Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

Vanessa opened her eyes to see a sheer pink canopy hovering over her. Slowly, she traced the ruffled edges and found the four-poster bed painted a soft cream with gold accents. She levered herself up on her elbows and saw a room full of classic French Provincial furniture and sheer pink everywhere. It might have been a little girl's dream princess bedroom, but something about it gave her the creeps.

"Ah, you're awake, Emily."

Vanessa nearly screamed as she saw him seated on a pink upholstered divan, clad all in black. His long hair was held back with a pewter hairtie, and he was smiling gently at her. "You've been gone for so long, Emily."

"I'm not Emily," Vanessa said, thankful she could say that much without stuttering from fear.

An odd look crossed his face. "But of course, you're confused and I would guess quite hungry. Supper is waiting for you."

"I'm not hungry."

"You must eat, Emily, restore your strength."

"I am not Emily. Whoever the hell she is, I'm not her. I'm Vanessa," snapped Vanessa, at the end of her patience. She sat up and swung her legs off the bed. "And I'm going home."

"And I'll just find you again." Byron James stood up in one fluid motion. "I've set up the parlor as your music room. I know how you love to practice uninterrupted."

Vanessa decided to be angry, it kept her from being frightened. "Leave me alone, Byron. My name is Vanessa Kay Bender. Now step aside and let me go home."

As if her anger had been a physical force, Byron took a staggering step back. "Emily, I searched the world for you. Of course, you're angry for having been gone so long. I'm sorry."

"I am not Emily. Get that through your thick skull." Vanessa stood up and walked to what looked like the door leading out of the bedroom.

Byron stood where he was, looking for all the world, like a confused child. "You—" He took a deep breath. "You have to be Emily. I've finally found a second chance—"

"Not with me." Vanessa yanked open the door and felt relief flood her entire body. Thank God, it wasn't the closet, she thought and stepped over the threshold. "Now point me to the door and I'm gone. Or I'll find the nearest phone and call the police."

He went pale and nodded. He gestured to the hall and she saw an old-style phone bench complete with a rotary style phone straight from the 1930’s. She picked it up, praying she'd hear a dial tone.

Before she could dial a number, Byron took the phone from her and pushed her down on the bench. "No. No, you can't do that, Emily. They wouldn't understand. No one would understand."

Vanessa's gray eyes went wide and she felt the fear washing over her. With a scream of frustration, she shoved at him, got to her feet and took off running. The red-carpeted hallway seemed to go on for ever before coming to an end at a curved staircase leading downward.

She raced down the steps and started for the front door only to see a somber-looking older man clad in a three-piece suit at the door, a tray in his hands. "Madamoiselle—"

Vanessa skidded to a halt and then ran past the stairs, hoping for a back door. She finally found the kitchen and a door that looked like it might be the back door. Outside she heard several dogs barking, and she took a deep breath. At the moment, she'd take the dogs going at her throat over Byron trying to keep her here.

She yanked open the door and froze, stunned. "F-Frank?"

"Vanessa?" Frank swallowed his own surprise and grabbed her hand. "Come on. Joe's keeping the dogs distracted."

"I don't think I even want to know," said Vanessa, giddy with relief, and yet still frightened. She spared a glance over her shoulder but no one was standing in the doorway from the kitchen.

Frank tugged on her hand and they ran for the brick wall. It had been a great relief for him and Joe to discover the wall, with its ornate wrought iron, wasn't electrified. It had been a really simple matter of getting on the narrow ledge of the brick wall and just climbing over the wrought iron.

Of course, once they reached ground level, they'd discovered why the fence hadn't been wired. Frank found four Doberman Pinschers a little too much, but to everyone their own taste. He helped Vanessa get up and over, and then looked for his brother. But Joe was nowhere in sight.

Frank frowned. "This can't be good," he muttered.

Suddenly he saw someone running straight for him, gesturing wildly with his arms. As the person came closer, Frank saw that it was his brother and that the sleeves of his jacket – his new jacket – were shredded beyond repair. Behind Joe, Frank could see the dogs loping after him.

Joe met up with Frank on the wall. "W-what took you so long?" asked Joe, breathless.

"Forget about that, what are you going to tell Mom?"

Joe looked down at his sleeves as they climbed over the fence. "Oh shit, she's gonna kill me." Joe landed on the ground and before he could catch his balance, someone plowed into him. When he saw it was Vanessa, he grinned. "Cavalry to the rescue."

She frowned down at him. "I was escaping on my own, thank you very much."

Frank grunted. "Boy, does that sound familiar." He glanced at the dogs, now at the fence line, growling savagely. "Why don't we save the reunion for later. Let's get out of here. Um, Vanessa, your car's here," Frank added, helping her and Joe to their feet.

"My car?" She looked at Frank and then Joe. "Something wrong with the van."

Joe cleared his throat. "In my haste...to rescue you, I kind of forgot Frank."

"Kind of? But—" She frowned. "Why were you at my house?"

"Well," Joe took a deep breath as they walked toward the road. "You kind of bolted without telling anyone, remember?"

"I'm sorry. I was going to call and let your mom know where I was but—"

Joe pulled her close. "Are you okay? Did that bastard do anything?"

"No. He just kept calling me Emily. Who is she?"

Frank held back a groan. "His fiancée...well, was; she died six months ago."

Vanessa spared a glance for the mansion and shivered. "And now he thinks Emily has come back to him – in my body."

"Vanessa—"

"I'm fine. I'm still scared, but I'm angry too." Vanessa smiled at Joe and then noticed his jacket. "Joe, your mother is going to die."

"She'll kill him first, though," said Frank, sounding quite amused.

"Shut up, Frank," muttered Joe.

Frank laughed then. "Let's go, then. Vanessa, you want to drive your car?"

She shook her head. "I don't have my license with me."

"What do you want to do, then? Drive it back to your house, or drive it to ours?"

Vanessa shrugged. "Whatever is less trouble."

Frank nodded. "All right. I'll drive it to our house."

Joe started off down the road, and Vanessa frowned. "Joe, where are we going?"

"I hid the van down this way."

"I'm not even going to ask. You were going to break in there all alone, weren't you?" said Vanessa as Frank got into her car and revved the engine. When Joe didn't answer, she tugged on his hand until he turned to look at her. "Weren't you?"

"I had to get you out of there."

"At the risk of your own life?"

Joe looked at her and pulled her close. "For you, for Frank, for my family – for you...yes."

Vanessa felt tears fill her eyes. "Joe..."

"Come on, let's go."

Vanessa used her free hand to wipe away the tears and let Joe lead her to the van. She got in the passenger seat and finally felt safe. As Joe got in, she tugged on his jacket. "I know where your Mom got this. Tell her you left it at the house and I'll get you another one."

Joe gave her a quick grin. "Van, you're a life saver."

Vanessa smiled back and watched him start the van. No, she thought, you are.

***

The sound of vehicles made Laura put aside her cross-stitch and get to her feet. The front door swung open and Joe came in, one arm around Vanessa's shoulders. They were smiling and laughing and Laura wondered for a moment what she'd been so worried about. She saw Frank follow Joe inside and push the front door closed. "Well, hello – Joe, where's your jacket?"

"Oh darn, I knew I forgot something. Must have left it at Vanessa's."

"Oh, all right. As long as you know where it is," said Laura.

Frank hung back as Joe and Vanessa headed up the stairs. "Where's Dad?"

"He went to talk with Ezra," said Laura. "Said he wanted to talk about the case."

Frank glanced over his shoulder at the now closed front door. "How long ago did he go?"

Laura shrugged. "About half an hour ago, I guess. Frank?"

"Nothing, Mom. Sorry we missed supper. Vanessa ended up fixing something at her house."

"All right." Laura studied her oldest son for a moment. "Well, there's still dessert. Pumpkin pie."

"Mmm, can't pass that up." Frank glanced up the stairs and then grinned. "I think I'll wait before I share the news," he added, chuckling, as he veered for the kitchen.

Laura watched him go, and then glanced up the stairs for a moment. With a faint sigh, she turned to go back in the living room when she heard a car door. She walked over to the front door and pulled it open to find Fenton scowling. He nodded to the van. "When did they get back?"

Laura arched an eyebrow. "Just now. Fenton, what's wrong?"

"We have absolutely nothing. There's no way anything can be laid at James' doorstep."

Laura frowned. "But?" she asked, sensing there was more.

"Ezra suggests Vanessa use herself as bait, to lure him out, make him commit an actual crime – like kidnapping or such," muttered Fenton.

Laura shook her head. "There's got to be another way."

"God, I wish there was," said Fenton, sounding exhausted. "I really wish there was."

Upstairs, Joe shared a look with Vanessa, silently shaking his head. Vanessa gazed down the stairs, although all she could see was Mr. Hardy's shoes and Mrs. Hardy's slippers.

Joe grabbed her shoulders, shook her gently to make her look at him. "No," he whispered. "No way in hell, Vanessa, I won't let you."

Vanessa stepped back, lifted her hands and brushed his hands from her shoulders. "Let?"

"God, Vanessa, it's too dangerous."

Vanessa put a hand on either side of his face. "Joe, I can't live with him haunting me like some stupid specter from a ghost story. I want this finished and if it means—"

"No, Vanessa—" Joe found he had to clear his throat. "Vanessa..."

She pulled free and started for the landing. "It's my decision, Joe." She walked down the stairs to find Fenton staring at her. "Right, Mr. Hardy? It's my decision."

Fenton shuddered and slowly nodded. "Yes."

Upstairs, a door slammed in the sudden silence. Vanessa looked up the stairs and felt her eyes fill with tears. She cleared her throat and looked at Fenton. "It's what I have to do to end this."

Laura moved to touch her but Vanessa skittered out of her way. "Please, Mrs. Hardy, don't. This is hard enough." Vanessa took a deep breath and started up the stairs. "I think I'll go to bed now."

Fenton heaved a world-weary sigh as he watched her go up the stairs. "Damn," he muttered.

Standing just past the stairs where he couldn't be easily spotted, Frank felt just as angry. It was too dangerous, he thought. Too dangerous for Vanessa's life and for Joe's peace of mind. There had to be another way.

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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.