Hardy Boys Fan Fiction at the HDA - Boardwalk Bust

You know, I’m not really knocking a trip to the beach. I mean, I could use some beach time to relax, maybe actually try for a tan rather than a sunburn this time. But jewel thieves? Jewelry stores being robbed? How hard could it be to figure it all out?

I’m not saying I want a dangerous case. I mean, the last one was hardly a walk in the park. But still, it’s like they’re...I don’t know...treating us like we’re kids or something.

I found my swim trunks and started stuffing them in the new duffle bag Dad had bought me in California. We’d abandoned all our stuff at the compound and he hadn’t wanted to waste time getting it. It had the logo of my favorite football team on it, so it was cool. Dad was cool about it since it had been on sale. Frank had gotten one with his favorite basketball team logo.

I started digging through my chest of drawers, looking for clothes to wear when I wouldn’t actually be swimming and pulled out T-shirts, shorts and other stuff. Maybe this time we’d actually have a chance to enjoy a real vacation after we cracked this case. I stuffed the clothes in my duffle and shrugged. A guy can hope, can’t he?

** *** **

Dad brought up the subject of our taking a vacation in Ocean Point at dinner. He seems to think that’s the best time for family discussions – at the dinner table.

Mom didn’t seem too sure of the idea at first. “Are you sure, Fenton? It’s barely been two weeks since they got back...”

“But this is a vacation, Laura.”

Aunt Gertrude let out a ‘harumph’. “I don’t know, the boys practically gallivant all over the world as it is.”

“Ah, but we’re learning as we go,” I said, winking at her. “You know, the whole global classroom thing?”

Aunt Gertrude arched an eyebrow at me but I could see she wanted to smile. “Young man, you are a brat.” Then she winked at me.

Mom shook her head and sighed. “Well, it is true that school will start up before we know it....” She looked over at me and Frank. “And this year, I want you to start some good habits. Getting enough sleep, doing your homework and getting it in on time...”

Maybe I’m being silly, but I could have sworn she was looking more at me than Frank. I’m usually on time with my homework. Except maybe for that time when I lost it in the rain...or the time when – you know, never mind.

Frank gave me a smirk and turned to Mom. “So...we can go?”

Mom nodded slowly. “Promise me you’ll stay home for awhile when you get back.”

I glanced at Frank who gave a small nod. “Okay.”

Well...that went easier than I thought it would. Tomorrow we were heading for the beach.

** *** **

“Hey, guys, I’ll be finished with my checklist in a sec.” Jack Wayne waved a clipboard in our direction and walked around to the far side of the twin-engine Cessna.

I let my duffle bag drop to the tarmac and stared up at a clear blue sky. “Good weather for flying.”

Frank was scrolling through the files on the small PDA. “You know this lists the stores that were robbed. Long John’s Silver, The Shore Thing and Seacrest Jewelers. Two hundred thousand dollars worth of stuff was stolen just from Seacrest.”

I glanced over at him. “You mean, crime does pay?”

Frank grunted. “Get serious.”

“Well, I was about to say that Batman couldn’t have been wrong all this time.”

“Well, we’re ready to go, guys,” said Jack as he walked over to us. “New Jersey, huh? You two didn’t want to fly?”

“You know, sometimes we just need a little break. Being chauffeured is a nice change of pace,” I told him, grinning.

Jack glanced around and lowered his voice. “Your dad told me what happened in California. Glad you guys are okay.”

I blinked. I’d never really thought about it before but I guess Jack would be in on ATAC since he flies Dad just about everywhere and us too on occasion. “So are we.”

We loaded up our duffles and immediately Frank claimed the co-pilot’s seat. “You sit up there, you have to hand over the PDA. What if Jack has a fainting spell? You’d need both hands to fly,” I told him.

Jack glanced back at me. “Fainting spell? Do I look like a Victorian damsel?”

Frank shot me a glare. “Joe...”

I shrugged and looked at Jack. “Well, you sound like one for sure.” I turned to Frank and held out my hand. “Give.”

Jack put a hand to his forehead. “Oh, oh, the heat. It’s getting to me...” he said in a high voice. “Oh no...”

Frank held onto the PDA for a second longer and finally handed it over. “Fine.”

I grinned. “Way to go, Jack. Now just aim us south, okay. The last time we flew with you, you had a little too much fun. How many barrel rolls was it?”

Jack rolled his eyes. “You’re forgetting one thing, Joe. I wasn’t flying that time. Your brother was.”

I narrowed my eyes at Frank. “Oh he was, was he?”

“You dared me, remember? You said I couldn’t do three consecutive barrel rolls.”

“Ha, that was more like four...maybe five.”

Frank shifted in his seat. “I bet you couldn’t do five.”

I opened my mouth to take up the challenge but Jack spoke first. “Oh no. We are not doing that today. Today we’re heading for Ocean Point. Seat belts fastened and seats in the upright position for take-off. Sit back and enjoy the ride, boys.” He flashed us a grin. “Can’t promise there won’t be at least one roll, though.”

“One I can pretty much handle. It’s been at least two hours since breakfast,” I said, scanning the list of items stolen.

Frank heaved a sigh and gazed out the Plexiglas as Jack spoke with the tower and was cleared for take-off. I stopped reading the notes on the PDA and savored the take-off. I love that pressure that pushes you back into your seat for just a few seconds and then it vanishes, making you feel like the bottom just dropped out from under you.

It’s why I love roller coasters. The more extreme the better. I read a little more but as Jack picked up the Jersey Shore at Sandy Hook, I just kept watch out the window. We passed over Long Branch, Monmouth University, and the Shark River Inlet.

It was right about when we hit Long Beach Island that the fog bank rolled in from out of nowhere. Within the space of two minutes, we were flying totally blind. Jack squared his shoulders and kept a close eye on his instruments.

“Where did this stuff come from,” I asked, not liking the disorienting feeling, seeing only white stuff out the windows.

Frank grunted. “You know Jersey. If you don’t like the weather, just wait a minute.” He was keeping a close eye on the instruments too. He glanced at Jack. “We’re in between towers, aren’t we?”

“Yeah. Ocean Point is south of Atlantic City. We have to land there if this doesn’t clear up soon.”

Frank rested his hands on his set of controls lightly, just in case he was needed. “I’m sure this won’t last long.”

Famous last words there, I thought ten minutes later. And when we finally came out of it, there was another plane coming right at us.

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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.