Hardy Boys Fan Fiction at the Hardy Detective Agency - Presenting "South American Search & Rescue" by CQB

"Good news and bad news, Doctor," Conner solemnly stated. "Let’s go inside." Frank and Joe Hardy exchanged looks of concern. Conner had barely even spoken two words on the trip back. He never told them what he saw at the plane. ‘How bad can it be?’ Frank wondered, watching Conner’s grim expression.

The group assembled in the dining hall. Sam Radley, Joe Hardy and Frank Hardy sat along one side of a long table. Drs, Tomas’ and Monique Du Pree and Father La’ Mour sat opposite the three American men. Conner Bailey stood at the end of the table, glancing from one face to the next.

It was a nerve-wracking 5 minutes before Conner collected his thoughts. Frank chewed anxiously on his thumbnail, while Joe’s left leg bounced nervously under the table. The anticipation was quickly building to fear for the two boys. Finally, Conner began to speak.

"I was able to get within 15 feet of the plane," Conner began, "Though damaged beyond repair, the fuselage was in one piece. There was no sign of fire that I could see." Sighs of relief could be heard around the table. Frank and Joe remained tense; there was more information to come. "The plane is now in the hands of the Peruvian government," Conner continued, "They found no one on board the plane. It was their people searching the jungle today, I’m sure."

Joe couldn’t take the walk-around-the-park any longer, "So Dad and Jack are alive, right?" Frank and Sam immediately reached out their hands to grasp either of Joe’s tense shoulders, trying to calm the younger Hardy.

Conner looked directly into Joe’s sapphire eyes, "Yes, they are very much alive."

"Yes!" Frank said softly, giving Joe’s shoulder a squeeze. Joe Hardy closed his eyes as pure relief flowed through his entire being. But Sam Radley contained his excitement as he continued to watch Conner. There was no joy in the eyes of Conner Bailey.

"There’s more, isn’t there, Conner?" Sam reluctantly asked. He quietly rose from his chair and moved behind Frank and Joe, placing a hand on each of their shoulders.

"Where are they, Conner?" Frank asked, anger creeping into his usually calm voice, "What are you not telling us?"

Conner’s eyes locked onto Frank’s brown ones. "They are prisoners of Mafesto Santiago." Conner softly replied. The others all recognized the militia leader’s name.

"No," Joe cried, barely above a whisper.

"That’s who Dad was investigating," Frank said, thinking out loud. He looked up at Conner again, and then to Sam, "But Dad and Jack are both undercover. Santiago will assume they’re reporters. He’d have no reason to hurt them."

"That’s right!" Joe interjected, "They were only carrying their cover I.D.s!"

"Assuming that’s all true," Conner seriously stated, "Santiago still has them and the senator’s kid. Sam and I will have to infiltrate the camp and get them all out."

"You and Sam? Aren’t you forgetting someone? Actually, two someones?" Frank questioned, feeling Joe tense beside him.

"You and Joe will stay here at the mission," Conner replied, "or I’ll ship you both back to Bayport. You will not be going anywhere near Santiago or his encampment!"

That was all Joe’s bottled-up emotions could handle. Despite Sam’s restraining hand on his shoulder and Frank’s hand on his arm, Joe erupted from his seat like an angry volcano.

"NO!" he shouted, his chair falling backward and hitting the concrete floor with a bang. "We are not a couple of amateurs, Conner! You can’t push us aside like this!" Joe’s fists pounded on the table and his words ended with a heart-wrenching sob. Joe hurriedly left the room before he broke down completely in front of everyone.

"You won’t exclude us, Conner!" Frank said calmly, staring down the older man, "We have every right to be here and we will help with this rescue!" Frank walked away, following Joe’s direction.

Conner Bailey shook his head, "Well, that went just great!"

Joe’s chair slammed back into place, making all those around the table jump. Conner looked into the angry face of Sam Radley.

"Are you completely insane, Bailey?" Sam fumed, "You seem to be forgetting who those two are! Their father told them to come here, remember?"

"Look Radley," Conner said, returning Sam’s glare, "I don’t know you or how you operate, but those kids are my responsibility. I’ve already got three people to rescue from Santiago, I don’t intend to make it five!"

"I don’t know you either, Bailey," Sam retorted, "And right now, I’ll take my chances with Frank and Joe. I’ve worked with them. I trust their instinct and experience as much as anyone I know. Even over you!"

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Disclaimer

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The authors 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.