A/N: sorry i haven't up dated for a while, but i've been bussy. i've had finals, projects, and a show.
julzprice, sorry that this doesn't have a lot of Frank, but the next one will, promise.
Collig gave Con Riley, another long time friend of the Hardys, a call and quickly explained the situation to him and Con agreed to meet Collig at the Hardy's home. When Jesse was also informed of the situation from Mr. Hardy he too agreed to come. Thus, forty minuets later six people were gathered in the Hardy's kitchen drinking coffee that Laura had made.
"Alright, Fenton, Jesse, I need you to tell me everything that's been going on in the investigation," Collig said after he took a long sip from his coffee. He was seated at the Hardy's breakfast table, next to Con and Jesse watching as Fenton paced the kitchen, and Laura washed the dishes, trying to do something other then worry. Joe stood in the window, strangely quiet.
"I got the case after a friend's bother joined an organization called "The Old Ways". He lost contact with him and just wanted to know what was going on. I latter discovered that "The Old Ways" was a front for the Kolplay's family cult. After two months of investigation I traced them to Bayport, and I contacted Fenton for help," Jesse said, partly answering Collig's question.
"Jesse got here about two weeks ago and we started staking out Jimmy Kolplay. Jimmy bought an old compound about two hours drive outside of the city, and we know that part of the 'family' is moving into it for the last three months Jimmy has also been doing a lot of recruiting as of late. That's where we were this evening, following Kolplay, we followed him to a motel where we saw him meet up with Mike Williams and his brother. So far, that's all we got so far. The Kolplay's are planning something, we just don't know what," Fenton said as he finally took a seat.
"Has there been any other contact besides that one phone call? Have you heard from Frank?" Con asked.
"No, just that one call. But I got to tell you, I know something's wrong. We all know Frank, he would have called if he could," Joe spoke up.
"Yes, but we have no proof of fowl play. Not even enough time has elapsed to file a missing persons report. Right now all we can do is wait," Con said, the frustration in his voice clear to those around him. 'This is the part I hate,' he thought, 'you know something's wrong and you can't do a damn thing about it.'
"So you mean there is nothing that can be done? Frank is in trouble and you're going to do nothing?" Laura said as she finally finished the dishes. She was upset, and it was showing. It wasn't that she had never been through this kind of situation before, but the Kolplays weren't your normal criminal. There was something about this time that made her particularly uneasy.
"I didn't say that, I said there is nothing we can do," Con said calmly, trying his best to sooth Mrs. Hardy.
"Yeah there is," Joe spoke up again, "We could find the van."
"What are we going to do Mike?" Jake asked nervously as the two brothers reached their room.
"We are not going to do anything. I'm going to take care of it," Mike said as he unlocked the door and they step in. The room was small, and poorly lit. There were two double beds, an old TV, a radio, and a closet with a dresser in it. The walls were stained, the carpet was worn and it smelled. A small door across from the entrance led to an even more dingy bathroom.
"You're not doing this alone. It's to big a job, even you said that!" Jake protested as his brother flopped on his bed and turned on the radio.
"That was before I knew what they had on us," Mike paused then sat up looking in his brother's eyes. "Have I ever led you wrong?"
"What?"
"Have I ever led you wrong Jake? Have I ever put you in danger, put you last, or lied to you?"
"No," Jake said with out hesitation but breaking his brother's gaze.
"Then listen to me on this. I don't know what those fuckers are up to; all I know is that I don't want you involved. Whatever they got planned is big and bad, or Mr. Wonder Bitch wouldn't be waving that damn picture around," there was a silence after Mike finished, while Jake thought over what he said.
"I don't like you going alone Mike."
"And I don't like you going to prison. I took the fall for you 'cause I promised mom I'd protect you. That stupid picture is the only thing that proves you helped me. I'm sorry Jake, I'm solo this time."
Jake sat down on his bed; he looked almost like a child who didn't get any ice cream, but not for long. An idea had crossed his mind, "I still get to do the computer work, right?"
Mike just laughed, and said, "Yes you get to do the computer work."
Joe and Con were driving down town, searching every place they thought Frank would have gone while Ezra and Fenton searched up town. Jesse had gone to search the hospitals for any sign of a patient meeting Frank's description, while Laura had remained at home incase they gat another call like earlier, or from Frank.
They had been looking for about three hours. The sun was just starting to come out, early morning Saturday traffic was out on the rood. The air was already hot; it was going to be a nice day, perfect beach weather. Con and Joe rode in Con's flat bed Ford in silence, and it was starting to get to Con.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Con asked, sneaking a glance at Joe. Joe's face was blank, focused, and his body was tense. It seemed that all the humor had left him for the moment. Con had seen Joe like this before, and every time it was when something was meagerly wrong.
"Hmmm…." Was Joe's only response, like he was coming out of a trance.
"What's on your mind Joe?" Con asked, taking another glance at Joe.
"Give you three guesses, and I'm sure you can get it in one," Joe said softly, rubbing his temples with his fingertips.
"We don't know anything yet Joe. He could have just…"
"Just gotten picked up by someone and not call? Or bought a bus ticket to Vegas to elope with Nancy?"
"Well, I was going to say fallen asleep in the van, but that'll do," Con's attempted at a joke was rewarded with a small smirk from Joe, but it quickly diapered.
"Honestly Con, do you think I'd be this worried if I didn't already know?"
"No one actually said they had Frank."
"He didn't need to. I knew before the call that something was wrong."
Con nodded, he had learned never to question the brother's instincts about each other. If Joe said Frank was in danger, then he was.
"Do you think the Kolplays took him?" Joe asked, hints of fears seeping into his voice.
"I sure as hell hope not," Con said after a moment. "But, with the case that your father's working on, following Jimmy Kolplays and all, they're my top suspect."
Joe's knew Con was right, he had the same suspensions, but it made him sick to admit it. He'd read his father's case files on the Kolplay, including the one about Steven Marks.
Steven Marks had been a member of the Kolplay's cult for two years. At first they seemed to be exactly what he wanted, people with old-fashioned values. But after they started bombing buildings and killing people, he decide that he wanted no part of them. He offered his to help the FBI in taking down the cult by being their inside source. He lasted two months before he was discovered. The Kolplays didn't kill him; they wanted to teach him a lesson. So they came up with their own form of the Chinese water torture. He was locked in a dark room with no food, water, or human contact for about three days. Oh the third day, water was flooded into the room, a bout a foot every hour. Until it was up to his neck, then it was dripped. By the time the FBI found him, he was in shock. They still couldn't get him to speak. Thus the Kolplays escaped prosecution, again.
Joe shuddered; 'God, I hope that you're alright. If they hurt you, I swear to God the FBI wont have to worry about building a case….'
Joe's thoughts was interrupted by Con's triumphant "There it is!" He was turning into a deserted parking lot. The Hardy's van was parked near an old fashioned record store. "Should have known. The Jute Box isFrank's favorit music store." Joe and Con got out and began looking through the van. "Nothing's out of place," Joe said as he climbed into the driver's side. "And Frank's not asleep in here."
"Hey, What's this?" Con asked as he bent down to pick up a small black bag that had fallen under the van. "It's a CD, 'My Chemical Romance.' Receipt say's it belongs to Frank."
Joe gave a small chuckle, "probably my present for passing Chemistry. His idea of a joke." Con handed Joe the CD, and sure enough there was a gift tag that said "Yeah, no more chemistry!" written in Frank's handwriting. Joe smiled sadly, 'this was probably the last thing Frank did before they took him, and it was for me.'
"The receipt says it's from The Jute Box, you said Frank always gets his music from here?" Con asked, breaking into Joe's thoughts for again.
"Yeah. If he was here, the old guy, Mr. Walker I think, would have seen him."
"What time do they open?"
The two men, who joined Frank and the Baritone, also wore ski masks. The first one, whom Frank named Shorty, was short, with a barrel chest and looked like he lifted weights. He walked like a bodyguard. The other one was tall, lean, and kind of pale. Frank dubbed him Slim. Slim carried a small record and a journal.
"What was the hold up?" Slim asked Baritone.
"Something came up, in fact if you got him, I got to go," Baritone said.
"Why?" Slim asked, "They on to you?"
"No, but if I'm not there soon they will be. Bro forgot to hid the kids van," Baritone responded.
"Hmm…careless," Shorty said, in a dry raspy. 'Smoke and you could sound like me,' Frank thought as he continued to follow the conversation.
"Hey, he did damn well for his first solo assignment. No one saw him, he got the kid, and no one got hurt," the Baritone said, defensively. 'Oh, this could get interesting,' Frank thought as he watched Shorty and Baritone size each other up.
"Gentlemen," Slim said as he got in between the two. "I believe you are tired," he said to Baritone, "maybe you should get some rest before you head back out?" Baritone gave a snort, and huffed away. When he was gone, Slim turned his full attention to Frank. "Now Mr. Hardy, I believe that your parents are very worried about you. Shall we let them know how you're doing?"
Frank automatically pulled back from the man, now truly afried.
Joe and Con had been waiting two hours for the Jute Box, to open. Finally, at eight, it did. Joe was the first to get in side. Behind the front counter an old black man was getting ready for the day. The man was round, with short hair, and a white bread. He reminded Joe of a Grandfather.
The man looked up with a smile as Joe entered, and Con shortly after. "Well, I know you young ones like my little store, but even my most loyal customers don't come 'til around ten. What can I do for you boys?" the man asked with a friendly smile.
"Are you Mr. Walker?" Joe asked walking up to the counter.
"Please, call me Jed," said the man, his smile only growing.
"Well, Jed, my name's Joe Hardy. I believe you may know my bother, Frank."
"Ah yes, the coffee house kid. Brown hair, brown eyes, really bright?"
"Yeah that's him. Umm, was he by any chance here last night?"
"Yes, he was here. Bought a CD. I remember joking with him because it was punk rock and not his normal coffee house or oldies."
"Yeah, it was for me. He was playing a joke on me. Any way, did you by any chance notice if he left with someone, or talked to someone while he was here?"
Jed thought for a moment, his wrinkled brow, knotting even more. "He didn't leave with anyone…and I don't recall him talking with anybody. But I do remember another fellow in here. It was late, and they were the only two in here."
"The other guy, can you describe him?" Con asked, a slight feeling of hope sparking in him.
"Yeah, he was about your build," Jed said pointing to Con, "but he was younger, early twenties. He had a cap on, pulled real low, and he was wearing jeans and a windbreaker. Kept glancing up at Frank, like he knew him from somewhere. Followed Frank out too. Is everything alright?"
"I sure hope so. Thanks for your help," Joe said as he and Con left.