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The Divine Right of Kings	By : vinsmouse Category: G through L > Hardy Boys Series Views: 5915 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hardy Boys, not making any money, just cheap thrills.

Chapter List
- 16
- 17
- 18
Chapter 17
Joshua Strand, Special Agent FBI, hesitantly knocked on the door to hell, otherwise known as the SAC's office.
"Come in," a deep voice called.
Bracing himself, Strand opened the door. "Do you have a moment Mr. Clayton?" He knew the senior agent wasn't going to be happy with the news he had, not that the man was ever happy.
"Is there a problem Strand?"
"Yes sir, I'm afraid there is."
Levi Clayton sighed. Problems usually meant somebody was going to escape justice. "Sit down and tell me what's going on," he invited.
Strand opened the file he carried as he sat down. "It's about the Tomlinson cases."
"Tomlinson? That'd be the psycho that attacked a dozen families before he was captured?"
"Yes sir," Strand confirmed.
"Don't tell me there's a problem with the evidence," Clayton rumbled, his deep voice making it sound nearly like a growl.
"Not the evidence, no sir. It's the witnesses sir, they're all refusing to testify."
Clayton stared at the other man. His eyes were lit with incomprehension, as if the other agent had spoken another language. "Excuse me Agent Strand but I thought you said the witnesses are refusing to…"
"Testify, yes sir," Strand reluctantly confirmed.
"For God's sake man, why would they do that?"
"They all put it differently sir but it boils down to this; with Wyndham dead they don't see any reason to resurrect the memories."
Clayton shook his head. This was why he preferred dogs, they at least made sense. "They do realize that Tomlinson was as responsible as Wyndham for the pain their children suffered?"
"They don't see it that way sir, or rather the children don't see it that way."
"Explain."
Strand sighed, this was not going to go over well. "Every one of the children are convinced that Tomlinson tried to protect them from Wyndham. When I pointed out that Tomlinson hurt them too they all responded with a variation along the lines of he only punished them when they deserved it. None of them are willing to testify against Tomlinson, whom they see as their protector."
"What about the parents and siblings?"
"They're not willing to testify if the targeted child won't. I got the impression that they're afraid of causing another rift in their families. I can understand it in a way," Joshua admitted.
"Excuse me," Clayton snapped.
Joshua quailed under the disapproving glance of his boss but he didn't back down. "I mean sir that these men all but destroyed their families. They've managed to recover, to varying degrees, and I can understand why they wouldn't want to disrupt that recovery."
"Damn," Clayton cursed. "Do we have any chance of a conviction without their testimony?"
Strand shook his head. "DNA and fingerprints were found at each of the crime scenes but all that proves is they were present in the homes. If the families won't testify we can't place that evidence in the proper context."
"They could be subpoenaed."
"I don't think any Federal prosecutor will do that," Strand argued. "If they still refuse to testify it would force the judge to find them in contempt and the government would come off looking like bullies."
Clayton rocked back in his seat. For five minutes he stared at the ceiling in silence. "The Hardy case?" It wasn't much, a state level case, but at least the man would spend some time in prison.
"As far as I'm aware it's going forward."
"Find out," Clayton ordered. "That man can't be allowed to walk free."
"You seem agitated."
Joe froze, letting the ball he'd been bouncing fall to the floor. Turning to the shrink he stared, waiting for the man to say something else.
"Did something happen in the last week? Something to upset you?" Dr. Carpenter quietly asked.
"I got a letter from A…uh, somebody I know." Joe could have kicked himself for the near slip. He still wasn't sure what he thought of the communication with Alex but knew he couldn't tell anybody else about it.
"The letter upset you?"
"Not exactly. It, I guess it confused me."
"How so?"
"He said that my mom might not be guilty."
Steve frowned. "I don't understand Joe, isn't that what other people have tried to tell you?"
Joe nodded.
"Then why should your friend saying it confuse you?"
Joe shrugged. He didn't know how to explain it without revealing his secret.
"Do you think your friend might be right?" Steve asked when it became clear Joe wasn't going to reply.
"I don't know what to think," Joe reluctantly admitted.
"Maybe it's time for you to listen to what your family has to say," Steve gently suggested.
"I already know what they want to say," Joe snapped.
"And you're not ready to hear it?"
Joe shook his head.
"Why do you think that is?" A shrug from his young patient was the only response. "Is there a reason you need to blame your mother?"
"Why would I need to blame my mom?"
"You tell me." This was quickly proving to be his most difficult case to date, fortunately Steve had been blessed with a great deal of patience.
"I'm not being unfair."
"I didn't say you were."
"But you think I am, everybody thinks I'm being unfair."
"Are you psychic now?"
"What? No, what are you talking about?" Joe demanded. He was becoming more confused, not less, and he didn't like it.
"You tell me what I'm thinking and claim to know what everybody else is thinking as well. If you're not psychic then how can you know?"
Joe glared at the man. "If they don't think I'm being unfair then why do they keep trying to get me to listen to them?"
"Your dad tells me you have plans to become a detective."
"So?" Joe crossed his arms over his chest.
"Maybe your father and your brother just want you to look at all the facts," Steve suggested.
"Because they think I'm being unfair."
Steve sighed. This young man was going to test his patience to the limit. "Or because it's what a detective should do." He glanced at the clock. "I think that's enough for today."
Joe jumped to his feet, eager to leave.
"I want you to think about what we discussed today."
Joe nodded. Without another word he left the office. He had a lot to think about.
TBC...
Sorry it's so short.
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The Divine Right of Kings