Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

After indulging in some ice cream with fudge sauce, a germ of an idea had sent her upstairs to her computer. Casi quickly called a local number. "Tamara Deason, please......Tam, hey, it's Casi......Do you have a list of the paintings stolen?" Casi reached over to her small desk and pulled out a pad and a pencil. "Yeah, I've been a little sidetracked......Yeah, she's fine.....No, I don't know......Tonight? Yeah, why not. Sebastians?....See you then."

Casi hung up the phone and studied the five paintings. With Sam's problem practically solved, she could turn her attention back to the gallery. She obviously couldn't go back there for now, so she'd have to go about things the other way. She dialed up her connection to the Internet and went searching for those five paintings, their history, their creators. What she found wasn't what she expected.

Distantly she heard a door close and she caught a glimpse of Merlin streaking out of the open doorway. Just great, even her cat liked him. She shook her head and printed out the information she'd found just as she heard his footsteps in the closet.

"Judging from the empty ice cream container, Merlin got enough ice cream, right?"

Casi turned around. "I think I found something." She handed him the first sheet to be printed out.

Joe took it, puzzled. "I think I have---" His blue eyes widened as he studied the page. "What's this?"

"Wyatt doesn't own any of those paintings. One's in the Fine Arts Building at the Smithsonian, two are in a Los Angeles art gallery and two are overseas.. Someone sold him forgeries, I'm sure of it."

Joe looked over at her. "I think you're right. But what does it have to do with that bank robbery?"

"What bank robbery?"

"How'd you get the list?"

"Tam had a copy." At his unspoken question, she added, "Tam is the reporter who interviewed Wyatt the night of the theft. What bank robbery?"

"A little over a year and a half ago, a New York bank was robbed of fifty thousand dollars.Three months after the robbery, Arthur Beckett starts working for Wyatt. Two months later, Beckett arranges everything to acquire these five paintings." Joe narrowed his eyes. "Fifty thousand dollars. Ten thousand dollars a painting."

"They don't cost near that much. They're forgeries."

Joe glanced down at the list of paintings. "Do you know anything about paintings?"

"That's kind of a broad topic. What exactly are you fishing for?"

Before he could answer, the phone rang. In a sudden move that seemed overly angry, she picked up the receiver, then slammed it down hard. Then she looked over at Joe as if nothing had happened. "What do you want to know?"

"I know genuine paintings are on canvas that's stretched and stapled to a wooden frame, right? So when they frame those paintings, are the backs just the exposed wooden frame?"

Casi shook her head. "Usually after the painting is done and prepared for sell, there's what looks like butcher block paper tacked on the back."

"Can that paper be removed?"

Casi shrugged just as the phone rang again. Again, she picked up the receiver and hung up in less than two seconds. "Yeah, I don't see why not." She looked at the list, then at him. "You think the money was hidden in the paintings? But isn't that far-fetched? I mean, what are the chances that they could keep all five paintings together after a year....." Her voice trailed off. "You think Beckett was making certain the paintings would stay together."

Joe nodded and bent his head to look at the list. The phone rang and he snatched up the receiver before she could do a repeat performance with the phone. "Hello?......Did you just call?.....Neither do I....I'd say ask her, but apparently she doesn't want to talk to you......Yeah....Thanks, I think......Yeah, I will." Joe pulled the receiver from his ear and stared at it for a second. "Obviously you and Donovan had a fight."

"Obviously."

"How'd he know?"

Casi shrugged. "Who knows? I talked to Marc earlier but I sincerely don't think he told Donovan. Especially since he knew you were here."

"How'd Marc know?"

"Called Aunt Lyra."

Joe handed her the print out. "I think Donovan will be happy to see me go."

"Well, Donovan's not me," Casi snapped, taking the paper and putting it on top of her filing cabinet. After a moment, she seemed to realize what she'd implied. "I want to go talk to Wyatt."

Joe took a deep breath. "Just came from there, not very talkative."

"Then I'll go talk to Dare."

"Not there." Joe felt his hands clench. "I think he knows more than he's letting on."

"So do I. Let's go find him."

Joe arched an eyebrow at her. "And what do you plan to do with him when we find him?"

"Draw and quartering would be nice. I've wished for a rack or thumb screws for years."

He gave her a hard look. "You are joking."

"Maybe. Maybe the Iron Maiden would be just his style." Casi pushed herself to her feet and started for the door.

Joe reached up and grabbed her wrist. "Where do you think you're going?"

"To find Dare."

"Not without me, you're not."

"Then get a move on, pal.'' Casi tried to pull her arm free but he wouldn't let go. "Joe."

He stood up and searched her face for a moment. "If things get nasty, I want you to stay clear."

Casi finally pulled her arm free. "I don't need your protection. I'm big girl now."

Joe stood there for a minute, noticing the remnants of a crying jag. "And big girls don't cry?" he asked softly.

"Stop it."

"I merely asked a question."

"It's none of your business. Let's go."

Joe followed her out of the small room, through the closet and bathroom and into the bedroom. He'd been right several days ago, thinking that small room was her sanctuary. He watched her gather her purse and sandals. "Zack said you have his diamond."

She looked over at him. "First names already. I guess he is nice."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing." She left the room and he followed her down the stairs and out to the garage. Nothing more was said as they got into the car and she started the engine. She hit the remote and the garage door slid up.

"You need one for the gate."

"Don't remind me."

"Can't you get one?"

Casi gave him a puzzled look as she backed out of the garage and closed the door with the remote control. "I always thought that was just rigged on Hart to Hart, you know someone behind the scenes moving it manually."

Joe shook his head as she shifted gears. "No. Too many rich people have automatic gates. I'll go open it."

Casi gave him a glare and waited until he'd opened the gate and she drove out of the driveway. When he got back in and buckled, she frowned over at him. "All this because you just don't want to keep getting out to open and close the darn thing."

"True. All too true. Tell me you don't feel the same."

Casi glanced over at him, her eyes wide, as if those last words held an entirely different meaning. After a second, Joe realized that they had. He cleared his throat and focused on the road ahead of them. "So where do we look first?"

"There's a bar out on Route 6, just outside of the city limits. A lot of bikers go there."

A sudden thought made Joe cold. "Just how do you know?" When she didn't answer right away, he felt the cold settle in the pit of his stomach. "Casi, tell me you don't go there."

"Why? I can't go anywhere unless you put your stamp of approval on it?"

"It's dangerous. God, Casi, they're bikers, they're dangerous." Joe took a deep breath, ready to say more when he saw her hands on the steering wheel. She gripped the wheel so tightly her knuckles were white. "Casi, it's not a safe place for a single, gorgeous woman."

"I have one older overprotective brother. I don't need another." Once she reached the highway, she punched the accelerator.

Joe told himself not to say another word. They reached the bar in a few minutes because of Casi's speeding down the highway. Like all biker bars, there was a row of Harleys, Yamahas and other gleaming chrome and black metal motorcycles. A few guys and girls stood around outside, beers in one hand and cigarettes in the other.

A big burly man with a scraggly beard tossed his cigarette stub on the gravel and walked over to the car. It took all of Joe's willpower not to grab Casi as she got out. The man nodded to her. "Yo, Mac, long time no see."

Casi grinned. "Been busy, Murphy."

Murphy grinned back. "So who's the stiff? And where's Marcus?"

"Marc's on tour. That's Joe MacKensey."

"Kin to the Chief?"

Casi nodded, then glanced into her car. "Come on, Joe, get out."

Joe didn't move a muscle because if he did, he'd go ballistic especially watching as the big guy casually slung an arm around her shoulders and herded her into the bar. Finally, he forced himself out of the car. Another burly man stepped up to him. "Brawling's not allowed on the property." The man took a healthy swig from his can of beer. "Murphy and Mac are good friends."

Mac? Joe stared at the man. "And who the hell are you?"

"Dex Farrell. You a friend of hers?"

"Yeah."

Farrell gave him a long steady look then glanced over his shoulder. "Hey, Vic, let him in, no cover."

Joe saw that 'Vic' was a rough looking blond woman clad in a tight leather vest and hiphugger shorts. Joe barely managed a courteous nod before he headed into the bar. Like all bars it was dim inside and murky with the smell of beer and cigarettes. But despite the dimness he spotted Casi instantly. She was over by a table, talking with someone, Murphy at her side so that he couldn't see who she was talking to.

"Well, never seen you around before."

Joe turned to see a woman clad in a white halter top and black shorts that barely covered her hips. Her long dark hair was in twin braids and she held a glass of soda in one hand. "I'm with her."

Instead of leaving the woman grinned. "You know Casi?"

Did everyone in this bar know her? Joe took a deep breath. "Yeah. Joe MacKensey."

"Jade Trask. So one of the chief's prodigal sons have come home."

"Excuse me?" Suddenly, Joe stared at her. "Are you Quentin Trask's little girl?"

Her grin widened. "I'm hardly a little girl anymore. So you home for

good?"

Joe shook his head and started toward Casi. Jade put her free hand on his arm. "She and the Rev are talking. Don't you want to talk to me?"

"Rev? I thought his name was Murphy."

"It is." Jade took a sip of soda. "Didn't Daddy teach you the ropes a long time ago?"

For a moment, Joe was confused as to what she actually meant. Then he remembered one year he'd taken flying lessons from her father. "Yeah. You were about ten. So how is your father?"

"He passed away last year." Her face darkened and she glanced down at the wooden floor. "I own the place now."

"You fly?"

Jade raised her head. "Yep. Any time you're in town, look me up. Cheaper than the other charters."

"Thanks." Joe started to head in Casi's direction when she met him halfway, Murphy's arm still resting across her shoulders. "Casi, let's go."

Murphy let out a low chuckle. "You didn't tell him, Mac ?"

"Didn't want to. He's doing his best older brother impersonation."

"Tell me what?" snapped Joe, at the end of his patience.

Murphy grinned and reached out a hand. "Seamus Murphy at your service. I'm a retired army chaplain. This here's my bar."

Joe frowned and looked around, realizing not only was there no brawling allowed outside, there was apparently none allowed inside. The bar was one of the tamer ones he'd ever been in. "Odd mix, religion and liquor."

Murphy's grin faded. "Religion is just creeds and rules, half the time not even getting down to brass tacks about what we gotta do. Drunks are taken home, brawlers aren't allowed, neither are prostitutes. Thank God, this town is relatively clean."

Casi nodded. "Murphy here is a saint, Joe."

"Halo's a little tarnished, I'd wager," Murphy said, shaking his head. "I wish I could've helped."

"No problem, Murphy. I'll try not to wait so long to visit again."

"Tell Marcus to bring his gang, we'll have some fun."

Joe followed Casi out of the bar and veered to the car. Dex Farrell

odded and lifted his beer can in a salute. Joe barely managed a wave, before he got into the car. He slammed the door shut and waited while Casi talked to the man. Finally, she got in behind the wheel and closed the door. "I have to say you were rather rude." She shifted gears, backed up and turned around, then she pulled out onto the highway.

"You scared the hell out of me. God, Casi, what if that hadn't been some retired army chaplain." Joe told himself to breathe, not to speak the words building up inside of him. He ignored that warning. "Damn it, Casi, I think I have to agree with Danvers. You are sheltered."

Casi slammed on the brakes. "Get out."

Joe stared at her, surprised. "Now wait a---"

"I said get out. Of my car. Now."

Joe unhooked his seatbelt and reached for the door. "Casi."

"Now."

With a sigh, he opened the door and got out. He barely managed to close the door when she sped off. He should have kept his big mouth shut even if it had killed him. Joe heaved another sigh and started walking. He hadn't taken five steps when a jeep stopped next to him. "Need a lift?"

Joe looked up to see Jade Trask at the wheel. "Yeah." He climbed into the passenger seat and Jade continued along the highway toward town.

"So who are you looking for?"

"Dare Danvers. He's the security expert---"

"Wyatt hired. Why?"

Something in her tone made him look at her. "We think he was framed but the only way to know for sure is to talk to him."

Jade shifted her grip on the steering wheel and sighed. "He's been staying at my place. I've been busy with charters, so I just stay over at Dad's apartment."

"You know him?"

"Yeah. We met a long time ago. You know, Dad used to work for Liam MacFairlaigne."

"He did?"

Jade nodded and entered city limits. "Where do I drop you?"

"I want to talk to Danvers."

"Not at my place. I have decent neighbors and I don't want complaints. Anyway Cal would haul your ass in for brawling."

"Cal?"

"Callie Edmunds. She lives next door."

"All right, neutral territory. Suggestions?"

"Sebastians, seven o'clock. It'll take me a couple of hours to convince him to talk to you."

"Deal. Drop me at the police station."

Jade nodded again and continued along the highway, then turned onto Commercial Street. Joe reached for his seatbelt. "And thanks, Jade."

"De nada." She stopped at the police station a few minutes later and he got out. She gave him a wave and drove off.

Joe sighed and wondered if maybe he could go over to his parents house tonight. Something told him Casi wouldn't let him stay at her place tonight. Oh well, maybe it was for the best.

***

Damn him, thought Casi, fighting not to cry as she drove home. He had no right to make judgements on her or anyone else. It was Marc who'd first talked her into going to a biker bar, that one particularly. At first, yes, she'd been nervous, seeing all those heavyset bikers drinking beer and playing pool. But after she met Murphy and Dex, she'd relaxed. She knew damn well other biker bars--bars in general--were dangerous. But she was never going to live in fear of anything---or anyone.

She pulled up to her gate and sighed, starting to feel guilty for leaving him. She backed out of her driveway and retraced her route to the bar but saw no sign of him. Casi frowned and stopped the car. "Dex, the guy I came with. Is he here?"

Dex shook his head. "Trask picked him up."

Casi made a U-turn and waved as she drove back to town. Where would Jade take him? Casi decided to drive by Jade's bungalow on the way home. The Jeep wasn't there in front of the house, but she knew sometimes Jade parked the Jeep at the airport and walked home. She got out of the car and knocked on the door.

After a long few minutes, the door swung open. Dare Danvers stood there, his gray eyes wide. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question."

"Not now. Go."

"Damn it, Dare, I'm not in the mood to take orders from you."

"Then how about me?"

Casi looked past Dare to see a tall, dark-haired man standing there, a gun in his right hand aimed right at her. He motioned with his gun and she stepped completely inside the house. Dare quietly shut the door. "Now do see why I said go?"

Casi glanced over at him. "Shut up." She looked back at the man and saw the strangest look pass over his face. "Who are you?"

He cleared his throat. "Elliott Marsden. You?"

"Casi MacFairlaigne."

Again that look passed over his face. He looked over at Danvers. "It's too late now."

"Now wait just a minute," said Casi. "Too late for what? We know that someone laced those forgeries with money and fixed it to get them here. We even know the someone--Arthur Beckett."

"Beckett's gone AWOL on me," snapped Marsden. "I want those paintings."

"I sure as hell don't know where they are," said Danvers. He walked over to the breakfast nook and sat down in an old ladderback chair. "Neither does she."

"You're one of the bank robbers, aren't you." Casi nodded as if answering for him. "Beckett double-crossed you."

The man's eyes widened and she saw they were a vivid blue. He slowly shook his head. "No. No, I'm not working with Beckett."

"Then why do you want the paintings?" asked Casi.

"None of your damn business, woman." Elliott Marsden started for the door. "Danvers, come on."

"You're taking him hostage? Why?"

The man opened his mouth to say something, shook his head and motioned for Danvers to move.

"I'm going too."

Danvers lifted his eyes to heaven and muttered something under his breath. Then he turned to Casi. "No. You will wait here until we leave. Then you will go home and pretend this never happened."

His patronizing tone grated on her last nerve. "The hell I will."

"Don't make me hurt you," said Marsden, sounding oddly pained as if it would really hurt him.

"Goes double for me," snapped Danvers. For good measure he shoved her.

Casi stumbled backwards and nearly fell. Once she regained her balance and swung her fist at his face with all her strength. Her knuckles slammed into Danvers' jaw, knocking his head back. It felt as if she'd hit a very solid brick wall but refused to let him know it had hurt.

Dare staggered but didn't fall. He stared at her for a long moment, then glanced at Marsden. The dark-haired man was aiming the gun right at her. And worse yet, the man's hand was shaking. Not a good sign. Dare did the only thing he could do to save her life, he swung his fist at her jaw. At the last second, he pulled the punch a little. It still snapped her head back and knocked her to the floor.

Marsden relaxed his grip on the gun and motioned for him to go. Once outside, the man gazed for a heartbeat at the car. "Yours?"

"Hers."

"Damn." Marsden veered away from the Aston Martin to the car he'd hidden behind the bungalow. "Get in."

Dare nodded and did as he was told. Maybe one day he could explain everything to Casi. Then again, maybe not. She'd never believe him.

***

She opened her eyes to find Jade Trask staring down at her, her expression worried. "Are you okay?"

Casi nodded and grimaced at the soreness in her jaw. "He hit me." She raised her gaze to meet Jade's. "He hit me."

Jade frowned and helped her to feet. "What happened?"

"Some guy had a gun on Danvers and---"

Jade's front door swung open so hard it hit the wall and started to close again. Joe stood there, his blue eyes blazing. "Okay, I heard the word gun and Danvers. Please do go on."

For some reason his sarcasm hurt deep down in her soul. Casi shot him a glare and looked at Jade. "The guy took Danvers somewhere. He wanted those paintings." She spared a brief look at Joe. "Said his name was Elliott Marsden. He may have been one of the robbers at that bank...." Her voice trailed off as Joe's expression changed. "What?"

"Did you hear the name right?"

Casi nodded. "Elliott Marsden. He acted like he'd seen me before or something."

Joe glanced at Jade. "Take her to the station, make sure she files charges of assault on Danvers."

Casi felt her anger stir up and she almost said something, but her jaw hurt and Dare actually striking her had scared her more than she realized. "I just want to go home."

Joe glanced over at her. "Well, that's a start. Will you stay with her until Samantha gets off of work."

"Sam's going to dinner with that guy, she said. And I have a date with Tamara tonight."

"Call it off."

"No."

Jade waved a hand between them, like a referee. She pushed at Joe. "Go do whatever. I'll tend to this."

Joe took a deep breath and nodded, then left. Jade turned to Casi. "Do you want me to drive you home."

"I'm fine. I can manage." Casi started for the still open door.

"Casi."

She turned to look at Jade, expectantly. "Yes?"

"Don't try to follow Joe. If this is going down, he doesn't need distractions."

Another spurt of anger swept through Casi, even though she knew Jade was right. "I'm going home." She stalked out of the house and started for her car.

A pair of hands grabbed her shoulders and spun her around. Casi found Joe staring at her face like he'd never seen it before. Gently, he shook her. "Don't ever do that again. You scared the hell out of me." He let go of one shoulder and touched her bruised jaw carefully. "Please." He searched her face for a heartbeat, then gently kissed her.

All the anger left her body and Casi went boneless as the desire to have him with her forever. Her eyes drifted closed and she felt the tears fill her eyes. He broke off the kiss too soon and let her go. Casi opened her eyes and looked up at him, wanting to tell him how she really felt. But something in his eyes stopped her. He gave her one more look and strode off.

Casi blinked, becoming more alert. He needed a car. "Joe."

He stopped and turned around. "Casi, don't."

"Here." She tossed him her keys.

Joe caught them one-handed and stared at what he held in his hand. He raised his head to look at her and felt as for a moment they'd shared an entire conversation. "I won't let anything happen to the Aston-Martin."

She gave him a shakey smile. "That's what James Bond always tells Q. He always lies in the end."

"Bond has a Bentley."

Her smile steadied and she managed a shake of her head. "Stop arguing. I'll get Jade to drive me home."

At that moment, Jade walked outside, her own car keys in her hand. "Let's go. I'll have to move to let you out."

As Casi passed him on the way to Jade's Jeep, Joe touched her cheek. "Thank you."

"No problem." She got into the passenger seat of the Jeep as Jade got behind the wheel. In a moment they were gone. Joe tightened his fist around the keys, then walked to the car, trying to ignore a spurt of adrenaline at the thought of driving the car. Then his thoughts switched to Danvers and Marsden. What the hell was his partner doing here?

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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.