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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 49

Frank rubbed his eyes trying to dispel the blurriness. He needed to focus; the papers in front of him might hold the vital information they had to have. If only the words would stop moving together.

On the other side of the table Fenton leaned back in his chair, the satisfying sound of his spine cracking bringing a sigh of relief to his lips. His back really didn’t appreciate hunching over the surface of the table as he searched for something that would tell him where his youngest might be. Looking across the way he flinched at the look of despair in the dark eyes of his eldest. He glanced again at the papers on the table, wanting and needing to continue the search.

Forcing himself to push away he stood up, moving to the other side of the table to lay a hand on Frank’s shoulder. The teen flinched but no other acknowledgement was given as he kept his focus on the papers before him. “Come on son, time for a break.”

Frank shook off his father’s hand. “We can’t stop looking.”

Fenton grabbed his son’s upper arm, forcing the boy to his feet. “We’re not stopping Frank but we’re both too tired to be effective.”

“I can keep looking.”

“Really?” Fenton picked up one of the papers from the table, handing it to his son. “What does it say?”

Frank stared at the paper, the letters clearly formed words but he couldn’t seem to tell what they were. It was if he had suddenly lost the ability to read English, or maybe the English words had somehow transformed to Greek. Defeated he silently handed the paper back.

Without a word Fenton returned the sheet of paper to the table and drew his son into a tight hug. “We’ll find him son.”

“Will we?” Frank wanted to believe his father. From the time he was only a little boy he had looked up to his father, for a time seeing him as a superhero. He suspected Joe still sometimes saw him that way. But Frank was growing up and one of the drawbacks of maturity was the realization that his father couldn’t fix every problem and sometimes the bad guys won.

“I won’t lie to you Frank. It may take a little time but we aren’t going to give up on your brother, nor will the FBI. We will find him, no matter how long it takes.”

Frank choked on a sob, swallowing it down before it could fully form. He wasn’t going to give into despair, that wouldn’t help his brother. “But Joe doesn’t have time Dad. You know the things Tomlinson is capable of.” He glanced down at the table and tried to pull away.

“I know Frank but we’re only human and we both need a break.” And Fenton did understand how his son felt, didn’t he feel it too? He wanted to agree, wanted to return to the search. Who needed food or sleep anyway? Still, he knew they wouldn’t help Joe by ignoring their own needs.

“You just don’t care,” Frank snapped. The pained look in his father’s eyes had him instantly regretting his words. “Oh god,” he whispered. “I’m sorry Dad, I didn’t mean that. Please believe me.”

Fenton nodded, pulling the boy close again. “I do Frank, it’s alright. I know it’s only your frustration talking.” Turning the teen towards the door he silently propelled him from the room, down the hall to the bank of elevators.

“We’re not leaving?”

“Just for a little while Frank, we both need to rest. If we keep searching we could miss the vital clue we need to find your brother.”

Frank nodded; he knew his father was right. “I don’t know if I can sleep,” he mumbled.

“You don’t have to son, just rest and get some food.” Fenton suspected the boy would sleep in spite of himself; they were both too exhausted to avoid the inevitable for long.

The next time Joe woke sunlight shone through the window. A small shift and he was instantly aware of a pressing need. Uncertainly he climbed from the bed and left the bedroom. Would Alex be in the other room? Would he punish him for leaving the bedroom? He had to risk it or take a chance on having an embarrassing accident. He didn’t know what the older man’s reaction to that might be.

Quietly he pulled the door open and stepped into a living room that wasn’t much larger than the room he’d just left. To the right he could see a small kitchen area that looked barely big enough to hold one person. There were three doors, the one with a lock obviously led outside. He didn’t see Alex anywhere; he supposed the man was in one of the other rooms, probably a bedroom. The other would hopefully contain a bathroom, but which one? Guessing the bathroom would likely lie between the bedrooms Joe made his choice.

He heaved a relieved sigh upon seeing he had chosen correctly. The bathroom was even smaller than the kitchen, consisting of nothing more than a sink, toilet and small shower stall. The only window was open, letting in some fresh air through the screened surface. Seeing the small size it was easy to understand why this window wasn’t nailed shut. Joe would have had a hard time fitting through it when he was five, at fifteen he wouldn’t even get his shoulders through the small opening.

A few minutes later, business attended to, Joe exited the bathroom. A movement to his left as he closed the door had him jumping in fright.

“I’m sorry pet, I didn’t mean to startle you,” Alex apologized. “Do you feel better this morning?”

Joe nodded. He didn’t trust himself to talk yet. He wasn’t sure what was expected of him and that was making him nervous. Unsure of Alex, Joe eased towards the bedroom he had left only a short time ago.

“Why don’t you stay out here pet,” it was phrased as a request but Alex knew the boy would take it as an order.

Joe sighed and walked over to a recliner sitting near the couch. Easing himself into the recliner he sat on the edge of the seat, ready to bolt if necessary.

Alex frowned. He hated to see Joey so nervous around him but he would have to accept it. He had given the boy more than enough reason to distrust him after all. He would just have to behave as normally as possible and hope the boy would eventually relax in his presence. “What would you like for breakfast pet?”

Joe shrugged. “Not hungry.”

“That wasn’t the question Joey. I have cereal, bacon and eggs or oatmeal, which will you have?”

“I’m not going to eat and you can’t make me,” Joe sullenly replied. Inside he winced at the petulant tone, hating the way it made him sound like a five year old.

Alex closed the distance between them, grabbing Joey by the hair he forced his head back and gave him a resounding slap on the cheek. “I care deeply for you pet but I will not be spoken to with disrespect, do you understand me?”

Joe shuddered, forcefully reminded of that day in June. “Yes sir,” he whispered. It was the only way he could be sure he wouldn’t sound disrespectful.

Alex released the boy’s hair and knelt in front of the chair. Smoothing the child’s reddened cheek, he sighed deeply. “I’m sorry pet but you have to know there are consequences to your actions. Now,” he continued with a smile, “what would you like for breakfast?”

Joe had only been being obstinate before but now he really didn’t think he could eat. But he knew that wasn’t an option, he would have to eat even if it all came back up afterwards. “Cereal I guess, sir.”

“Cereal it is and please pet I want you to call me Alex.” As if the past few minutes hadn’t happened Alex pushed himself to his feet and left the room.

Joe watched him go before curling up in the recliner. He wanted to run, wanted more than anything to leave this cabin and find his way home. He knew he wouldn’t though, what good would it do him to become lost in the woods? And if Alex found him, Joe didn’t even want to think about the punishment he would receive if he tried to run. Unless he could figure out the way to help he would just have to work on convincing Alex to let him go home. Joe looked towards the kitchen where Alex was busy slicing bananas for the cereal. He had a very bad feeling he would never convince the man to release him.

TBC...

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The Divine Right of Kings