Hardy Boys Fan Fiction at the HDA - With This Ring

“Here we are,” Dylan said. Offering his hand to Tanya as she got out of the car, he watched and smiled. Her eyes grew wide taking in the waterfront and the lights from the row of restaurants twinkling on the bay. “We’re going to that one,” he said, pointing to the brightly lit seafood restaurant with a small crowd of people milling about outside enjoying the warm summer evening while they waited for a table.

“Oh, Dylan,” Tanya sighed softly. “It’s beautiful – but it’s too expensive!”

Dylan leaned down and kissed her softly. Tonight was the third anniversary of the day they met and he wanted to celebrate the occasion. “Nothing is too good for you,” he murmured. “You’re worth every penny and more.” He offered her his arm and she looped her hand through his elbow as they walked into the crowded restaurant.

“Wow,” Tanya said, looking around at the beautifully decorated interior. “Look at all these people! The food must be great!” She held tightly to Dylan’s arm as they slowly worked their way through the crowded lobby to the hostess.

Dylan put in his name and requested a table on the outside deck then turned back to Tanya. “Why don’t we wait outside?” he suggested. “We’ll have a great view of the sunset over the bay.”

“Okay,” Tanya agreed enthusiastically.

Dylan took Tanya’s left hand and held it tightly in his, not wanting to get separated in the crowd. Turning towards the door he took one step and immediately bumped into someone. “I’m so sorry,” he quickly apologized to the tall, blonde young man.

“No problem,” the man smiled easily. “It’s a little crowded in here.”

“Yeah, just a little,” Dylan agreed, his voice trailing off as he noticed the small bandage on the man’s forehead. He looked over the guy’s shoulder and felt his eyes widen slightly at the tall, beautiful young woman standing just behind him and clutching his hand tightly. Dylan felt his stomach tie itself in knots as he found himself staring into the blue-grey eyes that had been haunting him for a week. It was the girl he’d stolen the engagement ring from!

For a moment Dylan was frozen in place, stunned, unable to believe his bad luck at running into her…and her fiancé. Forcing himself to tear his eyes away from her he looked back at the young man. “I…Uh…I’m sorry. Really sorry,” he stammered.

“Hey, it’s okay,” the guy said, smiling. “We’re packed in like sardines here. It’s bound to happen.”

Dylan couldn’t help but stare at the man as he spoke, trying to picture him with blood on his face. He swallowed hard, unable to deny it. ‘It’s him!’ His eyes flickered back to the girl. ‘Them! What if she recognizes me?’ he thought, starting to panic. ‘No, she couldn’t,’ he told himself. ‘She never saw my face.’

Dylan felt a little better until he noticed the other couple hovering closely behind the young woman and realized the four of them were together. A slightly taller guy with dark hair had his arm around a petite blonde and as Dylan looked at her his heart started to race. ‘Shit! It’s her! She was there too!’ Automatically glancing down at Tanya’s hand, he suddenly realized how badly this could end. He tightened his grip, making sure the ring was completely covered. “Sorry,” he mumbled another apology and, head down, pushed his way through the crowd towards the door.

By the time he’d made it outside, Dylan was practically hyperventilating. He was nervous…and scared. ‘That was definitely the guy from the alley. And he’s her fiancé? What the hell is going on?!’

Now almost oblivious to his surroundings he walked quickly down the wooden dock towards the water, as far away from the restaurant entrance as possible. This had to be a sign, he was sure of it. The next robbery was already planned and Dylan decided right then and there it was going to be his last. Once this job was done, he was going to quit. They’d have to find another partner or carry on as a trio but he was definitely out of it!

“Dylan…what’s wrong?” Tanya’s concerned voice brought him back to the present with a start. “It’s like you’re a thousand miles away.”

He looked at her and forced a smile. “Ya know, honey, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

“Okay,” Tanya said. Her brow furrowed in concern and she gave him her full attention.

“I’ve been thinking…I…I really want to quit my second job,” he blurted out. “The guys I work with, I’m starting to get some really bad vibes from them.” Inwardly Dylan admitted it was only a guess but he was getting the distinct impression that their robbery-only gigs, with no assaults, were quickly going to start turning more and more violent and he wanted no parts of that. “I’ll get another job, I promise, as soon as I can,” he continued in a rush. “It’s just that it may take us a little longer to get out of here…” His shoulders slumped dejectedly. This night was not turning out the way he’d hoped. “I’m sorry, Tanya.”

Tanya stared at him for a long moment and then stood on tiptoe and kissed him softly. “I know you’ll get us out of here,” she said without a trace of doubt. “And if it takes a little longer than we originally planned, that’s okay. I don’t want you doing anything you’re not comfortable with. Besides, this will give us more time to spend together,” she continued, squeezing his hands tightly. “Well, until you get another job anyway. And if you have a regular schedule this time, I can pick up some extra shifts at the drug store on the nights you’re working. Then we can get out of here even faster,” she finished excitedly.

“Yeah, I guess,” Dylan murmured. He put an arm around her as she laid her head on his shoulder. They fell silent, gazing out at the vivid pink and purple streaks of color the setting sun was throwing across the still waters of the bay.

When he’d first started his ‘second job’ Tanya had asked about his schedule a few times, wanting to pick up overtime on the nights he’d be working. But committing robbery wasn’t exactly done on a set schedule so he was never quite sure when the next hit would be, not until he got the phone call saying they needed him to ‘work’ that night or the next. After Dylan had made up some lame excuse about his work schedule for the third time, Tanya got the hint and stopped asking.

Tanya reached up and twined her fingers through his, squeezing gently. “Don’t worry,” she said softly, sensing his sudden melancholy. “We’ll be out of this town before you know it and this will all seem like nothing but a bad dream.”

‘I hope so,’ Dylan thought, unable to shake the ominous feeling that had planted itself in his heart.

*****

Joe watched, surprised, as the young man who’d accidentally bumped into him put his head down and bulled his way through the crowd and out the door, practically dragging his date along behind him. “Okaaaaaaaaaaaaaay,” he drawled, taking in Vanessa, Frank and Callie’s bemused expressions. “Was it something I said?”

“Some people are just strange,” Callie shrugged.

“Or maybe he realized you’re strange,” Frank teased, squeezing past Joe.

“I’m unique,” Joe corrected him.

“Is that what they’re calling it these days?” Frank shot back with a grin. Having worked his way to the hostess, Frank gave Joe no time to reply as he leaned down and put their name in for a table.

Twenty minutes later they were being escorted through the packed dining room to a table. Arriving at the cozy corner table, Frank hung back while Callie, Vanessa and Joe were seated and noticed the four elderly women being seated at a nearby table. The host was holding out chairs for two of them and another was already seated. The fourth member of the group was trying to pull the chair out but it was obviously heavy, causing her to struggle. Immediately, Frank was at her side.

“Let me get that for you, ma’am,” he said with a warm smile as he pulled the chair out and held it steady. The woman looked up at him and beamed. The lines on her face told of a life well-lived, with both great sorrow and great happiness. Yet her eyes showed a still healthy zest for life and a spark of mischief.

“Why thank you, dear,” she smiled.

Frank hovered close by, his arm lightly resting against her elbow as she gingerly lowered herself into the chair. He waited until she was seated and then helped her push in closer to the table. “Enjoy your evening, ladies.” He flashed them a smile again and returned to his own table.

As he sat down next to Callie, Frank heard muted laughter trilling from the group of ladies. He glanced in their direction and saw them all staring at him, the lady he’d assisted giving him a wave and a beguiling smile.

“I don’t know, Cal,” Joe said, grinning. “I think I’d be worried if I were you.”

Frank turned to his brother and smiled inwardly. Joe was leaning back in the chair comfortably, his arm resting lazily across the back of Vanessa’s chair.

“Why?” Callie asked, lacing her fingers through Frank’s.

“I think my big brother is going cougar hunting,” Joe teased.

“Or at least the cougars are hunting him,” Vanessa joined in mischievously.

Over the next two hours the conversation was light and the laughter came easily. Joe took every opportunity to tease Frank about his elderly admirers at the next table and Frank was more than happy to play the straight man. As they lingered over dessert and coffee, Frank smiled to himself, glad that the evening turned out exactly as he had hoped it would.

All through dinner Joe and Vanessa’s posture had been relaxed and easy. They frequently leaned into each other for the physical closeness that over the years had become their trademark, exchanging whispered words and kisses in that endearing way they had. Just as often they traded quips and wisecracks and seemed genuinely…happy. Vanessa’s bursts of laughter were infectious and contagious and a welcome sound given her somber silence over the last several days.

Too quickly it seemed to Frank, the foursome was walking through the parking lot back to their cars. He slowed as they approached Joe’s Mustang and tugged Callie to a stop. Even now, as adults, his mother’s voice echoed through the years with the childhood request for Frank to “watch out for your brother”. It was a habit he couldn’t break even if he wanted to and so after a hug and a thank you from Vanessa, Frank waited while Joe held the door for her, making sure she was safely inside and then walked around the back of the car. Halfway to the driver’s side, Joe stopped and turned to Frank.

“Thank you,” he said, and Frank detected a slight tremor in his voice. Joe glanced at the car and then looked at Frank and Callie with a sad smile. “I really missed hearing her laugh.”

Joe turned and got into the car without another word. Frank waited until Joe had pulled out and was heading for the parking lot exit before he put an arm around Callie and walked to his own car. Once he and Callie were settled in the car he put the key in the ignition but Callie’s hand on his arm stopped him before he turned it on.

“What?” he asked, puzzled.

Callie stared at him for a moment then leaned in and kissed his cheek. “You’re a good brother.”

Frank shrugged and smiled, then pulled out of the parking space and headed for home. As they drove in comfortable silence Frank couldn’t help but think about Vanessa. Her feisty, fiery independent spirit was a perfect match for Joe. And whenever life knocked her down, as it had so often recently, she recovered and rebounded, sometimes scarred but always stronger. Frank was sure she’d do the same this time.

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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.