MAKING IT OFFICIAL
by
RM
Chapter 8
THE CHAPTERS
That
evening, the Hardy’s and Anderson’s gathered on the back porch of the
Hardy home enjoying the warm fall night. Fenton had grilled the chicken to
perfection and everyone enjoyed the salads Laura had made.
Melissa
and Richard had brought along a chocolate cake for dessert.
They
were all seated on the porch enjoying the night as the sun set. Candles
were lit and set about the railing of the porch offering a gentle glow for
everyone sitting there.
The
majority of the conversation focused on Frank and Caren’s upcoming
nuptials and making sure all the details had been ironed out.
After
a little while, the conversation switched to another subject. Richard said,
“I heard you all are involved in a new case.”
“We
actually started it yesterday,” Fenton said.
“Is
it anything you can talk about it?” Melissa asked.
“Well,
it’s nothing that is top secret,” Fenton said. “We’ve been asked to
locate a chest that a family member many generations ago had hidden on the
family grounds. The family believes the chest is still there and want to
locate it for its historical value.”
“Is
there anything in the chest?” Melissa asked.
“From
what we were told, the chest did contain coins when it had been found,”
Joe said.
“Wow,
a treasure,” Caren said.
“Exactly,”
Fenton said. “The family believes that the chest is still on the premises
and we’re trying to find it.”
“And
that’s what you were doing when you got hurt, Frank?” Richard asked.
“Yeah.
We were checking something out and I fell back. I fell through the
floor.”
“Luckily
his injuries weren’t serious,” Laura said.
“That
would have ruined the wedding,” Melissa said.
“We
would have made it work,” Caren said, reaching over and squeezing
Frank’s hand.
“So,
what is your next step?” Richard asked.
“We’ll
probably return to the house and take another look around,” Fenton said.
“Do
you know how long this case will take?” Melissa asked.
Frank
looked at Caren’s mom and saw she was looking between Caren and him. He
knew what Melissa was alluding to.
“It
shouldn’t take too long,” Fenton said. “And I doubt it will interfere
with the wedding.”
“That’s
good to hear,” Melissa said.
“So,
I guess moving your stuff to Caren’s apartment this week is going to be a
challenge,” Richard said.
“Actually,
we’re not going to move anything until after our honeymoon,” Frank
said. “With all that’s going on this week, we figured we shouldn’t
add anymore. We agreed it would be less stressful if we waited until we got
back.”
“I
think that’s a terrific idea,” Laura said. “There’s so much going
on now that I doubt you would be able to squeeze that in.”
“That’s
exactly what we were thinking,” Caren said.
“So,
we agreed to put it off until our return,” Frank said.
After
a little while, Caren said, “It’s getting late and I have an early
dress fitting.”
“Do
you have to?” Laura asked.
“I
would live to stay, but I don’t want to miss the appointment.”
“We
understand,” Frank said, getting to his feet. “I’ll walk you out.”
After
Caren and her folks said goodbye to the Hardy’s, Frank walked them out to
the cars parked by the curb. He said goodnight to the
Once
they were gone, Caren turned to Frank. “I’m sorry about my parents.”
“You
don’t have to be,” Frank said, cupping her face in his hand. “They
just don’t want anything to interfere with the wedding.”
Caren
leaned close to Frank. “And nothing will.”
Frank
bent his head down and kissed Caren on the lips. “I love you, Caren
Anderson.”
“I
love you, Frank Hardy.”
*
* * * *
The
next morning, Frank was in his office early. He had spent the previous
afternoon reviewing the papers his father had given him. He had been unable
to find anything that would help them find the chest.
Being
that there hadn’t been any real leads, he began sketching the layout of
the building on the cliff. They didn’t have any drawings of the house and
figured they needed something as a reference. He marked where everything
was from his memory, hoping he was being accurate.
But
there was another reason he had been up early. He had the same nightmare as
two days earlier. Waking in a cold sweat, he had been terrified it was
real. Once he calmed down, he realized it was just a dream when he noticed
he didn’t have a ring on his hand. He knew he wouldn’t get anymore
sleep so he just started on the case.
“What
are you doing?”
Frank
looked up and saw Joe standing in the doorway. “I was trying to get some
work done,” Frank said. “I don’t want anything piling up and waiting
until I get back.”
“That’s
good thinking,” Joe said. “Dad and I are going to head to the
Fieldstone Estate once he finishes his coffee.”
“All
right.” Frank folded the paper he was working on and shoved it into his
back pocket. He grabbed a couple pens and put them in his pocket as well.
“I’m ready to go.”
Joe
didn’t move as Frank came around the desk on the crutches. “Are you
sure you should come with us?”
Frank
looked at his brother, puzzled. “Why shouldn’t I?”
“Well…”
Joe began.
Frank
immediately knew what his brother was thinking. He was tired and let his
temper come through. “What? Because I have a sprained ankle I shouldn’t
come along?”
“It’s
not that,” Joe said, defensively. “Well, not entirely.”
“What
then?” Frank demanded, anxious to know what his little brother was
thinking.
“Your
ankle is one thing. Look at how much of a hike we had from the driveway to
the building. That was tiring for all of us and it’s bound to be worse
with the crutches.”
Frank
knew it would be more work, but that never stopped him before. “What’s
the other reason?”
Joe
looked at the floor and then at Frank. He had a feeling Joe didn’t want
to bring up whatever he was thinking.
“Well?”
Frank prompted.
“You’re
tired,” Joe said. “I can see it in our face and before you try to tell
me you’re not, I heard you call out last night. Just as I heard it, you
stopped. Whatever it was, was the same as the other night, right?”
Frank
stared at his brother. He couldn’t believe he had been that loud again.
He could see Joe was concerned, but there was nothing he could do about it.
And he didn’t want Joe to know what it was either.
“It
wasn’t the same dream,” Frank lied. “It was different.”
“Was
it about what happened yesterday?”
“Yes,”
Frank lied again, feeling a huge weight pressing down on him. “I felt
myself falling and woke up.”
“Then
you shouldn’t go back there,” Joe said.
“I’ll
be fine,” Frank said. “We’re just going to an old dilapidated
building. Nothing else is going to happen.”
“Frank!
Joe! Are you coming?”
“We’ll
be right there,” Frank said.
He
moved past Joe and they headed out to the car.
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Disclaimer
The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The authors 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.