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

PAST...
Laura Hardy was shocked to see Adam Whiteside sitting with her husband at the kitchen table.

"Laura," Fenton Hardy said softly, rising to meet his pretty, petite wife. He led her to a chair and brought her a cup of coffee.

"Where’s Frankie?" Laura asked, glancing around for a glimpse of her young son.

"He’s fine, Love," Fenton gently responded, "He and Gert were watching TV and Frank fell asleep on her lap." The news brought a slight smile to the young woman’s face. She then gazed at their guest.

"Adam," she said, "I really didn’t expect to see you again. I’m sure Fenton has told you..." A sob crept up her throat and Laura couldn’t continue.

"It’s alright, Love," Fenton soothed, "I’ve explained everything. Adam has offered to stay and help find Joey."

"I couldn’t just return to my content life on the west coast, knowing your baby is missing," Adam offered, "I keep picturing you walking out of the park with those precious boys."

* * *

Several miles away, in a dark cave, Joey Hardy’s sobs were echoing off the damp walls. The tape that had been over his mouth had worked off, partly from the child’s tears, and partly from his struggling. Joey just wanted to go home. He’d tried calling for his parents and brother, but no one came.

His small body was bruised, scratched and bitten; the dirt from the earthen floor covered him, some dirt having been ground into the open wounds, causing infection to begin. His body was also reacting to the multiple spider bites, the toxin poisoning his bloodstream.

The 4-year-old trembled with chills and fever, bringing new, additional bites from the angry, ever-present spiders. In the utter darkness, the child screamed until his voice was almost gone.

~ ~ ~ PRESENT...

Frank knocked on Red’s back door and was surprised to see the man in a bathrobe with his hair all wet.

"Just got out of the shower, Frank," Red stated with a grin, "What can I do for you?"

Alarms were going off in Frank’s head as he looked at his neighbor, "I came to get Joe. Mom wants him home to eat." Even as he said the words, Frank knew his brother wasn’t at Red’s house.

"Frank," Red said, his face taking on a perplexed look, "Joe left here almost an hour ago. He decided to pass on the T-bird ride because it was later than we thought. He wanted to get showered and cleaned up before you got home."

"Did you see Joe go to our house?" Frank asked, fear building in the pit of his stomach.

"No," Red shook his head, "I probably should have, but Joe’s a big boy. I really didn’t think about making sure he got home safely."

"I’d better go and let my parents know what’s going on," Frank called to Red as he started running towards his house.

"Let me know if I can be of any help!" Red called after the boy, "I sure hope Joe’s alright!"

* * *

Joe Hardy felt sick. He opened his eyes and tried to focus. ‘Where am I?’ he thought. He glanced around the room. It looked like a motel room. Joe tried to move but discovered that his wrists and ankles were secured to the four bedposts and a heavy piece of duct tape was covering his mouth. His shirt had been removed as well as his socks and shoes. He twisted his wrists, testing the tightness of the tape, and grimaced. It was way too tight to wiggle out of for sure.

Joe tried to remember how he had gotten into this predicament. The last thing he could remember, was working out in Red’s basement and...

‘Oh no,’ Joe thought, the nausea returning as he recalled the tainted Gatorade, ‘Red put something in my drink, but why? I really thought he was our friend!’

The door to the motel room opened and a figure walked inside. The man locked the door and went into the bathroom carrying a glass of water. When he came out, he came straight to the edge of the bed that held Joe.

"I’m going to take the tape off of your mouth," Red stated, his voice not carrying any of the friendliness Joe was used to hearing, "Joe, if you scream or yell, you’ll just be wasting your breath. Will you behave yourself?" Joe nodded his head affirmatively.

Red carefully removed the tape from the boy’s mouth, and then picked up the glass of water, offering Joe the straw. Joe took a few swallows of the drink, then stared at his captor.

"What is this all about?" Joe asked, anger creeping into his voice, "I thought you were my friend. I trusted you! Why did you kidnap me?"

Red sighed. "Payback," he said, "Someone I loved very much is dead and the responsible party must pay."

"I’m sorry you lost someone dear to you," Joe said, thinking about his childhood girlfriend, Iola Morton, "I know how that feels. But what does that have to do with me?"

"I’ve had to wait and plan this for a long time," Red continued, as though he hadn’t even heard Joe, "But when she watches you die, it will be worth it all."

Red put a fresh piece of tape over Joe’s mouth, checked the bindings on his wrists, then went out the door, leaving Joe in total bewilderment.

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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.