arrival in his life, those involved concluded that she was really Iola Marie Morton.

She was immediately moved to the Morton home, where Chester and Betty Morton embraced her. Upon her arrival, Iola’s eyes grew lively as she took in the farm and the familiar surroundings.

Now Joe knelt close by the wheelchair and he gazed into the dark eyes of his first love. He knew that Iola recognized him and he reached out and took her hand. There was so much he wanted to say to her…he wanted to tell her how sorry he was, yet no words would come. Joe began to sob softly. Iola reached her mangled hand and gently stroked Joe’s hair. They just held each other for several minutes.

Finally, Chet and Luke helped Joe to his feet and took him in the other room to compose himself.

Vanessa moved silently to where Joe had knelt. She looked up at Iola’s scarred face, and saw the warmest smile. Vanessa smiled back and knew that she and Iola would be friends.

Vanessa gently hugged Iola and whispered in her ear, "I’ll take good care of him, Iola." Iola smiled, her dark eyes sparkled and she wished she could say exactly what she was feeling inside.

"I know you will, Vanessa. You have helped him so much already. I can tell. You are good for Joe and I wish you both all the happiness in the world. As for me? I’m just glad to be home! I’m where I belong. I’m happy that Luke will be part of my real family. He deserves some happiness, too. Though our dreams for yesterday are shattered and gone, our tomorrows are waiting to be filled with wonderful memories."

THE END

Footnote: I never liked Iola’s untimely death in the Casefiles, but I really liked Vanessa. I wrote this story to pull Iola out of the ashes, but not eliminate Vanessa from Joe’s life. Hope you enjoyed it.

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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.

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