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The Divine Right of Kings	By : vinsmouse Category: G through L > Hardy Boys Series Views: 5917 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hardy Boys, not making any money, just cheap thrills.

Chapter List
- 10
- 11
- 12
A/N: The beginning of this chapter does a bit of backtracking as this scene is taking place during the same afternoon when Sam was looking for information on Alex and Red, before he picked Fenton up at the airport.

Chapter 11

Alex Tomlinson sat in his cell patiently waiting his lawyer’s arrival. He had been amused by the obvious anger on the face of Chief Collig during his questioning. His refusal to answer any questions had clearly frustrated the other man. Of course what really made him mad was when Alex asked after Joe, as he’d known it would. The jangle of keys brought him to his feet. “Good afternoon officer,” he greeted the jailer on the other side of the door.

Officer Green glared at the prisoner. He had heard what this man had done and like many police officers he had a special loathing for those who hurt children. “Turn around, hands behind your back and stand next to the bars,” he ordered.

Alex offered no argument, simply doing as he was told. “Where am I going now officer?”

Green snapped the cuffs around Tomlinson’s wrists with practiced ease before unlocking the cell. Taking the man’s arm he pulled him from the cell. “Your lawyer’s here,” he snapped.

Alex smirked. It was easy to see this man was as angry as his chief, amusing Alex greatly. “Wonderful. I trust we’ll have the privacy we’re entitled to?”

Green bristled. “We don’t spy on people talking to their lawyers.”

“No offence intended officer,” Alex apologized though of course it was a lie.

Green made no response and nothing more was said as he led Tomlinson to the interview room. He pushed the man into a seat and removing the cuff from his right wrist he used it to secure the prisoner’s left wrist to the arm of the chair.

“Hello Mr. Lovell,” Alex greeted the middle-aged man seated across from him.

“Mr. Tomlinson,” Broderick Lovell nodded. “Your father is concerned about the mess you’ve found yourself in.”

“Mr. Lovell are you here as my lawyer or as a voice for my father?” Alex coldly asked.

“I am of course representing you Mr. Tomlinson but your father is paying me.”

“So anything I say will be repeated to the old man?” he sneered.

Lovell frowned. “Let us get a couple of things straight Mr. Tomlinson. To begin with, anything said between us is privileged information which will be shared with nobody, not even your father. However, as your father is paying for my services you would do well to take his concerns into consideration lest he withdraw his support.”

“You make a good point Mr. Lovell, however, you should know that I can easily afford your services myself. I am more than willing to let the old man give his support by way of paying you as long as his concerns never interfere with my wishes as they pertain to this case. Are we understood?”

Looking into the cold eyes of his client Broderick Lovell could only nod his acceptance of the man’s statement. For the next three hours they went over the evidence against Alex. There was more than one argument over strategy and to his surprise Alex won more often than not. When they reached a stopping point he began to gather his notes. “Well I think that’s all we can do today. I’ll begin on what we discussed immediately.”

“There is one thing I need you to do,” Alex said pulling a few sheets of paper from his pocket.

“What is that Mr. Tomlinson?” Even after their long interview Broderick didn’t feel comfortable referring to the other man by his first name, he doubted he ever would.

“I need you to mail a letter for me,” Alex informed him as he reached for an envelope.

“You don’t need me for that.”

Alex sneered. “Mr. Lovell you know as well as I do that the police are going to monitor my phone calls and mail. The only communications they can’t monitor are those I have with you.”

Broderick sighed. “You’re correct, of course, but it isn’t quite ethical for me to help you in bypassing those restraints. It could even be seen as contraband, if one were to stretch the point.”

Alex ignored him as he addressed the envelope.

Broderick could see he was getting nowhere. “Who is the letter for?”

“It’s for my girlfriend,” Alex replied in a quiet voice. “I’m sure she’ll have been informed of this mess as you call it long before the letter reaches her but I want the chance to tell her my side of the story as soon as I can. If I send it through normal channels the police will read it and frankly Mr. Lovell it would feel almost as if it were a violation of my girl for them to see the words meant only for her eyes.”

Broderick shook his head, unbelievable. “Not to mention the possibly incriminating information?”

Alex smiled. “I knew you’d understand.”

“I will mail the letter to your girlfriend tomorrow,” Broderick reluctantly agreed.   “I will also make a note of her name and address which I will gladly turn over to the authorities if you are using me in some sort of escape plan,” he warned.

“Fair enough but there are no escape plans,” Alex assured him.

Sam pulled into his driveway. He had taken the long way home, giving Fenton time to pull himself together. “Why don’t you go on in, I’ll take care of your bags,” he offered.

Fenton shot his partner a grateful look and with mumbled thanks climbed out of the car. Anxious to see his family he hurried into the house, barely taking the time to greet Ethel before heading to the den she pointed towards.

“Laura,” he quietly called as he stepped into the room. He had barely cleared the door when a bundle of sobbing, petite blonde was in his arms. “Oh honey,” he sighed. Holding her close he couldn’t help wishing there was more he could do, someway to fix what was wrong.

Laura soaked up the strength her husband offered, grateful beyond words for his support. She had been deathly afraid that he would, in the hours since they last spoke, decide the boys were right to blame her. She wasn’t sure how long he held her but finally her tears were spent, for now at any rate. Drawing back yet remaining within the circle of Fenton’s arms she gazed up at his face. “I’m so glad you’re here,” she softly whispered.

“I just wish I could have been here sooner,” Fenton responded. He wouldn’t make her feel more inadequate by expressing the wish in his heart, that he could have been here to prevent the event altogether. Though after hearing what Sam had to tell him he wasn’t convinced he could have prevented it, even if he’d been home. “How are the boys?”

Laura shrugged. “As well as they can be I guess. Oh Fenton I don’t know,” she whimpered. “Joe won’t even look at me and Frank is barely civil. They blame me for what happened to Joe.”

Fenton closed his eyes, drawing her close once more. “They’ll come around love,” he assured her.   He debated telling them what Sam had found out. They would have to be told eventually, he certainly didn’t want them to find out through the newspapers or at the trial. The only question was should he tell them now or wait?

Laura drew back ready to argue, something in his face changed her mind. “You know something.” It wasn’t a question.

“Sam found some information,” Fenton confirmed. He sometimes forgot how perceptive Laura could be, especially where he or their sons were concerned.

“What?” Laura wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to know. She listened in growing horror as Fenton relayed Sam’s findings to her. Their plans for Joe weren’t really a surprise but there was a decided difference in suspecting a thing and having it confirmed.

By the end of the recitation both parents were in tears, as they held tight to one another giving and taking strength in equal measure.

“You should go see the boys,” Laura said sometime later.

“Are you sure?” Fenton wanted to see the boys but he didn’t like leaving Laura alone. She had been alone too much since yesterday.

“I’m sure,” Laura replied, offering a tremulous smile. “They need you too darling.”

Fenton kissed her once and left the room. A quick question to Sam in the living room and he knew where to find the boys. Slowly climbing the stairs he made his way to the guest room; he knocked quietly.

Frank got up to answer the door. He hoped it wasn’t his mother. “Dad,” he just barely kept from shouting the greeting as he grabbed the man in a tight hug.

Fenton returned the hug, concerned by the demonstrativeness. If it had been Joe he wouldn’t have been concerned but Frank was usually much more reserved. “I came as soon as I could. How are you doing son?” he asked pulling back so he could get a better look at the boy.

“I’m fine,” Frank sadly replied. “Joe’s the one you should be worried about.”

“I worry about you both Frank,” Fenton told him, his voice thick.   “I know Joe suffered more physically but that doesn’t mean you were left untouched by what happened.”

Frank shrugged. He would admit it hadn’t been easy to helplessly watch as they hurt his little brother but that was nothing compared to what Joe endured. “He shouldn’t have had to suffer at all.”

“No he shouldn’t have, none of you should have,” Fenton agreed.

“If mom…”

“Frank do you really think your mother would do anything to endanger either of you?” Fenton gently asked.

“She did,” Frank snapped. “Sorry,” he mumbled. He had never spoken to his father in such a tone before.

Fenton sighed. “Did she or you know that they would let you live?”

Frank thought about it, shaking his head after a moment.

“Don’t you see son she had to take a chance in passing that note to Phil.”

“Maybe but you can’t excuse spiking their food,” Frank argued.

“Are you sure she did?”

“Who else would have?”

“She says she didn’t do it Frank. Your mother isn’t perfect, none of us are, but she’s never lied to any of us. I can’t believe she would begin now, especially over something so important.”

Frank looked towards the bed where his brother lay sleeping. He looked so peaceful and innocent. He wished it would last but Frank knew the nightmares would come soon enough, robbing his brother of the little oasis of peace he had found. He was torn. What if Phil had been right? What if it had been Red who had spiked his partner’s food? Had he been treating his mother unfairly, blaming her for something she was innocent of doing? But Joe needed him, more than their mother, and fair or not his brother blamed their mother for what Red had done to him. “Joe blames her.”

“I’m sure he does,” Fenton conceded. “I’m hoping that with time he’ll come to realize your mother’s innocence in what he suffered.” Laying a hand on the boy’s shoulder he gave it a squeeze. “Do you realize?”

“I don’t know,” Frank honestly replied. “I have to think.”

Fenton nodded. He knew now that Frank at least needed to be told about what Sam had found, sooner rather than later. He doubted Joe could handle the information right now but he thought his oldest could. “Why don’t you go ask Sam what he found out,” he suggested. He didn’t want to say anymore where Joe might hear; at least that was what he told himself. “Tell him it was my idea.”

“I don’t want to leave Joe,” Frank protested.

“I’ll stay with your brother, go on downstairs son.”

“He has nightmares,” Frank warned.

“I expect he does,” Fenton said. “Don’t worry son, I’ll be here for him,” he assured the older boy. Relieved when Frank gave in and left the room he moved to sit on the edge of the bed. Combing his fingers through Joe’s blond locks he drank in the sight of his youngest. He was horribly damaged by what Tomlinson and Wyndham had done to him but Fenton knew it could have been so much worse.

Joe became aware of fingers brushing through his hair. For a moment he thought Alex was here. “Alex?” he murmured as he sleepily opened his eyes to see the shocked face of his father.

TBC...

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The Divine Right of Kings