Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

Joe MacKensey's good mood vanished the instant he saw Casi standing in the middle of the circular driveway, a frown on her face. As he got out of the car, he realized she'd talked to Donovan. Damn. "Casi, I can explain."

She glanced pointedly at her watch. "I should hope so. Where've you been?"

"At that club in Kenmare. I talked to the owner. Everything's ready for tomorrow night." Joe held one hand behind his back, index and middle fingers crossed. Hopefully, that would be all she wanted to know.

"Dad's been waiting half an hour to use his own car."

"Oh. Sorry. Donovan said it was okay."

"Ah, yes. Donovan, my dear brother. He told me you'd borrowed it."

Uh-oh. Her sarcastic tone of voice didn't bode well for him or Donovan. "Is something wrong?"

"Oh not much. Just a meeting at midnight at the homestead."

So that was it. "I told you I was on assignment."

"Yes, I know. Don't you or Jaime get carried away. No oil lamps or lanterns."

"It's supposed to be secret. Why would we use any light at all?"

"Let me warn you then. Jaime has a flair for drama."

"Unfortunately, I know."

Casi glanced over at him, as they entered the house. "That's right. You would. Four years ago?"

"In India."

"India. Before Cairo."

"Uh....yes."

"Relax, I won't have you arrested again."

Joe stopped right there in the wide hallway, halfway to Liam's study. "Why did you?"

Casi looked down at her hands. "I was mad, Joe. You swore you'd be there. Not only weren't you there, you never let me know you weren't coming. Seeing you in Cairo....with that girl...."

It seemed almost funny now, but Joe didn't crack a smile. "You were jealous?"

She hunched her shoulders. "Cat's right. I was attracted to you in Kenya." She suddenly straightened and looked up at him. With an uplifted hand, she traced the tiny white scar bisecting his left eyebrow. "Did you really walk into a tree because you were watching me?"

"Well, you did have a nice backside."

"Did?"

Joe relaxed. "Still do, actually. Not that I would notice something like that."

"Sure." Casi leaned toward him and he automatically pulled her into his arms. God knew this felt so right.

"You'd never notice anything like that," Casi added, a faint smile on her face.

Joe looked down at her. "Is this the truce we agreed on at lunch?"

Casi's goldbrown eyes darted away from his for a moment, and then she looked up at him and sighed. "No." She rested her head on his chest. "You're a hard person to stay angry with."

Joe swallowed hard. He wasn't used to total honesty, not in his line of work where little white lies--and some not so little--were par for the course. He reared back in order to turn her head to look at him. "Casi, you know I have to leave after the wedding."

Not trusting her temper or her voice, Casi just nodded.

He threaded his fingers through her hair. "I don't want you to follow me."

"Joe---"

"Promise?"

She took a step back, but not out of his arms. "I know why you're doing this. But I can't."

"Casi---"

Cassandra shook her head and pulled free of his embrace. "I love you."

"Promise me, Casi."

"What would have happened if I hadn't walked into that hospital room in Hong Kong nine years ago?"

Joe looked away. "I would have figured it out eventually. She would've given herself away."

"But at the cost of who's life?"

"So you're saying only you can beat Lilith?"

"No." Casi grabbed his hands, pulled him toward her. "We can. We were a team then. Why not now?"

"It's too dangerous."

She dropped his hands as if they'd burned her. "Damn it, MacKensey! I'm a grown woman. I wish everyone would stop coddling me."

"I couldn't bear it if you were hurt."

"I've been hurt before. I'm a survivor." Casi didn't like the haunted look in his eyes yet remembered only last year... Her voice softened. "Damn it, I'm not Bryce."

He flinched. "But you could end up like her."

Casi shook her head slowly, feeling her eyes fill with tears. "You can't blame yourself for her death for ever, Joe. It wasn't your fault. It was a no-win scenario. There was nothing you could have done."

Joe took a deep breath. "I don't want to lose you."

"I don't want to lose you."

Joe stopped and looked at her, really looked and saw her eyes glittering with unshed tears. "You won't..." His voice trailed off. "Oh God, Casi....I'd come back from hell if there was a way." He swallowed hard and reached out a hand, wondering if she'd turn away.

Slowly, she took his outstretched hand, laced her fingers with his. "Don't you see?" she said, her voice a mere whisper. "It works both ways. You worry about me but I worry about you."

Gingerly, he pulled Casi toward him. "She...died in my arms, Casi. I could never.....handle that again."

"Joe, I know it's hard to get over that." She raised her free hand and touched his cheek. "But you have to. For both our sakes."

Joe took a deep breath. "I'll try."

***

"What now? We stand out here all night?"

"You know, Ian, you're getting on my last nerve."

Adrian looked over at him. "You don't look that frazzled. The guy on the T-shirt had a really bad hair day."

"You know I hate that T-shirt."

Erick nodded. "And that one from Lousiana? Suck the heads and eat the tail?"

Kari snorted. "I hate that one that says Austin three-sixteen."

Ian gave her a shocked look. "What's wrong with Stone Cold Steve Austin?"

"He's not even that cute," said Penny.

Ian groaned. "Women."

"Oh shut up."

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Are we going in?"

Marc sighed. "Might as well face the music."

Ian shook his head. "That was not even funny."

Marc glared at him, and then yanked open both doors and walked inside before seeing the two people at the far end of the foyer. "Uh-oh," he muttered as everyone else piled in behind him.

His sister turned around. "Ah, there you are. Have fun?"

Marc sighed. Why on earth had he expected her to track him down? She'd known he'd have to come back eventually. "Uh, hi, Case."

"Where're are my diskettes?"

"My room," said Kari. "Sorry, Casi."

"Actually no harm done. I had a back-up set."

Joe looked from Casi to Marc. "What's going on?"

Casi shrugged. "Another skirmish in the Prank Wars. Score another one for me."

Marc grunted. "Whatever. I'll get you back. Eventually."

"Does that mean the war's over?" asked Joe.

"For now," muttered Casi.

"Good. Marc, bachelor party's tomorrow night at Rosie's, at ten o'clock."

"How the hell did you swing that?"

Joe grinned, blew on his knuckles and polished them on his shirt. "Oh, just a little charm and charisma. Legend has it, mine go a long way."

"Only in your mind," said Casi softly.

"I'm shocked," said Ian. "No bribery?"

Joe frowned. "I'm an honest Injun."

"That I seriously doubt," whispered Casi.

Joe looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "You hush, woman."

Casi caught the look between Marc and Ian. "Don't even think it, brother."

"Think what?" asked Marc in an innocent voice.

"You know very well what. It's what started the Prank Wars."

Joe arched an eyebrow. "By the way, what did start the Prank Wars?"

Casi glared at Marcus and didn't answer. Marc just glared back at her. Standing next to Marc, Ian just looked at Joe. Joe frowned, looked from Ian to Marc, and then to Casi. "Me?"

"Actually you and Casi," volunteered Adrian.

Marc sighed. "Remind me to sew his lips shut," he said to no one in particular. "We don't need him singing anyway."

"Hey!"

Casi shook her head. "It's okay. Cat's out of the bag."

Adrian looked puzzled. "What was she doing in a bag? How---?"

"Shut up, Adrian," said Marc.

***

A pale gibbous moon washed the landscape in a silvery glow. Joe MacKensey stood in the loft and surveyed the surrounding area. Moonlight glittered on the nearest of the lakes and made Joe think of that old movie, 'Darby O'Gill and the Little People'. Tonight, he could understand a little better the legendary magic of Ireland, where dancing fireflies could really be fairies, the rustle of leaves the quiet passing of the wee folk off for some mischevious adventures.

A footfall on the lower level made him turn. He squinted down into the shadows. "Who goes there? Trespassers will be shot on sight."

"Good God, I hope not."

"McConnaughhay, you're late."

Once Jaime got to the loft, he snorted. "It's twelve-oh-nine."

"So? You're nine minutes late."

Another man came up the stairs. "MacKensey?"

Joe probably wouldn't have recognized the man if not for his voice. "Well, you look different."

The second man cleared his throat. "The name's Roy Connelly."

Joe nodded. "So, what's up?"

Roy stared at the plank flooring of the loft and took a deep breath. "Industrial espionage."

"Do you have a suspect?"

"I know exactly who it is."

Joe shook his head. "What the hell do you need me for?"

"You know the ins and outs of it," said Jaime. "Four years ago in India?"

"You mean the Hadad Corporation is behind your espionage?"

Roy nodded. "Lilith told me as much when she was finished..." His Irish brogue took on a tone of self-hatred. "....with me."

"Lilith Raven. She's behind your espionage?"

Jaime nodded. "Why did she go after you, MacKensey?"

"Previous encounters," snapped Joe. Of course if Lilith was in town, she was doing Hadad's business. But something didn't mesh here. Lilith had been Khalil's hired hand. When he disappeared, she worked for Omar. But as far as Joe know Omar had been killed when his operation exploded in the jungles of North India. And Shakira had gone into hiding after he and Jon had tracked her to Cairo four years ago. So who was Lilith working for and why was she in Ireland?

Similar questions were running through Casi's mind. Seated on a low rock, her back against the outside wall of the homestead, she knew she couldn't be spotted unless someone knew exactly where to look. Beside her, Cassidy was tense and quiet, her blue eyes wide. Casi frowned, her mind already shifting back to the conversation going on above them. The name Hadad sounded familiar. Why?

"Did she tell you who she was working for?" came Joe's voice, hard and not a little angry.

"No. She told me just enough to gloat."

"Definitely Lilith. What exactly does your company do, Connelly?"

"I own a pharmaceutical supply company. I supply syringes, packaging, nebulizers and things to aid whoever requires something extra."

Casi rested her head against the cold rough wall, thinking furiously. Why would anyone take over a pharmaceutical supply company? Easy access to otherwise restricted medical supplies? She frowned. Was drug smuggling involved here?

"Whoever it is apparently needs something you have? Have you ever dealt with Socrans Pharmaceuticals?"

"That's nothing but a dummy corporation," answered Connelly. "Everybody knows that story about Khalil Hadad killing his father and taking over the family business. Socrans was the name he used, then abandoned, going back to the original name."

"True," said Joe. "But who else would need what you supply?"

"I'd heard Omar was dead," came Connelly's voice.

"Officially missing, unofficially dead," said Joe. "And the sister has vanished."

"That's not all of Khalil's children," said Jaime.

Casi frowned. Khalil Hadad, that name sounded so familiar.

"Damn, you're right," said Connelly. "He had six. But there was a big gap in their ages."

"Khalil disappeared eight years ago." said Jaime.

"I know. So you're going after Raven? Or rather you want me to go after her?" asked Joe.

"Yes."

Cassidy shifted on the stone bench. "Case?" she whispered.

Cassandra looked over at her. "What?"

"Am I wrong," she continued, "or is everyone missing something?"

"What?"

"Who is the woman working for? Could it be someone new?"

Casi nodded. "Maybe. Or another one of Khalil's children."

Above them, Jaime mentioned the same thing.

"Last I heard," said Joe, "Khalil's wife and youngest three disappeared not long after Khalil did."

"That leaves the oldest three," said Connelly. "Omar, Shakira and---"

At that precise moment, Cassandra sneezed----

***

The sound had barely faded and Joe was halfway down the stairs. A dozen scenarios danced through his head and they all had to do with certain tawny-eyed female. He made a swift circle around the old cottage but found nothing---or no one---except for a rock that looked like a bench that was strangely warm despite the chill night air.

Jaime joined him a few moments later and looked at the rock. "Casi?"

"Damn straight."

Jaime sighed. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have given her the message to pass to you."

Joe practically ignored him. "She heard everything."

Connelly came around the corner. "Did you find him?"

"Her," corrected Jaime. "It was Casi."

"Well, you said she was a troubleshooter."

Joe glared at Connelly. "This isn't a joke."

Jaime sighed again. "The thing is, she already knew some of it. That it was industrial espionage and that Lilith Raven was involved."

"I don't need her getting tangled up with Hadad. I'll find Lilith Raven and find out who she's working for."

Connelly nodded. "Like I said, the only other Hadad who could pull this off is Anwar, the second son."

"He was in Merida four years ago," said Jaime.

"That was four years ago," said Joe. "And Omar was hardly a reliable source."

Jaime shrugged. "I'll do some checking then."

"Don't leave a paper trail. If it is Anwar he must be trying to get in touch with Omar or Shakira without anyone noticing."

"Why not just contact them directly?" asked Connelly.

"He probably doesn't know where they are." Joe shook his head. "But if he does something to get their attention..."

"They'll know where to find him," concluded Connelly.

"Exactly. And apparently Raven is doing the leg work."

"You mean the dirty work," grumbled Connelly.

Joe just nodded. "Now all I need to do is find her."

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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.