Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

"You're putting me on," whispered Tony Prito, Wednesday afternoon. He leaned on the back of the booth, and spared a quick glance at the counter. Seeing there was no one needing help, he turned back to his friends. "I can't believe your dad said that, man."

Frank sighed. "Yeah, well, it just ticks me off this West Coast cop shows up and everything goes downhill."

"But to tell you not to investigate. Man, that seriously curtails your activities." Tony shook his head. "I mean, if there was some case going on."

"There is a case," said Joe in a low voice. "The case of the West Coast cop." His expression conveyed he would have preferred a more colorful description.

Callie Shaw touched Frank's arm. "I'm sorry. I think your Dad just wants to keep the idiot from finding an excuse to jump on you again."

"We know that," said Joe with exaggerated patience. "We don't care. I'd like to—"

"I think we've talked enough about this," said Vanessa quickly. "We'd rather enjoy our week off from school. You know, the day after Thanksgiving the mall will open at seven a.m." She patted Joe's arm. "We'll need the van."

"Huh?" Joe looked over at her. "What? It's our van. No one drives it but me or Frank. Although after Sunday night's accident, he's limited to daytime hours."

"Joe, shut up. I am not."

"By my rules you are." Joe turned back to Vanessa. "Why do you need the van."

"For the stuff we're gonna buy, right Callie?

"Yeah," said Callie. "It marks the first day of Christmas shopping – lots of special sales and stuff. Yeah, we'll need the van. But if no one drives but you and Frank, I guess you'll have to get up and bring us to the mall."

Joe narrowed his eyes. "Why am I not liking that idea?"

"Because you like to sleep late, little brother. We'd have to get up at least by six-thirty."

Joe blinked. "Oh no. Friday's the last day of break. Oh no. I am not getting out of bed before the sun does."

"You do it all through the school year," said Tony, not quite smirking.

"Only because I'm forced to." Joe gestured to his brother. "He won't take no for an answer. He's also been known to douse me with water to wake me up."

Frank grunted. "One time. One time and it was a water gun. I hardly doused you."

“It was cold."

Vanessa chuckled softly. "Oh, Joe, you didn't freeze to death."

Joe rolled his eyes and grinned. "It was still cold." He leaned over and kissed her. "I guess I can make an exception. I'll just bring my sleeping bag and crash in the back of the van."

"No can do," answered Callie. "That's where all our stuff's gonna go once we buy it."

Joe gave her a look. "What, you gonna buy out the entire mall."

Vanessa laughed. "Until we run out of money."

"I don't think you're going to be able to squirm out of it this time," grinned Tony. "I'd better get back to work. I'll talk to you guys later."

Frank drank the last of his soda and sighed. "It's not like I'm wishing for anything. I mean after Halloween and—” Frank looked at his brother. "Halloween."

"Yeah, October 31st. Merlyn calls it Samhain. So?" said Joe, still eating pizza.

"Maybe this has to do with the contract killer," said Frank, barely above a whisper.

"Well, isn't this cozy," came a new voice.

Frank felt himself tense up at the sound of that voice. "Detective," he said as politely as he could. "Hello."

Sheridan smirked at him, then Joe, and finally seemed to notice the girls. "You two are pretty, but apparently will date anything." He shook his head and started to walk away.

Joe pulled Vanessa down before she could stand all the way up. He held a finger to his lips as he looked at her and shook his head. Frank found he had to calm Callie as well. Frank watched the man go over to the counter and order something.

"Why that—” muttered Callie, glaring daggers at the man's back.

"Calm down." Frank pulled her close. "Just calm down."

Vanessa took a deep breath. "I can see why you don't like him."

Joe grunted. "Yeah, well, the loathing runs deep." He put an arm around Vanessa's shoulders and pulled her close, but his blue eyes tracked the man as he left the counter and went to sit at a table as far from them as he could get. "Why do I get the feeling he's waiting for something to happen?"

"I'll give him something," muttered Callie, squirming just a little next to Frank.

"Well, the thought is much appreciated," said Frank, patting her arm. "Now please – calm down."

The four teenagers lingered over their late lunch. They carefully watched the cop until he stood up and tossed his trash. He tossed them a salute and a smirk and left the restaurant.

Joe grunted. "Something's going on. I think we need to find out what it is, no matter what Dad told us."

Vanessa turned to look at him. "It might get you in serious trouble, Joe. After all, your Dad told you to stay clear of it all."

Frank sighed. "Yeah, that's the problem. If we go on and investigate this, we'll be defying him and making Sheridan even more right."

Joe stared at his brother, stunned. "You're going to let this go?"

Let the author know what you think of this story

Home Library Authors Rogue's Gallery Vehicles Chums Message Board Rap Sheet Links Contact

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.