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

–PAST...
"It’s obvious the kidnapper entered through the basement window." stated David Waters. A frantic Fenton Hardy had called the chief of police out of bed in the wee-hours of the morning. Now Waters, officer Ezra Collig and rookie Con Riley were searching the house and the grounds for the missing child.

The police chief walked into the house and felt his throat tighten as he saw Laura Hardy holding her 5-year-old son on her lap. Little Frank was dozing in his mother’s arms, but she kept him with her, rather than tucking the child back in bed.

"Chief," came the voice of Officer Collig, bringing Waters back to the job on hand, "We found this near the boy’s bed." Chief Waters took the linen handkerchief in his gloved hand and sniffed it.

"Chloroform," he stated, dropping the cloth into an evidence envelope. "To get chloroform, this was planned, not a random kidnapping."

Fenton Hardy was devastated. He had hoped his family would be safe in Bayport. He’d left the craziness of New York City with its killers and kidnappers for a quiet life in the suburbs. Now his 4-year-old baby was missing.

* * *

"Now you belong to me, Precious," the man spoke gently, stroking Joey Hardy’s blond curls as he lay on the back seat of a car, "and very soon, I’ll bring your mommy to join us."

Joey knew the man in the black ski mask was bad, no matter how nice his words sounded. He hated the man touching him, but the man had taped Joey’s wrists and ankles together. He had also put a piece of tape across Joey’s mouth. When the man reached to touch his hair again, Joey kicked at him as hard as he could.

"You’re a little spitfire, aren’t you Precious?" the man smiled. Then he pulled his hand back and slapped Joey’s cheek, instantly bruising the delicate skin. Joey didn’t want to cry. He wasn’t a baby anymore, but the slap hurt and the tears came. He cried until sleep overtook him.

~ ~ ~ PRESENT...

Frank Hardy was smiling as he neared his home on Elm Street. It had been a perfect summer morning for a run along the waterfront. He chuckled to himself as he thought of his brother, Joe. Frank had tried to rouse Joe to run with him, but only received a growl from the lump beneath Joe’s navy comforter.

"Your loss, Baby Brother," Frank said, coming to the driveway of his neighbor, Red Reed. Mr. Reed was in his double garage, pulling a tarp off of a vehicle of some kind.

"Could you use an extra pair of hands?" Frank called out.

Red turned toward the voice on the sidewalk and smiled. "Sure could, Frank. You’re up early today."

Frank went into the open garage and helped pull the tarp off of the car. "Wow! Wait ‘til Joe sees this!" Frank exclaimed, knowing Joe’s passion for old cars.

"Yeah, this is my baby," Mr. Reed stated, gently stroking the light blue exterior of his 1955 Ford Thunderbird.

"Say, why don’t you run and get Joe?" Red suggested, "We’ll take this baby out for a little spin around the neighborhood."

"Joe would love that!" Frank enthused, "Let me go check in at home." Mr. Reed smiled as he watched the youth jog across the lawn and disappear inside the Hardy home. Frank walked in the house and saw Joe, clad only in his Batman boxers and a wrinkled t-shirt, talking on the hall phone.

"So Mr. Reed is cleared?" Joe was asking. Frank knew Joe was talking to Sam Radley. Sam had been asked by their father to check into Red Reed’s background for any criminal activity.

"Joe, just because the man doesn’t show up negative in any of these files doesn’t mean he’s a saint," Sam said, noting Joe’s excitement. "Just use caution, okay kiddo?"

"Sure, Sam," Joe answered, "You should see all his training equipment. It’s an incredible set-up!"

Sam glanced at the picture of the man in the file he was holding. "He sure doesn’t look like he works out much by his picture!" Sam commented.

"Must be an old picture," Joe responded, just noticing Frank had come inside. "I gotta go Sam. Thanks!" Sam said goodbye and Joe hung up the telephone.

"Joe, hurry and get dressed." Frank admonished, "We’re going for a ride you won’t want to miss!"

"What’s going on?" Joe asked, perplexed.

"Look," Frank said, starting up the stairs to change his clothes, "If you don’t want to ride in Red’s ’55 T-bird, just stay in your underwear all day!"

"These are my pajam...what did you say? Frank! Wait!" Joe cried, dashing up the stairs behind his brother. Less than 10 minutes later, Joe was seated in the front passenger side of the white, leather interior of Red’s Thunderbird as it cruised the streets of Bayport. He almost lovingly stroked the chrome dashboard of the beautiful car.

Red watched Joe carefully, smiling at the boy’s obvious appreciation of the classic car.

"Want to drive her, Joe?" Red asked.

"A-are you s-serious?" Joe stammered.

Soon, Joe was behind the wheel with Frank in Joe’s vacated spot. Red reclined in the back seat.

"Okay Joe," Red grinned, "Let her rip!"

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.