CHAPTER 9
The sun shining brightly woke Mackenzie the next morning. At first she didn't know where she was. Then she saw the shelf filled with trophies and remembered…she was in Frank's old room. Mrs. Hardy hadn't wanted her to go back to an empty house, and with Vanessa's help had convinced Mackenzie to stay in Frank's room.
Getting out of bed Mackenzie gazed about the room. She had been in here before when her relationship with Frank was getting serious. He had brought her to the house for a family dinner, the first time she met his parents. She had been so nervous. She may not have grown up in Bayport but she knew about Fenton Hardy, she had read almost every news story about him. When she had moved to Bayport Mackenzie heard about some of Frank and Joe's exploits, mostly the cases they had solved in their hometown.
When Frank had returned home and she learned that he would be teaching at Bayport High, Mackenzie had been excited. She wanted to meet him, but didn't want him to think that she only wanted to be his friend due to who he was. That was all she wanted to be, his friend; she wasn't looking for a serious relationship. She had been in a prior long-term relationship that had ended amicably. The teaching position had opened up a few months after the break-up, and Mackenzie was more than happy to move to Bayport.
She smiled, recalling how she finally met Frank – and it was all due to a mystery…Though she kept her purse safely locked in her desk drawer Mackenzie discovered that she was losing money. It started off with coins, change that went unnoticed. It wasn't until the amounts got larger, a five-dollar bill…ten…sometimes a twenty-dollar bill. She had complained to one of her colleagues, who suggested speaking with Frank and then introduced her to him.
Listening intently to Mackenzie's problem Frank suggested setting up a video surveillance. Reluctant at first, she finally agreed. That was how they found out a former student who now worked as a janitor at the school was using his passkeys to open lockers and locked drawers. After that Frank and Mackenzie began going out as friends, a friendship which slowly turned into romance.
There was a soft knock on the door that connected Joe's room to Frank's. It opened and Vanessa half-entered the room.
"Did you get any sleep?" Vanessa gazed at Mackenzie with concern.
"Yes I did. I guess I should get ready for work." But Mackenzie didn't move; she continued to stare at the trophies sitting on the shelf. She didn't hear Vanessa walk into the room. It wasn't until she felt Vanessa's hand on her shoulder that she knew the young woman was beside her.
"Joe and Mr. Hardy will find him. You'll see…soon Frank will be here giving you one of his famous bear hugs."
Mackenzie turned to smile at her. She had just met Vanessa not quite a week ago, and found her to be a very kind-hearted person.
"I always knew his hugs were special," she replied softly. "Vanessa…do you really believe Joe will find Frank?"
"Yes I do…Joe will move Heaven and Earth to find Frank, and God help whoever has him."
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Chief Riley and Fenton knew that they were too late to help former District Attorney Dean Anderson. Though no one had reported him missing the two men had a feeling that Lassiter had kidnapped him also. When Fenton had contacted Con the police chief immediately sent a patrol car to Anderson's home. The officer was informed that Anderson had left the day before for Hawaii. Upon calling the airport, Fenton found out that the airline ticket hadn't been used. Anderson's car was later found abandoned behind a connivance store. An unknown partial print had been found on the car. Chief Riley and Fenton were waiting for a match to be found.
.. ..
Joe let out a jaw-cracking yawn. He got up from his chair and slowly stretched his body. He had been sitting for hours, reading Lassiter's file and files of some men who had worked for him. He walked around the room to restore the feeling in his legs, then stopped and stared out the window. The few days that he'd spent with Frank had been great. He had started to feel guilty, thinking that he and Frank had lost their long time connection to each other, but the day before Frank's disappearance they had talked long into the night. Catching up with each other. Joe told Frank how he was ready to settle down…wanted a normal life….how he was growing tired of working with the Justice Department.
Joe closed his eyes and did something that he hadn't done in a long, long time…he silently sent out a message to Frank, telling him to hang on, that he would find him and bring him back home safe and sound.
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Frank was lying on the floor, trying to get comfortable. He could hear Anderson snoring softly. They had been given some food, and his captors had even moved the position of his cuffed hands from the back to the front so he could eat. Now he was attempting to get some sleep – when he suddenly felt Joe's presence in the room. Knowing that he was close to the wall, Frank managed to get in a sitting position. Closing his eyes, he whispered softly….
"I hear you, Joe… I hear you…I'm okay, just waiting for you to find me and I know you will…I know you will."
With his eyes still closed, Frank sat quietly with a smile on his face and began to think of a plan. He had to help Joe find him.
.. ..
Later that night Frank made his way towards Anderson by following the sounds of the man's snores. He shook him awake.
"Wha…what…what's happening?" Anderson cried out fearfully.
"Shh…not so loud," whispered Frank.
"Frank…what's going on…is something wrong?"
"No, everything is fine….I just have a plan."
They felt their way to the bottom of the wooden stairs. Frank waited behind the stairs while Anderson stayed a few feet away from the bottom step.
.. ..
"Are you sure you want to do this, Mr. Lassiter? He may have a police bodyguard on him." Blaine knew it would be useless to try and talk his boss out of his desire to capture Joe Hardy but he had to try.
"That's why I have John…to take care of those problems. Don't fret, Blaine…we're only going to watch young Mr. Hardy."
"What about the two downstairs?"
"They will be well taken care of…unless you don't trust the man to do a good job?" One eyebrow raised, Lassiter stared sternly at his right-hand man.
"No sir, just covering all our bases."
"Duly noted…now give that man his orders and tell John to bring the car to the front."
"Yes sir." Blaine left the room to do as Lassiter commanded.
.. ..
Frank was worried that no one was going to check on them. He had been listening to Lassiter and his men's footsteps for a long time when it suddenly became quiet. Finally he heard the door open and light from upstairs let him see a little of his surroundings. He heard one pair of feet descending the stairs. A pair of jeans-clad legs came into view. Frank reached out and grabbed hold of an ankle, causing the intruder to tumble down the rest of the stairs.
Aided by the light from upstairs, Anderson ran towards the fallen man. He raised his cuffed hands and slammed down hard on the back of his neck. Frank darted from the back of the steps, noting that the man was unconscious. He noticed a gun tucked in the man's belt and confiscated it. Checking the man's pockets, he found a switchblade. Aided by Anderson, he cut the plastic cuffs off their wrists.
Frank knew they had to move fast. He didn't know how long Lassiter would be gone or if there was anyone else in the house. He wished they could tie up their captor but wasn't sure if they should take time to look for some rope. He led Anderson up the stairs. They cautiously entered what appeared to be the utility room then into the kitchen heading towards the living room. The house seemed empty. As the two men walked through the living room towards the front door Frank cursed softly when he didn't see a phone anywhere. They didn't have time to spare to look for one.
Dean Anderson and Frank Hardy walked out the door and ran into the nearby wooded area.
*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!
Thanks to those of you leaving feedback! I know copagirl would love all of it.