Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

First came the pain. Dull and throbbing from the back of his head to the soles of his feet. Then came the light both welcome and painful. His head felt stuffed and twice as big as normal. His eyes were gritty and oversensitive to the late afternoon sun. He tried to swallow but his throat felt as dry as the Sahara. Joe cracked his eyes open and groaned as pain washed over him, settling unrelentingly at the back of his head, his lower jaw and his right hand.

Vaguely, he remembered the car accident but why did his hand hurt. Joe carefully moved his head---it still felt too big, too heavy for his neck--and looked down. Blood was crusted thickly around a jagged gash in his palm. It didn't look deep, but damn, it hurt.

Joe looked around him. He was on a low hillock, facing a deep blue lake. Somewhere in his aching head, a voice whispered, the lakes of Killarny. That sounded familiar, he thought. A face danced before his blurry eyes. Casi. Reality came crashing back in hard brutal waves. Lilith Raven did this.

Joe staggered to his feet, feeling nauseous and dizzy. What the hell had been in that syringe? he wondered, noting the angle of the sun. Afternoon, soon dark. Would anyone worry? He looked around. How far was he from Killarny? Could he make it?

A loud roar---sounding like a cross between the growl of a bear and the drone of a lowflying airplane--crashed against his eardrums. Super-sensitivity to light and noise, he thought distractedly, probably not a good sign. Recognizing the sound of motorcycle, Joe managed to straighten up. Dizzy, nausea...whatever had been in that syringe and now in his body was potent.

He finally spotted the motorcycle and it's rider. A slender figure in floral walking shorts and cream tank top, the psychedelic helmet hiding the face, struck a chord nonetheless. A nondescript tan sedan followed the motorcycle. They stopped by what looked like a hunk of black metal in the ditch. Suddenly, his eyes focused and he realized what it was. Joe groaned. Oh man, the car. He staggered toward them, his breathing already ragged. Funny, he mused abstractly, he'd never known Casi owned a motorcycle...

***

"I don't like this." Casi unstrapped the helmet and yanked it off.

"It's not bad. Anybody could walk away from this. Maybe he walked to Kenmare."

"Why didn't you see him?"

"Casi," Jaime sighed, watching as she half-slid down into the ditch and checked the interior. "It's a minor fender-bender, nothing drastic."

Casi shook her head, staring at the seatbelt in her hand. The three-inch wide strap had a smooth sharp edge halfway through, then a jagged tear. "I disagree. The seatbelt's been sabotaged."

Startled, Jaime came to her side. That's when he saw the dents running from the bumper to the driver's side door. "Someone forced him off the road. Why the bloody hell would they do that?"

Casi raised her head to answer Jaime but what she saw made her gasp. "Joe!"

"Please, not so loud," he croaked, sounding like death warmed over.

Casi dropped the ruined seatbelt and scrambled up the embankment to his side. She lightly touched his face. "What happened?"

Joe opened his mouth to say anything but the truth but what came out wasn't what he'd meant to say. "Lilith Raven."

"I'll kill her."

Casi didn't sound surprised, thought Joe, realizing he was leaning on her. He started to straighten up but she tightened her hold on his waist. "Jaime, can you take him back to the castle? He'll fall off the bike."

"No, I won't," mumbled Joe, squinting at the red-haired guy, knowing he looked familiar.

"Of course, Casi." The man came up the embankment. "Hello, MacKensey. It's been a long time."

Casi frowned. "Jaime, don't tease him when he can't remember. Come on," she said to Joe. "Car's over here."

"But I do." said Joe, not budging. "It's not been that long, McConnaughhay."

"As if it had been a test, Jaime nodded. "Ah, true. You apparently survived."

"As did you."

Casi looked from Joe to Jaime. "Wait a minute. The last time I know you two saw each other was Christmas eight years ago."

Joe shook his head, then held onto Casi as a wave of dizziness came. He sincerely wished the world wouldn't spin quite so fast. "Four years ago. India."

Jaime grunted. "Yes, well, I'll never go there again. Nasty, mosquito-infested jungles. I still don't understand your attraction, Casi."

Casi started to explain, then decided not to bother. That had been another point of contention between her and Jaime. She gave Joe a sideways glance. But Joe had understood then. That meant something, didn't it? She tugged on his arm. "Come on, let's get you in the car."

"I'd rather ride with you."

"You'll fall off."

"I'll hold on to you."

"There's not an extra helmet."

"Don't need one."

Casi frowned. He was getting argumentive. According to his brother Jon years ago, that usually meant he was feeling better. "Joe---"

"Want me to drive?"

"Hell no. You wreck Marc's pride and joy and he'll kill both of us."

"Then you drive. I'll ride shotgun."

Casi let out an explosive sigh, knowing she couldn't make him ride in the car, he was a grown man. "Fine. But if you fall off the back of the motorcycle, I'm not coming back to get you."

Joe shrugged, then winced as the movement jarred his head. "All's fair in love and war."

"Oh shut up and come on." Casi steered him toward the motorcycle. It was a deep glittery red affair, full of unleashed power. Casi straddled the seat, scooting up enough to let him climb on behind her. "Hold on." she said, slipping the helmet over her head. She started it up, revved the engine and took off.

Joe closed his eyes against the wind. The fresh air cleared the last of the cobwebs from his brain. Now his only distraction was the dull headache that refused to go away. That and her. His hands were on her waist, he could feel the waistband of the shorts beneath the tanktop. Her hair escaping beneath the helmet was in a messy braid tied with a piece of ribbon and smelled of peaches and something else. The tanktop's scoop neckline dipped lower in the back and he could plainly see the cinnamon colored freckles scattered across her shoulders.

Slowly, he slid his hands around her waist, clasping them in front of her, taking care with his injured hand. Exhaustion swept over him and in flashes, he realized he didn't have to act macho with this woman. Not after last year, when she determinedly bulldozed through his anger, silence and pain. She knew him, she loved him.

Casi felt his head rest against her shoulder blades, felt his hands flat against her stomach. Tears came unbidden and with the helmet on, she couldn't wipe them away. What had Lilith done this time? She pulled into the driveway to find a very irate Marcus waiting for her.

"What the hell did you think you were doing, hijacking my Harley?"

Casi cleared her throat, mustered some anger to cover the hurt. "Oh, shove it, Marcus and help."

Her brother came closer and his green eyes widened. "Hey, Joe, man, you okay?"

"Yeah, bum, couldn' be better." His words slurred and even to his own ears, he sounded drunk.

Casi yanked off the helmet and shook her head at Marc's questioning look. He helped Joe off the bike, then glanced at the red leather seat, then at his sister. "Well, at least you didn't damage the leather."

Joe cleared his throat. "Nice bike."

"Yeah, I'd like to think so." Marc caught Casi's glare then saw her mouthing the words, 'Room, now.' Marc nodded. "Come on, pal."

As Casi set the helmet on the bike's saddle, Marc steered Joe toward the front door. He spared one last glance for his sister only to see her standing there, face pale, eyes closed.

Ian came out the door. "So there's the little thief. Never knew Casi could ride." At Marc's glare, Ian raised both eyebrows. "What?"

"Go help her get the Harley stowed."

Ian studied his old friend for a heartbeat. An unrepentant class clown from kindergarten on, Ian had always ignored the serious side of life when he could but Marc's expression was worried and Ian knew the bike wasn't that important. "Sure,whatever." But as Ian got closer to Casi, he saw she was crying. He didn't like to see her upset, having long ago adopted her as the sister he'd never had. "Aw, Case," he said gently, pulling her into his arms. "What's wrong?"

She just shook her head, then cried on his shoulder.

Marc led Joe to his room and made an uneasy discovery. The guy wasn't drunk. He had a knot on the back of his head, bruises on his chin and a gash on his hand. Marc was no paramedic but he could tell Joe's eyes were dilated and his skin was very pale. "Hey, dude, lay down, take a load off."

Joe managed a grin. "Not a bad idea," he muttered, sitting on the bed. Marc gently pushed him backward and as Joe fell against the pillows, Marc hefted his feet up to the mattress and yanked the boots off.

Erick poked his head in the door with a frown, having seen Marc practically manhandle Joe up the stairs. "What's up?"

"I don't know. Find Ethan. I'm going to call the doctor."

***

Casi straightened up, dashed the tears away. "Oh, Ian, you really do have a heart of gold."

He shrugged, brushed a damp tendril of hair off her cheek. "Just don't blab it to the world."

Casi gave a weak laugh. "Our little secret."

Ian couldn't remember seeing Casi this upset since her college graduation. Funny, it had involved Joe then too. Only then the tears had come from anger. "Okay, what is it?"

"Joe's injured. I need to check on him."

Ian gestured to the motorcycle. "Let me stow the bike and I'll walk you up."

Casi didn't ask why he was stalling but she didn't care. She just nodded. Ian came back a few minutes later and they went inside only to find Marc on the downstairs hall phone. "Yes," he said into the receiver. He glanced at Casi, placed his palm over the mouthpiece. "He's sleeping. Ethan's with him. I called Dr. O'Reilly. He's put me on hold."

Casi nodded and bolted up the stairs.

Ethan looked up as she arrived in the doorway, then got out of the chair, pulled her into the room and shut the door. "Marc said Joe was in an accident. What really happened?"

Casi moved to the bed. "There was an accident. The Bentley's banged up like someone ran him off the road. And the driver's seatbelt was sabotaged."

Ethan waited a moment, leaning against the door, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "And?"

Casi turned around, took a deep breath. "Joe said Lilith Raven did it."

Ethan cursed low under his breath for nearly a full minute, then sighed and gazed at a blank spot on the wall. "Joe's on assignment. Jack thought---"

"I know, Ethan. It has something to do with industrial espionage and Roy Connelly's electronics business."

Ethan stared at her surprised, then just shook his head more in resignation than disagreement. "Jack thought the Hadads were behind it. You know, Lilith Raven's their hired hand."

Joe groaned. "Sniper. She's th'sniper."

Casi bent down, touched his lips. "Shh."

There was a soft knock on the door. Ethan pulled it open to find Marc standing there. "Case, Dr. O'Reilly is coming out. He thinks this is serious."

Ethan gave Casi a warning look. "So do I."

"Yeah, well, the pupil dilation and seeming drunkeness could be the result of a concussion from the accident, Doc said...." Marc looked from his sister to his soon-to-be brother-in-law. "Or it could be drug-induced." He paused a moment, waiting, then heaved a sigh. "Well?" he prompted, glaring at Casi.

"Well what? Car's pretty banged up."

Ethan cleared his throat. "Car accidents are the worst, you know. You think you're fine, and a week later, you're having aches in places you didn't even know existed."

Casi didn't know what bothered her more--that Ethan was helping perpetuate the lie or that Marc suspected something was going on. "Exactly. Remember the wreck that Cat was in?" she said, glaring at her brother, wanting Marc to go away.

Ethan sucked in a hard breath. She knew. Oh damn, Cathy had told her.

Marc snorted. "Yeah, well, since I'm obviously not welcome up here I'll go wait for O'Reilly." Marc grabbed the doorknob and pulled the door behind him, stopping right at the last minute to close it soundlessly.

Casi took another deep breath, crouched by the bed and brushed a strand of gold blond hair off of Joe's bruised forehead. "It was drug-induced."

"We don't know that."

Casi shot up, spun around. "I know that." She flung a hand toward Joe sprawled on the bed. "He's been banged up worse in football, on his assignments. It was a damn fender-bender, car landed in the ditch. It wasn't the accident that did this. It was Lilith Raven and it was drug-induced."

Ethan saw her eyes fill with tears. "Oh, Casi, you love him don't you."

"Yes," she whispered. Then his tone registered. "Yes," she said louder. "I love him, Ethan."

"Casi--"

"Don't."

"I just don't want you hurt."

"Damn it! What is it with everybody? I'm a grown woman. If my heart gets broken it's because I ignored the warning signs." She glared at Ethan. "Back off."

Joe stirred on the bed and opened his eyes. "What's.....all the.....ruckus?" he asked hoarsely.

Ethan came up to the bed. "Aw, nothin', pard. Just the usual hootenanny."

Joe looked up at Ethan and frowned, then managed to halfway sit up. "She killed her, Ethan. She killed Bryce."

Casi stared at Joe, a feeling of dread creeping over her. "Lilith killed Bryce?"

Joe's face was cold and his blue eyes lethal. "Yes. And I will kill her."

"Well, rest for now, pard." Ethan knew from experience that his partner was impulsive but he also knew that Joe had a long memory when it came to revenge. Lilith Raven was the target now, but would Joe survive it this time?

***

Kent O'Reilly hadn't done housecalls in a good twelve years. But Marc MacFairlaigne had piqued his interest. He'd been the MacFairlaigne family doctor for nearly half his life now, ever since Alannah had given birth to Marc, their second child, at the castle. The only reason he hadn't delivered the eldest boy, Donovan, was that Alannah had been in France at the time. Kent frowned, puzzling how old the eldest boy would be now, as he drove.

The ancestral home loomed up before him in the twilight, a black silhouette against the purple sky. He pulled into the circular drive, grabbed his old black doctor's bag and walked up to the front door. The doors swung open before he even knocked. Marc managed a terse smile. "Hey, Doc. Come on in."

"Hello, Marcus. Where is he?"

"This way." Marc led the older man up the stairs to a closed door and knocked.

The door swung open and Kent smiled gently. "Ah, Cassandra, my girl, haven't seen you in ages." he said, remembering the paid private flight he'd taken to Scotland to deliver her and her sister.

Casi hugged him. "Hello, Doctor."

"So where's the patient?"

"Over here."

Kent O'Reilly went over to the bed and opened his satchel. "All right. Be gone with ye now."

Marc gently pulled Casi out of the room and down the hall. "Come on, Case, you look a little frazzled."

Casi snorted. "That's a mild way of putting it."

Marc studied her for a moment. "He's lucky."

Casi frowned over at her brother. "What do you mean?"

"He's got you. You love him?"

Instead of feeling anger, Casi only felt sad now. "Marc, don't you start."

"All I asked was do you love him?"

"Yes."

"And does he love you?"

"Yes. Marc---"

"How does a double wedding sound?"

Casi stared at him, then shook her head. "Marc, he hasn't even proposed."

"Oh. Well, he has two days."

Casi wasn't sure if Marc was serious or just trying to make her laugh. She sighed. "Go meddle in someone else's love life, brother mine."

"Cat's?"

"No. Too chancy." Casi suddenly remembered the prank she and Cat had set up earlier. "Donovan's," she said, a slow grin coming on.

Marc winked at her and started for the stairs. "Now that's a good idea."

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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.