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

Frank Hardy stayed out of sight near his father. Mr. Hardy had already explained to Frank that there was no time to be cautious. They would have to act quickly as soon as opportunity allowed. Frank was usually one to hold back and wait for the right opportunity to act, but he knew his father was right. In this situation, with Joe’s life on the line, there was no time for waiting.

Frank peered around the rock they were using for cover and tried to get a glimpse of his brother. Frank was shocked as he saw Joe lying against a boulder near the mouth of the cave. Joe was wearing only his sweat pants and there was a bloody, gauze bandage wrapped around his shoulder. Frank shuttered as he remembered the blood on the bed at the motor lodge. Joe was obviously not fully aware of what was happening. Frank noticed that his brother had a difficult time staying awake and couldn’t stay focused on their mother.

‘Hang on little Brother,’ Frank silently admonished Joe, ‘We’ll get you home where you belong real soon.’

Fenton and Frank watched and waited for a chance to grab Joe and Laura. They listened as Laura told Joe about the kidnapping and Adam’s death. They watched helplessly as Whiteside kicked Joe’s shoulder. But when he pushed Laura away to the far side of the cave, the waiting was over.

As Fenton moved forward to grab Laura and pull her to safety, Frank dashed toward the mouth of the cave. He crouched silently in the shadow, his eyes never leaving Joe’s still form over Whiteside’s shoulder.

* * *

Hidden among the rocks on the opposite side of the cave, Sam Radley and Con Riley watched Fenton pull Laura away. Both men readied themselves to jump in as soon as Whiteside realized Laura was missing.

Meanwhile, Whiteside was tired of talking to the Police Chief. He turned away to have Laura bid her son goodbye. Andrew looked to where he had left the woman, but she was no longer lying there. "Are you crazy Laura? Are you going to run out on your son?" he called out, convinced that Laura had escaped on her own.

Furious, Whiteside was unsure about what to do. Finally he turned toward the edge of the cliff side. "I’m sorry Laura," Whiteside cried loudly, "but your stall tactic won’t work. You may not see Joey die, but you’ll still suffer the pain of his death!"

Whiteside moved to the edge and began tugging on Joe’s legs, allowing gravity to pull the boy from his shoulder and over the precipice.

At the same moment, three men leaped into action as if their synchronized moves had been rehearsed. Frank Hardy, having kept his eyes locked on Joe, jumped from the shadow of the cave and grabbed tightly to his brother’s wrists; Sam Radley dove like a tackle, right into Whiteside, wrapping his arms around the man’s legs; Con Riley, seeing that both Sam and Frank would be off balance after their maneuvers, drew his firearm and stood ready to bring Andrew Whiteside down.

Andrew Whiteside lay stunned on his back. He looked down at his legs, into Sam Radley’s smiling face. "Gotcha’ sucker!" Sam snarled at Whiteside. Con moved in and began reading the man his rights and cuffing him.

Frank lay on the ground with his brother in his arms. He knew he’d hurt Joe’s shoulder and wrists by pulling him off Whiteside’s shoulder, but it was a small sacrifice to save Joe’s life. "You’re okay now Joe," Frank whispered, "Red’s going to jail where he belongs."

Frank and Fenton carried Joe up the steep embankment, followed by Con and Andrew Whiteside. Sam came up last, escorting Laura Hardy.

When they reached the road, Collig informed them that he’d called an ambulance for Joe.

Con started to put Whiteside into the squad car when Laura approached them. "Wait a minute, Con!" she said, "I have something to say to Andrew."

She squared the shoulders of her 5’ 4" frame and faced the 6’ 4" man. "You are a despicable person," she said, emotional turmoil causing her voice to quiver. With out another word, she pulled her right arm back and punched Whiteside’s left jaw. The man’s head snapped back and he looked at her with a dazed expression.

"That’s assault!" Whiteside cried.

"Sorry buddy," Con Riley smiled and gave Mrs. Hardy a quick wink, "I didn’t see a thing. Anyone else see?"

The other police officers all shook their heads, snickering. Frank, sitting in Fenton’s car with Joe, grinned proudly at his mother. Fenton came up behind the petite woman and murmured in her ear, "Remind me to never get on your bad side, Love!"

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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.