Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

Four weeks later, Franklin and Esther Hardy sat on the porch swing of their little house, enjoying the sweet sights, smells and sounds of spring on a quiet Sunday afternoon. It was the first part of April and the temperature was unusually warm.

There was no trace of the snow that had covered the front lawn just a few weeks ago. The small pear trees in the yard were beginning to bloom. Three fat robins hopped about through the grass, looking for worms and grubs.

Both Franklin and Esther wore just light weight jackets, and Esther had a lap quilt tucked around her. On her head was a bright pink bandana; one of many brightly colored ones she’d recently bought.

“We’re a couple of tough old birds,” Esther said, smiling up at her husband. She had started Chemo-therapy to treat the cancer in her body, and was feeling surprisingly well.

Franklin smiled back. He’d undergone four hours of surgery to remove a bullet from his spleen, but was recovering faster than expected. He probably would have been back to work, at least a desk job, if he hadn’t decided to take a sabbatical from the police force for a year. He wanted to be with Esther during her treatments.

“We’ll just take one day at a time, my love,” Franklin declared. “And we’ll keep hoping for the best.”

“This is the time to do it,” Esther responded.

Franklin frowned, “To do what?”

“Hope,” she replied, smiling. “My mother used to say, ‘With spring, comes hope’. It’s a time of new life and rebirth.”

“True,” he agreed.

“I’m glad Monica got to see me before I lost my hair,” Esther laughed, referring to her beautiful brown-haired granddaughter.

“Hair or no hair, Monica would still have adored you,” Franklin corrected her.

Their time of quiet reflection was abruptly brought to an end as two vehicles pulled into the driveway.

From the station wagon, Fenton and his family emerged. Frank and Joe, his left arm still in a sling, walked on either side of their mother as she tightly held their hands. Gertrude followed close behind.

Franklin nodded. He understood Laura’s sudden over-protectiveness, but he couldn’t help but chuckle as the boys impatiently tugged on her arms to move faster.

Behind the station wagon, a silver rental parked. Owen exited the driver’s side and waved at the couple on the porch. Camille, holding Monica’s hand, was already making her way towards the porch, right behind Gert.

The Hardy family greeted each other and moved indoors. Franklin had barely shut the door when the doorbell sounded.

“Franklin,” greeted Ezra Collig from the porch.

“Come in, Sir,” Franklin said, ushering the man into the living room, where the family had assembled.

The Chief of Police removed his hat and said hello to the group. His eyes came to rest on the trio of children. Joe sat on Esther’s lap, while Monica and Frank snuggled on either side of their grandmother. He nodded as Joe gave him a warm smile.

“Mason Henson was finally apprehended,” Collig said, addressing all the adults, but looking at only Franklin. “He’d somehow gotten back into Canada, and it seemed he disappeared.

“Three days ago, he got in a fight with some other guy in a bar,” the chief continued. “The pub owner called the local P. D. and they arrested them both.

“It wasn’t until they booked him on a ‘disturbing the peace’ charge that they discovered who he was and that he’s a wanted man.”

“Thank goodness,” Gertrude spoke up.

Collig continued. “We also found Wilbur Mills body, or, ah, what was left of it; seems Conley tossed the poor, old guy off the cliff.”

Franklin and Fenton walked the chief out to his car when he was done talking. They thanked the man for bringing the news to them in person.

The two Hardy men were about to head back for the house, when an old Lumina pulled up to the curb. A tall, handsome teenager got out and waved to the men.

“Hey, Jackie-boy!” Franklin called out. “What brings you over?”

Jack Wayne shook hands with both Franklin and Fenton, and then Jack handed a shopping bag to the younger man.

“What’s this?” Fenton questioned.

“It’s for your little boy,” Jack said, feeling uncomfortable. He didn’t even know the family that well. Maybe he was being too presumptuous.

“It’s a new backpack,” Jack explained. “I, ah, couldn’t get the same one…like the one Scout found in the pines, but it is ‘Batman’ and…well…I hope he likes it.”

“Jack,” Fenton said, facing the young man, “this is…I can’t believe you’d do this for my son.”

Jack blushed, “I just felt bad for him. I mean, he went through a lot and he probably doesn’t care about that old backpack, but I just really wanted to do something for Joe.”

“Jack,” Fenton’s tone became serious. “I can’t give this to Joe.”

Jack’s face fell and he sighed, feeling foolish. He shouldn’t have come. It was a stupid idea.

Fenton reached out and put a hand on the teenager’s shoulder. “Jack, I want you to meet Joe and give it to him.”

Jack looked up and his face broke into a wide grin. Fenton and Franklin chuckled and led the young man into the house.

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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.