Disclaimer: I do not own the Hardy Boys or any of the book characters.
Thanks to my Editor: Wendylouwho10 who read over the story for me and made content suggestions, helped with the flow, and provided some spelling/grammar corrections. The corrections were a bonus and not required when I asked for her assistance, so I take full blame for any typos. Thanks Wendylouwho10 for making my story better!
Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Setting is blue spine-ish and AU. Timeline: Taken; Recovery; Retribution; Wild Pitch; and now this story. While you don't NEED to read the previous stories, things will be referenced and perhaps even some from my younger Hardys stories.
Author's Notes: In Casefiles, there was the Network, and from my recollections, it was a deep cover government operation. In Undercover Brothers (which I haven't read any of), there was ATAC (American Teens Against Crime, I think) which was an organization that used teenagers to fight crime. So in this story, the use of a government agency will continue with ORT being the agency. While we all know that organizations such as these fictional ones would shy against having teen operatives, the book series have set the precedent for having the boys be government operatives. So here is a story with my teenage Hardys doing things that no parent or government agency would probably ever want.
This chapter is not a long one but it sets up the following chapters and where the story is going. And thank you for all the encouraging reviews to the start of the story. But I have to say... for those of you wanting Joe whump... well, there will be some in this story but probably not to the degree that you would like. But it's only July in the story and I just shot him and had him fall on a hatchet in March. So give him a chance to recover. ;-D
Chapter Two
Late July…
"Exactly what is wrong, Agent Williams?" Fenton Hardy asked with concern and not a small amount of irritation. "All you said on the phone was that something had gone wrong with Frank's assignment. That's not exactly a nice way to leave the conversation."
"I wanted you to take this seriously but didn't want to have the conversation over the phone," Williams said.
Fenton stared at her across the conference room table in his office. "I take anything involving my sons seriously. Make a note of that for future reference."
Angela Williams didn't flinch. "Noted. From our surveillance, we know that Frank is alright. The other primary operative in the assignment is not."
Fenton sat forward. "He's been compromised?"
"Yes, he was. Henry managed to escape before they could grab him."
"So how does this impact Frank?"
Williams pulled out her tablet, clicked a few buttons and then returned her attention to Fenton. "The group that Frank and the operative infiltrated is notorious for their scrutiny of staff. Henry was caught in an office section of the gym where he wasn't allowed. He was chased but escaped and provided us with some good information, but not what we were looking for. Frank was to be Henry's back-up. Now he has to be primary."
"I don't see the problem, unless the organization can tie Henry to Frank."
"They can't but with the scrutiny that the organization puts on those involved, we had told Henry and Frank to trust no one in the organization except for each other and Agent Dana." Agent Williams looked down as she said Dana's name.
"Something has happened to Dana," Fenton stated.
"Yes. It's an incredible coincidence that on the day that Henry has to abandon the assignment is the same day that Dana has a fatal car accident."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Fenton said carefully. "But I have to ask, are sure it was a coincidence? That it wasn't someone who had made her and set it up."
"We're certain. The accident was due to Dana having a heart attack. Blood work has been done and there were no drugs in her system."
"When did this happen?" Fenton continued with his questions.
"Two days ago."
"Two days with Frank on his own." Fenton shook his head. It would be enough to rattle a seasoned agent. "Frank knows what happened?"
"He does. We were able to manage a meeting with Frank disguised as a chance encounter between Frank and a pretty girl at a coffee shop. Frank says he can handle getting the information as long as there's someone else there to help out."
"Do you want me to go in?" Fenton asked carefully.
Agent Williams leaned forward looked intently at the man across from her. "Not you, Fenton. Joe."
Fenton just wanted to say 'no' outright and get it over with but government agencies had their reasons. They didn't always tell you what they were and sometimes it wasn't the whole story when they did tell you. "Why?"
"As I said earlier, the organization scrutinizes the staff very thoroughly. Henry and Dana had been with the group for six and eight months respectively. Only in the last month did Henry get the opportunity to have access to the computer that houses the information that we need."
"So how will Frank be able to do in a few weeks what two seasoned agents haven't done in over six months?" Fenton knew that the reason for ORT wanting Joe was buried somewhere in what Agent Williams had told him.
"Frank is one of several fighters in an illegal underground fight ring. The management does background checks, but they don't expect that an MMA teenage fighter with a criminal background is going to be interested in what their back operation is," Williams finally explained. "Yes, it will be a little more complicated for him to get the access he needs, but it can be done. The location of the computer is in the same building where they have the fights. It's literally an MMA facility and gym with a basement where they have the illegal fights. The boys and their girlfriends are housed in a rundown apartment complex owned by the group. The management keeps a close eye on them as they don't want the boys getting into any trouble and bringing down their profitable venture."
Wrinkles appeared between Fenton's brows. "How have they managed not to get caught? To be sure someone has had a reason to rat them out."
"They sell or close the facility every few years and move somewhere else. Sometimes they take the boys with them and sometimes not. Since the management is a front and they use false identities, the boys are unable to provide any useful information once the operation moves locations."
"And the information Frank is trying to get?" Fenton persisted.
"Henry was able to learn that the organization has a server that is not connected to a hard-wired internet service. It does connect but at random times and through a wireless service that we have so far been unable to hack into in the limited time the server is online. That server houses gigabytes of data on where the money in the operation comes from and where it goes to. Both are of interest to us as we have determined that money from this organization has been used to fund the purchase of weapons for persons hostile to the US."
Fenton sat back in his seat. "Terrorists?"
A grim smile crossed Angela's face. "In some instances, yes. In other instances they have been on the distributing end of drugs in a major US city. So they seek to wound our country with weapons both personal and impersonal."
"You plan to take them down?"
"Yes. Once we have the information on the server, we can use it against those involved. But we can't take them down until we have that information. They'd burn it before we could get it and while we'd cut off the head, the arms and legs would survive as the hidden players would go to ground and hide." Agent Williams studied the man across from her. "Can I talk to Joe?"
"What role would he play?"
"Frank will need another pair of ears and eyes, even if Joe won't have the access that Frank would. In addition, we'd use Joe to get a third agent in. He'd be going in with a girlfriend. One who has already begun her digital espionage and forensics training. Between her and Frank, they will be able to get the information. We can't send her in on her own as it would be too suspicious."
Fenton nodded. "I won't make a decision for my son, but if he wants to help, I'll agree. My wife is going to kill me, but I'll agree."
.**********.
Twenty minutes later, Joe shook Agent Williams' hand. "I'll get my things." He had heard all he needed. Frank needed him. Joe nodded at his father and left the office to head back to the house to pack a few things.
Fenton looked at Agent Williams. "What will his cover be?"
Angela gave him a wry smile. "Come with us and see."
"I will," Fenton agreed as he and Williams left his office. Now he had to go home and explain in a limited way to Laura why Joe was going. Parting the Red Sea would be easier. At least if he went with Joe and the Agent, he'd be able to reassure his wife that things would be okay. Yeah, right. Who am trying to kid? Things will be hell until the boys get home.
