Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

OUT OF HARM’S WAY

As it turned out, not only was Aunt Gertrude unhappy about being told she was going to be sent off to a safe location with Laura, Callie and Vanessa, she flatly refused to go!

‘Absolute nonsense!’ Gertrude had told Fenton. ‘No one’s made any threat against me! You and the boys will need someone to cook meals and look after the house while you sort this matter out!’

‘But Gertrude!’ Fenton had implored her, ‘you might well be at risk because you’re living in our house.’

‘Well I’d say there’s more urgency for the boys to be put in a safe place,’ Gertrude had retorted, ‘and I know they won’t agree to that. I’m staying here and that’s final.’

……

Friday, 2.00pm

Joe didn’t need to say much at all to Vanessa to convey how he was feeling about her going. He felt torn between wanting her out of harm’s way and not wanting to let her out of his sight! When she and Callie had returned with Frank to the Hardy house with their overnight bags, Joe quickly led her upstairs to his bedroom. As the door closed behind them, he took her into his arms and engaged her in a long, lingering kiss. Finally, he drew her close to him and rested his head on her shoulder.

‘I don’t want you to go,’ he whispered into her ear.

‘I know,’ said Vanessa, holding him closer.

‘But I need you to be safe and I want you to keep mum’s spirits up,’ he continued.

‘I know,’ Vanessa said again. ‘I understand.’

Joe drew back and held her hands in his, a mildly embarrassed smile on his handsome face.

‘What’s the matter?’ she asked him, her grey eyes shining.

‘Everyone keeps telling me that,’ said Joe. ‘That they understand. I don’t even understand myself half the time!’

Vanessa leant her forehead against his and sighed deeply.

‘You’re a lot less complicated than you think you are, Joe Hardy,’ she told him. ‘You joke around and take very few things seriously, but when it comes to looking after people you care about, you’re deadly serious.’

Joe looked deeply into her eyes for even the tiniest suggestion of disapproval. There was none.

‘You don’t think I’m over-reacting, chauvinistic and paranoid?’ Joe asked her, recalling some choice adjectives Callie had used when sparring with him some time ago. Vanessa laughed in her soft, intoxicating manner.

‘All of the above,’ she told him, smiling, ‘but it leaves me feeling so cherished, and it makes me love you even more!’

Joe kissed her passionately again until they were interrupted by a sharp knock at the door.

‘Come on Romeo!’ called Frank’s voice. ‘Time to get moving.’

Downstairs, while two plain-clothed detectives waited discreetly in the hallway, goodbyes were said. While Laura, Vanessa and Callie were not wildly enthusiastic about going into protective custody, they knew it was important for everyone’s piece of mind. It surely wouldn’t have to be for long! Laura had been worried about Gertrude’s refusal to go, but was calmed considerably when she was assured by Fenton that an officer would be stationed in a car outside the Hardy home at all times.

Fenton emerged from his office, shutting the door behind him. Frank had heard him talking to someone in there but would ask his father about who it was after the girls had gone.

There were warm hugs all around and everyone did their best to keep a brave face.

‘No heroics from you this time, please,’ whispered Callie into Joe’s ear as he hugged her. ‘I won’t be there to get you out of trouble this time.’

‘Keep us updated,’ Laura pleaded as Fenton walked her to the door, his arm around her. ‘And please be careful.’

And then they were gone, the three of them waving from the back of the car as it pulled away.

Friday, 2.20pm

Fenton closed the front door and turned to his sons as Gertrude went upstairs. He knew they would be eager to know what action would be taken next, but there was another matter to be dealt with first.

‘Boys, I have Winston Carter in my office. He rang a little while ago in the midst of all the confusion, so I asked him to come over. I wanted to explain to him in person that you’ll have to put your investigation into Angelica’s disappearance aside for awhile.’

‘How did he take it?’ asked Frank, concern in his eyes.

‘He understands totally,’ replied Fenton. ‘I wasn’t specific about why. I just said there were a few family issues to deal with and promised him we’d be in touch once everything has settled down. Now, I’d like you boys to drive Winston home. I tried to pay his taxi fare for him but he’s being stubborn. I only just managed to get him to agree to get a lift home with you!’

‘We can do that,’ said Joe, ‘so long as we can collect AJ, either on the way there or on the way back. He’s expecting us to pick him up and take him with us to visit Biff.’

‘That’s fine,’ said his father. ‘Just make sure you come straight back here. I want you to stick together. Until this thing is sorted out, you’re to take no risks.’

‘Did you hear that Frank? No risky business,’ said Joe cheekily, knowing full well that his father was primarily directing his warning at his younger son.

‘Just get Dad’s keys,’ Frank told him dryly. ‘There won’t be room for all four of us in the van.’

Friday, 2.35pm

AJ was surprised to see Mr. Hardy’s car, with Joe at the wheel, pull up outside his house, and even more surprised to see Winston Carter in the front passenger seat.

‘We’ll explain later,’ Joe told him as AJ got in the back next to Frank.

Winston’s directions to his apartment were interspersed with his assurances that he completely understood why they had to take a break from the case, and his hopes that their ‘family issues’ would all be sorted out quickly. Joe found himself feeling quite irritated by the elderly man’s constant chatter and was relieved when Winston finally told him he could pull over.

‘Good luck boys,’ he said, opening the car door. ‘I hope I hear from you soon. Oh dear. Could you hand me my cane, Joseph. I can’t seem to reach it.’

Barely managing not to roll his eyes, Joe handed him the cane. He kept the engine running, eager to get home. He couldn’t explain why he suddenly felt so impatient towards the man. Frank could see Winston still struggling to get out of the car. He shot a critical glance at his brother. Joe wasn’t being terribly sympathetic! Frank opened his own door and got out.

‘Here, Winston. Let me give you a hand.’

‘Oh, thank you so much Frank,’ said Winston gratefully. ‘Some days my leg is worse than on others.’

Frank helped the man stand and realised how unsteady he was, despite the cane. He also noted the two steps leading up to Winston’s front door.

‘I’ll help you inside,’ Frank told him kindly. ‘Joe! Give me a minute. I won’t be long.’

Joe switched off the car and sighed impatiently, watching as Winston took small, unsteady steps towards his apartment. This was going to take forever!

‘Why are you dropping the case?’ asked AJ from the back seat. He knew something major had happened. It was uncharacteristic of Joe to be so out of sorts. Joe gave him a quick run-down of what had occurred that day. AJ couldn’t believe his ears. It was like being in the middle of a detective novel!

‘Oh for Pete’s sake! What’s he doing now?!’ exclaimed Joe. He could no longer see his brother or Winston.

‘Relax,’ said AJ. ‘He’s probably just helped the poor old guy inside.’

Joe sat back and began drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. This wasn’t right. Frank had gone inside, despite their father telling them to stay together. Frank was not the son who made a habit of ignoring their father’s directives!

Suddenly wrenching open the car door, Joe flung himself out and ran down the path. The front door was shut. He tested the handle. It was locked. Suddenly he heard what sounded like a vehicle accelerating somewhere behind the property. He sprinted down a narrow, concrete path and was just in time to see the rear of a white car disappearing down a back alley. His heart in his throat, Joe rushed to the apartment’s back door and pounded on it. There was no sound coming from inside.

By this time, AJ was out of the car and nearly collided with Joe as he came running back to the front door.

‘What’s the matter?’ demanded AJ.

‘He’s gone! They’re both gone!’ Joe shouted at AJ. Frustration, fear and guilt all combined within him. ‘We shouldn’t have let Frank get out of the damn car!!’

Afraid that Joe was going to lose it, AJ tried to calm him down.

‘Come on kid. Maybe the door’s self-locking. They could still be inside,’ he said.

‘But no-one answered when I banged on the back door!’ exclaimed Joe, grabbing a handful of his own hair. ‘Oh God! I’m gonna have to ring Dad! I can’t believe this!’

AJ grabbed Joe’s arm and spoke to him in as stern a manner as he dared.

‘Listen. Joe! Calm down! If Frank and Winston are gone, freaking out is NOT going to help them! Ring your Dad and I’ll get this door open.’

Joe swallowed hard and nodded. AJ was right. He had to think straight if he was going to have any hope of finding Frank.

While AJ worked some of his own magic to open Winston Carter’s front door, Joe made one of the most difficult phone calls he’d ever have to make.