Disclaimer: Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys are property of Simon & Schuster. I do not intend to get profit from this, this is purely for fun. :D And none of the songs quoted are mine, either.
Test 1
Drew Residence, River Heights, IL
"Nancy, come on!" Joe Hardy called out. Nancy glanced out the window to see her friend waiting impatiently on her front sidewalk, his stance identical to the last time they'd gone trick-or-treating together in River Heights.
"Nancy, come on!" Joe Hardy whined. The seven-year-old scuffed his feet on the sidewalk, scowling as he watched a mother go by, towing two costumed children behind her. "We're missing all the candy!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" the eight-year-old Nancy Drew called back. "Hannah, I'm fine." she insisted as the housekeeper checked her costume one last time. "I gotta go! Dad, Frank, and Joe are waiting!"
The older woman smiled. "Alright. Go on then." And she shooed Nancy out the door. The young girl raced down the steps to meet her father and friends, the ends of her trench coat flapping behind her.
"Aw, Nancy...do you always dress up like a private detective?" Joe complained. "Can't you ever be a princess or something?"
"Well, I wanted to be Sherlock Holmes," she replied, frowning. "But I couldn't find my hat and pipe..."
"You're fine, honey," Carson said, smiling at his young daughter. "Now, let's go trick-or-treating, shall we?"
"All right!" the three children cheered. Joe led the way down the sidewalk, swinging his light saber around enthusiastically.
"Last one to that house's doorbell is a rotten egg!" he exclaimed eagerly. Frank and Nancy weren't far behind him, Frank's police cap almost toppling off his head in his hurry to catch up to his younger brother.
Nancy smiled as the memory faded. Just like back then, the Hardys were staying at her place to rest for a few days after a rough case. Although, last time, it was one of their father's cases, not a case of their own.
"Nancy, come on!" Joe called again. He pulled the trigger on his toy machine gun a few times, letting the noise signal his impatience. Nancy's smile widened to a grin.
Some things never change, she thought as she stuck a pipe into her mouth, pulled her coat shut, and stepped out the door.
"So, remind me again why we're in costume, little brother," Frank said dryly as Nancy joined the two brothers on the sidewalk.
"Frank, it's the spirit of the thing...if you're going to going trick-or-treating, you've got to dress up!"
"Joe, we're not exactly after candy...we're collecting canned goods for food pantries."
"So?" Joe's expression was one of confusion. "Is that supposed to stop us from dressing up?"
Frank sighed in defeat, and Nancy laughed as she linked arms with the two brothers. "Come on, you two," she said, eyes twinkling. "It's Halloween, we've got some great costumes on, and we're out for a good cause. Let's go have some fun!"
"And maybe get some candy, too." Joe added. "You never know...if we walk up with a group of kids, the good candy-givers might think we're babysitters, and toss some in for us."
"Think less about your stomach, Joe," Frank said. "And I still don't see why we needed to be in costume."
"Aw, stop complaining. I think it looks cute," Nancy teased. Frank flushed under his cap. Just like that night ten years ago, he was dressed as a police officer. Nancy had managed to devise a perfect Sherlock Holmes costume, and Joe looked far older than his seventeen years in the army fatigues he'd chosen as a costume.
It's not that I don't like this holiday, Frank thought to himself as he followed his brother and Nancy down the sidewalk. I just feel a little old to be dressing up. Though, he had to admit, Nancy was quite attractive in her costume, especially when she turned to smile at him, eyes twinkling and pipe stuck jauntily in her mouth.
River Heights, IL
By the time they'd reached the fifth house, Joe was complaining. "This bag is getting heavy...and no one's given us any candy at all yet!"
"Well, we weren't out for candy in the first place," Nancy pointed out.
"I know, but," Joe pouted. "A guy gets hungry doing things like this...especially on one of the biggest candy days of the year."
"Hey!" All three whirled around at the angry shout behind them. "He took my candy!" screamed a small girl in a princess costume, pointing at a boy in regular clothing rushing toward the three teens. As the boy grew closer, Frank stepped into his path to block him, but the kid didn't even slow down. Instead, he crashed into Frank, knocking them both down. Frank's bag of food and the bag of candy the thief held landed on the ground. Joe and Nancy immediately grabbed hold of the boy as he tried to stand.
"What do you think you're doing?" Joe demanded, looking sternly at the boy. "If you want candy, then get a bag and get your own, instead of stealing someone else's!"
"Sorry, mister," the kid mumbled. "I didn't really want the candy...but this woman told me to take it...she said she'd pay me five bucks if I did...and I need that five dollars to buy more Yu-Gi-Oh cards."
"Why would an adult pay five bucks for a bag of candy?" Nancy wondered aloud.
She turned as there was a tug at her coat. The young girl whose candy had been stolen was standing beside her. "Lady, can I have my candy back now?"
Nancy smiled, and nodded. The girl grabbed her candy bag and ran off down the street.
In the meantime, Frank stood up, and picked up his bag of food. "Well, whatever she wanted it for...that woman isn't going to get that candy. And you," he added, glancing sharply the candy thief, who was still standing there, hanging his head. "I would advise you not to do it again."
"Okay," the kid mumbled. Joe let him loose, and he immediately ran off, in the opposite direction of the young girl.
"Well...that made no sense," Joe commented.
"Yeah..." Nancy frowned, thinking. "What would make you pay money for stolen candy?" she asked again. Joe shrugged "A really big sweet craving?" he suggested. "I know it's weird, Nan, but we probably won't figure it out."
"Or maybe we will," Frank said slowly, as he spied an angry-looking woman stalking toward them.
"You!" she screeched as she drew closer. "How dare you! You interfered!"
"Interfered with what?" the elder Hardy asked cautiously.
"With that boy! He was supposed to run all the way down the block, but you got in the way!"
"Ma'am," Nancy said, trying to keep the surprise from her voice. "I don't see how stopping him from stealing that girl's candy was such a problem."
"He wasn't stealing it," the woman sputtered. "At least, not really...I hired him to rob my little girl, but he knew he was going to have to give the candy back once his scene was finished."
"Huh?" Joe asked, confusion written across his face. "Are you filming a movie or something?"
"No, you buffoon - we're not filming a movie...we're trying to get on TV!"
Nancy shook her head. "I'm afraid I don't follow," she stated slowly.
The mother sighed in exasperation. "We're trying to get onto that new TV show – 'Exciting Life Moments'...they've offered twenty-thousand dollars for the most exciting Halloween video."
"So you thought that if you staged a candy-bag theft, you might win," Frank said, the absurdity of the woman's plan dawning on him.
"Yes! But you interfered!"
"Well...I'm sure the producers of the show never intended for the videos to be staged."
"Oh, yes, but honestly...how else are you supposed to get an exciting Halloween video?"
"Have you ever considered just following your daughter around with a video camera?" Joe asked. "After all, I remember lots of exciting things happening when I was little and out trick-or-treating."
"Oh, like what?" the woman scoffed. "Getting a dime in your candy bucket?"
"Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of kidnapping, finding missing pets, staking out our yard to catch some pumpkin smashers..." Joe's voice trailed off as the woman looked at him incredulously. "Er...maybe my Halloween memories aren't the best example," he said, flushing. "But I'm sure something exciting will happen tonight that you won't have to stage."
"Do you still do things like that?" the woman inquired, curiosity evident in her voice.
"Well, yeah...and more. Car chases, getting shot at, jumping out of windows..." Joe shrugged. "But we're amateur detectives," he said, gesturing to include Frank and Nancy in his statement. "Things like that happen to us practically everyday. Getting to do the normal stuff sometimes seems more exciting."
"Are you kidding!" the woman shrieked. Frank, Joe, and Nancy winced at the sudden high pitch her voice had taken. "You could've won the 'Exciting Life Moments' jackpot every week in a row!"
"Uh...excuse us a moment," Frank said, grabbing Nancy's elbow. While Joe stood next to the woman, keeping an eye on her, Frank pulled Nancy aside. "What do we do?" he asked softly. "I don't think we'll be able to convince her she shouldn't be staging a video to win this TV thing...but I don't think the police would really want to deal with her either."
Nancy nodded in agreement. "Maybe we can ask them to join us for the evening?" she suggested. "That way, we keep an eye on her, so she can't stage any more candy thefts, her daughter gets to keep collecting candy, and we can keep getting things for the food pantry."
Frank sighed. "I guess we'll have to...Joe isn't going to be too fond of the idea, though..."
"Are you sure?" Nancy winked. "After all, he wanted to escort a kid around so that he'd get candy."
Frank chuckled. "You're right. He did, didn't he? Well, now he can get what he wished for." The pair walked back to the mother.
"Ma'am, if it's alright with you, we'd like to come along with you and your daughter while you trick-or-treat."
The woman shrugged lazily. "Sure. If your brother here is telling the truth, I won't need to waste five bucks on another candy-thief scene.
""Joe, what have you been telling her?" Frank hissed, as the four of them set off in the direction the woman's daughter had taken. The young girl had apparently noticed her mother's absence and was waiting a few houses away, tapping her foot in impatience.
"Oh, I just told her about all the cases we've solved around Halloween, that's all...I was trying to convince her having an excitement-free life can be a good thing."
Frank cast a worried glance at the older woman, who was walking a few paces ahead with Nancy. "I don't think your plan worked...and if something crazy doesn't happen tonight, something tells me this woman wouldn't hesitate to attempt to sue us on some ridiculous accusation or another."
River Heights, IL
"So..." the woman, who they had since learned was Mrs. Amelia Morris, began an hour later, "My daughter Angelina and I have been walking with you for an hour. So far, all you've done is collect food. When is exciting stuff going to happen?"
"Well..." Joe said, as a group of angry-looking thugs suddenly appeared around them on the street corner. "I'd say right about now."
"Oh, this is good," Mrs. Morris breathed, as she pulled out her video camera. "Are you going to fight these guys?"
"That's the idea," Frank grunted as he received a blow to the stomach from one of the goons. Reacting swiftly, while still doubled over, he grabbed the knee of his opponent, and yanked. The other man, not expecting an attack, fell backward, landing with a muffled "oof!" Frank immediately focused his attention on another thug who was approaching him.
"Any idea why they're attacking you?" Mrs. Norris called out, as Nancy dodged a kick, before retaliating with a few judo moves.
"Does it matter right now?" Joe growled as he moved past her, scuffling one of the goons.
"Well, no, but-"
"THEN STOP VIDEOTAPING AND GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Frank hollered as more enemies joined the group. Who the heck are these guys? He wondered as he blocked a punch.
"Frank, we haven't ticked anyone off lately, have we?" Joe called out as he knocked a thug unconscious.
"I was about to ask you that, little brother," Frank replied, sending a powerful karate kick in the direction of the nearest opponent.
Nancy ignored the brothers' comments, preferring not to risk distraction. All of her energy was focused on fighting those in front of her, and she didn't notice the one coming up from behind.
"Nancy, look out!" Frank called out at the last possible second, and Nancy, reacting instinctively, ducked. The branch held by the thug behind her swished through the air harmlessly.
"Oh, this is so exciting!" Mrs. Morris squealed, even as young Angelina hid behind her mother in fear. "This will definitely win us the jackpot on 'Exciting Life Moments!'"
The fight continued for a few more moments, before Frank, Nancy, and Joe managed to subdue their foes.
"Let's find out who these idiots are working for," Joe said, rummaging through one goon's pockets. He pulled out a business card.
"Wait a minute," he said, his brow crinkling in confusion. "This makes no sense,"
"What is it, Joe?"
Wordlessly, Joe handed the card to Frank. "'Congratulations,'" Frank read aloud.
"Congratulations?" Nancy asked.
Frank shrugged. "That's all it says."
"This night just keeps getting weirder and weirder..." Joe muttered.
Nancy looked over at Mrs. Morris. "This isn't some stunt you set up, is it?" she asked, though she sincerely doubted it.
The older woman shook her head. "No...I almost wish I had, though. This is great stuff!"
"Ok, so we get attacked by a bunch of goons...and when we look for ID, all we get is a card that says 'Congratulations'?" Frank shook his head. "Let's check the others."
However, searching the pockets of the other thugs proved fruitless. "Well..." Nancy said, as she gathered up the pieces of her costume she'd lost during the fight. "I'm stumped. What about you guys?"
"Definitely," Joe agreed. He stooped down to pick up Frank's cap, dusted it off, and handed it to his brother. "I mean, there's usually a reason why we get attacked, not just random moments like this."
"I'm beginning to wonder if this isn't someone's idea of a twisted Halloween prank," Frank said angrily.
"Now, now, Frank...why be so testy?" A familiar figure strolled out of the shadows. "I dare say you three got a nice round of exercise...and Mrs. Morris here will have her video for that pathetic TV show."
The man turned to Mrs. Morris. "I suggest, madam, that you and your daughter vacate the area now. This is an official matter, and I assure you, if you try to remain, I will have you escorted home by one of my men."
Mrs. Morris nodded hurriedly, though it appeared she would far rather protest. When she and Angelina had hurried away, the man turned back to the three friends. "It's good to finally meet you in person, Miss Drew," the Gray Man said.
Nancy cast a puzzled glance at the brothers. "He's our Network contact, the Gray Man," Frank explained, glaring at the government agent. Though he's never pulled a stunt like this before."
"It was necessary, Frank," The Gray Man responded.
"Why?" Joe demanded. "What reason do you have for jumping us on Halloween, especially when we have a mother and daughter tagging along with us?"
"I assure you, Joe, it was not my original intention to proceed once you added Mrs. Morris to your group. However, it was not my decision to make. And those above me felt it would be beneficial to see how having helpless citizens nearby would affect your fighting strategy."
"So you're saying this was simply a test?" Frank ground out between clenched teeth.
"Essentially, yes."
"Why?"
"At this time, I cannot say. However, you have all passed with flying colors." The Gray Man smiled. "Congratulations. And Happy Halloween."
"Well," Joe muttered, as they watched the Gray Man walk away. "That answers nothing."
Frank shrugged. "It bothers me too...but I guess we'll learn when the Network's ready to tell us, and not before."
"Look at it this way, you two," Nancy said. "At least it's not some terrorist group out to get us." She put on her deerstalker cap and smiled. "Let's get on with our trick-or-treating and worry about it later."
"Can't argue with the great Sherlock Holmes," Joe said, though he and Frank still looked somewhat disgruntled about the Grey Man's actions, or rather, non-actions. "Let's go, big brother."
"You know," Frank said, as they walked off down the sidewalk, carrying their bags, "I really don't remember ever being kidnapped on Halloween, Joe..."