Disclaimer: We do not own the Hardy Boys or any of the canon book characters, nor do we own the Sentinel or any of the canon television characters, and are making no monies from this story. Any Original Characters belong to the author(s). Co-written with Talefeathers of the HDA.
For those of you who are not familiar with The Sentinel's characters, we hope this will be a pleasant introduction to them for you. For those of you who are already acquainted with Blair, Jim, Simon and the others – enjoy! Trying to fit these four stories into two different story arcs [Hardy Boys and The Sentinel] just barely worked. Band of Brothers and Welcome to Cascade take place before September Song [Hardy universe] begins, and any time after The Perfect Partner [Sentinel universe]. Missing Persons happens right after Fanfare for June [Hardys]; A Matter of Public Record takes place any time between Death on the Fourth of July and February Flirtations [Hardys], and before Remodel and Rebuild [Sentinel].
This particular story was written in 2007. Technology does not match today's levels.
Missing Persons
A Hardy Boys/Sentinel Crossover Story
By EvergreenDreamweaver & Talefeathers
Chapter 6
When the Hardys pulled into Blair's parking space outside the loft, they saw with relief that Jim Ellison's pickup truck was parked nearby. Not possessing keys to the apartment, they had wondered just how they were going to get in, if the two police officers had not yet returned home. They wanted to share their news of Bobbi Van Lansing being admitted to Lincolnshire Tower, of her perfidy in denying that she'd heard of or from Fenton, of the mysterious car and driver. Joe had noted down the license plate, but he suspected it was a rental vehicle. They wanted their phones. And they wanted a little advice – not that they were going to necessarily follow it, if it didn't fit with their plans. But they wanted to ask, nonetheless.
They rode the elevator up to the third floor and walked down the hall. To their surprise, Jim opened the door just as they reached it.
"Whoa, how'd you do that?" Joe asked curiously.
The detective just smiled enigmatically. "The windows are open. I heard that rattletrap of Sandburg's pull up!"
"Hey!" came the expected indignant cry from within the apartment. "Don't diss my car, Ellison!"
Ellison's smile widened as he ushered the Hardys inside. "Face it, Chief, that car and I are gonna be at odds as long as you've got it." He eyed Frank and Joe speculatively. "You two look like something's going on. Care to share?"
"You've been hanging around me too long," Blair commented, joining them. "You never used to say things like 'care to share.'" He performed his own searching look at the Hardys. "But you're right. What's up?"
Frank told the tale of their experiences, concluding: "We figured we'd go back and keep watching the building, once we picked up our cell phones. We were stupid to go off and leave 'em here! I guess we weren't thinking very clearly this morning."
"And maybe we could borrow a key?" Joe put in. "Or are you guys gonna be home tonight?"
Jim was shaking his head. "No, we're going right back out. We were going to split up, if you two weren't back yet, so that you wouldn't be locked out – but really, both Sandburg and I need to go. We'll give you a spare key." He dug in a drawer and produced a key, which he handed to Frank.
Blair was looking very concerned. "You sure staking out the place is a good idea?" he asked. "I mean, two kids like you..."
"We've done our share of stakeouts," Frank said grimly. "We're not inexperienced, Blair. And this is the only lead we have to Dad at all. After all, we flew out here to find him, and that's what we intend to do."
"More of a lead than you might realize," Blair replied, and told of their meeting with John Sartellis. "With both of them staying at the Silver Reef, I'm beginning to wonder if Cousin Darius might have some connection with Bobbi, and by extrapolation, with your dad's disappearance."
"A connection I really wish we had time to pursue," Jim put in, "but Sandburg and I have a dead body demanding attention and a boss demanding an immediate solution." He looked keenly at each of the Hardys in turn. "I am sorry, really. If this hadn't come up right now you know we'd be glad to help."
"Hey, we understand that duty calls," Joe said lightly, "and I can definitely appreciate that you don't want to irritate Captain Banks!"
"You two gonna be all right?" Blair's look was as sharp as his partner's. "You SURE you'll be all right? You won't take any unnecessary chances, right? And you'll call us if—"
"Yes, Blair." Frank was grinning now. "We promise, Blair. We'll be fine, Blair. Don't worry, Blair. Everything will be cool, Bl—"
Now Joe and Jim were laughing too.
"All right, all right, 'shut up, Blair'; I get it. Grab something to eat before you go. I made sandwiches." Even distracted and busy, Sandburg was a nurturer. He waved at the kitchen counter, where ingredients were still spread out, along with a platter of inviting-looking sandwiches. "We just ate. Jim, you ready to go?"
Ellison was already opening the loft door, but he turned back to say seriously, "Kids...be careful. Like Sandburg said, don't take any unnecessary chances. And we'll see you late tonight or tomorrow."
They waved cheerfully as the two detectives departed, and then Joe set to work packing up Blair's sandwiches while Frank gathered everything else they thought they might need to take along.
#####
Fenton Hardy was exasperated. He was also uncomfortable and stiff, but the physical discomforts were overshadowed by the irritation he was feeling. He'd been kidnapped and captured before, by professionals and amateurs alike – but this had to be one of the oddest situations he'd ever found himself in. To be trying to locate a missing person – not an escaped felon, not a wanted suspect, just a person – only to find himself the prisoner of said missing person and her friends...well, that was humiliating in itself. And from what he'd managed to overhear, apparently now that they had him, they didn't know exactly what to do with him. How about letting me go? was Fenton's advice on that, but he hadn't been consulted. In fact, he'd been pretty much ignored, while his captors argued over him.
At least they've fed me, and given me bathroom breaks, he thought, shifting carefully in the chair where he was tied. Bobbi had insisted on that. Left to their own devices, Fenton wasn't sure just what the men might have done. The one guy, addressed as Darius, didn't seem too bad, just awfully nervous and suspicious. The other two, Bruno and Rico, whom he had tentatively identified as 'muscle,' seemed to have no qualms about dealing with him in the most convenient way available to them. Luckily for him, the most convenient method didn't seem to be murder.
Fenton still wasn't quite sure why he'd been taken, other than that Bruno thought he was 'bothering' Bobbi. Apparently that particular thing irritated Bruno. And when Bruno was irritated, he tended to act on impulse. He didn't seem cruel or especially malevolent...just extremely determined.
Another bright spot was the fact that he was no longer blindfolded. Bruno, Darius and Rico all tried to keep their faces hidden from his view – well, to be honest, they stayed away from him most of the time; in fact, other than strictly necessary contact, they all did. Bobbi had evidently realized that Fenton probably knew exactly what she looked like, so it didn't matter whether he saw her or not, but she stayed away too, most of the time.
It was a very puzzling and exasperating situation.
By the date on his wristwatch, Fenton knew he'd been held captive for over 48 hours now. He'd been snatched from his motel room on Friday afternoon, and now it was after 7:00 p.m. on Sunday.
I wonder if Ellison and Sandburg got worried when I didn't show up? he wondered, not for the first time. I wonder if they tried to locate me? He sighed. It wasn't very promising; they hadn't even met him, after all. If they searched for him, they wouldn't even know what he looked like! I wonder if they contacted Frank and Joe, after I disappeared? Maybe the boys came...nah, not likely. They've lived with this all their lives, and I've pulled disappearing acts before. The question was, would they get worried enough to come looking before it was too late!?
#####
"So...how do we want to play this?" Joe asked as he and Frank sat in Blair's parked car. Surveillance of the Lincolnshire Tower was going to be a formidable task; this building was big! Equipped with water bottles, cell phones, and a couple of Blair's sandwiches, in addition to the ones they'd eaten at the loft, they were as ready as they were likely to get, but it still looked to be a big job.
"Well," Frank said consideringly, gazing at their target, "there's no way we can watch all the entrances and exits, not by ourselves, just the two of us."
Joe nodded silently and likewise stared somberly at the building.
"It would probably be best if we split up," the older teen continued, "and took opposite sides. Then we could work our way around, going opposite directions, and eventually we'd cover the whole building."
Joe shook his head. "Wouldn't that be a waste of time?" he asked softly. "You already said that we can't watch all the entrances and exits. Why don't we just concentrate on the one where we saw her go in?"
"That's the main entrance, maybe, but we have no clue where in the building she might have gone. Jim and Blair said that John Sartellis has an office here, and that he gave his cousin a key – or keys – but we don't have a clue where that is!"
"Wish we could get inside," Joe complained.
Frank snorted softly. "Well, that's a given."
"Lit windows might help us," the younger boy suggested. "It's Sunday evening, so there probably aren't any custodians on the job now. So if any windows are lit, we'd know there was someone there, right?"
"Maybe," Frank agreed somewhat doubtfully. "It's better than nothing, but it still doesn't get us inside."
"I know," Joe sighed.
"Well, let's split up and scout around first," Frank said, making the decision for them. "First time around is surveillance only, and trying the doors. After that – assuming that we don't find a way in – we can settle in. I'll watch the main doors if you'll cover the parking garage entrance."
Joe nodded. "Suits," he said briefly, and turned to go. Frank shot out a hand and grabbed his arm.
"If you see anything, call me. If I find anything, I'll call you. Call and then wait for the other one. Don't go rushing into anything. Got it?"
Joe rolled his eyes, but nodded again. "Yes, dear."
Frank ignored the jibe. "You got your lock picks? I doubt that they'd work on these doors, but anything's worth a try."
"Yup. You?"
"Um...no. I figured you're better at it than I am, and we didn't need both sets," Frank admitted. "Assuming we don't find anything on the initial sweep, we meet back here and compare notes before we settle in to watch. Okay?"
"All right."
"Oh – and one more thing. Put your phone on 'vibrate' instead of letting it ring. No sense in advertising our presence."
Joe grinned and pulled his phone from his pocket to adjust the setting. "Good thought. No wonder they call you the smart one!" He looked up. "How about text-messaging instead of talking? Even quieter."
"See, I'm not the only smart one!" Frank smiled and patted his shoulder. "Okay, let's do this."
Quietly they got out of the car, locked it behind them and set out across the street towards the Lincolnshire Tower.
###
Half an hour later they met again at the original starting point.
"Anything?" Joe asked quietly.
"I saw a guy standing on the corner smoking a cigarette. I'm not sure if it was the driver of the car we saw before, or not. It's getting too dark to see clearly, and I didn't want to march up close enough to him to make sure. So watch out. He's close to the parking garage entrance and he might spot you."
"Okay. So, we split now and settle into position?" Joe fished in the capacious pocket of his cargo shorts, worn specifically for their storage abilities. "Want a sandwich?"
Frank accepted the packet with a nod of thanks. "Keep in touch, little brother," he murmured. "Check in with me in an hour if you don't see anything sooner, okay?"
"Got it. Good hunting, Mowgli," Joe whispered in reply and melted away into the shadows, leaving his brother chuckling in spite of his underlying worry.
###
Joe moved again, slipping from behind one massive pillar to another in the underground parking facility. He wished there were more cars around to conceal his movements, but on a Sunday evening the place was essentially deserted. There was enough ambient noise from traffic outside to mask sounds, which was good in one way – he didn't have to worry about trying to stay absolutely silent – and bad in another, for he couldn't hear if anyone else might be around, either!
He and Frank had shared one check-in time, and now were into the second hour. So far, neither one had spotted the slightest sign of Bobbi Van Lansing, the driver of the car she had ridden in, or anyone else.
Maybe this is just one damn exercise in futility, the younger Hardy mused. For all we know, if these guys have Dad, they've got him stashed somewhere else entirely, and we're wasting our time.
He moved again, taking advantage of a police or fire engine siren outside to muffle the sounds. Unfortunately, it also muffled the sounds of the shadowy figure which approached him from behind.
Joe never saw or heard his assailant, and he dropped like a rock when the blackjack connected with the back of his head.