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).
Note: This story was originally co-written with another person, who is not currently available to ask for permission to post it. Therefore it is being posted under one author name. Also, it was written in the late 1990s, so technology is not at a 2017 level. Please pardon that fact.
September Song
By EvergreenDreamweaver
Chapter 12
When Frank arrived at the Hardy home late that afternoon, he found his mother making a fruit salad in the kitchen, and Joe pacing and talking on the cordless phone in the front hall. Frank listened long enough to surmise that Joe was chatting with Vanessa, which relieved him considerably. He too had worried over Vanessa's scheme to stick close to Dr. Waring. If she was talking with Joe on the phone, she probably wasn't prowling around the hospital in the doctor's wake.
The Hardys ate dinner, the boys helped clean up the kitchen, then both Frank and Joe flopped onto the couch in the family room, in front of the television. Neither one, however, paid much attention to the program airing, for Joe was busy complaining to his brother about the headstrong actions of his girlfriend.
"Frank, she went there straight after school was out. She's got her cell phone with her, and she promised to check in every hour or so, but she's doing just what she said she was going to. She made sure Waring was on duty tonight, and she's shadowing him. Says he's on tomorrow night, too, and she's going to do the same thing!" Joe blew out a sigh of total frustration. "As if he might not be doing all his acts of mercy during the day, when she's at school!"
"I hope you didn't mention that, or she'll cut school tomorrow to follow him around then, too," Frank said. "I think we're stuck with two independent and determined females to work with. Megan stayed on campus, and went to the library after classes today. Even though she knew it might put her in danger…."
The telephone shrilled through his words. "That's probably Vanessa," Joe said, and punched the button to connect. "Hardy residence…no, this is Joe – oh, hi Mrs. Wright… Yes, Frank's right here, I'll put him on." He handed the phone to Frank, mouthing Megan's mother as he did so.
"Hello, Mrs. Wright, this is Frank." The elder Hardy listened for a moment, and the watching Joe saw him turn pale. "No, Megan's not here – I haven't seen her since about four o'clock. She said she was going to do some work at the library…she thought she'd be done in an hour or so, I think… No – no, maybe she just lost track of time—" He glanced at his watch and knew that was an impossibility. "Mrs. Wright, I think I'll run over to the campus and see if I can find her. Maybe she's had car trouble, or something…I'll call you from there, all right? Okay – bye."
He clicked off the phone, already heading for the front door. Joe was right at his heels.
"Megan didn't come home from school," Frank told him tersely. "I've got to get over there right now. You coming?"
"Of course I am – you even need to ask? Go start the van; I'll tell Mom."
Once on the street, Frank pushed the speed limit at every opportunity, and ran more red and amber lights than he ever had before. In something less than the usual fifteen minutes, he took the familiar turn into the college's parking lot, heading for the spot where he had last seen Megan Wright.
There were evening classes held at the community college, and the lots were still fairly full. Frank drove slowly between the rows of cars, looking for the little Honda Accord. Finally he pulled up next to it, and he and Joe jumped out of the van.
"Frank!" Joe bent over and picked up something from the concrete. "Look!" He held out a book – the textbook from Megan's chemistry class. Frank circled the car, dark eyes scanning the ground, the car's interior, the windows….
There! Frank leaned across the hood and snatched the folded piece of paper nestled underneath the wiper blade. Joe huddled close, and flicked on his penlight.
Words printed in block lettering seemed to leap from the paper. W E' E. C. 8:00 P.M. K. U' Y.
"No!" Frank howled. "No, no, no, no!" He dropped the note to the pavement and slammed his fists against the hood of Megan's car. Joe hastily bent and picked it up, then reached to wrap his arms about Frank, restraining and comforting at the same time.
"Frank! We'll get her back – take it easy, take it easy! We will get her back, Frank! Listen to me!"
"I knew I shouldn't have left her here alone – I knew it was dangerous! Why didn't I stay with her?" Frank was nearly hysterical. "Stupid, stupid, stupid! I knew better—" He stopped, gasping for breath. "Oh God, what are we going to tell her mother…?"
Joe pushed him towards the van. "Sit down and get hold of yourself!" He flung open the passenger side door and shoved Frank into the seat. "I know it's bad, Frank, but try to calm down, huh? You're acting like me!" He reached for the cell phone and hit the speed dial.
Frank buried his face in his hands, still moaning "…should never have left her here…"
"Mom? Hi, it's Joe. Can you find me the Wrights' phone number? I need to talk to Megan's mom… uh huh – okay, got it. Mom – it looks like Megan's been kidnapped. Do you suppose you could go over to their house, and be with her mom?" He gave the address and directions, then said: "Mom, Frank's pretty broken up. I mean, he's really sort of spaced out, here…any suggestions?" He listened for a few moments, then shook his head. "I'll try. Thanks. Bye."
Dreading what he had to do, Joe called Mrs. Wright and told her what they had found. Her first thought, of course, was to call the police, but Joe reminded her of the note's instructions. "I want to call them too, but I'm afraid it will put Megan in more danger than she is already," he said grimly. "If we follow the instructions, maybe we can get her back with no trouble." He paused, thinking. "Mrs. Wright, does this seem a little – well, odd to you? Ted Crowley has remained so much in the background, this wide-open attack seems out of character. I wonder if maybe whoever it is he has working for him has branched out into something unauthorized, here."
"I really hadn't thought about it, Joe," Mrs. Wright replied, her voice trembling. "Right now I'm afraid all I can think about is Megan's safety."
"I know, I'm sorry," Joe apologized hastily. "It just occurred to me that Ted Crowley may not know about this – or like it when he hears about it. It might be something to remember…. Anyway, my mom is coming over to your house right now. She thought someone ought to be with you. Frank and I will do a little more checking here, and then we'll come over there too. Do you have an extra key to Megan's car? We'll bring it home later, if you do."
"Yes, I have a key—" Mrs. Wright's voice broke. "Thank you, Joe." She hung up quickly.
Joe glanced over at his brother. Frank was still sitting in the van's passenger seat, slumped forward with his head in his hands. Joe winced; he couldn't ever remember seeing Frank so inconsolably shaken. Poor guy…he must feel like it's open season on girlfriends lately! First Callie leaves, then dumps him – and now this happens to Megan. Joe stepped forward and put a tentative hand on his brother's shoulder.
"Frank? You okay?"
"Yes." The response was dull and muted; Frank didn't raise his head. Joe felt him shiver beneath the comforting hand.
"Shouldn't we check around – see if anyone saw anything? Ask at the library, maybe?" Joe suggested.
"No one would still be around that was there when she was."
"You don't know that for sure. Come on, surely we can do something," Joe urged.
"You go ahead, then," his brother replied in a deadly monotone.
Joe heaved a sigh and stepped away from the van. He pulled out his cell phone again, and once more punched a single number. "Vanessa? Hi. Are you still tracking Dr. Waring?…He is? Keep an eye on him, Van – Megan's been kidnapped!"