Hardy Boys - More Than Just The Fun Uncle

Liberated

Andrea had to force her feet to rise off the dusty gravel. One foot at a time, step after step, continuously. Never had she been this exhausted before. The only thing keeping her going was the rhythm she'd developed through her constant walk and the thought of saving her dad and cousin from those horrible men. It felt to Andrea that it had been hours since her escape, but she knew she never had a good concept of time. It could even have been just a half-hour ago, for all she knew.

What could happen in that amount of time?

What were those men doing to her dad? She had heard him cry out in pain shortly after she escaped, that cry scared her. Andrea knew that they didn't really want to hurt Kitty, but they had certainly wanted her dad dead. And now that he'd made them mad- could he be dead? The reality of the thought brought tears to her eyes, but it also urged her on. She had to press forward. Even if her dad really was dead, Kitty would still need saving, and Andrea wasn't about to let her be taken away.

A rumble down the road ahead of her drew Andrea out if the recesses of her young, but busy mind. A car! The blond faltered a moment, trying to remember what she was supposed to do. The glimmer of a windshield in the sun could just be seen as Andrea dove behind the nearest bush to hide. Oh how she hoped they hadn't seen her!

The grinding of tires over gravel grew louder and louder as a vehicle drew closer to the girl's hiding place. She held her breath as the breaks squeaked and the vehicle halted just feet away.

She had been seen!

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Frank glanced about his family room, taking in the forms of each that were present: Andrea Bender sat on the floor with her distraught daughter, who had silent tears running down her pale cheeks.

Laura Hardy, Frank's own mother, was crouched a few feet away, occupying Elyse and little Fenton. She had always coped best by keeping herself busy and making others happy - much like Joe.

Fenton, Frank and Joe's famous father, sat silently in the armchair, his face frozen in a seemingly permanent expression of grief, confusion and anger, though to anybody else it would seem that the detective looked stoic and thoughtful.

Last of all was Callie, curled up in Frank's arms as the two of them sat on the couch together. Callie looked to be sleeping, but the brown haired Hardy was the wiser. This was how his wife coped best. She shut out the world and tried to sleep it all away, only she could never find sleep. It was a torment, and Frank could only pity her and hold her tighter.

The news that the case had hit a dead end was devastating to all of them, but each handled it in their own way. Frank hadn't quite handled it fully yet, but he would get his turn when the time was right. He was needed now, and he wouldn't go bury himself in his room when his family needed him around.

Of course he knew he wasn't likely go to his room. Frank would have gone right back to the Bayport Police Department the first chance he got, even if there was nothing more to be done. Knowing he was doing all he could was what comforted him most in times like this, but his father had finally managed to convince him to come home. Frank never would have agreed, but Fenton had a point to his reasoning. These people needed him right now and if he couldn't help Joe and the girls, he would surely help his family during this struggle.

A vibration coming from his back pocket drew Frank back to the present. He maneuvered his body to reach his phone, being ever so careful do as not to disturb his resting wife. He finally clasped his phone and pulled it to his front, reading the name of the caller.

"Who is it?" Callie mumbled, sleepily.

"It's Chet." Frank stated, furrowing his brow. "Of all times." Frank answered the call and drew the phone up to his ear. "Not a great time, Chet. Can I call you back?"

""Frank!" The voice of his old chum rang back. "You've got to get over to the farm pronto!"

Frank sat himself up a bit further and straightened his shoulders. His heart began to beat a bit faster. "What do you mean, Chet? What's going on?"

At his words, Callie sat up and faced him, curiosity etched on her face.

"It's Andrea, Frank!" Chet cried.

"Settle down." Frank soothed. "What about her?"

"We found her, Man!"

"What!" Frank stood up all together, bringing all other activity in the room to an abrupt halt. "Is she okay? Is- i-is she-" He didn't dare say the word that was frozen in his mind.

"She's fine, Frank." Chet said, allowing Frank to release a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding. "A couple scratches here and there, but she'll be just fine. Now get your butt over here!"

"Yeah, yeah. I-I'll be right over. I'm on my way." Frank was about to hang up the phone when his friend's voice returned, halting his actions.

"One more thing, Frank." Chet said, his voice sounding considerably more serious. The Hardy didn't have to wonder why for long. Soon his own heart was frozen in his chest at his chum's next words. "She seems to think that Joe's dead."

Frank couldn't speak. Any words that dared to enter his mind were trapped within his throat. It just couldn't be. Not Joe. Not his little brother. Frank wouldn't believe it until he saw it with his own two eyes.

"Frank?" Chet's voice rang over the phone again. "You still there, Man?"

The young Hardy shook his head clear before answering. "Yeah, I'm still here. Thanks, Chet. I'll be over right away."

After hanging up, Frank observed all the faces staring at him in eager anticipation. Each gaze begged him to confirm what they all wondered.

"Honey?" Came the voice of his sweet wife.

Frank met her eyes, then, finally finding his voice, he was able to face the others. "Chet found Andrea."

Every face produced a different kind of expression. Some looked relieved, some looked scared, some looked happy, some looked hopeful. Each emotion shown on their faces Frank felt within himself at that very moment.

"Is she hurt?" Vanessa asked with a pleading glint in her eye.

Frank shook his head. "Chet said she's absolutely fine." Then his eyes darkened as he relayed the other bit of news to them. "But she says that Joe's dead."