Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

‘NO!’ Frank watched horrified, as Joe lay immobile on top of Jamie, who was barely visible beneath him. Hearing a soft whimper beside him, Frank pulled Ford close to him, his eyes glued to the still form of his brother.

Suddenly Joe jumped up, scooped Jamie up off the ground and ran back to the trees they had just emerged from. Frank started to breathe again, realizing Joe had instinctively dropped to the ground, covering Jamie’s body with his own to protect the child when he heard the gunshot. His relief was short lived, however, as reality dawned….Joe and Jamie were now trapped. Attempting to make their way across the ravine on the wood plank they would easily be picked off; yet if they stayed put, the men would find them within minutes.

“Frank, what are they going to do?” Ford asked in a scared whisper.

“I’m sure Joe will think of something,” Frank replied, attempting to comfort the boy.

Trying to come up with a way to help Joe and Jamie, yet still keep Ford safe, Frank was coming up empty and beginning to panic when he looked across the ravine and saw Joe just inside the tree line, talking to Jamie in earnest. He smiled to himself, knowing Joe had figured out a way to get them across the ravine to safety. Watching curiously, Frank wondered what Joe had in mind when it suddenly hit him what Joe was planning to do.

‘Now I know he’s been hit on the head one too many times!’ Frank thought as he watched in horrified, morbid fascination.

He had hoped he was wrong but, based on the preparations Joe was making and the way he was gesturing to Jamie, Frank knew his assumption was correct. Frank shook his head in disbelief, too far away to do anything but watch as his brother prepared for an act of insanity that was tantamount to suicide, topping every outrageous thing he’d ever done in his life.

‘They’ll never make it,’ Frank concluded as his shoulders slumped in defeat.

*****

On the other side of the ravine, Joe took a few deep breaths, trying to slow his racing heart and remain calm. The gunshot had startled him – scared him! – as he hadn’t realized their pursuers were that close. Close enough that Joe knew he didn’t have much time to come up with a plan. Crossing on the plank was out of the question. Out in the open for that long with no cover whatsoever, they’d be easy targets. Yet by staying put, they’d be captured in minutes. Somehow, within the next minute or so, Joe had to get Jamie to the other side, and do it fast enough to be a rapidly moving target for whoever was taking pot shots at them.

Even though Joe couldn’t see his brother, he knew Frank was watching his every move. It was a comforting thought but didn’t do him much good as far as coming up with a solution, since they had no way to communicate. Crouching in the underbrush, Joe leaned against the giant tree trunk behind him and gazed upwards, hoping for inspiration. As his eyes followed the thick, sturdy branch that jutted out over the ravine, they lit up with excitement. Grabbing the backpack, Joe pulled out a coil of rope and laid it out loosely on the ground. He eyed the length of the rope, the width of the ravine and the branch again.

‘Should be enough,’ he mused, then shrugged his shoulders. They had no other choice.

“How we gonna get across?” Jamie whispered loudly, looking up at Joe, not the least bit concerned about their predicament. He had no doubts Joe would get them to the other side with no problem. As far as he was concerned, Joe could do anything.

“Ever seen Tarzan?” Joe grinned.

Jamie’s eyes widened in surprise, becoming almost too big for his small face. Looking at the rope Joe was re-coiling and then out across the ravine, his face split into a huge grin. “Cool!!” he exclaimed at the prospect of yet another adventure with his hero.

Laughing softly at the boy’s enthusiasm, Joe got to work. Throwing the rope over the branch, he pulled the end down and made a loop, threading the other end through it. Pulling the rope until it was securely wrapped around the branch, he yanked on it, grunting in satisfaction. Picking up the backpack, Joe retrieved a pair of leather gloves and put them on, zipped the pack shut and put it on his back.

Joe held his arms out and Jamie literally jumped into them, unable to contain his excitement. “Now put your arms around my neck and your legs around my waist. I have to hang on to the rope so you need to hold on to me as tight as you can, okay?” Joe instructed.

Jamie smiled, nodding his head vigorously.

“No matter what happens, don’t let go,” Joe said firmly.

“I won’t!” Jamie replied practically bursting with anticipation. “You can count on me, partner!”

With Jamie clinging to him for all he was worth, Joe grabbed the rope and pulled on it firmly. Reaching up a little higher, he bent his knees and lifted his feet so they were momentarily suspended, the rope completely supporting their weight. Satisfied the rope would hold, Joe stood and walked back several steps making sure he could get a good running start.

“Remember…” he began, looking at Jamie.

“Don’t let go!” Jamie finished for him, and then impulsively gave Joe a peck on the cheek.

“Right, partner,” Joe chuckled.

Gazing across the ravine, Joe mentally crossed his fingers. ‘If this doesn’t work, Frank is gonna have a hell of a lot of explaining to do!’

Making sure the rope was wound tightly around his gloved hands, Joe gave one final tug. “Ready?”

“Ready!” Jamie exclaimed happily.

Joe took off running as fast as he could, given the added weight of Jamie and the backpack. Reaching the edge of the ravine, he literally took a leap of faith and swung out over the gaping hole, praying they’d reach the other side in one piece.

The instant they left solid ground a gunshot rang out. Jamie’s grip on Joe tightened considerably. Joe’s worry that Jamie might get scared and panic was quickly washed away as squeals of delight echoed in his ear along with the sound of the wind whooshing by. Within seconds, Joe felt solid ground beneath his feet. Without missing a beat, Joe released the rope and wrapped his arms around Jamie, running for cover. Another gunshot ripped through the air, dangerously close to them. Crashing through the bushes Joe slowed, his eyes darting around in search of his brother.

Hearing a noise to his right, Joe spun around, dropping Jamie to his feet and pushing the boy behind him. He exhaled with relief as Frank and Ford emerged from hiding.

Wordlessly, Joe nudged Jamie towards Frank. Dropping to his knees he shrugged off the backpack and unzipped it. Rummaging around inside, he pulled out the gun and its cartridge, shoving it into place. Walking as close to the tree line as he dared, Joe raised the gun and carefully lined up the rope in his sights. As it swayed gently, Joe steadied his hand and fired off two shots in quick succession, smiling grimly as the rope was severed and fell to the ground. Standing, he noticed the plank was gone and assumed Frank had sabotaged it while the gunmen were focused on his and Jamie’s wild ride. Turning around, Joe found himself face to face with Frank whose mouth was agape and eyes wide as saucers.

“What?!” Joe asked testily, as Frank stared at him, apparently unable to speak, Ford and Jamie right behind him.

“Did you see us?!” Jamie asked his older brother, excitedly hopping from one foot to the other. “We flew across that ravine!” Jamie turned and ran to Joe’s side, his eyes wide with hero-worship. “Dude, that was awesome!” Bouncing up and down animatedly, he reached up and gave Joe a high-five. “Can we do it again sometime?!”

“NO!!” Frank yelled, finally having recovered enough to speak, still trying to grasp what he’d just witnessed….

Mystified, he’d watched as Joe attached the rope to the tree branch, wondering what Joe could possibly have in mind. When he saw Joe tug on the rope, eyeing the distance across the ravine, it dawned on him what Joe was considering. Frank had quickly dismissed the idea, telling himself even Joe wasn’t that crazy. However, when he saw Joe gesture animatedly to Jamie, then pick the boy up and retreat back into the trees, Frank had to face the fact that his brother really was that crazy, fully intending to swing across the ravine in some bizarre Tarzan imitation with a pack secured to his back and Jamie clinging to his chest.

Certain there was no way Joe could make it all the way across, Frank really didn’t want to witness his brother plunge to his death; yet he was unable to turn away, and wondered how he was going to explain this one to his parents. He briefly considered running away from home and then realized Fenton and Laura would eventually notice that neither of their sons had returned from their rescue mission.

Now openly glaring at his younger brother, Frank got that same sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach as he had during the few seconds it took for Joe and Jamie to swing across the ravine, absolutely sure he was about to watch his brother perish right in front of his eyes. Momentarily losing control, Frank reached out and grabbed Joe’s jacket, yanking him forward until they were almost nose-to-nose.

“ARE YOU INSANE?! Have you finally lost your mind completely?!?” Frank bellowed, his heart pounding wildly in his chest and shaking from the adrenaline that still coursed through his body.

“What was I supposed to do?” Joe snapped defensively. “Walking across the plank we would’ve been sitting ducks. If we’d stayed on that side any longer looking for another way across, they would’ve caught us!”

Staring at Joe, speechless, Frank felt something pushing against him, forcing him back a step. He looked down to see Jamie squirming his way between Frank and Joe, pressing himself up against Joe’s legs protectively. “Why are you mad?” he asked. “Joe was supposed to get me to this side and he did, right?”

Hearing the reverent tone in Jamie’s voice as he talked about Joe, Frank shook his head, dumbfounded. “Yes, Jamie, he did but…”

“Then why are you yelling at him?” Jamie frowned disapprovingly.

Hearing a snicker, Frank looked up and saw Joe doing his best to contain himself as he watched Frank once again being taken to task by a seven-year-old. Narrowing his eyes, Frank scowled darkly at Joe, muttering something under his breath. Picking up his own backpack, he turned and started to walk away, quickly spinning around and taking a few steps back towards his younger sibling. Frank swore he felt his blood pressure rising as Joe looked at him innocently.

“Don’t think for one second we’re through with this, little brother. As soon as your pint-sized bodyguard is back home safe and sound, we are going to have a very long talk. Believe me, I have a much different opinion of your Tarzan impersonation than he does. And I know Dad will agree with me!”

Putting a hand on Ford’s shoulder, Frank nudged him forward to resume their journey.

“Tattletale,” Joe mumbled.

Frank stopped mid-stride but did not turn around. Joe watched as Frank’s shoulders heaved up and down dramatically, indicating Frank was attempting to regain control of his temper. A tense moment passed as Joe nervously wondered if he’d pushed his older brother over the edge this time. He felt a small hand slip into his and looked down to see Jamie eyeing Frank with trepidation.

“He’s not gonna kill you is he?” Jamie whispered loudly, pressing himself up against Joe’s leg.

“Not in front of witnesses,” Joe replied wryly as Frank finally began moving again, never once looking back at his brother.

“Then I won’t take my eyes off you,” Jamie promised as he and his idol followed their older siblings and vanished into the brush.

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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.