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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.

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Chapter 20

Joe slowly made his way down the stairs; he needed to talk to his mother. After his research and his talk with Alex he was sure she hadn’t been the one to poison the drink. He didn’t know what had been used but it was clear now that Red had done it himself so he could get Joe alone. A shudder ran through him as the memories were once more brought to the forefront of his mind.

He hoped his mother would be alone; the conversation would be hard enough without an audience. He thought there was a good chance of it, Frank was over at Phil’s and his father should be in his office. Pushing open the door to the kitchen he was relieved to find his mother was alone as she went about preparing lunch. “Mom?”

Laura jumped. She turned startled blue eyes to the door, “Joe,” she gasped, “you startled me.”

“Sorry,” Joe mumbled.

“It’s alright honey. I guess I was wool gathering a bit. Did you need something?” she carefully asked.

“Could we talk?”

“Of course,” Laura smiled. “Why don’t you sit down and I’ll get us each a glass of tea.”

“I can get it,” Joe said. He needed something to do with his hands. Coward he berated himself. It had been easy to behave hatefully towards his mother when he’d thought her guilty; it shouldn’t be that difficult to admit now that he had been wrong. But right or wrong it was hard, harder than he’d expected and he found himself doing what he could to delay the moment.

Laura’s eyes were filled with concern as she watched her youngest getting their drinks. It was clear that his hands were trembling as he poured the tea, sloshing some over the sides of the glasses. With a mumbled curse, which Laura chose to ignore, Joe pulled some paper towels from the roll and cleaned up the mess. Uncertainly she closed the distance between them, laying her hand over Joe’s. “Honey, what is it?” she softly asked. Her concern grew as Joe turned tear filled eyes towards her.

“I’m so sorry Mom,” Joe whispered brokenly. “I should have believed you.”

“Oh honey.” Without another word Laura pulled him close. “That’s it honey, let it out,” she soothed as the tears began to fall.

Joe was mortified, fourteen and crying in his mother’s arms. He hadn’t expected to break down but when those gentle arms wrapped around him, enveloping him in a feeling of safety he found himself sobbing like a little boy.

Laura had no idea how long they stood there, waiting for Joe’s tears to end. Finally, the embarrassed teen pulled back, wiping his eyes. Laura didn’t think he noticed her doing the same. “Not that I’m not relieved but what brought this on?” she gently asked.

“Last night,” Joe replied.

Laura was puzzled. “I don’t understand.”

“I wasn’t exactly honest with you.”

“About your reason for being downstairs?” Laura couldn’t quite quell the leap of fear. Had he been about to take something after all? Was that what he meant?

“I had a nightmare and came downstairs for a drink,” Joe admitted.

“I don’t understand honey, why would you lie about that?”

“I saw the aspirin and wondered if maybe that was what you had used…”

“But you said…”

“I do believe you mom, now,” he emphasized the last word. “I searched the kitchen and the only things I found were aspirin and ipecac. I knew you couldn’t have used ipecac and I didn’t think the soda would have hidden the flavor of aspirin, but I wasn’t sure. You see I didn’t know how many aspirin it would have taken so this morning I did some research and talked to a friend. I shouldn’t have doubted you, I’m sorry,” he apologized once more.

Laura hugged him again. “You have nothing to apologize for. No,” she said when he started to interrupt her. “You were traumatized honey and that awful man made it look like I was guilty. After what had happened earlier with Phil I really can’t blame you for believing it.”

“I should have known better. You might have tried to escape again but you wouldn’t have risked it unless you were completely sure it would work. That’s what you did when Sam called isn’t it? You used the code Dad came up with to let him know something was wrong.” He should have seen it earlier but he had been so wrapped up in his own pain he had missed it, some detective he’d make.

“Stop that,” Laura admonished. “You are not to blame for what either of those men did Joe. I only wish I hadn’t tried that foolish move with Phil. If I hadn’t you wouldn’t have been forced to endure another beating.”

Joe shook his head. “I don’t blame you for that. You had to do something.”

Laura laughed. “We’re quite a pair aren’t we?”

Joe chuckled. “Guess so.”

“How about you stop feeling guilty for believing their lies and I’ll stop feeling guilty for trying to get help, deal?” Laura held out her hand.

Joe looked down. “I don’t know if I can promise that, will you settle for I’ll try?” He didn’t bother to correct her by pointing out it had only been Red who had lied. Joe didn’t think she would accept that too well.

Placing the fingers of her other hand beneath his chin, Laura raised his head so that she could look him in the eye. “If you will,” she agreed.

“Deal,” Joe whispered, shaking her hand before quickly drawing her in for a quick hug.

Across town Frank sat next to Phil, the two working diligently on a programming problem they had been trying to solve for several weeks.

“Damn it,” Frank softly cursed.

Phil glanced to the side. This was the fourth time in the past hour Frank had been forced to backtrack. “Why don’t we take a break,” he quietly suggested.

Frank shook his head. “I can get this,” he stubbornly insisted.

Phil lay a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Later.”

“No, I have to fix this.”

Phil frowned. Frank had always been known for his ability to focus on a problem to the exclusion of all else but there was something different this time. There was a sense of urgency in the other boy’s voice that Phil had never heard before when working on an ordinary problem. The only time he’d seen Frank place such importance on something was when it involved a life or death matter, usually connected to Joe. Standing up he pulled the task chair away from the computer, spinning it so that Frank was facing him. “What’s going on Frank?” he asked.

“You know what’s going on Phil, we’re trying to solve a problem.”

“I don’t think so Frank. You’re having trouble focusing, making simple mistakes and placing way too much importance on this. Try again.”

Frank sighed. “I can’t stop thinking about Joe and Mom. I guess I thought, hoped, that working on our project would distract me. Sorry,” he mumbled.

“Sorry?”

“Not exactly fair to you,” Frank admitted.

“Never mind that,” Phil brushed the concern away. “I’m worried about you Frank. You haven’t been yourself lately.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Frank said.

Phil snorted. “Right. You’ve been spending all your time over here. No it isn’t a problem,” Phil quickly stopped the apology, “but you usually spend most of your time with Joe.”

“Joe doesn’t want to spend time with me.” Frank was embarrassed at hearing the emotion in his own voice. Could he sound any more like a girl?

Phil’s concern grew. That didn’t sound like the younger Hardy. He practically worshipped his older brother. Even when they argued there was an underlying sense of love and respect, stronger than anything he’d ever seen between any two siblings. “Does he think you’re still defending your mom?” Considering Frank’s earlier statement it was the only thing he could think of.

“I guess. He won’t even talk to me anymore,” Frank miserably admitted.

“Have you talked to your parents about it?”

Frank shook his head. “They have enough to worry about. Mom blames herself for what happened to Joe. Not when Red took him into the kitchen,” he clarified, “but the other stuff and Dad is busy trying to take care of Mom and Joe.”

“And they’ve forgotten about you,” Phil concluded.

“I guess,” Frank shrugged.

“You need to talk to somebody Frank.”

Frank smiled sadly. “I’m talking to you.”

“And I’m happy to help but I’m not family and I’m not a professional. I’m not sure how much help I’ll actually be. I really think you should talk to your folks,” Phil advised.

“Maybe later. Right now they need to focus on Joe.”

Phil sighed. For as long as he’d known the Hardys Frank had put his little brother ahead of himself. He wasn’t sure it was healthy but he was an only child, what did he know? “Will you promise me something?”

“What?” Frank asked with obvious suspicion.

“If this is still going on a week from now you’ll talk to your dad,” Phil calmly replied.

“I can’t Phil, he has enough to worry about,” Frank protested.

Phil inhaled deeply. “If you don’t then I will.”

Frank glared. “It’s none of your business.”

“You’re my friend Frank, I’m making it my business,” Phil countered.

Frank swallowed hard. He thought he should be angry but he couldn’t feel anything other than an overwhelming gratitude. “Thanks,” he rasped.

TBC...

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The Divine Right of Kings