Hardy Boys Fan Fiction at the Hardy Detective Agency Presents "In the Name of Love" by CQB

–PAST...
"There is no way Laura’s going alone!" Fenton Hardy adamantly declared.

"But if the kidnapper sees you or the police, you’ll be killing your son," Adam Whiteside argued. Fenton sighed. Adam was right. They had all listened to the cassette tape that Adam had delivered to Laura.

"We could stake out the area around the gas station," suggested Police Chief David Waters. "If anyone tried to contact Laura, we would be able to move in immediately."

"I think Adam’s right," Sam Radley stated. Sam was Fenton’s partner and a close friend of the family. He’d driven up to Bayport from New York City as soon as he’d learned of Joey’s kidnapping. "A bunch of police would be hard to miss in that area, no matter how hard they tried to hide. But, a couple of guys that the kidnapper didn’t recognize might do the job."

"Are you volunteering, Radley?" the Chief asked.

"Guess so," he answered with a grin, but became serious again, "I feel like my own family has been violated here. Little Frankie and Joey are like nephews to me. Let’s go catch this creep!"

"I could go with you," suggested Adam, gazing at Sam.

"You’ve been a great help to us, Adam," Fenton said, clapping the man on the back, "but I think this should be handled by pros. Sam can take a couple plainclothes police officers with him."

"You’re right, of course, Fenton," Adam agreed. "Looks like you’ve got it under control. I’m going to grab a nap back at the hotel, then I’ll come back and see how things are going later."

* * *

Adam made his way to the gas station ahead of Sam’s arrival. Had he been part of the stake out like he planned, he would simply ‘lead’ them to little Joey’s hiding place. He needed to be Laura’s hero. Then maybe she would love him like he loved her. But because of Fenton, he would have to come up with a new plan.

~ ~ ~ PRESENT...

Red Reed grinned with an evil glint in his eyes. He reached into the paper bag and pulled out a long, thin stiletto knife. Joe Hardy’s eyes grew wide as Red brought the blade close to his cheek.

"And now, my dear Laura," Red crooned, as the tape went silent, "Hear your baby cry again!" Red set the phone beside Joe’s head and in one motion, pulled the tape from Joe’s mouth and plunged the knife into his right shoulder at the same time.

As Joe’s scream of pain tore through the phone line, Laura Hardy slumped to the floor, tears spilling down her cheeks. Fenton had been listening on the extension and ran to his wife’s side, quickly scooping her into his arms.

"He can’t have Joe, Fenton," Laura said softly through her tears, "He’s dead."

* * *

"This kidnapping has to tie in with the time Joe was kidnapped when he was just 4 years old. The phone called proved that," Fenton Hardy stated to the men around the table, "The song was a lullaby that Laura used to sing to Joe when he was little. The child crying could easily be Joe at four, though it would be hard to prove."

Sam and Ethel Radley arrived at the Hardy home as soon as Fenton called them about Joe’s disappearance. Ethel had gone to find Laura and offer support, while Sam now sat at the kitchen table with Fenton, Frank and Ezra Collig.

"Here’s the folder on that Reed guy next door," Sam offered, handing the folder to the chief of police, "But this guy seems pretty straight forward. Don’t know how this can tie in with the phone call Laura got. Reed was honorably discharged from the Navy and has a good business record as a mechanic, he retired last year after his wife died of cancer."

"Why’d he come to Bayport?" Frank asked.

Sam shrugged, "Maybe just to start a new life."

Ezra Collig frowned as he looked through the file on Walter Reed. He pulled out a photo and his frown deepened. Could Reed possibly tie in to the kidnapping 13 years ago?

"Wait a minute," Frank suddenly asked, "Did you just say that Red was a mechanic?"

"Yeah," Sam replied, "Why?"

"Because Joe helped him with his car a couple weeks ago, and Red said he didn’t know much about car engines," Frank answered, feeling sick. Had Red been lying to them all along? "That’ makes him a prime suspect in Joe’s disappearance, doesn’t it?"

Chief Collig stood up, "Yes. I’m afraid ‘Mr. Reed’ is using a stolen identity. This," he pointed to the picture in his hand, "is not the man I spoke to next door."

Frank jumped up and stared at the picture of the real Walter Reed. He looked nothing like the man he knew as ‘Red’.

* * *

The pain filled his entire body. Joe Hardy gritted his teeth as Red moved off the bed, jarring the wounded youth. Joe could feel the warmth of his own blood soaking the sheet under his shoulder.

Just when Joe thought the pain couldn’t get any worse, a jolt of fire shot through his shoulder, bringing a fresh scream from his raw throat. He opened his eyes, and through his tears, saw Red pouring Isopropyl Alcohol on the open wound. Red then wrapped clean gauze around the knife wound.

"There," Red smiled at the boy, "That should feel much better now." Joe just stared at this man he thought he knew. ‘He’s crazy!’ Joe thought, ‘I’m stuck in a nightmare with a crazy man!’

Let the author know what you think of this story

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 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.