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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
- 4
- 5
- 6
Chapter 5
When seven o’clock came around with no word from Phil, Edith made the decision to call the police. Her brother had suggested that she wait a little while longer, but Edith wouldn’t be dissuaded.
“Bayport Police Department, Officer Riley speaking.”
“I need to report a missing person officer,” Edith spoke clearly, hiding her fear.
“Yes ma’am,” Con replied. “How long has the person been missing?”
“Only a few hours…”
“Ma’am I’m sorry but we can’t file an official report until a person is missing for 24 hours.”
“My son is only sixteen officer,” Edith responded in a cold voice, bristling at being interrupted.
Con smiled, this wasn’t the first over protective mother he had dealt with. “I’m sure he only forgot the time ma’am.”
“Do not be condescending officer,” Edith reprimanded the man on the other end of the phone. “Phil wouldn’t worry me like this. He always comes home on time and if for some reason he can’t he calls. Now when I tried to phone him his cell phone went straight to voice mail. Furthermore when I phoned the Hardy’s their mother said she hadn’t seen Phil all day. This is after he distinctly told me he was going to Frank Hardy’s home to work on a project.”
Hearing the name Hardy brought Con to attention. Every cop on the force knew that Fenton Hardy was a detective and had formerly been with the NYPD. “I’m sorry ma’am,” he apologized sincerely. “If I could get some information from you we’ll begin looking for your son.” He spent a few more minutes getting a description of the missing boy along with his car, including plate number. Thanking Mrs. Cohen he once more promised the search would begin immediately.
After filling in the Chief, Con Riley left the police department to begin searching. Knowing the boys sometimes fell into cases on their own, he and Chief Collig had decided it would be best if they kept the search somewhat informal, at least until he could talk to the Hardy boys directly. That was where he was heading now.

“I need to get the first aid kit again,” Alex decided after a few minutes.
“There’s one in the cabinet,” Joe told him. He didn’t want to be left alone with Red.
“Sit down,” he instructed the boy as he moved to the cabinet. Pulling another chair around he sat down, facing Joe. “It doesn’t look like any of the cuts are very deep,” he commented as he started to wash away the blood. “I’m afraid this is going to hurt a bit,” he warned as he moved on to disinfecting the cuts. A few butterfly bandages and he was done.
“Thank you Alex,” Joe quietly said.
“You’re welcome pet,” Alex smiled. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am about this Joey,” he said, letting what sounded like real regret be heard in his voice.
“You really mean that don’t you?” Joe was surprised. When those same words were spoken before he had suspected they were nothing more than empty words. Now he wasn’t so sure.
“I do,” Alex confirmed. “You’re a good boy Joey you shouldn’t have been treated that way.” Reaching across the distance between them, Alex gave the boy’s knee a comforting squeeze. “You’re a treasure and should be treated as such. You never deserved anything that has happened today, not at my hands or Red’s. There are so many things I wish I had done differently.”
“Me too,” Joe said without thinking. To his relief Alex’s only response was a sharp laugh.
“I bet you do,” Alex smiled. “I won’t hurt you again pet,” he promised. “No matter what I said before and no matter what your mother tries, the punishment will be given to the person who earns it.”
“Why do you care?”
The question could have been seen as rude or disrespectful but it was said with such genuine confusion that Alex knew neither had been intended. “Because you’re a good kid and if it weren’t for me you never would have known what it’s like to be betrayed by those who are supposed to take care of you and love you.”
There was something in his voice that made Joe think the statement was more personal than Alex had intended. “Like you?”
Alex cupped the boy’s face, his eyes gentling. “Smart too,” the softly spoken words his only reply. “We need to get back into the other room.”
Joe shook his head. “Please Alex I can’t,” he pleaded. He wasn’t ready to see Red or his mother for that matter. Alex said nothing he simply stood, pulling Joe to his feet and into his arms. Joe relaxed as the man’s arms wrapped around him once more. They stood like this for several minutes, neither speaking.
“You ready pet?” Alex quietly asked the boy hiding in his arms after a while.
“I guess so,” Joe mumbled.
“Don’t worry I won’t let Red near you again,” Alex promised.
“Thank you Alex.” Bracing himself he let the older man lead him into the living room. Ignoring the gasps from his family, he followed Alex to the couch, lying down next to him.
“Are you happy now woman?” Alex growled, his voice fairly dripping with disgust.
“I didn’t do anything.” Laura flinched when Joe shot her an incredulous look. “I didn’t baby, I swear I wouldn’t put you in danger again.” Her heart broke when Joe turned over so that he was facing the back of the couch. “Joe please…”

Alex cut her off. “Not another word.”
Afraid that Joe would suffer if she said anything else Laura swallowed everything she wanted to say. She didn’t know what had made the man ill but she had nothing to do with it.
Alex transferred his gaze to Red. “What the hell were you thinking?”
Red seemingly wilted under the harsh stare. “I’m sorry man. He’s just too easy to play with, I couldn’t resist.”
Alex shook his head. “You just remember what I said.”
“I will,” Red promised. “He’s not for me, I’ll remember.”
Suddenly Red jumped to his feet. “Shit.”
“What?” Alex questioned even as he was turning in his seat. Seeing the cop car in front of the house he understood Red’s reaction. The car didn’t stop, however, but only drove past. Just as he was about to relax he saw the cop pull into a driveway two doors down and on the opposite side of the street.
Knowing he couldn’t trust Laura, he looked to Joe for the answers. “Joey, who lives two doors down on the other side of the street?”
“Mrs. Jenkins sir.” He moved to sit up only to have Alex place a hand on his shoulder, pushing him back down.
“Is there any reason she would call the police?”
“Prowler disguised as a cat, sir,” Joe easily answered.
“What?”
“Cats get in her yard, knock something over and she thinks there’s a prowler. She’s a nice lady but she’s always calling the police. Dad worries about her.”
“Oh?”
Joe nodded. “He says someday there will be a problem and the police won’t come quickly because they’ll think it’s just a cat, um, sir.”
Alex smiled. “He’s probably right. Where is your dad, by the way?” No longer worried about the cat he realized he didn’t know when the man was due home. It wasn’t a problem, but it would help if they knew whether or not they should expect him.
“Out of town sir.” He hoped Alex didn’t ask anything else. As they hadn’t mentioned his father he didn’t think they knew whose house they were in. He really didn’t want the man to turn out to be somebody with a grudge against his dad. It scared Joe to think about how much worse the situation might become if that happened.
“When do you expect him back?”
Joe considered lying to the man but quickly dismissed the thought. “Not for a couple of days sir.”
“Good.” Alex relaxed back against the couch.
Con nearly stopped when he saw Phil’s car, ready to go inside and give the boy hell for worrying his mother. Something, call it a sixth sense, call it a little birdie, whatever you like, but something told him not to stop. Having learned to heed his instincts, Con drove past the Hardy home, pulling into the driveway of their neighbor Mrs. Jenkins.
Martha Jenkins was surprised to see a police officer standing on her porch when she peeked through the curtain. Wondering if there was a prowler in the neighborhood she quickly opened the door. “Yes Officer?”
“Hello Mrs. Jenkins, may I come inside for a moment?”
Martha peered up at him, eyes narrowed in suspicion. Too late she remembered that criminals sometimes disguised themselves as police officers. “Oh my, you’re that nice Officer Riley aren’t you?” she asked as recognition lit her eyes. “Of course Officer, come right in.” Stepping aside, she allowed the man entry into her home.
Closing the door, she turned to the young officer. “How can I help you Officer?”
“You already have Mrs. Jenkins,” Con replied with a smile. “Could I use your phone?”
“Of course dear.” She led him to the phone.
Aware that Fenton was out of town Con phoned his partner Sam Radley. “Mr. Radley this is Con Riley with the Bayport police. I wondered if you have a number where I can reach Mr. Hardy.”
Sam came to attention, the seasoned detective immediately going on alert. “Has something happened to Laura or the boys?”
“Honestly Mr. Radley I don’t know.”
“Sam and what do you mean?”
Con quickly explained about the call from Mrs. Cohen and his discovery that Phil’s car was parked in front of the Hardy home.
“It’s probably nothing but instincts shouldn’t be ignored,” Sam conceded. “I can’t reach Fenton but I may be able to find out if there’s anything wrong. Do you have a number I can reach you at?” Quickly jotting down the number Con rattled off, Sam promised to call him back in a few minutes.
The sound of the phone ringing startled them all. Alex nodded at Red who helped Laura to her feet, leading her to the phone.
“Don’t do anything stupid,” he warned her. Picking up the receiver he held it to Laura’s ear.
“Hello,” Laura greeted the caller in what she hoped was a normal voice. How they expected her to sound normal after all that had happened she didn’t understand.
“Hello Laura, Sam Radley here. I was wondering if the boys are home?”
“No Sam I’m afraid they’re not here right now. They went over to Sam and Eli’s for the night; they won’t be back until tomorrow. I hope it wasn’t anything important.”
“No, nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow. What time do you expect them home?”
“They’re supposed to home about two.”
“Thanks Laura, tell the boys I called?”
“Of course Sam, good-bye.” Hearing Sam say good-bye she nodded to Red who hung up the phone. She bit her lip to keep away the smile that wanted to form. Finally somebody outside the house knew there was trouble. She only hoped Sam would find a way to help them before Joe was hurt again.
“Damn,” Sam cursed as he ended the call. Quickly dialing the number Riley had given him he called the police officer. He started in surprise when a woman answered the phone. “Um, hello, could I speak to Officer Riley please?”
“Of course,” Martha replied, handing the phone to Con.
“Sam? Did you find out anything?” Con anxiously questioned the detective.
“They’re in trouble. Two men with guns are in the house with Laura and the boys. Since Phil’s car is there I’d be willing to bet he’s in the house too.”
“Laura was able to tell you that?” Con was clearly surprised. He couldn’t imagine criminals giving a hostage the privacy to give out that much information.
“Given all the possible enemies Fenton has he worked out a code, just in case.”
“A code? Wasn’t he worried that the criminals would catch on?”
“That’s the beauty of it Con. This code would sound like a normal conversation to anybody that doesn’t know the family or the code. When I asked Laura if the boys were home she told me no they went to Sam and Eli’s for the night. Since they don’t have any friends by that name I know two things, there are two men and they have guns.”
“How?” Con was confused. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the detective but if the Hardy’s and the Cohen boy were in trouble they needed to be sure of the information they had.
“Sam Colt and Eli Remington,” Sam replied. “If the men had knives the boys would be at Jim and Dave’s as in Jim Bowie and Davey Crockett. If there were more than two she would have said they went with a few friends to Sam and Eli’s.”
Con’s mouth fell open. He would never have thought of something like that. No wonder Fenton was so well respected by law enforcement departments at all levels.
“Now that we have that out of the way we need to figure out a way to rescue them” Sam continued, his tone determined.
“Meet me at headquarters. I’ll radio the Chief….”
“No, don’t do that,” Sam interrupted. “Fenton has a scanner, if it happens to be on…”
“Right,” Con nodded, quickly understanding the warning. “I’ll let him know when I get there.” Disconnecting the call, he thanked Mrs. Jenkins and warned her not to tell anybody what was happening as it could endanger the Hardy family. Walking to his car he slid behind the wheel and headed to the station.
TBC....
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The Divine Right of Kings