3 HARDYS & A PRINCESS

by

PiperMerlyn

Chapter 8

The Chapters

INTRO

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

EPILOGUE

Joe Hardy stepped up to the door leading into the warehouse and then glanced over his shoulder. He did a double take as he saw a slender petite girl walk toward him. She had long dark hair and something about her gave him a moment's deja vu. He tapped Frank on the shoulder and cleared his throat.

Frank frowned. "What?"

"You mean, who."

Frank turned around to follow Joe's gaze as the girl came up to them. "Hello," she said, in a faint British accent.

Joe nodded. "Hello."

"I'm Sloane Willoughby. And you?"

Joe stared at her and Frank wondered why his brother was being rude. Finally, he looked at Sloane and smiled. "I'm Frank Hardy and this is my brother Joe." He nudged Joe hard. "The polite thing to do, is say, Nice to meet you."

Joe blinked and nodded. "Nice to meet you."

Sloane looked past them. "Is this some sort of hang out?"

Frank felt the first inkling of suspicion sneak over him. Something was odd about this conversation. "You could say that." He glanced at Joe and nudged him again. "Right, Joe?"

Joe swallowed hard. "Uh, right." He gestured to the door. "After you."

Sloane smiled and stepped past them into the warehouse. Frank turned on his brother. "I haven't seen you speechless with a girl in a long long time. What's with you?"

Joe shook his head, still staring after Sloane. "She...Her...." He cleared his throat again. "Sloane. Her name was Sloane."

Frank arched an eyebrow. "Your point being?"

"In my...you know, the girl, the fellow agent...her name was India Sloan." Joe took a deep breath. "Her name was India Sloan."

Frank looked into the warehouse, saw Sloane meeting with Mitch and Linc as well as Rachel and Rick. "Sloan...you think she's MI6?"

Joe shook his head so vigorously, he nearly hit the side of the warehouse. "No, no, no, no. That would be too crazy." He finally tore his gaze from Willoughby and looked at Frank. "Wouldn't it?"

Frank narrowed his eyes. "Come on." He grabbed Joe's jacket sleeve and pulled his brother into the warehouse to see Jordan chatting with the red-haired girl and a slim willowy blond girl who seemed shy. "Joe," Frank jabbed Joe with his elbow. "I think that's Rory."

"Would you stop that? I'm not a punching bag."

"I swear I'm putting a lock on that damn door."

The brothers turned to see Kane glaring in the direction of Sloane Willoughby. "Who the hell is that?" He barely spared a glance at the brothers before veering for the newcomer.

"Well, he didn't order us out," said Frank.

Joe dodged away from Frank. "Keep your elbows to yourself." He headed toward Jordan and the two girls. "Jordan, how'd your game go?"

Jordan sighed. "Linc beats me. He always beats me."

"Maybe if you give it up as a lost cause," said the red-haired girl, shaking her head. Her single long earring swung, glittering in the overhead light.

"Hey, Ash, now, why would I do that?" Jordan swung an arm around each girl.

"Mia would get jealous," said the blond, trying to pull free.

"Ah, what Mia doesn't know, won't kill me." Jordan got his first glance at the dark-haired girl talking to Rachel and let out out a faint squeal. "Mia." He yanked his arms away from the girls and started forward.

"Her name is Sloane Willoughby," said Frank, stopping Jordan. "Relax."

"Whew. Thanks, man. Would've looked like an idiot there." Jordan rolled his shoulders, jerked his head in the direction of the blond. "That's Rory," he said in quieter tone.

Frank nodded and would have stepped forward but Joe was faster. Joe smiled at Rory. "Hi."

Rory gave him a quick look and stepped back. "Uh, hi."

Joe wondered if he should be careful or just tell her the blunt truth. He took a deep breath. "Ella misses you," he said quietly.

Rory's head jerked up and she stared up at him. "What?"

"Sag Harbor's police chief Veronica Preston asked our father to take care of Ella, while we look for you. I'm Joe Hardy and the dark-haired guy with Jordan is my brother Frank."

"Ella's okay?" asked Rory, shivering.

"She's scared, Rory. She misses her family, she misses you."

"I--" Rory swallowed hard, and lowered her head. "I...don't know what to do."

"Come back with Frank and I, see Ella. She's terribly worried about you."

Kane stepped up to them, grabbed Rory by the arm. "Rory, what did I tell you about talking to strangers? Come on."

Frank joined them just then, blocking Kane. "Wait. Our father is Fenton Hardy, he's a private investigator and he's helping the police chief here. Ella's at our house but she needs her sister."

Kane took a deep breath. "She's safe here."

"You can come with us," said Frank, suddenly. He felt Joe's frown directed toward him but ignored his brother. "It might be safer for you too."

Kane shook his head. "Not me. I don't belong anywhere but here." He looked down at Rory. "Maybe you should go."

Rory gave him a startled look, fear in her hazel eyes. She swallowed hard and looked over at Frank and Joe. "If Ella is really with you, what's her favorite TV show?"

Joe grinned. "Dukes of Hazzard," he said quietly.

Rory smiled then and nodded. "Has she called you Bo yet?"

Joe laughed. "Yeah and him Luke," Joe added, pointing to Frank.

"Okay,  I'll go with you. Kane..."

"I'll be fine, Rory. Go get your stuff."

"It's probably for the best, Kane," said the red-haired girl, Ash, as Rory darted through a doorway.

Frank gave a start. Had she overheard everything? He turned to look at her but she shook her head. "Don't fret, pal. Won't tell a soul."

She grinned as he just looked at her. "I have my own rules, buster, and one of them is no snitching on friends. Her secret's safe."

"You can trust Ash," said Kane, heavily. "You can trust everyone here."

Joe looked over at Missy. "Even her?" he asked quietly.

Kane took a deep breath. "I don't know much about her."

"How'd she join the group then?" asked Frank.

"Walked in off the street. Like you two did. Like Sattler and his pals did. Ash knew her from school, so did Jude."

Rory came back, a backpack hanging from one shoulder. "I'm ready."

Ash gave her arm a pat. "It'll be okay. I know it will."

"Thanks, Ash."

Ash noticed Frank and Joe looking at her. "I dabble a little. Crystal ball, Tarot cards, scrying."

Just then Jude joined them to overhear Ash. "Dabble? Don't be ridiculous. She's in a coven and everything."

Joe frowned. "A coven?"

"I'm a Wiccan," said Ash, with a shrug. "We worship nature."

"And dabble in magic," said Jude, smiling. She slung an arm around Ash. "We still love you though, even though you've gone weird on us. Her nickname is Willow."

Kane grunted. "Don't you dare say it Jude. If I hear that stupid nickname one more time..."

"Well, at least you don't have a demon for a girlfriend."

Rory grinned and shook her head at the brothers. "Don't ask."

Joe and Frank started for the door, with Rory between them. Joe didn't know why but he had a bad feeling about just walking out, like someone might try to stop them.

"Hey, Rache, Rick, let's go," called Jordan from behind them.

"Rory?" Missy stepped in front of them, looking puzzled. "Where are you going?"

"To see my sister."

Missy thought for a long minute. "Then she is okay?"

"Hello," came the softly accented voice of Sloan Willoughby. She tapped Missy on the shoulder. " You are in their way."

Missy scowled at Sloan, hatred flashing in her dark eyes and then her expression went blank and she moved. "My apologies," she said stiffly.

Joe felt uneasy as he walked out with his brother and Rory. Once on the sidewalk, he took a deep breath. "Something tells me--"

"Very good. I was concerned you would have difficulty getting her away from Rogers."

The brothers spun around to see Sloane Willoughby standing right behind them. She reached for something in a pocket and Joe went on alert. "Relax, gentlemen. I'm Interpol."

Frank arched an eyebrow at her and she flashed them a badge and an ID. He still gave her a wary look. "Why are you here?"

"This is my assignment, Mr. Hardy. And now I shall follow you home."

"No," said Joe, shaking his head.

"Relax. I am to meet with your father on this case." She glanced over her shoulder. "Since it has international repercussions."

Just then, Jordan, Rachel and Rick walked out. Rick smiled at Sloane. "So what parts of the Ganges did you traverse anyway? My parents and I went there when I was six."

"All of it. It was an amazing trip." Sloane smiled. "Where did you stay in India?"

"New Delhi for the most part. Mom was doing some sort of photo log for a travel book." Rick shook his head. "I'd love to go back there one day."

Joe stared over at Frank and felt a shiver work down his spine. India. How weird was that?

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