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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.

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Chapter 44
Jack’s shoulders slumped in relief as he watched the car holding the Cooper family disappear in the distance. It hadn’t been easy to convince them that the entire family needed to be placed in protective custody, though Bradley was the only one who would likely be targeted. Eric Cooper had wanted it to be only the boy and his mother who went into protective custody, he had business obligations. Luckily his wife and son were able to convince him to join them.
Jack didn’t really believe the entire family to be at risk but they couldn’t expect parents to allow their child to live in a safe house without them. Aside from simple consideration there was always a possibility the killer would go after one of the parents if he couldn’t reach the child.
"One down, one to go."
"What’s that boss?"
Jack shook his head, "Just thinking Ted."
"About the Hardys?" Ted hadn’t worked with Jack all these years without learning something about reading the man.
Jack nodded.
"It’s not going to be easy to convince them."
"I know that," Jack snapped. "Sorry Ted, I shouldn’t take my frustration out on you."
Ted shrugged. It wasn’t the first time he’d been snapped at by a superior and it probably wouldn’t be the last. When a man was frustrated or angry he naturally needed to let it out sometime, better that his boss snap at him than go home and take that frustration out on his family. He, at least, could understand where Jack was coming from. For several minutes neither man spoke.
"You think they’ll agree?" Ted finally asked.
"I have no idea," Jack admitted. "Fenton Hardy is a professional and I’m sure he’ll see the reasoning behind this. The problem is he’s also a father, who I’ll be asking to expose his child to more public scrutiny and possibly danger."
Ted frowned. "I thought you said this nut is targeting kids who have bullied the Hardy boy."
"He has, but like you said he’s a nut and as such there’s no predicting what he might do. But he isn’t the only one I’m worried about. If Hardy agrees to this there is a possibility of some member of the public taking the initiative of doing something to stop the killings, and that person might decide getting rid of Joe Hardy is the answer."
"Damn, I hadn’t thought of that."
Jack smiled grimly, "That’s why I get paid the big bucks." Heaving a heavy sigh he turned to his car and opened the door. "No time like the present."
"Want me to come along?"
"I appreciate the offer Ted but I think I’ll have better luck if I go alone. You go on back to the office and start working up the press release we’ll need to issue if Hardy agrees."
*LINE BREAK*
"You want to what!?"
Jack involuntarily flinched under the anger radiating off the eldest Hardy. "Mr. Hardy if you’d give me a chance to explain…"
"Explain? There is no explanation that would convince me to allow you to use my son. What you’re suggesting is reprehensible and irresponsible. I cannot believe your superiors would go along with this." That was a lie; Fenton admitted to himself, he could easily see the higher ups at the FBI agreeing to the plan. This was one of the reasons he’d left law enforcement and went into business for himself. Too many times he’d seen officers at all levels develop tunnel vision when working a case. They’re goals might have been to stop crimes when beginning to work a case, but all too many times it would become more about besting a perceived enemy, proving their own superiority, rather than protecting the public.
"Mr. Hardy I understand how you feel but this is our best chance of stopping this guy."
Fenton glared at the man. "Would you describe the man killing these children as sane Agent Martin?"
"Not hardly."
"Then why would you expect him to react like a sane man to the press release you’re proposing?"
Jack gulped, when put like that it didn’t sound like a good idea. The problem was he couldn’t think of any other possibility, aside from waiting for another attack and hoping the killer would make a mistake. "Mr. Hardy this man, as far as we can tell, is killing these children for their attacks on your son. That indicates his aim is to protect Joe, agreed?"
Fenton reluctantly agreed to the statement.
"So if he thinks your son is under suspicion in these murders it stands to reason that he will come forward and turn himself in."
"And if he doesn’t Joe is faced with more public scrutiny and more children, this time joined by adults, thinking he is to blame for these murders."
"I won’t deny that could happen."
"Could?" Fenton was incredulous.
"Alright, you’re right it would happen."
"So you can see why I can’t allow you to use Joe’s name this way?"
"I can," Jack admitted. "What if I promise that if our suspect doesn’t turn himself in within two weeks of the press release we will issue another press release admitting to our ruse? Letting the public, through the media, in on the ruse will of course occur sooner if the man does turn himself in. Will that satisfy you?"
"I don’t…" Fenton broke off as his office door opened to reveal his youngest son standing in the entrance.
"I want to do it Dad." Joe had seen Agent Martin arrive and afraid of what it might mean he had snuck down the hall to his father’s office, listening outside the door. He consoled his guilty conscience with the reminder that detectives regularly eavesdropped on the conversations of others. Hearing the proposal put forth by Agent Martin, Joe had felt the blood drain from his face. He couldn’t deny that he was relieved when his father refused the request that was until he heard the rest of the conversation. His father might be right and the man killing other boys wouldn’t come forward but what if it did work? Could he live with himself if his father’s refusal led to more murders?
"You were listening?" Fenton accused.
"You’re a detective Dad, what would you have done?"
Fenton couldn’t help the smile that crossed his face. Joe was right; he would have done the same thing if their roles were reversed. "Nevertheless I expect you to respect my privacy."
Joe hung his head. "Yes sir."
"But since you did listen I’d like to know why you’re willing to go along with this cockamamie idea?"
"I don’t think I’d call it cockamamie, more like a long-shot," Joe countered.
"Alright, call it a long-shot then," Fenton conceded the point. "If we let the FBI issue this press release you’ll be dealing with accusations and suspicion from a lot of people. I’m not sure you can handle that Joe."
Joe opened his mouth to protest, stopping when his father held up a hand, silently asking him to wait.
"This has nothing to do with you being in therapy or even what you went through. The truth is son I’m not sure anybody your age could handle the reaction this press release is likely to stir up. Hell I’m not sure I could handle it," Fenton wasn’t ashamed to admit it either.
"Really?"
Fenton squeezed Joe’s shoulder. "Really son, most people would have a difficult time with it. Are you sure you want to let the FBI do this?"
"No, but something has to be done, doesn’t it?" Joe slid a sideways glance at Agent Martin, "Besides they can do it even if we say no, can’t they?"
Jack flushed, embarrassed to be caught out by a teenager. "I won’t pretend you’re wrong Joe but I for one wouldn’t do that to you. You’ve been victimized enough I don’t think the government needs to become one of those guilty of it."
"Do you really think it will work?"
"I could lie to you Joe but I don’t operate that way. The truth is I don’t know. I hope it will work, given the evidence as to the killer’s motives, I have high hopes but as your father said you can’t predict the actions of an insane person."
"And it’s only for two weeks?" Joe winced, hating how small his voice sounded. He hadn’t wanted to let on to either of the men, but especially his father, just how scared he was of the whole thing.
"I promise you Joe if this man doesn’t turn himself in by the end of the two weeks I will hold a press conference explaining the deception. Most importantly I will make it clear that you are in no way involved with or to blame for the actions of a person who is clearly insane."
Joe looked at his father. He knew the older man wanted him to say no, a part of him wanted the same thing. Hadn’t he been hurt enough this year? Hadn’t he endured enough? And if he said no the person killing those who bullied him, if that was the reason, would continue, leaving the blood of those future victims as much on his hands as on those of the killer. "I think we should say yes," he looked up at his father, blue eyes shining with feeling.
Fenton sighed. From the moment he had met Laura all she’d needed to do was turn those same beautiful eyes on him, shimmering with emotion, and he would cave. Why did she have to teach their son the same trick, he ruefully wondered? "Alright, but I’m holding you to that two week limit Agent Martin."
*LINE BREAK*
Alex leaned back in his recliner, a satisfied smile on his face. Jeremy hadn’t mentioned any further incidents taking place at the school, though he was still allowing Joey to use his personal shower. If he had chosen the man himself, Alex couldn’t have picked a better protector for the boy while he was at school. Hopefully the problems Joey had experienced would ease off; Alex really didn’t want to punish anybody else. He would; of course, he owed it to Joey to protect him as much as possible. Picking up the remote he turned the television on to the evening news.
"A source at the FBI, who spoke on condition of anonymity, has informed us today of progress made in the recent Bayport murders. As you know four boys have been murdered in recent months, all in the same manner. Police and FBI searched in vain for a connection between the boys. Our source tells us a connection has been found in the person of another boy. Joe Hardy was interviewed by agents with the FBI in regards to these murders and our source tells us that the FBI hopes to make an arrest soon. The source did not confirm if young Mr. Hardy will be the person arrested. As many of you are aware Joe Hardy himself was the victim…"
With a snarl Alex turned the television off, hurling the remote across the room. Those incompetent fools! How could they ever think his Joey would kill anybody? Well he wasn’t going to let the government use Joey as a scapegoat. He would protect him and nothing, or nobody was going to stop him. "I’ll keep you safe pet, I promise."
TBC...
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The Divine Right of Kings