Hardy Boys Fan Fiction at the Hardy Detective Agency

"Wow, Joe looks almost as bad as Frank did yesterday!" Phil Cohen commented to Vanessa Bender and Callie Shaw as they sat at the lunch table at school.

"Joe!" Vanessa called, waving her hand to get her boyfriend’s attention. Joe looked toward them and walked right over.

"Where’s your lunch, Bud?" Phil asked as Joe sat down.

"Ah...I ate at home," Joe said, not wanting to lie; ‘Well, the last time I ate was at home,’ he justified to himself. "I just got here."

"Obviously," Vanessa commented, "You weren’t in Lit this morning."

"I...ah...had to help Mom at home." Joe winced inwardly. There was no justifying that lie. Vanessa looked into Joe’s sapphire eyes, knowing that he was not being completely honest with them.

"Joe, you are far too transparent to those of us that care about you." Phil stated, also sure that Joe was covering something. "If something’s going on that you don’t want us to know about, that’s fine. Just say so." Joe sighed and looked at them all. He wanted so badly to tell somebody what was going on right now.

"Yeah, something’s going on," Joe said, feeling his eyes fill with tears, "and I really need to talk to somebody about it, but not here; not now."

"Does it have to do with Frank?" Callie asked, deeply concerned about her boyfriend.

"Yes," Joe answered. "I feel like I’m trapped in a nightmare, and I don’t have Frank to help me wake up."

* * *

"Mom, really, I’m fine," Frank Hardy said, tired of being fussed over, "I feel like my old self."

"Just the same," Laura Hardy stated firmly, "you will stay in bed, just like the doctor ordered. We still don’t know what is causing you to be so tired. Those fainting spells have me very concerned." She sat down the tray of soup, crackers and a glass of grapefruit juice for Frank’s lunch. Frank sighed and hoped that when Joe came home, he would rescue him from this boredom.

"Will you be alright by yourself for a bit?" Mrs. Hardy asked, walking to the door of the bedroom, "I’ve got to run to the bank, pick up your father’s dry cleaning, then pick up my car from the garage."

"I’ll be fine," Frank assured her.

"If your Aunt Gertrude gets here before I do, tell her I’ll be home shortly." She added. Gertrude Hardy was Fenton’s unmarried, older sister. She lived with her brother’s family most of the time, but often traveled to visit other relatives. She was returning from a trip out west to visit a cousin in Texas.

After his mother left, Frank ate his lunch, then took the glass of juice and sat at his desk, turning on his computer. He went on-line and checked his e-mail. He had received an e-mail from his friend Nancy Drew, and decided to write back to her. He polished off the last of his juice and began pecking at the keyboard in front of him.

* * *

"This was such a nice surprise, Stephen," Gertrude Hardy smiled as she unlocked the front door of the Hardy home. She was a tall, angular woman with dark hair, graying around her face. She had the same dark, brown eyes as Fenton and Frank.

"It was my pleasure," replied a tall man with bright blue eyes and thick, white hair, "I certainly didn’t want you having to take a cab home. When I called Laura this morning to see when you would be arriving, she mentioned that her car was in the shop for repairs and that Fenton had been called out of town and wouldn’t return until later this evening. So, I thought I would take it upon myself to escort you home." Gertrude blushed at the handsome man. They had only known each other for about two months, but she couldn’t be happier about the developing relationship.

Stephen Ambrose was a retired businessman from New York City. He moved to Bayport three months ago, and met Gertrude Hardy at the library.

They had struck up a conversation, finding that they enjoyed the same books and music. Mr. Ambrose had invited Gertrude for coffee, and she had accepted. Since then, they had been on several dinner dates.

The rest of the Hardy family had immediately taken a liking to the genial man and smiled approvingly at the sparkle that was now present in Gertrude Hardy’s dark eyes.

* * *

Joe Hardy met Phil Cohen, Callie Shaw and Vanessa Bender at his van right after school. He had debated all afternoon about whether to tell them about the letter and the cell phone, or not.

"What’s going on Joe?" Callie asked, watching him carefully, "You are worried about something. It’s written all over your face."

"Is Frank really ill? I thought it was just the flu or something," said Phil.

"We just want to help, Joe," Vanessa added, taking Joe’s hand in her own.

"Frank has more than the flu." Joe stated nervously, "I think he’s been poisoned."

Let the author know what you think of this story

Started: June 4, 2003

Home Library Authors Rogue's Gallery Vehicles Chums Message Board Rap Sheet Links Contact

Disclaimer

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The authors 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.