Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

On Monday morning the sixth years were greeted by a sign on one of the notice boards in the lobby that they were all to attend a meeting upstairs in room 32.

Even though this classroom was the largest, able to fit up to eighty students, quite a few people had to lean against the walls, or perch on the radiators at either side of the room.

Frank, Joe, Biff and Vanessa, among the last to arrive, picked their way through the desks, carefully stepping over the schoolbags dumped in the aisles, to stand at the back with the others.

"Quiet everyone," the tall, dark, head of year, Mr. Johnston, came into the room and instantly the buzz of conversation stopped. Although he was not strict, he managed to gain respect and his easy, joking manner made it easy for the students under his charge to come to him with their problems, regardless of how personal they were. "As I'm sure you've all figured out, I called you here about the trip. This year we would like to keep you updated as the plans are finalized, so that you can pass the information on to your parents. So far..."

***

Georgina may have been there in body, but her mind was miles away, at home, with the money she had hidden in the back of her closet. She wouldn't have been surprised if someone had told her there were green dollar signs in her eyes. She had to admit even she hadn't expected to get so much. She hadn't even really been sure that she was going to be able to get away with it, or go through with it at all... and the best part was that her mother hadn't said anything, and this was definitely the type of thing she would share with her family, if only to ask her daughter to tell her if she saw or heard anything 'suspicious' from her classmates.

And that's the whole problem, she thought suddenly, frowning a little, why should I be expected to be so perfect, and even to tell on my friends? That was the whole idea, after all; she didn't mean to keep

the money - she hadn't originally, anyway - she just wanted to take it, and then later confess to her mother and return it, to prove that she could do the same wrong things as everyone else. Then again, maybe taking all of it was a little dramatic, she mused, but then they might have thought I miscounted it, and asking anyone to pay it again would be unfair.

She glanced around the room and noticed Joe watching her, and gave him a brief smile before she turned back, unnerved. What is that boy's sudden fascination in me? He couldn’t have found out, could he?

***

"We haven't managed to find exact quotes on ticket prices yet, but we've estimated that it'll cost around $600-$650, about two hundred of which are usually raised working in the school canteen and organizing other fundraisers."

"Each?" someone called out, raising her hand.

"Yes. Is there anyone who isn't sure if they'll be going, or has already decided not to?"

Frank wasn't surprised to see no hands go up; this trip was almost like a rite of passage, the highlight of their high school life, besides being in the seventh year and having the opportunity to put on the 'Top Class Show,' for the whole school, where they were allowed to use examples from their school life to make sketches illustrating how they felt about their teachers.

"Well, that's about all we have by now, we'll let you know more details about the itineraries as we get them. If anyone has any questions, or problems, come to my office and I'll see what I can do to help you. One other thing," he added quickly, as the bell rang and they started to collect their things, "the money collected for the textbooks has been taken from the deputy director's office. If anyone knows anything or saw anything, please tell me or one of the other teachers.

Anything you tell us will be kept confidential. Thank you, you may go to your lessons."

Okay, so they did notice, Georgina fretted as she slipped into the line of students filing past her, not surprising really, it was a lot. If stopping the sixth year from going on the trip doesn't prove how 'naughty' I can be, nothing will!

***

"Six hundred dollars?" Joe repeated, sliding into the seat next to his brother when they reached their classroom, "I'm gonna need more than one job to raise that in, what, nine months?"

His brother dumped his books on the desk and turned, eyebrows raised. "More than one? You've never worked before; don't you think you should start slow? Besides, when did you decide you were leaving for sure?"

"I'm sixteen," Joe pouted, "that's old enough to leave school, if we want."

"Uh...you're not going to be able to go on the trip if you're not at school anymore. Are you?" he asked a second later, remembering that apparently his brother had been spending a lot of time with the guidance counselor recently.

"No, but if I just have part time jobs, I’ll still be at school, and it’s an acceptable excuse to take time off. By the way, don't wait for me after school; I have to go somewhere."

"Oh." he had a pretty good idea where 'somewhere' was; most likely Chief Collig's office. What’s going to happen to his grades? What are going to happen to mine if the chief actually gives him something? Can he handle it...of course he can, he rebuked himself almost as soon as the thought came into his head, but even dad gets hurt sometimes when he's on his own.

Joe knew what his brother was thinking, and wasn't sure whether he was annoyed or not. He had already made up his mind about going through with this, and had been adamant that he wouldn't let his father talk to chief Collig for him; he wanted to do this by himself, and not with the help of a speech Fenton gave to his friend. But Frank's always been there; what IS it going to be like without him around? I can't exactly ask for his help, after all the fuss I've made.

"Maybe your case is right here," Frank suggested thoughtfully, catching a few words from the discussions around them. "The stolen money," he elaborated, when his brother looked at him blankly for a moment, "I've got four tests coming up, so you don't need to worry about getting my help."

"Actually, we've got four tests. But that's a great idea."

"Have you noticed how strange George has been acting lately?" he asked, noticing the stupid grin on the girl's face.

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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.