Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

-Taking No Risks-

Joe stared at the message for a moment before flinging the material away. He struggled up from the ground and stumbled away. Left by the mock grave, Fenton and AJ could soon hear the sounds of violent vomiting.

‘This is crazy,’ breathed AJ, shaking his head in disbelief. Fenton, deciding to give Joe some privacy and time to compose himself, scanned the ground surrounding the ‘grave’, hoping to discover some clue that would lead them to his older son. He agreed with AJ. Carson Winter was certainly crazy but there was method in the madness. Every attack so far had been calculated and designed to inflict emotional pain on the Hardy family. This most recent stunt was designed to make Joe, in particular, believe temporarily that Frank was dead; that he had met the same end as Winter’s victims.

‘But what is Carson hoping to ultimately get out of this?’ wondered Fenton out aloud. ‘What’s the point?’

AJ glanced nervously about.

‘He’s getting his thrills watching you guys suffer I guess,’ he said disgustedly. ‘And I know it’s been tough on all of you, but it’s killing Joe,’ he added candidly.

Fenton looked over to where Joe was leaning against a tree trunk, facing away from them. He still needed more time.

‘Explain what you mean,’ Fenton asked AJ, his interest in the young man’s perspective peaked. AJ shrugged before answering.

‘Chet seems to be Joe’s best friend. Biff’s like another brother to him. Frank describes Biff as a kind of protector. Joe’s mother. Carson ’s pushed all of Joe’s buttons. Now Frank. It would have been a relief for Joe to be the one kidnapped instead of Frank.’

Fenton rubbed his chin. It was true. While Frank was the one who had been taken, he recalled the pictures they had seen in the apartment. Frank’s picture had been crossed out, but Joe’s had been circled in red. A red circle often indicated a target of some kind, but Joe had not been physically harmed or taken – yet. And there was that letter…

As Joe finally began to walk slowly back towards them, it struck Fenton how incredibly difficult the situation had become. How was he going to balance the urgent need to find Frank with the imperative of keeping Joe out of Carson Winter’s sights? This was not going to be easy!

‘What happens next?’ Joe demanded, his jaw set firmly despite his ghostly appearance.

‘Will you excuse us for a minute?’ Fenton asked AJ as he put his arm around Joe’s shoulders and led him away. AJ nodded and took out his cigarettes. Only one left he remarked to himself. He reckoned he’d be needing considerably more than that to get him through the rest of this particularly stressful day!

‘I’ve rung Chief Collig,’ Fenton calmly explained to his younger son. ‘They’ll be some men here very soon to take photographs of the scene and get some details.’

‘While we keep looking for Frank, right?’ said Joe, his jaw still set firmly. He didn’t like the tone of voice his father was using. It was what Joe described as his ‘calming down old people and kids’ voice. Fenton turned to face Joe and put his hands on his shoulders.

‘You are not taking any risks, Joe,’ he told him. ‘As soon as Collig’s men get here, you and AJ will be driving straight home and staying there with Aunt Gertrude. I’ll be getting the police to drive me to the safe house to update your mother and the girls.’

‘But Dad…’ Joe began.

‘No buts, Joe. Carson isn’t mucking around. He’s already got at Biff, Chet, Callie, your mother, and now Frank. Only your picture was circled in red. The letter was addressed to you. He has something significant in mind for you, and I will not allow you to make yourself an easy target. Who knows how many more sick pranks he has lined up! I don’t like this any more than you do, but we’re going to have to wait until Carson makes his next move and then put our faith in the police.’

Joe hung his head and bit his lip. He knew there was no use arguing. Not when his Dad had made up his mind.

They heard the sound of cars arriving and were soon joined by five men armed with measuring tape, cameras and digging implements.

‘Go on,’ Fenton urged Joe, handing him the car keys. ‘Go home with AJ. I’ll ring you from the safe house. I’m sure your mother will want to speak to you.’

Fenton was hoping to be able to give his son a reassuring hug, but Joe grabbed the keys, broke away from his father and quickly began walking to his father’s car. With half a wave to Fenton, AJ began running after Joe.

‘Where are we going?’ he asked his friend breathlessly.

‘Home!’ was the angry response. AJ wisely decided it was far too dangerous to ask any more questions for the moment.