Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

**A/N: Yes, I am fully aware that this is not how one would receive the results of a paternity test so there’s no need to correct me on it. I’m in Hardy-land and I took liberties, so sue me. ;-) **

One Week Later…

Joe slammed the apartment door and hurried down the corridor, silently cursing himself. ‘Good thing you work for your dad!’

Vanessa had awakened him – twice – before leaving early for work, admonishing him not to go back to sleep, which he promptly did as soon as she left. When he finally did wake up, over an hour later, he made it out the door in record time only to discover he left the files he’d been working on late into the night sitting on the coffee table. He backtracked to the apartment, picked up the files and was now over two hours late for work. Taking the stairs two at a time, his momentum propelled him into the lobby where he almost blindsided the mail carrier.

“Whoa! Sorry!” Joe apologized, skidding to a stop.

“No problem,” the worker chuckled. “You want to take this or should I leave it in your box?” he asked, poking through his bag and coming up with two business-sized envelopes, a magazine, a credit card bill and a few pieces of junk mail.

“I’ll take it, thanks,” Joe said, grabbing the mail and rushing out the door.

Jogging to his car, Joe slid behind the wheel, tossing the mail haphazardly on the passenger seat. As he buckled his seat belt he glanced over at the pile, looked away and then froze. Cautiously he looked to his right once more, his heart fluttering in his chest as he stared at the return address of the envelope on top of the pile. With a shaking hand he picked up the envelope, handling it as if he were afraid of it, mesmerized by the return address of the lab where he’d gone for his paternity test the previous week.

As the envelope shook in his hands, Joe’s brain kept sending the signal for his fingers to open it, but they weren’t getting the message. Joe realized that for the past week it had become progressively easier to put Jodi and Luke in the back of his mind and pretend everything was okay. With each passing day he’d been able to convince himself that Luke couldn’t possibly be his son and had grown very comfortable with that reality – a reality that could be shattered once he opened the envelope. Terrified, he tossed the envelope back onto the seat, wanting to hang onto his own idealistic version of the truth just a little while longer.

Arriving at work a short time later, Joe hurried through the reception area, giving Mrs. G a distracted wave on his way down the hall. Once inside his own office, Joe shut the door, dropped the files and the envelope on his desk and discarded his jacket haphazardly over a chair. Standing a few feet away from the desk, almost as if he didn’t want to get too close to it, he eyed the envelope with trepidation.

‘Come on, just open it!’ Joe chided himself. ‘Waiting isn’t going to change the outcome!’

Still staring at the envelope as if it might bite, he took a few steps forward and gingerly picked it up, mesmerized by the way it shook in his hands. Swallowing hard he picked up the letter opener and then stood, frozen in place. His heart began to race and he found himself taking short, shallow breaths. Turning, he bolted from the office.

*****

Engrossed in the report he was trying to complete, it took Frank several minutes before he realized he was being watched. Glancing up, he felt the expression on his face change to one of complete surprise. Joe was standing in the doorway holding an envelope in one hand and a letter opener in the other, looking absolutely petrified. Puzzled and a little worried at the strange sight, Frank stood and walked to the door, stopping directly in front of his brother.

“I c-can’t…I can’t open it…” Joe stuttered, abject terror in his voice.

He looked down at the envelope Joe was clutching tightly in his hand, and sucked in a breath when he saw the return address.

“C-can you…would you… Just tell me what it says,” Joe begged, apparently too scared of what the result might be to look himself.

“Sure, of course,” Frank replied soothingly. Taking the envelope and the letter opener, he guided Joe to one of the chairs and then sat down himself.

He gave Joe a quick pat on the back, then sliced the envelope open. Pulling the sheet of paper out, he unfolded it and stared at it while Joe stared at him. Seeing how very close to the edge Joe was, he didn’t prolong the agony. Scanning the page, he found the information he needed, looked up at Joe…and smiled.

“You’re not his father,” he said softly, watching Joe sink back into the chair and close his eyes, his breath coming in ragged gasps. “You okay?” Frank asked quietly.

Joe didn’t answer for a moment and Frank knew he was trying to get a handle on his emotions before speaking. He finally opened his eyes and looked at Frank. “Yeah…I’m okay.”

They sat quietly for a few moments, Frank knowing Joe needed time to soak in the information he’d spent the last week obsessing about. And while he could see Joe was visibly relieved he also saw something else reflected in his brother’s eyes. Not disappointment, not quite sadness but something else…something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

“What is it? I know this is what you wanted…” Frank let the implied question hang between them.

Joe chewed on his lip nervously for a minute, almost as if he wasn’t sure himself what was wrong. “Yeah, this is definitely what I wanted. I’ve been telling myself for the past week that Luke wasn’t mine and everything would turn out okay…”

“So what’s the problem?” Frank asked.

“I…I’m not sure. I mean I’m relieved that Todd is his father. I really didn’t want to be Luke’s father, but if I was, I fully intended to be a father to him, you know – take care of him, be there for him.... Not just a child support payment and visitation once a month. I know Jodi hasn’t contacted Todd yet. She didn’t want a repeat of what happened between us, didn’t want to tell him unless she knew for sure he was the father. But she hasn’t seen or spoken to him since she left Bayport. That’s almost seven years.” Joe looked at him worriedly. “How is Todd going to react when he finds out? I mean what’s he been up to for the past seven years? What if he’s a total screw up? What if Todd is married and already has kids and doesn’t want anything to do with Jodi or Luke? What if he doesn’t want kids? What if he doesn’t even like kids?” Joe asked, obviously concerned for the little boy.

Frank wasn’t all that surprised that Joe was worried about Luke and what might happen to him now. Jodi wasn’t the most well adjusted person in the world, although having a child might give her the emotional stability and unconditional love she craved. She did try to move heaven and earth to find her son as soon as possible, once she found out he was alive, which was a good sign. She might make a very good mother, Frank had decided, lavishing her child with everything she’d never had.

Todd Harmon had been the unknown factor and knowing that, ever mindful of the small details, Frank had taken it upon himself to do a little research, if only to put his own mind at ease. Now he was glad he did.

“Give him a chance,” Frank said mysteriously. “I think you might be surprised.”

Joe narrowed his eyes. “Do you know something I don’t?”

Frank stood and walked around behind his desk, taking a seat. Opening the top drawer, he reached in and pulled out a manila folder, sliding it across the desk towards Joe. Picking it up warily, Joe eyed his brother for another second before opening it and scanning the top page. His eyes widened in surprise as he looked back at Frank.

“How…When…You did this?” Joe spluttered, surprised.

Frank shrugged modestly. “I was a little curious about him myself so I did some digging.” He leaned forward, gesturing towards the folder. “Todd is a lawyer. He lives in north Jersey and works at a non-profit, representing abused and neglected children who basically have no one else to turn to, no one in their corner. He’s still single; no wife, no fiancée, not even a girlfriend in the picture.”

“Is he gay?” Joe blurted out.

“I don’t think so,” Frank chuckled. “Unless he’s hiding it really well. I think he’s just pretty much focused totally on law school and getting started in his career. From what I could find out, he’s always been interested in helping kids, especially those who are in need. He did a lot of volunteering and doing pro bono work while he was in law school. Still does…” His voice trailed off as Joe was now totally immersed in the three pages of neatly typed notes.

Several minutes later Joe looked up and smiled gratefully. “Thanks,” he said softly. Tucking the papers back into the folder he stood up, hesitated for a moment, then reached forward and picked up the lab results still lying on Frank’s desk and looked at them nervously.

“You want me to call her?” Frank asked. Joe still had to tell Jodi, something he was obviously not looking forward to. He almost smiled when Joe looked up at him in surprise. “I did tell her she’d have to deal with me as far as the details went…” he trailed off.

Joe smiled gratefully and almost looked like he was considering the offer, but then shook his head. “Much as I’d like to take the easy way out, I have to do this myself.”

Frank nodded in understanding as Joe turned to leave. “Let me know how it goes.”

“I will,” Joe replied, stopping as he got to the door. “Frank?”

“Yeah?”

Joe stood quietly for a moment, his back to Frank. “Thanks. Thanks for… everything…” he almost whispered and then disappeared into the hall.

Frank stared at the empty doorway his throat suspiciously tight. “You’re welcome.”

*****

Joe stood outside the apartment building, nervously shifting his weight from one foot to the other, staring at the names carefully written next to the corresponding buttons. After a lengthy internal argument with himself, Joe had gotten in his car and made the almost sixty minute drive to New York City. While he much preferred to do this over the phone, he knew it was something that really had to be done in person.

And so it was he found himself standing in front of the door to Jodi’s apartment building. She’d called two days earlier to apologize again for her behavior the last time she’d seen him and to tell him she and Luke were now back in the city. Knowing what a big change it was going to be for Luke, she had taken a few weeks off work to spend with him and help him adjust to his new surroundings. She had gone so far as to invite Joe to come and visit, an offer he’d awkwardly declined. Taking a deep breath and exhaling forcefully, he reached out and pressed the button next to her name and found himself hoping she wouldn’t be home; a hope that was quickly dashed when a tinny sounding voice floated out of the speaker.

“Yes?”

“Jodi? It’s Joe…can I come up?”

He thought he heard a gasp and winced when she excitedly replied. “Oh my God! Joe! Yes, yes, come on up!” He could hear the happiness in her voice and suddenly wished he had taken the easy way out and done this over the phone.

Entering the building, he took the elevator to the tenth floor. Stepping off, Joe tentatively looked around, trying to figure out which way to go when a door opened at the far end of the hall and Jodi stepped out. “Joe!” she cried out, waving him towards her.

Forcing a smile to his face, Joe slowly walked down the hall, stopping in front of her. “I’m so glad you came!” she gushed and Joe froze. She thought he was taking her up on her offer to come visit!

“Oh…uh...Jodi, listen…” he stammered, flinching slightly when she grabbed his arm and tugged, pulling him towards the open door.

“Come in, come in….Let me get Luke! He’s in his room-”

“Jodi, wait!” Joe stopped abruptly and pulled her to a halt. “That’s not why I’m here,” he said softly. He saw the expression in her eyes change as the reason for his visit slowly dawned on her. “I got the results.” She dropped his arm and immediately wrapped her arms around herself.

“And?” she asked her voice trembling over the single word.

“I’m not Luke’s father,” Joe said gently.

Jodi forced a smile to her face but it couldn’t begin to cover the utter disappointment in her eyes. “That’s good, right? I mean…I – I know it’s what you wanted,” she stammered. Suddenly she spun around, turning her back on Joe, but not before he saw her swiping at her eyes. Silently he reached out and squeezed her shoulder, letting his hand linger there. Slowly, Jodi reached up, covering Joe’s hand with hers. They stood quietly for several minutes, neither one speaking. Finally Jodi turned back towards Joe, giving him a shaky smile.

“Thank you, Joe. Thank you for finding Luke…for coming to tell me in person…” A tear slid down her cheek and Joe reached out, brushing it away. “I haven’t exactly been fair to you through all this…”

“It’s okay,” Joe assured her and found he actually meant it. “I mean, you were a little stressed out…”

“You think?” she joked, wiping the remaining tears away. “So…can I hire you to find Todd for me?” she laughed, giving him a shaky, but genuine smile.

“Don’t need to,” Joe smiled back, and offered the manila folder he’d brought with him. “Go ahead…it’s for you,” he pressed.

Puzzled Jodi took the folder from him and opened it. She gasped and her eyes widened as she realized what it was. Looking up her eyes shone with disbelief. “You…you did this? You found Todd for me?”

“Not me,” Joe said, pride and gratitude in his voice. “Frank.”

“Frank?!” Jodi cried out, stunned.

“Yeah…Frank.”

Looking back down at the folder and the detailed information it contained, Jodi was obviously lost for words. Finally she closed it and looked up at Joe. “Please tell him I said thank you,” she said sincerely.

“I will.” They stood in awkward silence for another moment, neither knowing quite what to do or say. “Guess I should be going…I gotta get home…” Joe shrugged.

“Joe, do you think…maybe…” Jodi stopped and a look of uncertainty crossed her face. “Could we keep in touch?” she asked hopefully.

Joe hesitated, hating what he knew he had to say. “I don’t think that’s a good idea…. At least not right now.” Jodi’s chin quivered, but she nodded in disappointed agreement. “I hope everything goes okay with Todd,” he nodded at the folder in her hands.

“Yeah, me too.”

“Goodbye, Jodi,” Joe said softly. He turned to leave, surprised when Jodi put a hand on his arm. He stopped and looked at her questioningly. Taking a step forward, she kissed him softly on the cheek, then slowly pulled away. Reaching up, she gently brushed a hand across his cheek.

“Thank you, Joe,” she said sincerely. “Thank you for everything. I know I did things…said things…”

Joe cut her off, brushing her apology aside. “We were both under a lot of stress. You needed someone to take it out on. I was there…” he shrugged.

“But you didn’t deserve it,” Jodi said, suddenly tearful, with deep regret in her eyes. She sighed heavily and drew in a shaky breath, trying to regain her composure. Reaching out she took his hand and held it tightly, smiling up at him.

“I hope you and Vanessa have a wonderful happy life together. You deserve it…both of you.”

As Joe stared at her, realization hit him and he felt the guilt lift just a little. Jodi wasn’t necessarily in love with him so much as she was in love with the idea of it, desperate to create the family she’d always wanted so badly but never had while growing up. Remembering how much Todd had cared for her in high school, and glancing at the folder she now clutched in her hand, Joe fervently hoped Todd might be able to give her what he couldn’t.

“Thank you,” Joe replied. Leaning down, he kissed her on the cheek then silently turned and walked out of the apartment and back to his own life.

*****

Vanessa hurried down the hall wondering about Joe’s cryptic phone call. He’d asked her to come home as soon as she could get away, giving no further information as to why. Opening the door to the apartment she stepped inside and called for Joe worriedly.

“Joe? Joe!” She’d seen his car parked in its customary spot so she knew he was home. Dropping her things on the table by the door, she glanced around the cozy apartment, frowning when she didn’t see him anywhere. He’d been putting up a good front for the past week but she knew he was terrified of what the paternity test might reveal. She’d done her best to make peace with the fact that she might be a step-mother to Joe’s illegitimate son, wanting to focus all her energy on being there for Joe if and when that possibility became reality. Based on Joe’s phone call, she had a feeling he already knew the answer to that and feared the information was the kind best delivered in person.

“JOE!” she called out again, relieved when he emerged from the bedroom down the hall and hurried towards her. “What’s going on? Are you okay?” she demanded, giving him a quick hug.

Wordlessly Joe handed her an envelope. She took it, looking at him warily. His face was impassive but his eyes…there was something in his eyes… Shifting her gaze to the envelope she saw the return address and inhaled sharply. Looking at him again, her stomach fluttered. Did he look…happy??

Tearing into the envelope with shaking hands, she yanked the paper out, her eyes rapidly scanning the page. At the very bottom one word jumped out at her…negative.

‘Negative? Negative! He’s not Luke’s father!’

Squealing loudly, she jumped into Joe’s arms, causing him to stagger back a few steps. Wrapping her arms around his neck, the relief was so overpowering she couldn’t help but shed a few tears.

‘Thank God, thank God, thank God!’ she repeated silently, reveling in the feeling of Joe’s arms around her. Hearing him sniffle, she tenderly stroked his hair. Her head resting on his shoulder, they stood together for several minutes and she could feel the tension and anxiety that had been hanging over them for so long rapidly fading away.

Very slowly, almost reluctantly, Joe released her, letting his arms drop away until he was just holding her hand. With a smile and a gentle tug, he started to lead her down the hall.

“Come on…we need to practice…”

“Practice for what?” Vanessa asked, puzzled, though she offered no resistance.

Joe stopped and turned around, staring at her with a familiar passion in his eyes that had been missing as of late. Vanessa felt her heart jump and a familiar thrill shot through her. Pulling her close, Joe leaned in so close she could feel his breath caress her cheek as he whispered huskily, “The honeymoon…”

The End

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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.