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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 45

Frank watched his brother, dark eyes filled with worry. Chet had called him earlier in the day to report that Joe had retreated to his sanctuary, something he hadn’t done for at least three weeks. As they left the school Frank had decided to drive out Shore road. He wanted to talk to Joe privately, somewhere that would prevent any chance of interruption; he was pretty sure the younger boy didn’t even notice the change in route. “I don’t know if I could do it.”

Joe turned startled eyes towards his brother. “Do what?”

“The FBI leak,” Frank clarified.

Joe huffed, “Of course you could Frank. You’d never let people die if you could do something to stop it.”

Frank had to look away; sometimes Joe’s admiration was a scary thing. It was a lot to live up to, more than the older brother thought himself capable of most of the time. He could never understand why Joe thought so highly of him, but it had been that way ever since they were little. Frank hadn’t really thought much of it then, he just thought it was normal but then they started school and he quickly realized most siblings weren’t as close as he and Joe. “I don’t know if I’d be brave enough.”

“Brave? You think I’m brave?” Joe couldn’t hide his surprise. How could Frank call him brave? He’d seen and had probably lost count of the number of times Joe had retreated to the safety of his room or his sanctuary at school. His brother should know, better than anybody exactly how not brave he was.

“I know you are little brother,” Frank squeezed the back of Joe’s neck.

“Right,” Joe scoffed. “Because brave people hide in their bedrooms or some other safe place; face it Frank your brother is a coward.”

Frank jerked the wheel, nearly running the car off the road. Giving into his instincts he moved the vehicle to the shoulder bringing it to a full stop and throwing it into park. Grabbing Joe’s shoulder he forced the younger boy to face him. “Don’t you ever call yourself that again. You’re not a coward and I’m not going to listen to you put yourself down.”

“Well what else would you call it Frank?” Joe demanded.

Frank’s mouth fell open. He tried to say something, but nothing came out.

“See, you know it’s true,” Joe mumbled. He would have turned away but Frank wouldn’t allow it, forcing him to continue facing him. Unable to face the older boy and unable to look away, Joe closed his eyes.

“It’s not true. No, listen to me Joe,” Frank snapped when his brother opened his mouth to protest. “A coward wouldn’t have gone to that courtroom and faced one of the men who had hurt him. A coward wouldn’t have gone to therapy or if made to wouldn’t have worked to make himself better. A coward wouldn’t have stepped foot outside the house, maybe not even his room. Yes sometimes you have to retreat but that doesn’t make you a coward little brother it only makes you human.” Frank eased his hold, his voice softening. “But do you know what proves to me that you are anything but a coward?”

Joe unable to speak past the lump in his throat could only shake his head.

“The fact that you agreed to this ruse the FBI is using. No coward would agree to something like that knowing it would mean more gossip, more finger-pointing and possibly physical attacks.” Frank gave his brother a small shake, “So no more thinking yourself a coward, got it?”

Joe dove into his brother’s arms, giving him a quick hug as he whispered thanks. Embarrassed he pulled away just as another car pulled up behind them. Glancing in the mirror he saw a non-descript dark sedan. “I think we’re about to be told off by a cop.”

Frank looked behind them and groaned. “Great,” he mumbled as he reached for his wallet. Technically you weren’t supposed to park on the shoulder unless it was an emergency. He was pretty sure that reassuring your little brother wasn’t considered an emergency. Frank could only hope that a lecture was all he got; he really didn’t need a ticket.

Joe was keeping his head down, hoping the cop didn’t recognize him. The only members of the local force who had been told of the FBI’s plan were Collig and his chief detective; there was no way to predict how a cop would act towards Joe. After all of the whispering and pointing he had endured at school today Joe really hoped he wasn’t about to find out. He chanced a glance sideways just as the man appeared outside the window, a stun gun in his hand. Joe’s eyes widened in shock, “Frank duck,” he shouted in warning.

Instinctively Frank followed his brother’s warning. He felt a crackle of electrical power above him just before Joe cried out, his body twitching from the effects of the discharge. Enraged by the attack on his brother Frank reached for the door handle, kicking out as he pulled the release, shoving the door into their attacker, knocking him to the ground. Later he would kick himself for getting out of the car but at the time he was overcome by anger.

“You son of a bitch,” Frank cursed, his right hand curled into a fist as he reached for the man on the ground with his left. For a second he froze, looking back at him was a man who was supposed to be dead. That second was all Tomlinson needed as he aimed the stun gun and activated it once more, dropping Frank to the ground.

Alex pulled himself up until he was kneeling next to the teen. “I should kill you but,” he glanced at the car, “it would hurt Joey.”

Frank wanted to tell him to leave Joe alone but he couldn’t make his mouth work right, nothing would work right.

“I never meant to hurt him but you moved,” Alex explained. He had only intended to use the stun gun on the older teen, but maybe it was better this way. “I’ll have to apologize later,” he murmured. Patting Frank on the face, “Don’t worry I’ll take good care of him.”

Frank watched in helpless terror as Tomlinson stood and moved to the car. He struggled to bring his muscles under control as the older man removed Joe from their car. Nothing doing, no matter how hard he tried he couldn’t gain enough control to save his brother. Once more he was forced to watch, helpless to save his brother from a nightmare reality. “No, please,” he managed to whisper as the other car pulled away, his brother trapped inside. Frank tried to turn his head, hoping to catch a glimpse of the license plate but it was no use. Tears of frustration and fear fell down his cheeks as he listened to the car moving away, taking his brother with it.

Alex glanced often in the rearview mirror, watching for any sign of pursuit. Joey had tried to struggle as he lifted him from the car but like his brother he was incapable of controlling his muscles. He whispered apologies as he carried the boy to his own vehicle, assuring him that his brother was alive, only stunned as was Joe. He nearly changed his plan as blue eyes looked up at him in mute accusation, but Alex knew he had to do this; Joey would understand when he explained.

Gently he laid the teen on the back seat of his car. “I’m sorry pet but I can’t chance you being awake,” Alex stroked the boy’s cheek. He ignored the flinch; it was probably just an involuntary muscle reaction anyway. Reaching into the bag on the back floorboard he pulled out a pre-filled syringe, injecting the contents into Joey’s arm. He hoped the sedative wouldn’t hurt him, considering he’d already been hit with a stun gun, but what choice did he have? Alex couldn’t have Joey awake, trying to escape and he didn’t want to tie him up. No, this way was best he told himself as he watched the teen’s eyes slide shut. Making the boy as comfortable as possible, he covered him with a blanket and then climbed behind the wheel of the car.

He didn’t think Frank had seen the plate number but he refused to take a chance. Luckily he was prepared for every eventuality. Alex drove only a few miles before pulling off the road, down an old driveway leading to a crumbling barn, all that was left of a once thriving farm. Moving quickly he transferred Joe and all of his supplies to the vehicle he had left hidden here. The entire operation took less than twenty minutes.

Leaving his original vehicle behind Alex returned to Shore road. A few miles further on he turned onto a little used road. He didn’t know how long it would take the cops to set up road blocks but of course they would as soon as the older boy reported his brother’s abduction. Alex didn’t intend to be anywhere near Bayport or any of its major roads by the time they thought to begin looking on the lesser used roads.

Alex looked at the seat next to him where Joey lay in the fully reclined seat. Reaching across, he ran his fingers through the boy’s golden hair, though he knew Joey wouldn’t be aware of the comforting gesture. “You’ll be safe soon pet. Nobody will ever hurt you again, I promise.”

TBC...

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The Divine Right of Kings