This is my first attempt at a long-run Numb3rs story. I'm not perfect in grammar and spelling but I do try. This will be a crossover with Hardy Boys (think of them as a younger version of Don and Charlie, only they look different.)

If you have any questions just send me a message. I hope you read it even though it's a crossover.

Jason

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SUMMARY

Two terrified teenagers...

... One stumped math professor...

One terrified private eye...

…. And not much time left.

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It was a normal day for Don and Charlie – paperwork for Don; classes for Charlie – until their father got the phone call.

It was a friend of their father's. Fenton Hardy was his name. He had two teenage sons, Frank and Joe Hardy.

And they were missing. Alan was telling them this over dinner (which was fried rice and beans, about the only thing Charlie could make without take out.)

"How long have they been missing?"

"48 hours," Alan said. He chewed thoughtfully on his rice before talking again. "Don't get me wrong. They've gone missing before. A lot. Joe especially. And they're good kids, not into anything bad."

"So why are we getting called into this case – I mean, why do you want me to get my team involved? If they've been missing before, shouldn't they be able to rescue themselves or whatever?" Don asked. He pushed his plate away. He'd had beans and rice all week and wasn't really that hungry.

"It's a hard thing to explain," Alan said. He sighed and took a sip of his cola before answering the question.

"So, explain it," Charlie said. "Why is it so hard?"

"Well, it's one of his father's old friends."

"Wait, his father, as in Fenton's father?" Don asked, scratching his head.

"Yeah. One of his old friends from back in the day. So he'd be about sixty now"

"Sixty? How the hell do you kidnap a kid when you're sixty?" Don asked, taking a sip of his beer and placing it back on the table.

"And that's the problem," Alan said. "They aren't really sure if it's him. But they're almost positive it's him."

"How do they know?" Charlie asked, curious. He had the same question as Don.

"His DNA was left at the crime scene."

"Maybe he was a victim?" Don asked. He scratched his head in confusion. No wonder why they couldn't figure it out, this was confusing.

"His DNA was left at the crime scene in the letter ransom note. He left the ransomed note on the table and licked it."

"He licked it?" Charlie said. "How stupid is that?"

"That's what they can't figure out."

"What do they want?"

"Twenty thousand dollars." Alan took a deep breath and paused, as if getting ready to say more.

"Well why don't they just give them the twenty thousand? I mean to Fenton Hardy, from what you've said, twenty thousand dollars is probably like fish grinding their teeth."

"Fish grinding their teeth?" Charlie asked.

"It's a Japanese expression. It means almost nothing… I think."

"And they want Frank."

"Oh," they both said at once.

"Besides," Alan said, "This would be a great chance for you two to see Fenton again. You haven't seen him in some time, and neither have I?"

"Where do they live?" Don asked, getting out his cell phone to call his coworkers.

"Bayport, New York."

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It's probably not very realistic for this to happen, but hey, it's fan fiction, right? Let me know what you think, please.