Authors Note: Please read the author's profile for this story. The author, copagirl, passed away in 2013. I am posting these stories up with the permission of her family, who want her to be remembered as well. Lola was a long-time member of the Hardy Detective Agency and we miss her soooooo much! Love you Lola!
CHAPTER 1
The young couple drove up to the gates of the Texas Research Institute. They were surprised when the guard on duty had them wait. This had never happened before; they had always been let through immediately.
The guard, who had been on the phone, finally came up to the car.
"I'm sorry Mr. Evans, but Doctor Warner can't see you today."
Puzzled, John Evans gave his wife a reassuring smile. "Everything's going to be okay," he calmly said to his wife. He turned back to the guard.
"You call him back, Carl. Today is our little girl's birthday and we've brought her some gifts. Dr. Warner knows that we're allowed unlimited visits. I demand to be let in!"
Carl stepped back. Just as he reached for the phone, a middle-aged man came running towards them. He had thinning brown hair and wore wire-rimmed glasses. He limped the last few steps, breathing rapidly as he smiled at the couple in the car.
"Hi, John, Sue. Glad you could make it. Sorry for the confusion, Carl," the man turned to the guard. "The Evanses have clearance to come in."
"If you say so, Dr. Tyler." Carl opened up the gate. Dr. Tyler got into the backseat of the car. As they got closer to the Institute, Dr. Tyler leaned closer.
"You remember what I told you?" Dr. Tyler asked nervously.
"Yes. We can't thank you enough Dr. Tyler. Our baby has been here far too long," Sue Evans replied. The young woman blinked back her tears. Not for the first time, she regretted leaving her baby girl here.
"Yes she has." Dr. Tyler recalled the day the Evans brought their little girl to the Research Institute. She had been three years old then, with short, curly, light brown hair, big blue eyes, dimpled cheeks. And a special gift. A gift that Dr. Warner wanted to exploit. Dr. Tyler shivered in fear as he thought about the man Dr. Warner had brought into the facility.
*brainchild*brainchild*brainchild*
Dr. Warner slammed down the phone. 'That damn foolTyler !' he thought. His breathing had become rapid, his hands now clenched into fists. Dr. Warner slammed his fist down hard on his desk.
"Something wrong?"
Dr. Warner glanced up at his friend. " Tyler let the Evans couple in. I have a feeling he wants to give them back the girl."
"Well then, I'll just have to convince Tyler that would be a foolish thing to do. Don't worry about Mr. and Mrs. Evans. I'll personally take care of them. You just make sure the girl is packed and ready to leave."
"Don't worry, my friend, she will be. Don't hurt Tyler too much. We still need him. He's the only one who can keep the girl happy," Dr. Warner stood up to leave. He turned once more to look at his friend. "Until we can get her to trust us…we need Tyler alive."
*brainchild*brainchild*brainchild*
John and Sue Evans waited nervously. Not for the first time, they regretted bringing their daughter to the Institute, but they had been so afraid and confused when they found out about her special gift. After today, it wouldn't matter anymore. Today they were taking their baby home.
They turned when they heard the door open, smiles on their faces as the young parents thought they would be seeing their little girl. Sue Evans gasped in fear when she saw the man standing at the door. John pulled his wife to him. His last thought was his hope that his daughter was not hurt.
The dark cold eyes of the Assassin stared down at the two lifeless bodies. Now to take care of the other problem...
**Twelve years later**
All weekend long; Joe and Frank Hardy had been watching the moving vans. So far they had yet to see the new neighbors, just the movers as they took the furniture inside the house.
Joe opened his eyes, rubbed his eyes, and wondering what had woken him up. Then he heard a noise. It sounded like voices. Sitting up in bed, Joe looked out his window. He saw a car parked in the driveway. 'Must be the new neighbors,' Joe thought. It was too dark to see them that well. Joe could only make out two figures; he couldn't even tell if they were male or female.
Glancing at the time on his digital clock radio, Joe thought he should get back to sleep. All too soon Frank would be waking him up for school.
Later that morning Joe Hardy was found standing in the school administrative office. Mrs. Kramer, Joe's English teacher, had forgotten some papers, and she had sent Joe to retrieve them.
The door to the Principal's office opened. Principal Hayden and a pretty girl walked out. The girl had long wavy hair, light brown in color. She stood about 5'7", and had a slim, willowy figure. Mr. Hayden smiled when he saw Joe.
"Here's one of your classmates, Miss Jones. Joe Hardy, this is Carolyn Jones." The Principal introduced the two teens.
Joe smiled at the new girl, thinking she had pretty blue eyes and liking the small splattering of freckles across her nose.
"You have Mrs. Kramer for English, don't you, Joe?" Mr. Hayden asked.
"Yes sir, I was just getting some papers for her," Joe answered.
"Good, you can take Carolyn here back to the class . I hope you enjoy your stay here." Shaking Carolyn's hand, Principal Hayden returned to his office.
Noticing Carolyn struggling with her books, Joe took some off her hands. "Here, let me help you with those. Did you get a locker? We could probably put some of these books in there."
Carolyn smiled shyly at Joe. "Thank you. And yes, I've been given a locker. I just don't know where it is."
"Do you have your class schedule? Your locker number should be on there," Joe said.
Fumbling with her book bag, Carolyn found her class schedule. She handed it over to Joe. As he read the schedule, a surprised look crossed his features.
"How weird, you almost have the same schedule I do. Your locker is even close to mine. That's good, 'cause it's on the way to the classroom."
A few minutes later, Joe was given a large folder with the teacher's name written on top by the school secretary. Holding the door open for Carolyn, Joe led the way to her locker.
As Joe was helping Carolyn put her books away, a friendly voice spoke his name.
"Hey Joe, Mrs. Kramer thought you got kidnapped along the way to the office. She sent me to come look for you." Chet Morton teased his good friend.
"Ha, ha, Chet. Don't pay any attention to him, Carolyn." Joe jerked his thumb at his friend. "Oh Chet, this is Carolyn Jones. Carolyn, Chet Morton."
Joe turned to Chet, and wondered if something was wrong when he saw the silly grin on Chet's face.
"It's nice to meet you, Chet." Carolyn whispered shyly.
Chet just stood where he was, then Joe poked him in the ribs.
"Oh…n-nice to meet you. Here, let me carry those books for you." Taking Carolyn's book bag, Chet started to walk her to their class.
Joe followed them, an amused look on his face.
*endofchapter*
Authors Note: Please read the author's profile for this story. The author, copagirl, passed away in 2013. I am posting these stories up with the permission of her family, who want her to be remembered as well. Lola was a long-time member of the Hardy Detective Agency and we miss her soooooo much! Love you Lola!
