Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

As soon as Laura had gotten hold of him, Fenton Hardy had turned his current embezzlement case over to his partner and friend, Sam Radley. Fenton had caught the first flight home from El Paso, Texas.

By the time he’d reached the house Saturday morning, Frank was waiting for him and the two Hardy men met in the detective’s office.

“Tell me everything,” Fenton demanded, worry for his youngest son kept his adrenaline pumping, and he wasn’t even aware that he’d not slept in over 18 hours. Frank began giving his father a verbal sketch of what had transpired during the night.

He explained what Vanessa had seen, the dart they found and that the police found their van abandoned on Mill Road .

“This morning, Con called to say they’d had the Crime Scene people go over our van. The FBI Missing Persons Bureau will issue an APB as soon as we hit the official ’24-hour-period’. Joe’s wallet and cell phone were in the van. They found the coat and t-shirt Joe had been wearing yesterday in the back. There was an empty, plastic dress shirt package and a receipt for the purchase of the shirt and a tie in the back. They weren’t mine and there’s no way Joe would spend his money on dress clothes.”

“What about the dart?” Fenton asked.

“The blood on the end is Joe’s. It contained a tranquilizer called ‘Metabast’. It’s a drug produced in Great Britain and its not available here in the U.S.A. ”

“One thing is for sure,” Fenton surmised after weighing all the information Frank had given him, “Wherever Joe is, he’s alive. But why did they change his clothes?” Frank shrugged.

“Dad?” Frank looked up suddenly, “I almost forgot. By the Bender’s, near the bush where we found the dart, we also found a matchbook.”

“What was on the cover of the matches?” Fenton responded.

“Weisman Funeral Home,” Frank replied.

“Well, at least that’s something to go on along with checking out the drug.”

“Dad…” Frank began, his voice betraying his concern for Joe’s well-being. “I think we need to question Jill Shaw.”

* * *

Several weeks earlier, December 4th…

“I don’t believe it!” Laura Hardy gasped as she opened the front door of their century-old home.

At the door stood a handsome man of about 60 years of age, his face lined in a distinguished way. His deep blue eyes and white hair only enhanced his masculine features.

“Laura dear, you are far too beautiful to be standing at the door with your mouth gaping like a New England Cod!” the man chuckled.

“I…I’m in shock, I guess!” the petite woman replied, moving aside to let her visitor in the door.

“I know,” the guest responded, “It’s been too long since I’ve touched base with anyone in the family. At least 16 years.”

“Daddy and Mom’s funeral,” Laura said softly. Her parents had died in a car accident when Frank was two and Joe just a year old.

“Guess I was always the ‘blacksheep’ even before then,” the man smiled. “I was always a bit of a rebel compared to my brothers; especially my twin brother Joe.”

“Uncle Robert, you do remember that my youngest is named after Daddy?” Laura asked.

“I remember,” Robert Daniels replied. “Your older boy is named after Fenton’s father, isn’t he?”

“Yes,” Laura smiled, “I can’t wait for you to see them! They were just babies when you saw them last. They’ve grown up a bit since then.”

* * *

“Frank,” Callie Shaw called her boyfriend’s name impatiently, “It’s not that big a deal. My aunt, uncle and cousin will be here this week. They’re staying over the holidays while their new house is being built. Jill isn’t so bad. I know she’s only 15, but she can still hang around with us. She’ll be attending school with us, too.”

“She wears black lipstick and has blue hair,” Frank stated, glaring in Callie’s direction.

“Doesn’t she have a tattoo on her stomach and a belly-button ring, too?” added Joe, with a devilish grin. “I think she’ll fit right in hanging around with you two!” Callie rolled her brown eyes and Vanessa Bender gave Joe a playful smack on the arm.

The four teens were sitting in the Shaw’s family room, sipping hot cocoa. They had been in Southport earlier that evening for a charity volley ball game. The game had been close, but Vanessa’s solid serve helped bring the Bayport girl’s team to victory.

Frank glanced at his watch and sighed. It was a school night and they needed to head for home. Frank, Joe and Vanessa climbed in their black van, bidding Callie goodnight.

They dropped Vanessa off at her house, and then headed home themselves. An unfamiliar car was parked in their usual spot in the driveway, so Frank pulled the van beside it.

When they entered the house, their mother rushed to greet them. Laura escorted her sons into the family room, where they saw an older gentleman seated on the sofa.

Robert Daniels stood up as the two boys entered the room. He smiled at Frank, but his eyes suddenly locked onto Joe’s handsome face. It was as if he were looking in a mirror, 45 years earlier.

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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.