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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 51

Richard Tomlinson lay in his bed staring up at the ceiling. It was hard to believe the child he and Annaleise had rejoiced in could have become nothing more than a cold-blooded killer, preying upon innocent children. He couldn’t help wondering how things would have been different if Annaleise hadn’t given into her depression.

Alex had blamed him for his mother’s death of course. Richard had done all he could to make him see the truth; the trouble was he blamed himself as much if not more than Alex did. He had noticed his wife’s withdrawal from friends and the activities she had once enjoyed but he had told himself Annaleise was only busy with her practice. If only he had done something, confronted her, insisted she get help, maybe she would still be with them and Alex wouldn’t have gone as bad as any man could.

Turning his head he faced the nightstand where sat his favorite photograph of his wife, taken only months before her death, she looked so happy you would never guess the depth of her depression. “I’m so sorry darling. I failed you and our son. I should never have sent him away as I did. If out positions had been reversed you would have kept him by your side, helping him to deal with his pain and grief. If only,” Richard barked a bitter laugh. “I remember you telling me once those were the two most useless words in the English language but you forgot to mention they’re also the saddest.”

Richard traced his fingers over his wife’s smiling face. He remembered the happier days of their earlier marriage, before work and family responsibilities stole away their time together. When Annaleise succumbed to her despair he had been lost and filled with guilt. Alex had blamed him as well and it had been more than he could handle. It was for this reason he had sent his son away to that place, sending him right into the arms of Gary Wyndham. Richard knew Alex had been the leader of the pair but he liked to think that without Wyndham his son’s anger and grief would have found a healthier outlet.

Richard jerked upright. Had he told Agent Martin about it? He didn’t think he had. Throwing back the covers he grabbed his robe and headed downstairs to the computer. As he waited for the machine to power up he paced the study, his thoughts in a whirl. He needed to be sure before he contacted Martin. “Finally,” he breathed as the computer completed its startup. Sliding into the chair he began searching through the files, paying particular attention to the files that had been copied for the FBI. It wasn’t there! How could he have forgotten? No matter, the important thing was he had remembered now he could only hope Alex and the Hardy child would be there.

Jack groaned at the sound of the phone ringing. Silently cursing whoever it was he promised they would regret disturbing his sleep for anything less than an earth shattering matter. Eyes clouded by sleep he fumbled for the phone, “Hello,” he growled.

“Agent Martin?”

“Yes, who is this?”

“This is Richard Tomlinson, I think I may know where my son is.”

Fully awake Jack sat up, “What did you say?”

“I think I know where Alex is,” Richard repeated.

“I’m listening.”

“I was thinking about Alex, regretting mistakes,” Richard shook his head, “but that isn’t important. Thoughts of Alex led to thoughts of Wyndham and I suddenly remembered something, a cabin my son bought for Wyndham.”

“A cabin? Why didn’t you tell us about this before?”

“I had honestly forgotten. The cabin was in Wyndham’s name and when he died without any sort of will it naturally went to his nearest relative. I know they were trying to sell it but due to the association with Wyndham that hasn’t been easy. As far as I know it hasn’t been sold and is sitting empty, more importantly it is quite secluded.”

“Do you know where it is?” Jack had paper and pencil ready, sleep forgotten in the wake of Tomlinson’s information.

“Yes, not only do I know the address I have a detailed map of the area.”

“How soon can you meet me at headquarters?” Jack was thinking about who he would need to call in. He hoped the Hardys had gone home; he really didn’t want to waste time arguing with them. Connections with higher ups or not there was no way he was bringing civilians on an operation like this.

“I’m already printing the maps I assume you’ll want so I could be there within the hour.”

Jack nodded. It would give him time to gather a team. There wasn’t much they could do in terms of planning without more detailed information but having the team in place and ready to go would save valuable time. “I’ll see you then Mr. Tomlinson.”

An hour before dawn the team was gathered outside the small cabin which had belonged to Gary Wyndham. A scan with thermal imaging equipment showed two people, both appeared to be in prone positions. Considering the time they were probably asleep.

Quietly he issued orders and one of his men crept up to the cabin, peeking into the windows. In a short time he returned, confirming the presence of Alex Tomlinson and Joe Hardy. Fortunately the two were in separate rooms, with any luck they would be able to get into the cabin before Tomlinson had a chance to come fully awake.

Unfortunately Tomlinson must have expected them to find the cabin, or perhaps he’d only feared it, at any rate he had set up booby traps. None were deadly but they were noisy with the result that when one was inadvertently tripped the occupants of the cabin were awakened.

Joe jerked awake, jumping when the door to his room was flung open. “What is it?”

“I don’t know, hopefully just a bear or something. Stay here,” Alex tersely ordered. Pulling the door closed he moved to the windows of the main room. He had kept the lights off and so his eyes took little time to adjust as he peered out into the night. “Damn,” he cursed. He grabbed a rifle and using the butt he soon had a pane of glass broken. Seconds later he was firing towards the men gathered in the woods.

Joe jumped as shots rang out, destroying the peaceful silence of the woods. Leaping from the bed he ran to the door and carefully opened it. He didn’t want to risk startling Alex after all. “Alex…”

“I told you to stay in the bedroom pet,” Alex snapped. “Never mind, come here.” It had suddenly occurred to him that now would be an opportunity for Joey to escape through the window in his bedroom.

Joe wanted to refuse but he had learned the hard way what disobedience would bring. Reluctantly he crept into the living room, moving to stand just behind Alex. Peering past him he could see men moving about. “They’ve found us,” he whispered.

Alex frowned. He could hear the relief in Joey’s voice. If only he’d had more time or had simply taken the boy out of the country to begin with; he sighed, it was too late for regrets. “I can’t let them take you from me pet. I can’t keep you safe if you go back.”

Joe laid his hand on Alex’s back. “Alex they won’t let you leave here with me and…I want to go home. Please Alex let me go home.”

Alex turned, staring into the child’s deep blue eyes. “I promised I would protect you pet, how can I do that if you go home and I go to prison?”

“How can you keep me safe if you have a shoot out with the police?”

“You’d be safe in the cellar,” Alex pointed out. “Eventually they’d…”

“Alex please let me go home. I appreciate what you tried to do, I really do but this isn’t the way. I think you knew that when you started.” Joe waited for Alex to respond but the older man remained silent. “You had to know I wouldn’t want you to kill to protect me.”

Alex smiled sadly. “I knew you wouldn’t like it but they shouldn’t have hurt you pet. You’re a special boy Joey, you didn’t deserve the things they said and did.”

Joe shrugged, he knew Alex thought of him as special but Joe had never seen himself the same way. “Nobody deserves to die for saying mean things and I’m learning to deal with them.” Joe chanced a glance out the window; he could see men moving into position. He wondered if his father was out there; he hoped not. “You say you don’t want others to hurt me.”

“I don’t.”

“But you’re hurting me Alex. Don’t you see that? How can it not hurt to know others have died so you could protect me? How can I feel good about you taking me from my family? “

Alex looked into Joe’s eyes; they were so like his own mother’s eyes. The color was wrong but the pain and compassion were as strong as what he had witnessed as a child. In that instant he realized that if his plan succeeded Joey would eventually leave him just as his mother had. “I care deeply for you pet, never think otherwise.”

“I know Alex,” Joe whispered.

Alex drew a small device from his pocket.

“What is that?”

“I can’t take you from them, no matter how much I want to. I see that now.”

“Maybe they won’t send you to prison.” Joe wasn’t sure prison was the right answer for Alex. The man had done some terrible things but they weren’t things sane people did. Maybe they could convince a judge to send him somewhere he could get help.

“I’m not going to prison pet, I couldn’t survive it.”

Joe didn’t like the sound of that. “Then what…”

Alex drew Joey close. “You’re special pet, more than you could ever understand. I hope someday you’ll find somebody who will appreciate you as you were meant to be.” He glanced out the window, they were moving closer. Shifting position he made sure neither he nor Joey could be seen from outside. “I’m going to send you out to them in a minute pet. You’ll be going back to your family just as you wanted.”

“What about you?”

Alex held up the device. “This will ensure an end to me pet.”

“What? No you can’t do that Alex. Please let them help you. I don’t want anybody else to die for me,” Joe begged.

Alex kissed the top of Joey’s head. “I would die no matter what pet. They won’t let me off with only a prison sentence this time. At least this way I’ll go out on my own terms.” Turning the boy he pushed him towards the door. “I’m going to tell them you’re coming out.”

“What if I refuse?”

Alex laughed, he couldn’t help it. “You won’t refuse pet and do you know why?”

Joe shook his head.

“Because if you refuse we all die; you, me and as many of them as I can take with us.”

Joe stared at the older man, he had no doubt he meant every word he said.

“Be ready pet and you should probably tell them to move away from the cabin if they don’t want to die.” Turning back towards the window Alex yelled into the night, warning the officers that their kidnapping victim was coming outside alone. “You have three minutes to get them away from the cabin pet. If any of them try to come towards it I’ll hit the detonator.”

Jack Martin held up his hand, signaling to his men to hold their positions. Seconds after Tomlinson called out to them the door opened and Joe Hardy walked out onto the porch and hurried down the steps. Jack rushed forward, grabbing the boy and pulling him towards the trees. “Are you alright?”

Joe nodded, “You have to get everybody back.”

“What?” Jack asked in a strangled voice. He had been about to give the order to rush the cabin.

“Explosives,” was the simple response.

Eyes wide Jack waved his men away from the cabin. As they fell back to a distance of 500 feet the silence was destroyed by a massive explosion. Instinctively everybody present fell to the ground, covering their heads with their hands. When they looked up all that was left of the cabin was smoldering wreckage.

TBC...

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The Divine Right of Kings