Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

“Listen up, everybody!” Fenton Hardy came out of his study late in the morning the day after Christmas Day, a broad smile on his face. “I’ve got some news!”

“What is it?” Joe, seated at the kitchen table, looked up from his sleepy perusal of the Bayport Gazette’s pages. As he caught sight of his father’s animated face, Joe arched an eyebrow inquisitively. “Whatever it is, it must be good!”

Laura, also sitting at the table and glancing through the newspaper, smiled at her husband. “Do we need to get Frank here too?”

“Yep!” he replied, and pivoted around to go into the hallway. “FRANK!” he thundered, “Frank!”

“Coming!” came a faint reply from upstairs, followed shortly by the thud of feet on the steps, and then Frank himself appeared in the kitchen, looking flurried.

“What is it? Is there something wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” Fenton assured his elder son. “But I have something I want you all to hear. Or rather, to ask.” He sat down, then paused, impressively. “How would you like to spend the next ten days in Hawaii?”

If Fenton had dropped a small bomb in the kitchen, the reactions of his listeners might have been similar, although a bomb would have been slightly more damaging to the furnishings. His wife stared at him, shocked into silence, her blue eyes wide. Frank gasped “What? How? All of us?” and Joe crowed “ALL RIIIIIIIGHT!”

“Laura – honey, talk to me,” Fenton chuckled, reaching for her hand.

“Ha-Hawaii?” she whispered, in disbelief. “But…how?”

“I just got off the telephone with the Hawaii State Police commissioner. They are putting on a seminar on security measures over the Christmas holidays, on the Big Island of Hawaii. They’d asked me to do a major part of the presentation, several months ago, but I turned them down. I had too much going on here, and I didn’t want to be away at Christmastime, anyway. So they got someone else – and now, at the last minute, the guy’s come down with appendicitis.”

“Ouch!” Laura murmured sympathetically. “Poor man!”

“The HSP is in desperate straits,” Fenton continued. “And they’re practically on their knees begging me to come and teach the thing. They’re offering a very substantial remuneration…”

“But—” Joe started to protest. “but you still didn’t want to be away—”

Fenton held up a finger. “Listen! They also said I could bring along staff – assistants, whoever. They’re paying all the expenses – first-class airfares, hotel accommodations, the works – for as many people as I care to bring. That’s how desperate they are!”

“Assistants—” Frank’s mind was seizing on the possibilities. “Joe and I – we could be your assistants.”

Fenton’s brown eyes twinkled. “Think you could handle the job?” he teased.

“But I—” Laura still looked hesitant. “I don’t have that excuse,” she said regretfully.

“You, darling, are included in the invitation without having to be a detective,” her husband informed her. “And you don’t have to attend the seminar. All you have to do is come along and enjoy yourself. Sun, surf, sand…doesn’t it sound nice?” He glanced out the kitchen window at the sub-freezing fog swirling about the house.

Joe was chewing his lip, obviously torn. “Gee, Dad…it sounds great – but – but…”

The twinkle in Fenton’s eyes became even more pronounced. “You weren’t listening, were you?” he said. “I can bring a whole staff along. Including pretty young female note-takers, coffee-pourers, gofers – or perhaps a skilled graphic arts designer, or computer expert. Either of you know anyone who might fill the bill?”

“Dad, do you mean it?” The smile on Frank’s face matched his father’s. “Could we take Megan and Vanessa?”

“If they can go,” Fenton nodded.

“WHOO-HOO!” Joe’s fervent yell bounced off the kitchen walls. “Wait’ll I tell Van!” He leaped from his chair and grabbed for the telephone.

“Wait just a second, Joe,” Laura cautioned. “Fenton, when do we leave and come back?”

“Leave day after tomorrow, return on January 6^th,” Mr. Hardy said. “That gives us some play time after the symposium ends.”

“Day after – day after tomorrow? I don’t know if I can – get ready that fast!” Laura gasped. “And there’s things to be arranged – the newspaper deliveries, the Christmas tree and decorations…plants, clothes – and—”

“We can work out the details,” her husband assured her. “Just say yes or no, honey.”

“Well…YES!” she cried, and hugged him tightly.

“I think it’s a good thing Jack and April decided to take a few days off over Christmas…” Frank murmured distractedly. “I hope they don’t need Joe and me….”

Joe had resumed his dialing, and now walked out of the kitchen with the cordless phone clamped to his ear. “Vanessa? Babe, it’s me!”

The Christmas break had not been kind to Vanessa so far. She had started coming down with a severe cold at the beginning of finals week – and by the time her vacation began, she had been so sick she could barely get out of bed. By the 23^rd of December, the cold had progressed to the coughing stage, and had stuck there. Joe hadn’t been able to see her for over a week, first because she was contagious, then because she was too miserable. And even talking on the phone had been limited, because she tired so quickly.

“What is it?” Vanessa rasped, now. “Joe, I can’t talk very long…I start to cough when I talk too much…”

“Babe, don’t talk, just listen. What would you think if I told you you could spend ten days on a tropical island, soaking up the nice, warm sun, resting – maybe a little graphics work, just to keep your hand in – getting over that nasty cold?”

There was a long silence from the other end of the connection. Finally, Vanessa wearily replied: “What are you talking about?”

“Dad’s been asked to do a conference in Hawaii, and we all can go along – you and Megan, too!”

Another long silence, broken by a few hacking coughs, then: “If you’re kidding me, Joe Hardy – if this is some kind of a joke – I’ll never, ever forgive you!” Vanessa threatened. She sounded as if she was going to cry.

“Babe! It’s no joke! I’ll let you talk to Mom, if you don’t believe me! Van, don’t cry, honey, please!” Joe pleaded. “It’s for real, honest!” Quickly, he outlined the program Fenton had explained. “And it would be just perfect for you, babe – when Dad doesn’t need you to work, you can just lie in the sun and rest…drink lots of fruit juice, with all that Vitamin C….You and Megan can keep each other company – shop, hang around on the beach and work on your tans, whatever – if Frank and I have to do stuff, and the rest of the time we can just…play.”

“It sounds wonderful,” she admitted hoarsely. “Let me talk to your mother, though. And then I’ll have to check with Mom.”

Joe searched the house and found Laura rummaging through bureau drawers in her bedroom. He handed the telephone over to her, and went into his own room. He could hear Frank in conversation with someone, on his cell phone.

Frank had tried to call Megan, but no one was home at the Wright residence. He thought for a few moments, then was hit with an inspiration. He knew his girlfriend well – knew that once she heard what was being proposed, she would immediately start thinking of reasons she couldn’t go…not because she didn’t wish to go, but because she wouldn’t believe she should go!

Darned Puritan work ethic! This time, baby, I’m going to counter all your reasons before you can start coming up with them! He grinned as he leafed through the telephone book, seeking a number he rarely called.

“Bayport Electric, Human Resources Department.”

“Mrs. Wright, please,” Frank requested, and waited, smiling.

“This is Carolyn Wright.”

“Mrs. Wright? Hi, it’s Frank. I wanted to talk to you about something my dad just suggested…”

Megan’s mother was astounded by the amazing proposal, but once Frank convinced her of the veracity of his words, she was delighted by the prospect of Megan getting a chance for a Hawaiian vacation.

“Frank, are you absolutely sure of this? I mean, you all just took her to Lake Tahoe with you in August, and we’re not talking a trip to the zoo here; this is expensive—”

“But it’s all being paid for by the Hawaii State Police!” Frank reminded her. “Dad’s been given free rein to bring as much support staff as he needs, and he’s the one who suggested that we ask Vanessa and Megan to come along. And really, they’ll both work while they’re there; so will Joe and I! He really can use us…and them. And besides – we want her to come. I want her to come,” Frank finished quietly, but there was a great deal of yearning in his tone.

“I doubt that pouring coffee and fetching in doughnuts and muffins, or making name tags, constitutes very hard work!” Carolyn Wright said dryly, but she was laughing. “All right, Frank; it’s fine with me. I can manage to get along without her here at home for that length of time. I’m getting more and more used to it! And believe me, Megan will be thrilled.”

“I tried calling her – she isn’t home—” Frank paused.

“She went shopping,” Mrs. Wright informed him. “Those day-after-Christmas sales, you know! She said she would probably be home by lunchtime. Give her another hour or so, Frank, and then call her again.” She laughed. “It’s too bad you didn’t catch her earlier; she could be shopping for vacation clothes! Not that there would be anything like that in the stores here, in the dead of winter!”

Thanking her for her warm acceptance of this abrupt scheme, Frank hung up the phone. He decided it might be a good thing to drag out a suitcase, and begin to pack while he waited to contact Megan.

An hour later, his suitcase nearly filled, Frank tried Megan’s number again, and this time she answered.

“Baby, are you sitting down?” he asked, after hearing her initial ‘hello.’

“Ahhhh…no, I just walked in the door and picked up the phone,” his girlfriend responded warily. “Why?”

“Because I think you ought to sit down,” Frank continued, grinning.

He heard some soft shufflings and rustlings, then Megan said: “All right, I’m sitting down. What is it? Has something happened?” The wariness was turning to apprehension.

“No – and yes. What would you say if I told you we could spend a week and a half in Hawaii – all expenses paid?”

“I’d ask you what you’d been smoking,” she said bluntly. “And then I’d check your temperature – or start wondering what the punch line to the joke was.”

“’Oh, ye of little faith’!” he reprimanded her, chuckling. “Baby, the greatest thing happened this morning – just listen!” And he proceeded to tell her of the offer his father had received, and how she was to be included in this sudden trip.

As he had expected, after the first gasps of astonishment, Megan began coming up with arguments and problems. “But – I can’t just up and leave Mom to go junketing off to Hawaii…she’d be lonesome….”

“I’ve already talked to your mother,” Frank crowed in triumph. “She’s all for it.”

“You – talked to Mom?” she said blankly. “But, Frank…I don’t want to intrude. This is a special trip for your family.”

Frank stayed quiet for a moment before answering, to put emphasis on his words. “Family, huh….Baby – what are you wearing on your left hand?”

“I – oh….” He heard her gulp.

“Megan – honey…believe me, DAD suggested that Joe and I ask you and Vanessa. He really can use you, and he wanted you two to come along. Mom does too. You guys are family – or close to it!”

“Vacation clothes…?” he heard her whisper, in a last-ditch attempt.

“Pack what you took to Lake Tahoe. That’s what I did. After all, I didn’t get to wear half of what I took there!”

“It sounds…absolutely, incredibly marvelous,” she admitted, finally bowing to the inevitable. “I want to go, very much. When do we leave?”

“Early-early morning, day after tomorrow.”

“DAY AFTER TOMORROW!” The shriek tore at Frank’s left eardrum. “My God, Frank, one day’s warning? I’ve got a jillion things to do! Call me later!” A crash of the receiver being slammed into its cradle assaulted the same ear, and Frank jerked his phone away from his head. He dropped it on the table and roared with laughter.

*****

Early-early morning it certainly was! The Hardys, Megan and Vanessa boarded their jetliner at seven a.m., as an incipient snowstorm was whipping the wind chill drastically downward.

“We’re getting out of town just in time!” Joe observed, looking out at the gloomy morning, where snow-laden clouds scudded across the sky. Seven o’clock in the morning was dark in December, at least in bad weather.

“And I’m so glad!” Vanessa murmured. “I want warmth and sunshine so bad!”

It felt strange to be boarding the plane ahead of the regular crowd, and to be ushered with due ceremony to the First Class section, where they located their seats and sat down, marveling at the luxury.

“This is sooooo nice!” Megan wriggled into her seat with delight.

Joe checked his ticket, then offered to let Vanessa change places with him, allowing her to sit next to Megan, while he and Frank flanked them on either side. “I never want to travel coach again!” he declared, plopping into the soft plush. “Look! Footrests!” Gleefully, he stretched out, propping his feet up. “Frank, these were made for people our height!”

From across the aisle, his father chuckled. “Don’t get too used to it,” he warned. “Private investigators don’t usually travel first class.”

Vanessa sighed deeply and leaned back, appreciating the leg room as much as either of the boys. A blissful smile crossed her face, and she closed her eyes. “Wake me when we land in Los Angeles,” she murmured.

“Babe, you won’t want to sleep the whole way,” Joe reminded her. “They serve nicer stuff to eat in first class, and free drinks, and free movies—”

“Shhh, I’m asleep,” she replied without opening her eyes. “And if you knew how much cough syrup I’ve swallowed recently, you’d know trying to keep me awake is a lost cause. Wake me when they serve something good to eat, though.”

Joe laughed, and patted her fondly. “Okay, babe, okay. You just rest.”

Vanessa wasn’t the only one to fall asleep. The early hour, the quiet comfort of the first class section, and the relaxation which stemmed from realizing that they were, indeed, on their way, caused them all to doze off soon after takeoff. Fenton managed to stay awake the longest, but even he eventually succumbed.

Before closing his eyes, he glanced over at the younger members of the party. Vanessa was sound asleep, her hand curled into Joe’s. Joe’s eyes were shut, and the watching Fenton saw him yawn widely and then snuggle into a pillow, evidently settling in for a long nap. Megan and Frank had reclined their seats and dropped the arm rest between them; her head nestled cozily against his shoulder, and his cheek rested atop her curls. They both appeared to be deep in dreamland. Looking to his right, Fenton saw his wife had put down the magazine she had been glancing through, and closed her eyes, too.

Smiling, he followed suit.

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.