Disclaimer: I do not own the Hardy Boys or any of the canon book characters, and am making no monies from this story. Any Original Characters belong to the author(s).

This story was originally written in 2009. There are many technological differences from today's world. Co-written with RokiaHDA, who wrote back then under the name of Aspen. It is also the last work in the story arc.

As always, many thanks to Jenn "Sparks" Hart, who graciously allowed us to use Bella Scarpetti and April Wayne in our stories.

Thank you, Max2013, Cherylann and Sarai for the commentary.

June Brides

By EvergreenDreamweaver and RokiaHDA

Chapter 10

Frank reluctantly pulled himself off the bed and followed Joe into his room. Joe sat down at his desk in front of his computer; Frank leaned on the back of his brother's chair and gazed at the monitor screen.

"Look at this." Joe scrolled up, revealing a MySpace page for 'Heather.' Dates in the statistics revealed her age currently as 20, and her location as Basalt, Colorado.

"Basalt? I thought they were in Boulder," Frank said, feeling confused. He started looking more closely at the page and discovered some anomalies. The picture was Heather Patterson, no doubt of that, but a younger Heather. Her hair was different; she wore bangs in the photo, and there was a red stripe in it, similar to Dani Tanner's vivid blue streaks. She also had braces on her teeth, not an uncommon thing for a teenager, Frank reflected.

"I don't think she's updated it since she started college," Joe admitted, "so she could be from Basalt, wherever that is."

"Move." Frank gestured for Joe to vacate the chair. Taking his place, Frank opened another computer window and did a quick search for 'Basalt, Colorado,' bringing up some information on the town. "It's about 20 miles from Aspen, on the same highway."

"Suppose she skis?" Joe asked idly.

Frank eyed him curiously, then shook his head, turning back to the MySpace page. "I thought you'd read this already; you know more than I do, right now! Why are you asking me?" He studied Heather's page intently, assimilating facts in his head. She'd attended Basalt High School, graduating two years previously. He scrolled down the page, seeking the 'interests' section – but on the way he found a surprise. This was evidently what had caught Joe's attention.

Heather had a lot of pictures, and there were some familiar faces in them. Not only Heather herself…but many of Jonathan Brooks! There were several of Jonathan in his football uniform – posed, with his helmet tucked beneath his arm or in a half-crouch, and also some that looked more like candid snapshots. There were pictures of him dressed in a suit, evidently at a dance; one in a tuxedo – probably a prom. Accompanying him in these photos was a pretty brunette: Heather herself.

"I see what you mean," Frank commented quietly. Now he panned down to "Interests" and discovered some very telling comments. Rather than lists of TV shows, music favorites, or activities, it was a running commentary on her feelings for a particular guy. "I Love Jonathan Brooks!" "I Heart Jonathan Brooks!" "Jonathan is my hero!" "Jonathan and Heather forever!"

Frank looked at Comments and found some telling ones: 'You need to get over him, girl.' 'Don't you ever read here anymore?' 'How's life in Boulder, Heather? You find a new guy yet?' He blew out a long breath and sat back, turning to look at Joe.

"Think she's still carrying a torch for Jonathan? And isn't very happy that the man of her dreams is marrying someone else?" Joe speculated. "That's my thought; she took the Bible to be a nuisance – to get back at Callie, the girl who's stealing what Heather wants: Jonathan."

Frank frowned. What an emotional tangle that would be! And Joe was right; that's what it looked like. "I suppose," he allowed, "but I wish we had something more current that might lead us in that direction. This stuff is three or four years old; she might have gotten over him long ago."

"Or she still could be wanting him in a major way," Joe emphasized. "I think we should let Callie and Jonathan know about this…and then we should talk to Heather, too."

"We can do it tomorrow," Frank decided. "No sense in upsetting the apple cart tonight. I've only got one flight tomorrow morning, and you're only working a half day, right? We can call Callie tonight and make sure they're available tomorrow afternoon, and go over after work."

"Okay, works for me," Joe agreed. "I'll give Ms. Shaw a call and confirm a time with her." He paused, frowning at the computer screen. "We could e-mail Callie the link to this, and let her see it for herself," he suggested.

Frank shook his head. "I think we should be there. Just in case."

"You expect her to do something stupid?" Joe sat down on his bed.

"Who, Heather – or Callie?" Frank grinned, then sobered. He turned Joe's computer chair around and studied Joe. "What we know is, she was responsible – whether she did it on purpose or not – for knocking Callie into Barmet Bay today. Callie wasn't harmed, but she could have been. And if Heather took the Bible as well, there's no telling what else she might have done or is considering doing! I mean, it seems like she's escalating things. It may be a bout of extreme jealousy, but it also might be a major obsession bordering on mania! And even if it's just jealousy, she still could spoil Callie's wedding – and that's what we're trying to prevent." He sighed and rubbed his neck ruefully.

Joe nodded his understanding. "Gotcha. I'll call Callie. And please realize what a great sacrifice it is for me to call her, with our history! Now, off with you. Make personal friends with the heating pad and get some sleep. Hopefully you'll feel better in the morning." He grinned a little. "I promise not to wake you up again tonight."

"I will." Frank got up, smacked Joe lightly on the head, just for the hell of it, and went back to his room to lie down again.

#####

Frank's short flight the following day was indeed very short – he had only a 45-minute hop to the far side of Long Island and back. The part that took the longest was the argument which broke out between two employees of the receiving firm, with each man insisting it wasn't his job to offload anything from a plane! It had taken a phone call from Frank to the company's head of shipping, to settle the disagreement, make the men do what they were supposed to and allow Frank to head back to Bayport.

Frank was ready and willing to start on the 'Callie mystery' as Joe insisted on calling it, by the time he reached the familiar confines of Wayne's World. His stiff neck had relaxed overnight as he had hoped, and he felt 90% better. Still, he might be able to coax a neck massage out of Megan if he worked it right.

Joe was concentrating fiercely on the computer in Jack's office when Frank sauntered in. Craning his neck to see the screen, Frank was amused to note that his brother was apparently trying to lose obscene amounts of fictitious money while playing Las Vegas-style solitaire. The fact that particular game was on Jack's computer suggested Joe wasn't the only one with a gambling urge.

Joe glanced up as Frank came in, and waved hello.

"Scram, junior, I've got real work to do here." Frank gestured, and Joe reluctantly closed down his game and vacated the chair. "How come you insist on playing Vegas solitaire until you lose so much money?" Frank added as he pulled up the screen to log in his flight information.

"Why not? It's not like it's real money," Joe shrugged. "And there's not that much difference between losing a big chunk all at once and a big chunk a little bit at a time."

"Psychologically there would be, I'd think. One of these days you'll have a nervous breakdown because of all that imaginary money you've dumped down the drain." Frank couldn't see the lure of Vegas solitaire, although he liked some other online forms of solitaire fairly well.

"My psyche is just fine, thanks all the same."

###

When Frank finished, they drove over to the Shaws' home in Joe's BMW, which he adroitly angled into a parking space right in front. They made their way up the familiar walk and rang the doorbell. Callie answered the summons almost immediately and led them to the den where Jonathan waited.

"Well?" Callie barely waited until all were seated to open the conversation. "Have you found something out? You must have some sort of lead, or you wouldn't have bothered coming over here and asking Jonathan and me to meet with you, right?"

Joe took the lead. "We found something…interesting. Online. Do you have a computer we can use in here?"

Callie looked a bit taken aback. "Well…sure. I'll go upstairs and get my laptop." She returned shortly with the sleek little piece of equipment and turned it on, waiting a few moments until it connected with the house's WiFi. "There. Have at it."

Joe went to the page he had found on MySpace the day before and motioned Callie and Jonathan forward to see it. They moved to lean over his shoulders. "Ever seen this before?"

They studied the screen, Callie with a confused frown, Jonathan looking a little pale as he saw all the pictures of himself plastered on Heather's page.

"I thought she'd taken this down a long time ago," Jonathan muttered at last.

Callie turned to him with eyebrows raised in inquiry. "Enlighten me," she requested. He went from pale to pink in a matter of seconds.

"Can you tell us anything about this, Jonathan?" Frank encouraged him.

Jonathan sighed, nodding. "Heather and I grew up in the same town, Basalt, Colorado," he began. "You know that, Callie, right?" She nodded. "We dated for a couple of years when we were in high school – part of sophomore year, all junior year, part of senior year. We broke up when we were seniors – I thought it was fairly amicable, and I had no idea she hadn't taken this stuff off her page." He gestured towards the laptop screen. "She said she did! She said she took all the pictures of us down and wasn't even updating the page anymore. I didn't give it another thought…it's not like I dropped in to check." He looked from his fiancée to the two Hardys, bewilderment evident on his face. "Why would she lie to me about it?"

Callie smiled a little, despite the seriousness of the situation. "Jonathan," she said softly, "I'm in love with you…it doesn't surprise me at all that Heather still might be."

"Um…oh." Jonathan turned pinker.

Frank cleared his throat. "Is it possible," he suggested, "that maybe Heather still does have some feelings other than friendship toward you? Possible that she may be lashing out at Callie for having what she wants – namely, you?"

Both Jonathan and Callie looked disturbed at that suggestion. "Heather and I have been friends ever since we met, practically first day freshman year," Callie protested. "And even after I started dating Jonathan, nothing changed."

"Cal, I'm just offering ideas, okay? Maybe Joe and I are reading more into it than is warranted; maybe Heather did intend to take all this down and it just slipped her mind," Frank said soothingly.

Callie sighed. She looked at Jonathan.

"I guess there's nothing to do but ask her," he said heavily. "Since I'm the one she's crushing on—" He paused, and Frank secretly thought a better word to use would be obsessing, but held his tongue. "I guess I should be the one to ask her, huh? Maybe she'll take it better from me than any of you three."

"That would probably be best," Frank agreed, "but if you don't mind, we'd like to stay and hear the conversation. We can stay out of it, but…just in case. She might get violent or something."

Jonathan smiled a little. "Frank, I'm 6'4½" and I weigh 220. Heather's what, 5'6"? I don't think she'll do me any damage."

"Better safe than sorry," Callie said. "Besides, they're – what? – impartial witnesses."

Jonathan shrugged, nodded and went to locate Heather and bring her to the den. Callie, Frank and Joe, left alone, exchanged somewhat embarrassed looks.

"Didn't want it to come down to something like this, Cal," Joe muttered. "We're sorry."

"Better you two than anyone else," she replied with a sad smile. "No matter how it turns out, guys…thanks."

Jonathan and Heather entered the room.

"Jonathan said you had something you wanted me to see?" Heather looked questioningly at Callie, who indicated the glowing laptop screen. Jonathan steered Heather over to the table.

Heather took one look and went white. She looked appealingly up at the tall young man standing beside her.

"Something you'd like to tell me, Heather?" he asked gently.

She shook her head, remaining mute while she stared at the incriminating MySpace page.

"You said you'd taken down all the pictures of us and things about me," Jonathan reminded her.

Heather's mouth moved silently for a few seconds before she finally managed to speak. "I…meant to," she whispered at last. "I went in to do it…more than once. I just couldn't. It was…it was all I had left…of you."

Callie bit her lip, closing her eyes. Behind the backs of the others, the Hardys looked at each other. Joe grimaced, shaking his head.

Jonathan moved Heather away from the table, seating her in an easy chair, then perched his large frame on a ridiculously small ottoman in front of her and looked into her eyes. "Did you take Callie's Bible?" he asked directly.

Heather nodded – just a tiny inclination of her head.

"Where did you put it? Or did you just throw it away? If you still have it, it's not too late to give it back, you know."

"I didn't throw it away. I still have it," Heather said softly. "I'll give it back. Jonathan – tell me this: was there ever any chance of us getting back together? Before you met Callie, I mean?"

He didn't even pause to think about it. "No, no chance. Some things I just don't forgive, you know?"

"Yeah." She sighed, and after a moment stood up. "I'll go get the Bible," she whispered, and left the room.

"Okay, what was that about?" Callie demanded – but not angrily, merely sounding curious. "What did she do that you couldn't forgive? You're one of the most forgiving people I know!"

Jonathan shrugged and explained. "Beginning of senior year she met this guy – he'd transferred in from somewhere else over the summer. She and I were still together then. Well, in the high school there was a back hallway that led to the music room, not the regular entrance; you had to know it was there to use it. I mean, people didn't just randomly walk down it. It wasn't well lighted or anything. It's also near the gym, and I used to use it to cut through to the other parts of the building. One day I walked in on her and Drew, making out in that nice dark hallway. I broke up with her the next day, even though she promised she'd never do anything like it again." He sighed. "I stayed friends with her, but…I don't give my trust all that easily, and I didn't want to date her any more. It would have been one thing if she'd said she wanted to date somebody else occasionally. But… She isn't malicious, you know," he added. "She has impulse control problems. That's probably what happened with the Bible. She was cleaning off the buffet, maybe, and saw it – and took it before she thought about what she was doing. And then either didn't want to return it or wanted to and didn't know how to slip it back…"

"Even though she knew it hurt Callie to have it gone missing?" Frank said quietly.

"I know, I know, it's dumb…maybe she thought she'd get more attention from me, or something. I don't know why…I'm no psychologist."

Heather re-entered the room carrying the little Bible. She went straight to Callie and handed it to her. "I'm so sorry… I don't… I just…I'm sorry, Callie." Tears streamed down her face.

Callie clutched the Bible against herself and looked up at the girl she'd considered her friend. "Why?" she asked.

"I…I've wanted him for so long. I lost him, but I wanted him…and you had him…and it hurt. And I wanted you to hurt like I did, from losing something…and this was… I don't know. I just…I'm so sorry."

Callie looked at Jonathan, who returned her gaze calmly, neither discouraging nor encouraging her one way or another. She turned her head to look at Frank and Joe, who had moved back to stand by the fireplace. Frank smiled at her, just a little, but both he and Joe held neutral expressions. This was Callie's decision, pure and simple. They wouldn't interfere.

Finally she looked into Heather's tear-filled eyes. "I forgive you," she said softly, and held out her arms to hug the other girl briefly. "I think…I think I need to spend the rest of the day away from you, but…I understand. Thank you for returning this."

Heather nodded shakily. "I really am sorry I knocked you into the water. I wish I could say it was an accident, but…well, I think it was an accident that I let happen. I'm so sorry—"

"No more apologies!" Callie said firmly. "That's enough. I get it, I really do. I do forgive you, but…but if anything like this ever happens again – if you do anything else – I swear I'll never speak to you again. Understand?"

"Yes, I understand. Do you want me to leave now? Go back to Colorado, I mean."

"No," Callie said, more gently. "I want you to stay and attend the wedding just as we planned. I think maybe I have something for you to do…get you more involved. Just…right now…go upstairs or something."

"And clear out that page," Jonathan put in, indicating the computer with a jerk of his head.

"Okay. Thank you, Callie." With one last look at Jonathan, Heather fled from the room. They heard her rapid footsteps on the stairs.

Callie drew in a deep breath and let it out…slowly. Then she crossed the room to Jonathan and let him enfold her in his arms. After a long moment they both turned to the Hardys. Callie beckoned them nearer.

"Thank you both," she murmured, extending a hand. Then, deciding that wasn't enough, she freed herself from Jonathan's embrace and hugged them, first Frank and then Joe. "You guys are the greatest! I'm so relieved that Bible was found!"

"I'm glad we could help," Frank said, exchanging a hand-clasp with Jonathan as well. "There's a chance Heather might have returned it before the wedding ceremony, but… Well, she doesn't seem like a bad girl. Just too impetuous for her own good, I guess. Sort of like Joe, here."

"Hey!"

Callie and Jonathan both chuckled. Callie wiped away some tears that glittered on her lashes.

"You're going to get her more involved in the wedding?" Joe queried. "Punishing her, are we?"

"Well…maybe just a little. I'm human." Callie looked only slightly embarrassed. "I can't wait to marry you!" she announced, and turned to Jonathan, wrapping her arms about his waist again.

"And on that note, mon frère, we make our exit," Joe urged. "We're third wheels here!" He grabbed Frank's arm and tugged.

"Speedy-like," Frank agreed, not resisting in the least. "Let's make tracks, Tonto."

"Thank you again," Jonathan called after them. "See you at the wedding!"

Frank smiled as they went into the front hall. Just as they left he overheard Callie's soft voice: "I love you…so much, Jonathan Brooks. I can't wait to be your wife!"