Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

Seated in the tower room, making place cards, she grinned. Sometimes Marc could be a royal pain in the ass. "Damn it, Marc," exclaimed her other brother. "Move."

"Cat wanted rose-colored balloons from Drennan's Party Supplies. Where'd you get these?"

"The mall."

"Can't do one thing you're asked. Just one thing."

"Oh, shut the hell up," snapped Donovan.

"Make me."

"You're cruisin---"

"Oh my God!"

Cassandra MacFairlaigne shot up from the computer to poke her head out the nearest window of the tower room. Her twin sister, Catherine, the bride-to-be, was staring at the balloons gently bobbing in the breeze. "Who--?"

"Donovan," answered Marc, his arms folded across his chest, looking very smug.

Casi leaned on the window ledge and watched as Catherine turned on Donovan. "Idiot, I wanted pink balloons."

"They're pink."

"They're bright neon pink. Oohh---" For good measure, Catherine punched him in the arm as hard as she could and stalked away.

Marc nodded sagely. "Pre-wedding jitters. She'll be all right. Of course, you're not helping."

"Shut up, Marcus."

Casi grinned and leaned halfway out of the tower window. "Marc, stop teasing him," she called down. "And, Donovan, I have four bags of mauve-colored balloons. I'll toss 'em down."

Both men looked up, startled. Donovan frowned. "Mauve? I know that color. Why didn't she say that to begin with? Thanks, sis," he added.

"Anytime, brother." Casi threw the cellophane bags of balloons down to the flagstone patio.

"You know how to ruin a guy's fun, that's for sure," groused Marc, his long blond hair in a loose queue at the nape of his neck.

"Put all that hot air to good use, brother dear," said Casi with a shake of her head and sat back down at the computer with a sigh. Lord, get her brothers together for any length of time and they reverted back to pre-adolescence. She was beginning to have real sympathy for Carl.

"You blow like a girl."

"Oh, and you're Superman, right?"

"Next best thing."

"W e need some small ones on the podium anyway."

There was a snort. "Yeah...sure, little brother."

There was a spluttering sound, followed by an odd whistling noise. "Hey," shouted Donovan, sounding startled. "What did you do that for?"

"I don't know what came over me, big brother," replied Marc, sounding like a wide-eyed innocent. "Sometimes I do strange things when people insult me."

Before something drastic happened---like Marc winding up in the lake, trussed up with balloon strings---Casi stuck her head out the window again. "Hey, pipe down, I'm working up here."

"Her highness has spoken, peasant," said Marc, sarcastically.

"Make like a clam, Marcus Andrew," Casi retorted, heading back to the computer. She distinctly heard Donovan chuckle. If her brothers had resumed their bickering, she could no longer hear them. Casi relaxed her shoulders and glanced at the list of people she still had to make placecards for. Her fingers rested lightly on the contoured keys as she started on the next name. Ahh......peace and-----

A loud horn blow shattered the quiet, making her jump. Casi glared at the computer screen where the letters J-a-r-e-t-s-d-f-g-h-j-k-l-;-' glowed amber on black. What the hell?

She heard a powerful motor roar up the drive, the tires crunching on gravel.. She got up to see who it was when Marc's voice stopped her. "Yo, dude, long time no see! Where'd you snag those wheels? James Bond?"

"Hello, to you, too, bum."

Cassandra went very still. Despite Marc's long curly hair and strategically ripped shirts and jeans, he was hardly a bum. Only one person called him that as a joke. Casi frowned. What the hell was he doing here?

"Good to see you, man," said Donovan. "It's been too long."

"Yeah, dude, figured you were tied up---or something."

She could see him grin---and she was nowhere near the window. "Did you forget I'm an escape artist? Houdini taught me all I know."

"Houdini was dead before you were born."

"That explains it then. I am Houdini."

Marc snorted derisively. "Nice car."

"Yeah. Handles smooth, hugs the road on the curves..." She could easily see him gesturing as he spoke. "So where's Ethan? Is he scared shitless yet?"

Casi sucked in a breath. Ethan? Damn, he'd never told her who his best man was, she'd assumed it was Erick. She burst out of the tower room, ran down the curved stairs and into the main house. "Ethan!"

"Yeah? Where's the fire?"

"He's here. You never said---"

"He who?"

Casi wasn't in the mood for Ethan's jokes. "Damn, Ethan, you could've given me fair warning."

Ethan's smile faded. "I figured you'd bolt."

"Bolt? You mean leave? Why the hell would I leave just because the idiot is your best man?"

"Idiot? Nice to see you too," drawled that familiar voice from the doorway.

Casi turned around. "And you. Didn't your mother ever teach you any manners? You're supposed to knock before coming in. And you're supposed to say goodbye before you leave." Casi told herself to shut up before she let something crucial slip. She ran up the grand staircase, quickly disappearing from view.

Marc and Donovan who had followed Joe into the huge entrance hall shared a confused look. "What was that all about," asked Marc.

Joe MacKensey took a deep breath. "Just an old argument."

Ethan gave his partner a sharp look and cleared his throat. "I see you made it back from Thailand in one piece."

Joe shrugged. "Yeah, well, had a little assistance there."

Ethan frowned. "Not her. Not again."

"Who?" asked Donovan.

"A mercenary named Kendra. Black hair, blue eyes as cold as ice and legs. Man, does she have legs."

Marc grinned. "My kind of girl."

Donovan snorted. "Maybe in your nightmares. And you'd better not let Kari hear you say that."

"You're the newlywed, not me."

"Speaking of newlyweds, I believe I need to host a bachelor party." Joe's grin was more a lusty leer. "Where's the nearest strip joint?"

Ethan shook his head. "Not a good idea."

"That's what you always say. And we're still alive."

"We won't be when Cathy finds out."

"Chicken."

"No thanks, not hungry."

Marc shook his head. "Oh...that was lame."

***

Cassandra ducked into her room and shut the door. Anger surged through her like an electrical charge. And yet, the urge to cry was strong. She'd wanted to slap his face, she'd wanted to thank him for the painting. Damn, she'd had that feeling that morning nine months ago, but hadn't wanted to believe....

She stalked over to her bed and punched a pillow. Wished fervently that it was him. Maybe she shouldn't have taken her aunt's advice all those months ago and let him win that damn pool game.

A knock sounded on the door. She ignored it, figured it was her brother. But the muffled voice on the other side of the door wasn't Donovan's. "Casi, I know you're in there."

She yanked the door open to find him with his hand upraised, ready to knock again. "What?"

"We need to talk." He lowered his arm, leaned against the doorjamb.

"Oh? After nine months, you finally realized that?"

"Casi--"

"No. Go away. There's no law in any country that says the maid of honor and the best man have to like each other."

He sighed but didn't budge. "We have to stop meeting at weddings."

Casi swore she wouldn't smile---or cry. "I said go away."

"I can't. I'm the best man."

"I meant from the immediate vicinity, like away from my door."

He pushed himself from the door frame. "Casi---" He shook his head. "What do you want me to say? I'm sorry? Then I am. I was wrong? I don't know. All I do know---"

"Don't."

"We need to talk."

Casi tore her gaze from his, stared down at his feet and memories of nine months flashed through her mind in seconds. Finally, she raised her head. "Not here."

Joe just looked at her, his eyes sharp, assessing. "Where?"

"There's the Strawberry Tree in town."

"Sounds good, let's go." He led her down the stairs and outside to his rental car, an old black turbo-charged Bentley.

Casi ran a hand over a polished fender, following the curve. "James Bond, indeed. You gonna show me the secret weapons' arsenal?"

Joe frowned over at her as he ushered her into the left-hand passenger seat. "They haven't been restocked yet."

"Ha, ha. Very funny."

They headed into Killarney in an almost comfortable silence, Casi sneaking glances at him. Why was it so hard to stay angry with him for leaving like he did? "So why didn't you say goodbye?"

Joe looked over at her for a long moment, then sighed and focused on the road. "I....figured it would be easier. There was enough water under the bridge to make things awkward."

"You should have said goodbye. Awkward or not. There were things....left unsaid."

Joe glanced at her. "Perhaps with good reason." He shook his head. "I'm not saying I didn't enjoy staying at your house. I'm not sure exactly why I enjoyed it, considering....So Danvers still in the picture?"

Casi shook her head. "No. Wyatt fired him the day after you left and Dare vanished again."

"I guess Zackery left too."

"Not exactly. He's moving to Provincetown."

Joe spared a moment to look at her. "Are you saying Lyra....? She knew?"

"You should not be freaking out over that anymore. Anyway, Sam and Zack are getting married in June." Casi took a deep breath. "Thank you for the painting."

"Wyatt knew you liked it, said you should have it for helping out even when he'd ordered you not to."

Casi managed a half-laugh. "Maybe he isn't such a pompous ass after all."

Joe chuckled. "Yeah. Where's the Strawberry Tree?"

"Plunkett Road, on the left."

Joe followed her directions to the popular eatery, then pulled into a parking space. He turned to Casi. "I'd meant to come back for your birthday..."

"Joe." Casi shook her head. "Don't."

He propped his forearm on the over-sized steering wheel and stared out the windshield, focusing on the red brick exterior of a curio shop. "I was afraid I wouldn't be able to leave. But I had to."

"Don't." Casi felt very close to tears, fighting not to cry. She really didn't want to hear this, hear more excuses. So much for getting over him.

He didn't seem to hear her. "I didn't know if I was really falling for you or if it was just a rebound effect."

"Thanks," muttered Casi, sarcastically. Suddenly she whipped her head around to look at him. "What did you just say?"

Joe blinked, then turned to look at her. He cleared his throat and shut off the engine. "I did care for Bryce, Casi. It knocked me for a loop when she was killed---"

Casi clamped down hard on the spurt of jealousy that threatened to well up inside of her. She forced herself to speak calmly. "I know." She found she had to clear her throat. What had he really meant? "Come on, let's eat."

They went into the Strawberry Tree, settled down at a corner table and ordered the day's special. Joe rested his elbows on the checkered tablecloth. "So Zack decided to stay after all?"

"He did leave for awhile. Sam got letters from him every day and he called almost constantly. It wasn't a week later, he was back."

"Wow, and to think how they met."

"No stranger than how we met."

Joe sat back in his chair, folded his arms across his chest. "True. Very true."

"Yeah." Casi found herself watching him, his gestures, his expressions, letting herself really look at him. She saw the scar

from errantly walking into a tree that was now a thin white line that bisected his left eyebrow. How could she have forgotten his good looks?

He grinned. "So the wedding is this June?"

"Yes. And they're arguing over the guest list, the colors and...."

"I get the picture." Joe turned serious as the waitress set their plates of food down and left, telling them to enjoy in her strong Irish brogue. He took a deep breath. "And Jody and Gail?"

Casi looked at him, suspecting he needed to know something more than his question implied. "What do you want to know," she asked, a trace of spite touching her voice. "That Justin and Abigail are none the worse for wear? That they're happier with you out of town? That they hated to kick you out? You had time at the barbecue, why didn't you talk it out then?"

Joe winced, stared down at his food, took another deep breath. "Actually, I was wondering if Gail liked the set of dishes I sent her and Jody for their anniversary."

Casi sucked in a startled breath. "Set of....dishes?" She searched his face, wondering if he was joking. "Joe!"

"Well, I broke a few."

Casi stared at him and from somewhere deep down inside her, a bubble of laughter rose up and she fought to keep a straight face. "So....you sent her a new set of dishes."

"It was the least I could do."

Casi shook her head. "You look good." she said after a long moment.

"Shoulder's good as new, now. Only hurts before a storm."

Casi took a deep breath. "I'm not sure I understand what you said earlier. Did you say falling for me?"

His head shot up. "Now is not the time."

Sudden anger made her glare at him. "If not now, when? I'm sick and tired of being guarded, protected and whatever hell else everyone tries to do. Tell me."

Joe studied her for a moment, then slowly, deliberately put down his utensils. "Excuse me?" he countered in a low, hard voice.

Casi stood up, her appetite completely gone. "I think I will. Enjoy." She turned and quickly exited the restaurant.

Joe stared after her, first startled, then angry. Damn, what did she want him to say?

The waitress stepped over to their table. "Is something wrong?"

Joe cleared his throat. "Uh no. Just box up the dinners. I guess we should have gotten them to go."

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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.