Joe bolted down the stairs and skidded around the balustrade in his sock feet. He nearly fell but just when he'd steadied himself, he crashed into someone. Only because they were both holding to the railing, they didn't fall down in a heap. "Oh, Auntie, I'm sorry."

"I swear, Joseph. If I've told you a hundred times..." She shook her head. "No running in the house."

"Frank said there was no more breakfast."

"Of course there is breakfast. Laura saved yours in the refrigerator. You just have to warm it." Gertrude shook her head. "Now slow down."

"Yes, Auntie." Joe gave her a quick hug. "Thanks."

"Of course. Now go eat."

Joe darted into the kitchen, found his breakfast and warmed it in the microwave. He frowned, trying to think of how to get Frank back for that. He heard the kitchen telephone ring and grabbed it off the wall. "Hello?...Oh, hey, Vanessa."

Joe forgot about his food and sat down at the table. "Yeah, it's true. You should have seen it, Van. It's like a purplish pink and it drives awesome....I wish. I even dreamed about it last night. Owning a car like that, wow....Yeah, sure, I'll be ready in a heartbeat. Frank's not using the van, so I'll pick you up...Now wait a minute...Oh, okay. I'll be ready and waiting." Joe hung up the phone and hurried out of the kitchen, only to collide with his brother. "You."

Frank arched an eyebrow. "Yes?"

"You told me—" Joe broke off as the phone rang again. He spun on his heel and raced to answer it, but Frank beat him to it. Joe sighed and remembered his food. He got it out of the microwave and sat down.

Frank joined him at the table, an odd look on his face, as he watched his brother eat. "Really?...We'd love to."

Joe looked up from his eggs. "wto what?" he mumbled.

"It sounds great...All right, bye." Frank switched the cordless phone off and just sat there. "Wow."

Joe narrowed his eyes. "Are you pulling a prank? Again? Like with breakfast? I ought to find some way of getting you back..." Joe's voice trailed off. "Who was that?"

"Marc MacFairlaigne. He was saying that because of the contest, they're doing a short tour around the state. He said most of the roadies usually go home for Christmas, so he said he needed a couple of extra hands."

Joe's eyes widened. "No way."

"Get this. He talked to another rocker who even vouched for us."

Joe shook his head. "No way. That dude, Buddy Death, couldn't stand us."

"No, it was the other guys in his band. Anyway, Marc said they'd leave Monday, be back Thursday."

"Oh wow – roadies for Sorcerer. I'm in heaven."

Frank laughed. "We just have to swing this with our parents."

"Okay, I just crashed down to earth again. They're not going to let us go."

"It's not like we'll miss Christmas."

"Who's missing Christmas?" asked Laura as she walked into the kitchen, carrying several grocery bags.

Joe and Frank shared a look. Uh-oh.

                                                ***

Frank didn't remember the last time they had a family meeting. In a way, it was better. He didn't have to explain things more than once. But over the years, they always tried to have a real family Christmas – even Fenton would try to take it off if he could.

Fenton sat there, next to his wife, one ankle propped on the other knee, one arm behind Laura, the other one tapping against the heel of his shoe. "You said you'd be back Thursday?"

Gertrude grunted, seated in her rocker, next to a pile of yarn. Her knitting needles clicked rapidly as she worked. "You can't be serious, Fenton. Heaven knows what kind of dangers there could be traveling with some rock band."

Fenton glanced at his older sister. "I've met Marc MacFairlaigne and he seems a nice young man." He turned to Laura. "Well? I have that meeting in New York, I have to go to this week. You'll have Gertrude to keep you company."

Laura stared at the tree for a long moment. "Just promise me—" She looked at Frank, and then Joe and finally her husband. "Just promise me you will all get back by Christmas Eve. No later."

Joe bounced to his feet and gave her a hug. "We promise, Mom. Thanks, Dad." He hurried out of the living room and up the stairs.

Gertrude shook her head. "Kids these days. No patience."

Frank got up and hugged his mother. "Thanks, Mom, Dad." He followed Joe out of the room and up the stairs.

Fenton sighed and watched the lights twinkle on the Christmas tree. Then he looked at Laura. "I promise too, sweetheart."  He gave her a kiss on the cheek, squeezed her shoulder and got to his feet. "I have to get those papers in order, if I'm leaving tomorrow.

Laura watched her husband go into his office and shut the door. She saw Gertrude watching her and she forced a smile. "Don't fret, Gertrude, I'm hardly worried." She got to her feet. "At least I'll have peace and quiet to get the pies and cookies done this year," she added, heading for the kitchen.

Once alone, she took a deep breath and couldn't hide a shiver. This didn't feel right. She didn't know why. It just didn't feel right.

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.