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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
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Chapter 42
Jack leaned back in his chair, frowning as he read the reports put together by his agents. While all four boys had been beaten to death, only the last two had been sexually violated. The odd thing about that was the fact an object was used rather than the assailant physically sodomizing the boys himself. The tech guys were able to partially recover the erased sections of tape but it wasn’t enough to tell what the killer had said. The only positive had been the confirmation that their killer was definitely male. Aside from location, age and method of death nothing seemed to tie the four boys together, on the surface at any rate.
When the techs had been unable to give them anything beyond the gender of the killer Jack had started looking deeper into the backgrounds of the four victims. Two months later he had a pretty clear picture of the victims. All four had been known for bullying, the first two often adding physical violence when they bullied. Jack had wondered if they were dealing with somebody who had been bullied at a younger age who was now seeking revenge by attacking teens who went after other, more vulnerable children. He probably would have continued pursuing that theory if not for one vital piece of information dug up by his agents. Before their deaths all four boys had been seen harassing one particular boy.
Reaching for his phone Jack dialed the necessary number. "Could I speak to the judge please? This is Agent Martin with the FBI it’s very important that I speak to the judge." Jack tapped his fingers on the desk while he waited for the judge to come on the line.
Larry Williams wasn’t a man known to tolerate trivial interruptions, whatever the agent wanted had better be damned important. "This is Judge Williams," he gruffly spoke into the phone.
"I’m sorry to bother you Judge Williams but I really need to speak to you about the case I’m working on."
"What about it?"
Jack quickly outlined the results to date of their investigation before getting to the reason for his call. "I need a warrant issued so I can bring a suspect in for questioning."
"Since when do you need a warrant to question somebody?" Williams snapped. "Just go pick him up and if the questioning yields enough evidence you can arrest him."
"It’s not that simple your honor," Jack calmly replied. "The suspect is a minor to begin with and his father is very influential in law enforcement. I really think we need to make sure all of our ducks are in a row before we bring the boy in."
Larry frowned, "I don’t believe you’ve told me just who this suspect is."
Jack braced himself, "Joe Hardy." He quickly pulled the phone from his ear.
"Are you out of your mind man? The boy is only fourteen…"
"Fifteen your honor, he had a birthday recently."
"Either way he’s a child himself and the victim of a horrible crime. You pull him in for questioning and the press will be all over you."
"I’m hoping to keep it quiet unless we pursue charges." For the next minute all Jack could hear was the judge’s laughter coming from the phone.
"You’ve cracked Agent Martin. There’s about as much chance of keeping it quiet as there is of the Pope converting to Islam."
"Nevertheless your honor I need to talk to the boy."
Larry sighed, this was probably going to end up a mess but he might not have a choice. "Tell me exactly what evidence you have to suspect the Hardy boy."
"All four victims had been seen harassing Joe Hardy, other than method and place of death nothing else really ties them together. There is also the method of death. Bludgeoning somebody shows a lot of anger; it indicates a personal grudge against the victim."
"But they did bully others?"
"They did," Jack admitted. "However the only victim all four were guilty of going after was Joe Hardy. Your honor I’m not sure the boy is involved, I admit that, but given the evidence we’ve put together we would be derelict in our duty if we didn’t bring him in for questioning."
"Damn," Larry glared at the phone as if it were to blame for the quandary he now found himself in. "Alright I’ll sign the warrant but Jack if you arrest him after questioning you’d better be damned sure of your facts because if you’ve got even one thing wrong the press will crucify you."
"Yes sir."
"I’ll have the warrant ready when you get here."
A little over two hours later Jack stood in front of the Hardy home. He warily examined the immediate area, searching for any sign of reporters or cameras. He was relieved when his search turned up nothing, maybe he could keep this quiet after all. Squaring his shoulders he marched up the walk to the front door and rang the bell.
"I’ll get it love," Fenton called as he walked down the hall. When he pulled the door open he was surprised to see who their visitor was. "Agent Martin isn’t it?"
"Yes."
"What can I do for you?" Fenton hoped the FBI didn’t want his help right now. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d been away on a case during the holidays but Fenton was pretty sure Laura wouldn’t forgive him for leaving this year. Joe was doing much better than he had been at the beginning of school, Dr. Saylor had made real progress with him, but he still had a ways to go. But he couldn’t forsake his duty as an investigator either, not even if it was only a week before Thanksgiving.
"Could I come in?" Jack really didn’t want to do this on the doorstep.
"Of course," Fenton stepped aside. "We can just go to my office."
"Actually Mr. Hardy I’m not here to see you, well not directly."
"What do you mean?"
"Are you aware that the FBI has been called in on the investigation concerning the murders of four teen boys?"
"Yes I know about that. I take it you’re the agent in charge?"
"I am," Jack confirmed. Reaching into the inside pocket of his suit jacket he removed a piece of paper, folded in thirds. "Mr. Hardy I have here a warrant allowing me to question your son Joseph in relation to the case I am currently investigating."
Fenton took the paper, his eyes hardening as he read the details of the warrant. "This is ridiculous! Do you honestly think my son had something to do with these murders?"
"I wouldn’t have asked for a warrant if I didn’t. Is your son currently at home?"
"He is," Fenton reluctantly confirmed. He wanted to lie, more than anything he wanted to protect his child but he knew it would do no good. The only thing he would accomplish would be getting himself arrested for obstruction of justice and that wouldn’t be any help to Joe. "I won’t try to stop you but I won’t let you question him without our lawyer present."
Jack nodded, he hadn’t expected anything less. He knew some agents assumed lawyering up to be an admission of guilt, they should know better. Only a fool would submit to questioning, knowing he was a suspect, without a lawyer to advise him. "Ordinarily we would need to do this at the federal building but I think the initial questioning can occur here as long as it is properly documented." He had just realized that if he spoke to the boy here it would be easier to keep it from the press; he hoped.
"You mean a camera and microphone?"
"Yes sir."
Fenton narrowed his eyes, "Why?" He didn’t really want his son questioned in an official setting; this would all be difficult enough as it was, but he knew what the agent offered was unusual, especially in high profile cases. Things suddenly clicked, "You want to keep the press from finding out?"
"I don’t see any reason to subject your son to the press unless necessary." Jack was sure the elder Hardy would understand what he was saying.
"Unless you charge him you mean," Fenton just barely kept his tone civil. "Alright do you have the equipment you need?"
"Not with me," Jack admitted, the idea having just come to him he hadn’t been prepared to question the boy here.
"Then it’s a good thing I do."
"I could go back to the office and get our equipment." He didn’t want to say it but he was sure the FBI’s equipment would be much better than anything the private investigator could own.
"And the more you come and go from my home the more likely the press will notice," Fenton pointed out. "Don’t worry Agent Martin I’m sure you’ll find my equipment more than adequate."
"Yes sir, I suppose I could check it out."
"Why don’t you come to my office then, I’ll call my lawyer from there." Fenton led the way to his home office. While Agent Martin examined the recording equipment the detective phoned his lawyer, arranging for him to join them at the house. Thankfully the man was a friend; Fenton didn’t want to consider what it would cost him to have a lawyer come to his home on a Friday evening otherwise.
"He’ll be here in half an hour," Fenton coldly informed the agent currently checking his video camera. "I think it best if we wait until he arrives before we bring Joe into the room."
Reluctantly Jack agreed. If the boy was guilty forcing him to sit in his father’s office for half an hour while they waited on the lawyer might make him nervous. Nervous people often gave themselves away. On the other hand if he were innocent it would amount to torture, which, if the press ever got wind of it, wouldn’t endear him to his superiors.
TBC...
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The Divine Right of Kings