Hardy Boys Fan Fiction at the HDA - With This Ring

Joe rolled over, buried his face in the pillow and groaned. He hadn’t gotten home until after three in the morning, having followed Jake Epsilon all night, first to a dive bar, then the apartment of a girl he’d met in said bar and finally to Jake’s own run-down home. In the end, it had been fruitless and Joe felt a little bitter at having missed out on spending the evening with Vanessa with nothing to show for it except a lot of missed sleep.

Joe had learned a very hard and painful lesson when Iola Morton had been killed. He no longer made the assumption that the people he loved would always be around for whenever he found a few spare minutes to fit them into his life. As a result he cherished every minute he got to spend with them and felt cheated when he had to give up that time to pursuits that in the end, didn’t pan out.

Since it was Saturday morning, Joe was giving serious thought to simply going back to sleep. He cracked one eye open, looked at the clock on the bedside table and corrected himself – it was Saturday afternoon. Rolling over once more, he flopped onto his back, closed his eyes and listened. Through the closed bedroom door he could hear Vanessa moving about the apartment. Replaying last night’s dinner in his head, Joe smiled. It had been so good to hear her laughing again and he reminded himself to thank his brother one more time.

After another twenty minutes of lolling in that lazy place of not really asleep but not fully awake, Joe finally made the supreme effort and hauled himself out of bed. He used the bathroom, put on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt and wandered out towards the kitchen, hoping Vanessa had been able to hold onto some of the previous evening’s good mood. Apparently having heard him approach, Vanessa turned towards him. Her eyes lit up and she met him halfway with a hug and lengthy kiss.

“Morning,” she said, her arms still wrapped around his neck. “Are you hungry? I can make you something for breakfast.”

“I think it’s afternoon,” Joe corrected, stealing another kiss. “But I’d love breakfast.”

“Pancakes? Eggs? Bacon?” Vanessa asked as she headed back to the kitchen and Joe flopped on the couch.

“Yes,” he called out, hearing Vanessa laugh softly as he picked up the phone on the end table. “Oh…you meant I was supposed to choose?” he asked incredulously, dialing Frank’s number.

“Silly me. I don’t know what I was thinking,” Vanessa replied dryly.

“Me neither,” Joe mumbled, turning all his attention to the phone once Frank answered. “Hey, bro, what’s up?”

Checking in with both his brother and father, Joe brought them up to date on what he’d done the previous night and got the details, or lack thereof, of what they had done. Frank, Fenton and Sam had kept three potential targets under surveillance until well after closing time. None of them had been hit, which Joe realized was actually good news. That meant it was all the more likely that Jake was in on the robberies so it was just a matter of time, and patience, before the band of thieves were caught in the act.

‘Then all I have to do is figure out which one took the ring and beat it out of him,’ Joe thought resolutely. He finished his phone calls just as Vanessa called him for breakfast, though it was hardly necessary; his growling stomach had already recognized the delicious scent of its favorite breakfast foods.

While Joe dug in, Vanessa sat with him, sipping a cup of coffee as he ate. It took less than a minute for him to notice the change in Vanessa. Joe could see her mood was different – definitely a little lighter, but he was also acutely aware that there was something on her mind; and he could tell by her nervous fidgeting it was something he was not going to like. After another few moments of her anxious half-smiles and blatant attempts to avoid eye contact with him, Joe had had enough.

Putting down his fork, Joe sat back, crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her. “Okay, out with it.”

“Out with what?” Vanessa asked innocently, but the look on her face gave her away; she knew she’d been ‘caught’.

“With whatever it is you don’t want to tell me,” Joe pressed, waggling his fingers impatiently. “Come on, let’s hear it.”

Vanessa sighed heavily and put down her coffee cup. Reaching across the table, she took his hand. Looking at him, her eyes automatically drifted to the stitches and still barely healing laceration on his forehead. Reaching up she gently ghosted her fingers over it.

“Nothing in this world is more important to me than you are,” she said, her voice somehow soft and fierce at the same time. “No material possession is worth you getting hurt over.”

Joe’s stomach lurched and he suddenly lost his appetite. He knew exactly where this conversation was headed and wanted to cut her off before she could even get started. “Van, please—”

“I really think we should just put in an insurance claim and get another ring,” Vanessa blurted out before he could stop her.

“No!” Joe cried out. “I can get your ring back!” he insisted, desperation creeping into his voice. “I know I can!”

Vanessa dropped his hand and sat up straight, responding just as vehemently. “Joe, I do not want you coming home covered in blood again! I don’t want you to get hurt! Nothing is worth that!”

Joe opened his mouth to protest but she held up a hand stopping him. Her voice softened and her eyes shone brightly. “Last night was…fun,” she said wistfully. “And I believe in you, Joe, I really do. But I just…I just want to feel like me again – like I did last night. And I want you to be…” She smiled sadly. “…to be you instead of a man possessed with this obsessive tunnel vision about getting the ring back. We’re both living in limbo right now and…” she shrugged. “I don’t know… Maybe the only way to get back to normal – to get us back – is to accept that the ring is gone, get a new one and move on.”

Momentarily speechless, Joe could only stare as his mind slowly processed what she was saying. He could see that she was sincere but he could also still see the sadness in her eyes and couldn’t help but wonder – would a replacement ring erase that sadness? Or just cement it into place?

On one level he understood exactly what she meant and even agreed with her. They did have fun last night, laughing, joking with Frank and Callie, just enjoying life and each other…something they hadn’t done since the ring was stolen – and probably wouldn’t do again until that issue was resolved, one way or another. But Joe was certain they really were close to finding the ring now, very close. Too close to just give up.

“Please, Van, I just need a little more time,” he begged. “The guy I was tailing last night – I know he’s part of the gang. He’s gonna lead us right to them and then it’s just a matter of time until we catch them in the act. We’ll find the ring, I know we will! Please…”

“You’re sure?” Vanessa asked. “Absolutely sure?”

Joe deflated a little. He was sure Jake Epsilon was involved; his gut instinct told him so and he trusted it implicitly. But he knew that wasn’t what Vanessa was asking. She wanted to know if he had absolute, definitive proof – and he didn’t. “No,” he finally admitted. “We don’t have hard physical evidence against him.” Vanessa opened her mouth to speak but Joe rushed ahead. “But even Dad thinks he’s the key! And Frank! And Sam! Come on, Babe,” he pleaded. “I’m not chasing windmills here. We really are that close. Call and ask them if you don’t believe me!” He finally stopped and waited, staring at her.

Vanessa stared back at him, chewing on her lip, contemplating. Joe reached out and took her hands, squeezing them tightly. “Please, Baby…we’re so close…”

Another moment of anxious silence passed and finally Vanessa let out a heavy sigh. “Okay,” she agreed with great reluctance. Joe thought he was home free until she added, “One more day.”

“One day?!” Joe balked and immediately shook his head. “Uh-uh. Four days.”

Vanessa pulled back and crossed her arms over her chest, her chin jutting out in defiance. “Two,” she countered stubbornly.

Joe smiled and pushed his chair back. Reaching out he took her hand again and gave a gentle tug.

“What?” she asked, instantly wary.

He pulled on her hand and she tried to resist but her body betrayed her. Instinctively responding to Joe’s touch, she stood up and Joe pulled her onto his lap.

“Two days,” she repeated trying to sound firm, but he could see her resistance was waning quickly.

Joe laced his fingers through hers, his thumb rubbing gentle circles on her palm until he felt her shiver. He leaned forward and kissed her deeply. “Two days, huh?” he whispered after pulling away and could already feel her heart beating faster.

“Uh-huh,” she nodded, sounding much less sure of herself.

“You sure?” he asked huskily, brushing his lips against her cheek and pulling her closer still.

“Y-yeah,” she stuttered, now willingly leaning into him.

Joe kissed her neck softly. He heard her sigh, felt her clutch his t-shirt and knew he’d won. “How about three?” he murmured.

Her reply was breathless and instantaneous. “Okay.”

Before Joe could respond she silenced him with a passionate kiss. When she finally released him, he stared at her and grinned. “I like arguing with you a lot more than Frank.”

“Oh?” she said, eyeing him mischievously. “Why is that?”

“ ‘Cause making up with you is a whole lot more fun,” he replied leaning towards her.

“Damn skippy,” she agreed, eagerly pressing her lips to his once more.

*****

Fenton Hardy sat slouched in his car, counting on the darkness to shield his presence. It was shortly before 11:00 p.m. and his eyes were glued to a dingy house across the street that was in desperate need of repair. They were pretty sure Jake Epsilon was one of the four thieves but didn’t want to take any chances. Sam, Frank and Joe were staking out three of the businesses they’d singled out as viable targets while he was keeping an eye on Epsilon.

Jake had spent most of the evening in his own house but had left a short time ago for an equally rundown house on the seedier side of Bayport. Not five minutes after he’d arrived, two more men had shown up and entered the house. Staring at it now, Fenton felt the familiar rush of adrenaline. The crime spree these four men had been enjoying for the past several weeks was coming to an end tonight, he was sure of it.

‘And not a minute too soon,’ he thought, momentarily surprised at the surge of anger that raced through him, until he realized why. Prior to the robbery at Prito’s, this had just been another case for the police to deal with. But then they stole Vanessa’s ring and it became personal for Joe. And two nights ago it had become personal for Fenton.

Shifting in the seat, Fenton couldn’t help but think about that first glimpse he’d gotten of Joe, his face and shirt covered in blood. Despite Sam’s immediate assurance that it looked much worse than it was, for one brief second Fenton’s blood had turned to ice. Worse still was the momentary flashback that had blindsided him – a desolate, uninhabited area a few hours outside Chicago…Joe chained to a fence…Frank’s panicked voice… “I can’t find a pulse! We’re too late! He’s dead!”

Fenton scrubbed a hand over his face, hoping to scrub away the painful memory and thought back several years. He had been thrilled when his sons decided to join his practice after they graduated from college. They’d had plenty of other offers so Fenton never took it for granted though he had wondered if he’d be able to keep his perspective when they were in danger. Over the years he had done a pretty decent job of not letting the fact that they were his children cloud his judgment. Until one of them got hurt…. When that happened the lines blurred and sometimes he had to consciously remind himself to focus on justice rather than vengeance. ‘And I wonder where Joe gets it from,’ he chuckled to himself. A sudden movement across the street brought Fenton’s full attention back to the task at hand. He sat up as four men emerged from the house.

Picking up the binoculars on the seat next to him, he lifted them to his eyes and turned the knob, bringing the men into sharp focus. Dressed head to toe in black, they all got into a car that was very similar to one reported by witnesses at one of the Kirkland robberies. He stared at each of the four men in turn as the car backed out of the driveway and headed down the road.

Fenton waited until the car turned the corner at the end of the block and then started his car and began to follow them. It took only a few minutes for him to realize they were heading for downtown Bayport. Using the voice-activation on his cell phone, he conferenced Sam, Frank and Joe into one call and quickly relayed where the thieves were going. He had them wait on the phone for several minutes until it became obvious the thieves were headed to Sam’s location. Once they had finalized everyone’s position at the bar Sam had under surveillance, Fenton disconnected the call.

Keeping the car in sight without making himself obvious, he momentarily banished the cool, indifferent private investigator and allowed himself to feel a father’s anger. ‘One of you attacked my son… You’ll pay for that.’

*****

Joe sat back on his heels in the cramped space and stared up at the dark sky – what he could see of it between the buildings – and let out a breath of frustration. He’d been closer to the bar than Frank was, so he had arrived first. After a quick conference with Sam who was holed up in a doorway across the from the bar’s main entrance, Joe jogged to the narrow alley that ran behind the buildings on this street and settled in to wait. Knowing it would be at least another fifteen minutes before the thieves arrived, Joe thought back over his day in an effort to pass the time.

Part of the afternoon had been spent ‘making up’ with Vanessa after their little disagreement and Joe grinned at the memory. They’d then spent the rest of the day on wedding preparations – mostly working on the seating chart for the reception, another one of the thousands of details Joe couldn’t seem to wrap his mind around but Vanessa insisted was critical to a perfect wedding reception. Joe had suggested it would be fun to put people who didn’t particularly care for each other or had drastically different political views at tables together and watch the fireworks. When Vanessa pointed out those weren’t the kinds of fireworks she was looking forward to on her wedding day, Joe thought better of it. And while Joe would walk through fire for Vanessa, he’d gotten tired of seating placement fairly quickly and was relieved when he had to leave for the stakeout. That was until it occurred to him he was crouched behind a bin full of trash…again.

As if to reinforce his dismal surroundings a rat chose that moment to poke its head out from under the dumpster and look at Joe. Joe held its gaze, muttering, “Yeah, what d’you want?”

It stared at him for a moment and then slowly sauntered away in search of food. Joe rolled his eyes and sighed heavily, leaning back against the dirty brick wall. For the second time in less than a week he was spending his evening surrounded by smelly garbage, possibly rabid rodents and God knew what else. ‘Wonder why all those cop shows on TV never show this side of law enforcement?’ he thought sourly.

A few minutes later Joe was hit with an overwhelming sense of déjà vu. He heard a car out on the deserted street slow down and then a pair of headlights swept across the brick wall as it turned down the alley. Joe pressed himself against the wall, barely daring to breathe. Adrenaline flooded through him as he watched the car come to a stop and four men got out, all of them wearing ski masks.

“Let’s go,” Joe heard one of them say. He tracked their progress until they disappeared around the corner out onto the street. Seconds later it seemed, Sam, Frank and his father descended on the alley as Joe crawled out from behind the dumpster.

“I called the police,” Fenton said, his voice low. “They’ll be here any minute.”

“It won’t be soon enough.” Joe was already shaking his head. “I’ve seen these guys in action. They’re fast. They’ll be gone before the cops ever get here. We have to take them down ourselves…or at least slow them down,” he quickly added, seeing his father was about to veto him.

“What did you have in mind?” Frank asked diplomatically and Joe sent him a silent thank you.

Joe’s eyes darted to the thieves’ car, sparking an idea. “Well if they don’t have any wheels they’ll have a hard time making a getaway,” he grinned wolfishly.

Before anyone could object Joe ran over to the car and got into the driver’s seat. Reaching under the steering column he yanked out the wires. Quickly finding the ones he needed, he tapped them together. The motor immediately roared to life. “Yes!” Joe said excitedly. Putting the car in gear he drove it around the corner and got out. Jogging back to the alley Joe checked his watch and smiled. ‘Cool! A new record!’ he silently congratulated himself.

“Done,” Joe said quietly as he rejoined the group and peered down the alleyway. Feeling a pair of eyes on his back, Joe slowly turned around. Fenton was staring at Joe, his mouth hanging open slightly.

“What?” Joe asked, wondering what he’d done wrong.

Fenton glanced down at his watch and then back at Joe, utterly bewildered. “I had no idea it was even possible to steal a car that fast!”

Joe felt his cheeks burn hot as Sam and Frank burst out laughing.

Fenton shook his head, now grinning and looking impressed. “I’m honestly not sure if I should be worried or proud.”

“Dad, you’d be amazed at the glut of criminal talents Joe possesses,” Frank cracked.

“An ace burglar and Bayport’s quickest car thief,” Sam added with a wink. “Good thing he’s on our side.”

“Can we please remember why we’re here,” Joe said, shrinking down, embarrassed.

The laughter quickly died down and they grew serious once more. “Okay, get ready,” Fenton murmured. He pulled a gun out of his shoulder holster, the other three following suit.

A moment later when they heard a commotion out on the street, the police sirens were still off in the distance just as Joe had predicted. Joe felt the surge of adrenaline and excitement and vaguely wondered why being this close to danger always gave him such a rush. Crouched at the far end of the dumpster behind Frank, Joe bounced on his heels, impatiently waiting for his father’s signal.

He heard the sounds of running feet pounding against the pavement, getting closer and closer. When they came to an abrupt halt Joe couldn’t help but smile and poke his brother in the back. Frank threw a quick glance over his shoulder and Joe grinned at him happily. God, he loved his job!

An angry voice finally broke the stunned silence. “What the fu-”

“Now,” Fenton hissed and Joe practically vaulted out from behind the dumpster. “FREEZE!” Fenton’s deep voice echoed off the walls of the alley. It took several seconds for the thieves to realize what had happened but when they did, chaos ensued.

In the space of a few seconds Joe’s mind processed that chaos and chose his target. Fenton’s command had stunned one of the men who quickly obeyed the eldest Hardy’s order to drop his gun and get down on his knees. Another had attempted to flee and was immediately tackled to the ground by Frank. A third turned and dashed for the street with Sam on his heels. The last man cursed loudly and took off down the alley at a dead run… with Joe in hot pursuit.

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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.