Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

He hadn't expected to enjoy it this much. Seated at one of the patio tables, he realized now why she had so many. Only one of the three patio tables wasn't full.

"You could go into business, man." said Marc. "These steaks...."

Joe rolled his eyes. "No amount of sucking up will make me cook more. That's your second one."

"So?" Marc took another piece of steak, dipped it in barbecue sauce then popped it into his mouth. "S'goo'," he managed.

"Don't talk with your mouth full," said Kari.

Joe did his best not to grin at her tone.

"So what's the recipe? Maybe I'll go into business," said Ian. He pointed at Joe with his fork. "We've missed you at the castle, man. Eight ball's not fun anymore. Erick beats us."

Erick grunted and nodded to Joe. "Wanna play? I'll beat you too."

"I have a champion," said Joe, a sudden wicked thought popping into his head.

"Champion cuestick?" asked Adrian. "Since when did you go pro?"

Joe grinned and shook his head. "I have a champion to play Erick."

Erick grunted again. "Oh no you don't. Casi's a hustler. She's the only one who can beat me."

Adrian's dark eyes widened. "I've never seen her in---"

"Shut up, Adrian," said Marc. "He meant pool hustler."

Joe narrowed his eyes, looked at Erick, then at Marc, then scanned the yard for her. "Wait just a damn---"

"Hey, pies are ready to eat, complete with ice cream or topping," said Cassandra, just walking up to them.

Joe stood up and grabbed her arm. "I want to talk to you."

"About what?"

"Erick says you're a pool hustler."

"Who me? Don't be ridiculous."

"It would explain why you always manage to beat me."

Casi sighed. "What's the big deal? So I picked up a few tricks from the pros.....here and there."

Joe's eyes narrowed to mere slits. "Pros?"

"My secret. I'm entitled to one or two." She tossed her hair back over one shoulder. "Anyway, I could play and beat you without the tricks."

"You're on."

"Oh good." Ian grinned. "Betting time."

Casi rolled her eyes, pulled free of Joe's hold. "Men," she muttered and walked away.

Erick grinned. "Now this I'll have to see." He stood up and walked over to Joe. "I've got a few secrets of my own. I'll coach you."

Joe arched an eyebrow. "It's just a game."

"Just?" Ian got to his feet and tapped Joe's shoulder. "It's bad enough Erick can beat us, but Casi can beat all of us and does."

"So it's a grudge match."

"You bet," said Marc. "It gets old being bested by your sister."

"Well, that could be considered a backhanded compliment," said Catherine, walking toward them. "But I'm glad you finally realize I'll always be prettier than you."

"Not even," said Marc. "I've got the blond curly hair. And I wasn't talking about you."

She snorted. "This isn't about that innocent little pool game? She beat you fair and square, won the bet. It was only a hundred dollars."

Joe looked at her, surprised. "A hundred? I guess I got off easy."

Ian shook his head. "She didn't do the I'll-be-nice-and-let's-do-ten-dollars thing, did she?"

Joe felt a moment's shock. "You mean, she usually bets a hundred dollars a game? When did this turn into a lucrative side deal?"

Marc grunted. "About two years ago, after Casi met---what was his name?" he asked Kari.

"Ryan," answered Kari. "Same name as our pilot." She rolled her eyes. "Ryan Tate and it was three years ago."

"Who's he?" asked Joe.

Marc shrugged. "Some theater dude up in New York. He probably taught her all the tricks."

"Precisely translated, Broadway actor," said Catherine.

Joe felt odd, listening to all this. This seemed a whole different side to Casi. "This Ryan, is he a---I mean, did she date him?"

Ian nodded. "I guess. She met him at Saxon Inn up in Maine, then visited him in White Plains where he lives."

"And Chad?"

"Why bring him up," asked Adrian. "He pitched a fit last year when Case told him about the house."

Erick shrugged and went back to his seat and snagged his beer bottle. "He probably expects her to move to London and get married."

Catherine looked down at her hands, fiddled with the engagement ring. "Casi's never been too fond of London."

Joe looked over at her, remembering a recent conversation with his father. "And Arlington?"

Catherine raised her head to look at him. "It's not close enough to the ocean. Casi has this weird thing for the ocean. Even I don't understand it."

"She's part mermaid," said Marc. "Always swam like a fish."

Joe glanced around the backyard, still feeling odd about this conversation. "Uh, just how many boyfriends has she had? There's Danvers, Ryan Tate, Chad---"

"Jamie," answered Catherine. "I think that's it."

Ethan walked over just then, took Catherine by the hand. "Jealous?" he asked his partner.

Joe glared at him. "You be quiet." He shook his head. "What did you come over here for anyway?"

"I heard a rumor. Something about a grudge match pool game."

"No rumor, bro," said Erick.

"This I gotta see."

Joe just sighed. What had he gotten himself into?

***

"You're awfully quiet."

Casi looked up from where she was sitting on the deck. "I was just thinking about things."

Malcolm settled himself in the other deck chair, propped his feet on the low table in front of him. "Always knew you were deep."

"Malcolm," Casi said on a sigh. "Just don't."

He popped the tab on his can of beer, then took a long drink. "Raven's vanished. Simmons showed up after all the fireworks, claiming she'd zonked him good. I'm just glad it's over, the classified crap is back where it belongs."

Casi toyed with her own can, now empty of cherry soda. "You really think it's over?"

"She's gone, Casi. Flown the coop. You don't have to worry about her anymore."

"Don't I? She thinks Joe's some prize in a mystical tug-of-war. She---"

"Tell him."

"Why? So he can walk away and break my heart again--" Casi tossed the can in the general direction of the trash can out in the yard and missed by a foot. "You didn't hear that."

Malcolm studied her for a long moment. "Maybe he wouldn't. Maybe he'd stay this time."

Casi looked out across the yard, saw him talking with Marc and Erick, watched her sister and then Ethan join them. "No. He's been pushing me away from the start, telling me I couldn't help, that he was going home. Damn it, Malcolm, I think I have enough common sense to give it up as a lost cause."

"So you're letting him walk away without a fight?"

Casi sighed. "Forget it, Malcolm. I know you and Laura wish it was different but it's not."

"You love him."

"Not enough to beg him to stay, not enough to grovel for him."

Malcolm nodded. "All right. I'll back off for now but I refuse to forget about it. You're like a daughter to me, Casi. You love my son. And one of these days he'll stop being the fool---"

Casi stood up. "Just pray it happens before he gets himself killed." She cleared her throat and walked into the house only to find Lyra laying out a deck of cards. "Where'd you find those? Never mind. I don't care and I don't want to know."

Lyra looked up at her. "You were wrong before. The High Priestess is not Samantha."

"I didn't think so, it doesn't fit---" Casi stared at the older woman seated on the throw rug in front of her aquarium table. "Me? Don't be ridiculous."

"The truth, Cassandra. Think about it."

Casi sank onto a sofa. "So now you're going to tell me to not let him walk away."

"I'll do nothing of the sort. That is your decision."

"Well, at least someone admits that."

"It is hardly the opportune moment, anyway."

Casi sighed. "Stop that. You know I'm dying to ask what you mean and I refuse to let myself ask. I don't believe in those cards."

"And you don't have to. But if you wish, you may only listen."

Casi folded her arms across her chest, an almost belligerent gesture. "Fine."

"The Knight of Wands covers you, meaning creative energy, perpetual motion, that change is in the air.The Queen of Wands reversed crosses you. It is the shadow side of the feminine, symbolizing narrowmindedness, jealousy, deception."

Casi grunted, quite unladylike. "No kidding."

Lyra just gave her a look and continued, "The six of Swords is your foundation. It means leaving your troubles behind, possibly a journey, brighter days ahead, release of tension. Strength crowns you meaning moral force, inner strength, the power of conviction and wisdom."

"Makes sense."

"Cassandra."

"Okay, okay, I'll be quiet."

"The Magician is behind you. It symbolizes mastery of special knowledge, focused energy..."

Casi leaned forward at the look on her aunt's face. "What's wrong with that?"

"The Magician is the core of---" She glanced over her shoulder at the bank of windows.

"Joe?" Casi shook her head. "Now I know you're foolin'. He's no believer in magic."

"Don't be so quick to judge."

Casi took a deep breath. "So, what you're saying is that the cards claim it's meant to be, that he walks away."

"Apparently," said Lyra, not sounding too happy.

Casi nodded. "Okay, go on, Auntie dear."

"Before you is the Chariot, progress, balancing opposing forces. Your persona is the Seven of Wands, holding your own, a position of advantage, taking a stand. Reflection is the Seven of Swords, doing the unexpected, cunning, trickery, guile." Lyra arched an eyebrow at her, but kept talking. "Your hope is the Lovers."

"Aunt Lyra..."

"It does not necessarily mean what you think it means. It could mean something as simple as trust, sharing. The outcome is Judgement, meaning possibly renewel or rite of passage." Lyra cocked her head to one side. "For Catherine and Samantha both they had the Two of Cups and the Ten of Cups in their layouts, good omens for wedding plans. Even Donovan---"

"Even Donovan what?"

Casi turned to see her brother walk in from outside. "Donovan, don't."

He spotted Lyra and the cards and strode toward her. "Damn it, tell me you didn't."

"You were nowhere present at the time. I agreed not to do it in your presence."

Donovan sighed and slumped into a chair. "Now that we're alone." He glanced at Casi pointedly.

Casi just grinned at him and settled deeper in her spot on the sofa. "Go on, D.K., we're all ears."

He let out a sigh, then looked at Lyra. "Is there a connection between the four of us?"

Lyra pushed herself to her feet. "Of course there is, Donovan. It is a foregone conclusion. Any pie left, Cassandra?"

"You'd better ask Ethan, he was busy with the blueberry one earlier. They're both outside."

"Should have known that would be the way she'd answer that."

"Well, then if you knew it was a foregone conclusion, why'd you ask?"

Donovan stared down at his hands. "You and Brittani are good friends, right?"

Casi leaned over and touched his clasped hands. "Very, Donovan. And she'd make a wonderful sister-in-law. Don't wait too much longer."

Donovan looked over at her. "You're not helping here."

"What, you want me to force you to ask her?" Casi narrowed her eyes. "Reverse psychology? Donovan---"

"My hands are clammy. I can't even get a word out when I'm around her. She'll think I'm an idiot."

"I'll say."

Donovan glared at her. "You're still not helping."

Casi threw a small velvet-covered pillow at him, catching him square in the face. "Fine. Don't ask her, the family would hate her. I mean, after all, she's no one special, no gaelic heritage, no ancestry back to the Creation--"

"You be quiet."

"Why should I? I bet you don't even have a ring. No one proposes without a ring."

Donovan shot to his feet, ready to storm for the door, and then bent down and kissed her cheek. "Thanks."

Casi jumped to her feet and followed him out of the door, trying not to grin. She let a little distance get between them before she continued following. She was so focused on her brother, she nearly knocked someone over.

"Should I be worried?" asked Joe.

"Shh, watch."

A few feet away, Donovan stopped in front of Brittani and bent down on one knee. Although he may not have intended for everyone to hear, his voice carried. Without thinking, Casi took Joe's hand as she listened to her brother.

"Brittani, you are my life, my soul. Will you marry me?" He opened a small black box and the afternoon sun glinted off a jewel.

Brittani flushed pink, then noticed all eyes were on them. She nodded jerkily, then mouthed the word yes. Then she moved into Donovan's open arms. Everyone started clapping and cheering. Casi suddenly realized what she'd done as she looked down at their joined hands. She slipped hers free."Sorry."

Joe cleared his throat. "No problem."

Casi spared him a glance, wishing for a moment to be able to read his

mind but knew it would never work. He would leave, just like he said. She only hoped he would have the decency to say goodbye when he did.

***

By evening, everyone not only knew about the match, they'd bet on it, most in favor of Casi winning. Joe shook his head, seated in the front seat of Ethan's rental car. "Definitely not a confidence booster."

Ethan grunted as he followed the car ahead of him. "You could always forfeit."

"Hardly."

Ethan shrugged. "Whatever."

Since the only private pool table was at the MacFairlaigne house in Boston, everyone went in their vehicles to watch. Ethan glanced at Joe. "So why did you suggest switching with Cathy? I would have prefered her."

"Opponents don't usually ride together, last I heard."

"Wrong answer."

"Don't start, Ethan."

"Don't tell me you don't care for her."

"I do, damn it, and that's why I have to go. Don't you see? If I hadn't come back to recuperate, she would have never gotten involved in all this crap, never met Simmons or Raven. God, Ethan, she nearly died---" Joe shook his head. "No. As long as I'm not around, she'll be safe."

"You think? Has Danvers told you her little adventures over the last decade?"

"I got the tale from Treadway."

"And you don't see something wrong with this picture. Looks like she finds trouble even when you're in Timbuktu. Your logic is screwed."

"Back off, Ethan."

Ethan sighed and parked at the curb, since the driveway was full. "Just so you know, I'm betting on Casi."

"Oh, thanks a lot, partner."

"No problem, pal. Good luck just the same."

Joe sighed and shook his head. What he had to do, made sense to him.....

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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.