Hardy Boys Fan Fiction at the Hardy Detective Agency Presents "Quality Time" by CQB

Frank Hardy had hardly slept. Was that his dad on the mountain? Or maybe it was Joe? Why was there only one person? Where were the others? Questions running through his brain had made it impossible.

He looked at the clock. It was almost 4 a.m. He decided to take a hot shower and get dressed. He wanted to get to the Ranger station as early as possible.

Frank climbed out of bed and started for the bathroom, glancing out the window. It was pouring down rain. He winced as he thought about his father and brother huddled somewhere out there, wet and cold. ‘God, please keep them safe ‘til we get there!’ he silently prayed.

Suddenly, Frank felt like Joe was calling to him. The impression was so strong that Joe’s voice sounded almost audible. ‘Joe’s still alive! I know he is! I’m coming Little Brother, I’m coming to find you!’

* * *

As the fever climaxed, Joe Hardy tossed and turned. His body glistened from sweat, drenching the sheets. Mr. Hardy lay beside his son, stroking his damp hair and speaking gently to him. Maddie continued to replace the cloth on his forehead, always keeping it cool.

Joe cried out several times, usually for Frank to help him. Finally, in the wee hours of the morning, the fever broke and Joe settled into a restful sleep.

Fenton Hardy was sitting up against the back of the sofa bed. His head was feeling better since Maddie had given him some natural herbs that dulled pain. He had also put his shirt back on, feeling uncomfortable without it.

"Did Joe say anything about our pilot?" Mr. Hardy questioned Maddie.

"No, sir," she answered, "Actually, he didn’t say much. He was in pretty bad shape. He told me his first name and that he needed help getting you to the cabin. I sent Carl after you."

"Who is Carl? Your husband?" Fenton asked, watching Maddie carefully.

"No. Carl is my son. We live here together," Maddie replied, "Mr. Hardy, I know you are a detective. I, um, recognized your name from an article I read." Fenton nodded in acknowledgement, wondering where this was leading.

"I think a rescue party will be here sometime today. I heard planes flying over yesterday," she continued, "They probably spotted the wreckage or possibly you and Joe. Anyway, their arrival is going to be a major problem for me."

"How can that be a problem? I’d think that you would be glad to see Joe and me rescued." Mr. Hardy said, "There’s more going on here than what you’ve told me."

"It will all come out when the sheriff gets here, I suppose," Maddie said with a sigh, "I might as well tell you." Maddie settled into the chair beside Fenton’s side of the bed.

"Five years ago, my son Carl was accused of murder. The evidence was all circumstantial, and there were no eye-witnesses to the actual murder." Maddie stated.

"Tell me about the murder itself, and what evidence pointed to Carl as the murderer." Mr. Hardy responded. Maddie looked into Mr. Hardy’s deep brown eyes. She knew this was a good and just man.

"Jimmy Mc Curdy was found murdered, his skull crushed. Jimmy and Carl worked together as stable boys at a ranch, about 4 miles from our home. Both boys were mentally challenged, but seemed to get along so well together. Jimmy really liked the horses and dreamed of riding in the rodeo someday. Carl was afraid of the horses and stayed away from the riders and the ring where they practiced. One day, after they were done cleaning the stalls, Jimmy went out to watch the rodeo boys practice. Carl stayed back near the barn, watching from a distance, waiting for me to pick him up. The owner’s son was riding and fell off. Ryan Wagner was not someone you laughed at, but Jimmy did. Ryan got really mad and went running after Jimmy. Carl watched and saw Ryan chase Jimmy back into the barn. Ryan came out a few minutes later and left in his pick up truck. Carl went to find Jimmy. Jimmy was lying in the back of one of the stalls, his head all bloody. Carl went to him and tried to wake him up. When he couldn’t, he went out to the ring and got the attention of the foreman, Lance Mc Intire. He took Lance inside the barn to Jimmy. The other men followed. They all started asking Carl why he hurt Jimmy. By the time the police came, Carl was crying and signing that he was sorry. Sergeant Collin Anderson, the investigating officer, thought Carl was apologizing because he had killed Jimmy. They took Carl to the station and called me to say that Carl confessed to murder." Maddie stopped and sighed. "Carl didn’t kill Jimmy. I don’t know what he supposedly ‘said’ at the police station, but he was under duress. His best friend was dead. I believe Ryan Wagner killed Jimmy."

"Whoa, there," Mr. Hardy said, putting his hand up. "I think the whole case stinks as far as how it was handled. However, you can’t go around pointing a finger at people without evidence."

"So we have to help clear Carl’s name, right?" Both Mr. Hardy and Maddie Whitefeather turned toward the voice. Joe Hardy’s sapphire eyes were shining brightly as he looked at the two adults.

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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.