Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

“I’ve brought along fixings to make a banana cream pie,” Esther announced, “but first I need some little boy hugs. Do you have any idea where I might get some, Laura?”

The petite blond woman chuckled softly, “You’ll find two great little ‘huggers’ in the family room!” Esther quickly slipped out of the kitchen in search of her grandsons.

Laura watched her go, but then turned to Gertrude. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“Am I that transparent, Laura?” Gertrude asked, carefully slicing the bananas.

“I guess I’ve been married to a detective long enough that I’m starting to act like one,” Laura smiled slightly.

Gertrude sighed, “You remember Mom complaining about her chronic heartburn? Dr. Bates is concerned and wants to run some tests. He’s made an appointment for Mom at the hospital in the morning.”

“What does he expect to find?” Laura asked, her face pale.

“He really didn’t say,” Gertrude answered. “I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”

Esther found Frank and Joe watching cartoons on TV. She smiled as she took in their sweet innocence. God, she loved these children!

“Well now,” she spoke just loud enough for the boys to hear, “seems my grandsons would rather watch the television than hug their Nana!”

Frank and Joe turned at the sound of their grandmother’s voice. In seconds, Esther had two small children clinging to her waist.

She moved toward the sofa where the three of them nestled close and finished watching the cartoon program together, her pie making forgotten. Esther kept an arm around each of them, and just enjoyed their closeness.

* * *

Franklin Hardy paced the floor of the motel room. He wished Fenton would hurry and get back. He needed to talk with his son.

His trip to the police station had been fruitful. The talkative desk sergeant had been more than willing to talk about local crime, including a smuggler named David Conley.

Franklin looked up as the door opened. He smiled at his handsome son. “Did you get a car?”

“Yes,” Fenton answered, “it’s a bit of a heap, but that will only help it blend in better.

“I also drove by Conley’s house; Camille told me where it was,” Fenton continued, hanging his coat in the closet. “It’s a monstrous place farther up the coast of the lake in a small town called Blackdog Point.”

“Great, Son,” Franklin congratulated him.

“I gathered some information myself,” the older man continued. “Seems Conley runs a business in Blackdog, also. The officer I spoke with at the station told me that the police there suspect it’s a front for him. They’re quite sure he uses the printing company to cover up his drug smuggling operation.”

“That seems to fit,” Fenton said, nodding.

“We’ll need to keep an eye on both places,” Franklin suggested, “and I think I have a plan how to do it.”

* * *

“Any idea who they are?” David Conley asked Mason Henson, a tall red-haired man, as he peered at a handful of photos.

“Not really,” Henson replied, “but Hardy seemed to know them. He let them right in the apartment.”

“How’d they arrive?” Conley questioned.

“Cabbie,” Henson answered. “They left the same way.”

“Fine work, Mason,” Conley gave the man a smile, but it carried no warmth. “Keep it up. Just tail Owen Hardy and let me know if these two men show up again.” He dismissed the hired man and Mason left.

* * *

Over dinner, Esther Hardy chatted endlessly about her visit with the doctor, the program she’d just watched with the boys and what she supposed her husband and son were doing in Canada to help Owen.

Laura watched her mother-in-law carefully. She felt that the talkativeness was covering Esther’s fears. ‘If I’m as worried as I am, she must be terrified!’ Laura thought.

Gertrude served the banana cream pie she’d made from the ingredients her mother had picked up at the market earlier.

“You did a great job, Gertie,” Esther smiled at her daughter after she tasted the pie. “Thank you for making it while I visited with the boys.”

“You’re very welcome,” Gertrude replied. “I learned from the best.”

* * *

“Stewart!” Conley called out as soon as Henson was gone. Sydney Stewart came immediately to his employer’s office.

“Sir?”

Conley handed the photos to Stewart. “Find out who these two men are as quickly as possible. I suspect they may be members of Owen’s family, but I want to know for sure.”

“They’re in polo shirts and jeans,” Sydney Stewart commented, and then looked up at his boss. “Sure don’t look like cops or Feds.”

“I certainly hope not,” David Conley replied, “or Owen will be responsible for his daughter’s death.”

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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.