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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 46

“I’m telling you it was Tomlinson!” Frank just kept himself from screaming at Ted Barnes of the FBI. Before the agent could tell him, again, that he was mistaken the door opened and Frank’s parents rushed into the room.

“Oh Frank, honey are you okay?” Laura wrapped her arms around her eldest, holding him close. She could feel him trembling under her hands, she wondered if it was from fear or anger; probably a combination of the two.

“I’m fine Mom.” Frank shrugged off her hold. He might never convince his mother but he knew he didn’t deserve her concern. Frank looked up at his father, expecting to see condemnation, he couldn’t hold back his surprised gasp at the love and concern he saw reflected back at him.

Fenton laid a hand on the young shoulder, “This wasn’t your fault son,” he said, correctly reading the guilt on his son’s face.

“I shouldn’t have stopped.” Frank shook his head, “No, I shouldn’t have taken him out on Shore Road in the first place. I knew the article was meant to draw out the killer but there was always a chance somebody would decide to go after Joe. It was stupid,” Frank would have continued berating himself if not for his mother’s interruption.

“Stop it right this instant,” Laura firmly ordered. “You’re only a boy yourself Frank, if anybody is to blame for what has happened it’s the adults who should have known better.” Her fierce glare took in both her husband and Agent Barnes. She had hated the idea from the beginning but as usually happened she allowed Fenton to talk her into ignoring her better judgment.

“But I let Joe be kidnapped and he,” Frank pointed at Barnes, “won’t believe that it was Tomlinson.”

“Tomlinson?” Laura gasped.

“Are you absolutely positive son?” Fenton asked. The dental records had confirmed that Tomlinson had died in the bus crash but Frank was very observant, it wasn’t likely he would make a mistake. And if there was one face he would recognize it would be that of Alex Tomlinson.

“He was standing right over me Dad. He told me he would take good care of Joe and all I could do was lay there. I couldn’t stop him from taking Joe with him; I couldn’t even get the plate number.”

“It couldn’t have been Tomlinson, he’s dead, has been for months,” Barnes put in.

“I’m not lying and I’m not wrong,” Frank snapped.

Ted Barnes sighed heavily, frustrated in his efforts to gain a valid description of Joe Hardy’s kidnapper. “I know you’re not lying but the dental records confirmed Tomlinson was in that prison bus.”

Frank ran a shaky hand through his hair, “Then they were faked or somebody lied.”

“Why would they do that?”

“I don’t know but I know who I saw! Why are you still here? You should be out there trying to find my brother before that monster hurts him again.”

“A search has already begun, roadblocks are in place and an alert has gone out to the media. We will find your brother but…”

“Are we sure Tomlinson was an only child?” Laura asked. She knew she was grasping at straws but the thought of that man being alive and alone with her son turned her blood to ice. Although she couldn’t say a sibling would be any better.

“This isn’t some silly soap opera Mrs. Hardy,” Ted chided. “I’m afraid we’re not going to find some unknown twin behind this.”

Laura bristled. “I’ve a feeling you couldn’t find your backside with a map and both hands Agent Barnes. I don’t know how he managed it, but if Tomlinson is in fact an only child then he must have somehow faked his death.”

Ted opened his mouth to once more insist that the records couldn’t be wrong when the door opened and Jack walked into the fray. “Jack, have you found anything?” Hopefully another witness who could give them an accurate description of the kidnapper, it was the best he could hope for.

“Not yet,” Jack regretfully informed the occupants of the room. He hated to be the one to destroy the hope he’d seen blossoming in the faces of the Hardy’s, particularly mother and son, his entrance had caused. “I’m hoping Frank here saw the kidnapper.”

“I did, it was Tomlinson and yes I know he’s supposed to be dead,” Frank snapped before the other man could respond. “I’m not crazy and I’m not confused. Alex Tomlinson kidnapped my brother and while you people stand here trying to convince me I’m wrong he’s getting further and further away.”

Jack turned to Ted, “Did you bother to let the locals and our field agents know?”

“He can’t be right Jack,” Ted protested.

“Then it’s somebody who looks like Tomlinson which means we have a description we can use,” Jack countered. He didn’t know if the boy was wrong or not, but he was very much afraid not.

Ted gave an abrupt nod, “I’ll issue the description.” Handing his notes to Jack he left the room.

“Thank you,” Frank said after Barnes left the room.

“I’m just doing my job Frank.”

Frank shrugged, “Maybe but at least you’re not just brushing what I have to say to the side.”

“The way I see it is this, one if anybody should know what Tomlinson looks like it’s you, two Tomlinson had money so faking his death isn’t out of the realm of possibility and three even if the kidnapper turns out not to be Tomlinson he must look a lot like him to fool you.” Jack paused, looking over Ted’s notes, comparing them with his own. “I don’t suppose you got a good look at the car?”

Frank miserably shook his head, “It was a dark sedan is about all I can tell you. We thought at first it was an unmarked police car.”

“What made you think that?”

Frank took some time to think about the question. Why had they been so sure it was the police pulling in behind them? Had it only been because they were parked on the shoulder or was there something else? “The headlights,” he snapped his fingers.

“What about them?”

“They were the same shape as you see on police cars; in fact I don’t think I’ve ever seen that shape on any other vehicles.”

“Good, that’s good Frank,” Jack praised. It wasn’t a lot but it would narrow the search a little bit. They might even be able to find out where he had gotten the car as older, retired vehicles were often sold at auction. “Anything else?”

“It was dark, black I think,” Frank bit his lip trying to remember anything else. He closed his eyes, visualizing the scene, “The front tag was missing too. I’m sorry I can’t remember anything else.”

“You did fine son,” Fenton assured the teen.

“Your father’s right Frank. It isn’t easy to focus when you’re suffering under the effects of a stun gun,” Jack added.

Laura shivered, hugging Frank again. “I’m just glad that’s all it was.”

“Are you going to be talking to Tomlinson’s father?” Fenton asked.

“I doubt it’ll do any good but he may know something.” Jack wasn’t sure the man would tell them if he did have an idea about where his son might be. He gave himself a mental shake; he shouldn’t be working on the assumption that Tomlinson was alive.

“You should probably check into Tomlinson’s investments too, see if he has any secluded properties he could take Joe to.”

Jack nodded; he could see now why Hardy was often called in to assist on agency cases. Maybe…he looked up from his notes, speculatively eyeing father and son. “Mr. Hardy how would you and Frank like to help…”

“No,” Laura nearly yelled. “Fenton you can help, but I’m not having another one of my boys put in harm’s way.”

“It won’t be anything dangerous Mrs. Hardy, I promise you.”

Laura made a scoffing sound in the back of her throat, “Is that what you told Fenton when you suggested using Joe to flush out a killer?”

Jack turned red, feeling properly chastised.

“What did you have in mind Agent Martin?” Fenton ignored the glare Laura aimed his way.

“If you and Frank could look through the records it would free up more agents for the search,” Jack replied, grateful for the chance to explain.

Frank looked at his mother, his dark eyes pleading for permission. The assignment wasn’t in any way dangerous but it would allow him to help and he desperately needed to help in the search for his brother. He had failed him too many times, beginning with that horrible day in June, he couldn’t fail again.

Laura sighed. “Well I don’t suppose there’s anything dangerous in that,” she conceded. She stared hard at her eldest, willing him to accept her request. “But if you find anything you let the professionals follow up on it, agreed?”

“Agreed,” Frank readily gave into the request. Honestly he would have promised anything for the chance to help find his brother.

TBC...

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The Divine Right of Kings