Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

I SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYE

‘Twinkle, twinkle, little star…’

‘The stars should be really impressive this far out from the city lights,’ observed Frank. The time was approaching midnight and the fire was starting to burn itself out. The group had spent the hour since Chet’s departure chatting about all manner of things.

‘Do you know much about the stars Joe?’ asked Vanessa hopefully. Joe shook his head.

‘Not really. Frank’s the expert. When we were younger, he used to read all these astronomy books, borrow the school’s telescope and spend hours outside in the middle of the night.’

‘Weren’t you interested?’ asked Vanessa curiously.

‘Well he was,’ said Frank, ‘but half an hour into a star-gazing session, Dad would have to come out and carry sleeping beauty here back inside to bed.’

‘Ahh, how cute!’ laughed Vanessa, and even Callie laughed at the thought of it. Joe merely shrugged.

‘I admit it. I had no stamina for late night stake-outs in those days! I was only 6! It always took so long to find the damn star Frank was looking for.’

‘Well ‘patience’ has never been your strongest quality,’ Frank teased him gently. Joe got to his feet, yawned and looked up to the sky.

‘Why don’t you let Frank give you a lesson in star gazing,’ he suggested to Vanessa. ‘I’m gonna turn in.’

‘Is that okay with you Frank?’ asked Vanessa hopefully.

‘Absolutely,’ said Frank, enthusiastically. ‘Callie? Interested?’

Callie declined, stifling a yawn as she spoke.

‘No, you two go ahead. All this fresh air has made me really sleepy.’

Joe bent down and kissed Vanessa on the nose. ‘See you soon,’ he said quietly, before whispering loud enough for Callie to hear, ‘I’ll warm up your sleeping bag for you.’

Callie chose not to say anything, but Frank frowned at his brother.

‘Oh for God’s sake!’ Joe spluttered. ‘Can’t you people take a joke?’ He sauntered off to his tent, muttering loudly about chaperones and having to play ridiculous games.

Callie kissed Frank goodnight and gave Vanessa a hug.

‘See you in the morning Callie,’ said Vanessa warmly. ‘I promise I won’t keep Frank up too late!’

‘Happy searching!’ replied Callie as she entered her and Frank’s tent.

*****

‘Look there,’ Frank told Vanessa, pointing to a tiny point of light moving across the sky. Vanessa followed the direction of Frank’s finger eagerly and gave a little gasp.

‘Yes, I see it!’ she said excitedly. ‘Is it a shooting star?’

‘No,’ Frank told her. ‘It’s actually a satellite. Possibly space junk. Here; take a look through the binoculars.’

Vanessa took the binoculars, peered through them at the night sky, and then shook her head, amazed.

‘It’s not enough we’re polluting the Earth,’ she said. ‘We’re cluttering up space as well.’

‘Well, satellites have improved international communications out of sight,’ Frank explained, matter-of-factly. ‘At least there’s some good coming out of that kind of littering.’

Vanessa regarded her boyfriend’s brother with amusement.

‘You know,’ she said, ‘Joe’s right. You have a clear, logical, practical explanation for everything. Even space junk!’

Frank grinned. He had enjoyed sharing his knowledge of the night sky with Vanessa. She was an enthusiastic, attentive listener.

‘Is that right?’ said Frank. ‘And just what else does Joe say about me? Actually no. Don’t tell me.’

‘Okay, I won’t!’ Vanessa said teasingly. ‘You can stay awake tonight wondering what other secrets he’s given away!’

Frank marveled at how, like Joe, Vanessa came up with witty come-back lines.

‘I’m glad Joe and I came away with you and Callie this weekend,’ Vanessa told him. ‘I feel like less of a newcomer each time we’re altogether like this. Callie’s been such a good friend.’

‘I’m happy about it too,’ Frank said in response. ‘We used to do stuff like this quite often.’

‘It’s interesting being the outsider amongst people who have known each other a long time,’ remarked Vanessa. ‘You sometimes find yourself watching people talk and wondering what their history is.’

Frank said nothing, reflecting on what Vanessa had said.

‘I bet Chet has always been the same,’ she continued. ‘He’s so unruffable and sweet-natured.’

Frank had to agree. ‘It’s true. I don’t think Chet will ever change. And that’s a good thing for the rest of us,’ he added quickly.

‘And, for Chet, instead of Joe being a painful reminder of his sister, he’s like a remaining link to her,’ said Vanessa in her soft voice.

Frank thought about her remark and was astounded by the truth in it. He’d never thought of it that way.

‘I think you’re right Vanessa,’ he said, gazing up at another satellite. ‘Although, Callie and Iola were very close, and I sometimes wonder whether that’s the reason why Callie and Joe get on each others’ nerves so much.’

‘What do you mean?’ asked Vanessa. Frank ran his fingers through his hair and looked at Vanessa with a slightly pained expression.

‘Joe and Callie have always had their little disagreements, but over the last six months, at times it’s been like war is about to break out. You can’t honestly say you haven’t noticed! I sometimes wonder if it’s got anything to do with Iola. I know Callie misses her.’

‘Yes, but surely she doesn’t blame Joe for what happened,’ said Vanessa, her grey eyes wide with astonishment. Frank wondered whether it was appropriate to introduce the topic of his brother’s flirting to Joe’s present girlfriend, but Vanessa beat him to it.

‘I know Joe was enjoying another girl flirting with him just before it happened, but that’s just typical of him, and Iola would have been used to it. I can’t believe Callie would still be holding that against him.’

Frank raised his eyebrows in surprise. So Joe had honestly and openly shared those details with Vanessa! He hadn’t realised Vanessa and Joe had become so close. He was really pleased.

‘Look, it’s just my theory. Call me crazy. I’m only a guy, so I don’t claim to really understand the workings of the female mind, but I think Callie knows that Iola was annoyed with Joe the day she died, and Callie is still annoyed at him on her friend’s behalf.’

Vanessa tilted her head and thought about what Frank had said.

‘I think there’s some truth in that,’ she said, ‘but it’s probably even more complicated than that.’

Frank smiled at Vanessa’s lovely face and raised his eyebrow questioningly.

‘No, I’m still working it out,’ Vanessa told him with a soft laugh. ‘I’ll let you know when I’ve properly formulated my own theory. Let’s see if we can spy a few more bits of space junk!’

Frank and Vanessa turned their attention back to the heavens, unaware that evil eyes were trained on them, and that a corrupt mind had formulated a plan.