Chapter 9

It was a long day for the Hardy family.

After Laura had called the police, Con Riley arrived with Chief Collig. They questioned Frank heavily about what had happened the day before and by the time they were finished, the boy's head was throbbing dizzily.

"What will happen to Frank?" asked Laura, as the officers got ready to leave.

"Well, considering he is a minor and he didn't actually touch Mrs. Deagan, and taking into account the fact that he came to us, I'm guessing Frank will probably get nothing more than a few hours community service," answered Con. "But Frank really needs to stay away from those other boys now."

"Not gonna be a problem," Frank muttered, thinking about his conversation with Paul the night before.

Chief Collig sighed. "We'll talk to the other boys next. Frank, stay out of trouble."

Con winced at the chief's words. He never thought they would have to address one of Fenton Hardy's boys in this way.

As the police left, Laura turned to Fenton and said, "I'm just going to give Gertrude a quick call and let her know we'll be home soon."

Fenton waited until Laura had left the room before addressing his son. "Frank, I'm very disappointed, I thought you knew better than this."

"I do," said Frank in a small voice.

"Then why do it?"

"I didn't," said Frank. "Ryan did."

"But you allowed it to happen, how could you stand there while he…"

"I didn't allow it to happen!" Frank cut in furiously. "I froze for a couple of seconds and Ryan…reacted."

His father was silent.

"Dad, don't you think I feel bad enough?" he pleaded softly.

"I don't know, Frank," said his father sadly. "You've been such a stranger lately."

"I know," Frank agreed miserably. "But I was just so afraid…"

"Afraid of what?" asked Fenton confused.

Frank didn't answer, he didn't know how. He knew how he felt in his head but voicing his feelings was an altogether different matter.

"Frank?" Fenton pressed. "What were you afraid of?"

Frank looked away. "Of losing you."

"Me?" Fenton was shocked.

Frank nodded, pain rising sharply in his chest as the emotions he had been keeping in for so long came spilling out. "You, Mom…Joe." Frank's voice broke a little at his brother's name. "After Gramps died, it made me realise how quickly anyone could be taken and how suddenly. It scared me."

"So you shut us out," said Fenton gently. "Pushed us away so you wouldn't feel the loss so bad if it came."

"It didn't really work though," whispered Frank.

"I got shot," guessed Fenton. "And you didn't understand why it still hurt so you got mad."

Frank nodded. His chest hurt so badly he could no longer speak.

"Frank, people die. You can't hide away from life just because it scares you."

"I know," said Frank hoarsely, and told his father about meeting Annie in the hospital canteen.

So that was the catalyst, thought Fenton. "Frank, why didn't you talk to your mother or me?" he asked. "Didn't you think we'd understand?"

Frank dropped his eyes. "I couldn't talk to you."

"Why not? I know we don't exactly remember what it's like to be thirteen but we do understand how confusing things can be at that age."

"That's not the reason," Frank muttered.

"What then?" asked his father. "Frank, I'd like to think that you can come to me about anything."

"Because you expect me to be perfect!" Frank burst out. "And I'm not! I can't be!"

Fenton was startled. "Frank, no one expects you to be perfect. All we want is for you to be happy!"

"But I disappointed you today," said Frank. "You said so."

"But that doesn't mean I expect you to be perfect," said Fenton. "You're human, Frank, you're going to make mistakes. We all do. How else do you think we learn?"

Frank stared at his father and Fenton reached out and grasped his hand. "Frank, I'm disappointed in your actions, not you. If anything, I'm a little proud of you for confessing the way you did. That can't have been easy."

"I'm sorry," said Frank shakily.

"I know," said Fenton, as Frank put his head on the bed and cried. "I know."

Frank cried until all the pent up frustration and anger, the hurt and confusion were gone, leaving only a numb calm in their place.

"Feel better?" asked Fenton as Frank wiped his eyes.

"Yeah," mumbled Frank. He felt a little embarrassed at his emotional outburst.

Fenton smiled at Frank as the door opened and in walked Laura followed closely by Sam Radley. "Look who I met wandering the halls," she announced with the ghost of a smile.

"Sam!" said Fenton, his face brightening.

"Glad to see you're okay," said Sam. "Maybe this will teach you not to throw yourself in front of moving vehicles again. You're not Superman you know!"

As Fenton laughed, Laura glanced at Frank. His eyes were red and she could tell he had been crying, but he looked so much calmer and so much more like his old self than he had done in months that she decided not to comment. "Frank, honey. Sam is going to stay with your dad for a few hours while we head home."

Frank nodded. He was completely spent, all he wanted to do was sleep.

"I'll call you later," said Laura as she kissed her husband. "Try and get some rest."

"I will," he promised. "And ring the second you get any news, okay?" Laura nodded.

Frank gave his father a quick hug. "Thanks, Dad," he whispered.

"That's what dads are for," his father returned, as he hugged him back.

"Ethel is heading over to your house," Sam told them. "She's going to spend the night." Sam had married Ethel two years before, and she had become as firm a friend to the Hardys as he was.

Laura squeezed Sam's arm gratefully. Nodding good-bye, Laura and Frank left the room. Sam waited for several seconds after they had closed the door before turning to Fenton. "So how are you really?" he asked.

"Crap," Fenton responded. "Why's Ethel staying at our place tonight?"

"I thought she might be company for Laura," said Sam nonchalantly.

"And?" said Fenton, eyeing Sam suspiciously.

Sam sighed. "Fenton, have you heard from the kidnapper yet?"

"No," he admitted.

"Then you know what that means, right?" asked Sam gently.

Fenton felt his heart wrench. "He's not looking for ransom, he's out for revenge."

Sam nodded. "So Ethel thought it would be a good idea if she stayed, just to keep things calm while you're in here."

"Maybe I should put someone on the house," Fenton fretted. "Just in case."

"It's already been done," Sam told him. "I went to the station first thing when I arrived in Bayport and talked to Chief Collig. He's putting a watch on the house."

Fenton closed his eyes and growled in frustration. "Sam, do you have any idea how useless I feel lying here in this bed? My son is missing and I can't search for him. I can't even protect the rest of my family!"

"You can help in other ways," said Sam firmly. "You can dig through all your old files for anyone that might have a grudge against you. I'm going to ask around and see if anyone you put away has been released or paroled recently."

"Okay," said Fenton, his frustration lessening at the thought of being able to do something. "Can you get me my files?"

"I'll drop over your files first thing in the morning. For tonight, you need to get some rest and recover your strength."

"Sam, I don't have time to rest! Joe's been missing for over twenty four hours now and all we've done is chase our own tails!"

"You're no good to Joe if you collapse again and end up back here. Fenton, I know it's frustrating, but you need to take it easy."

Fenton grumbled under his breath.

Sam sighed. "Fenton, if it makes you feel any better, I'll be here very early in the morning."

"Okay." Fenton was quiet for several minutes, then asked Sam the question that had been plaguing him all day. "Sam, do you think Joe is still alive?"

"Yes," Sam answered at once.

"Why?"

Sam hesitated. "Because the kidnapper hasn't had the chance to torment you yet," he said finally.

XXX

Joe shivered beneath the blanket in his cell. He had been in darkness for hours now. At first he had tried to ignore the suffocating black that wrapped itself around him, but as time wore on he found himself becoming increasingly hysterical at the possible threats that could come crawling unseen out of the darkness.

He was starving and knew there was a packet of trail mix near the door, but blind terror prevented him from getting off the cot to search for it. Huddled beneath the blanket, Joe tried to reassure himself that there were no such things as monsters.

He was exhausted, but fear and cold refused to let him sleep. As tears rolled down his face, Joe stifled his sobs. The only thing worse than being alone in this black jail cell was to have his jailer return. There was something in that man's voice that sent cold knives of fear through Joe's heart.

The hours continued to drag on, Just as the boy was starting to drift off into a restless doze, the sound of loud music blared through the door. It was eerie, shrill music; the sort that sounded like nails on a blackboard and sent shivers down one's spine. Joe covered his ears against the horrible noise but the volume increased.

After more than an hour of listening to the terrible wailing, Joe's jangled nerves finally snapped. Throwing off the blanket, he sat up and yelled, "Turn it off! Turn it off! Turn it OFF!"

The only response was an increase in the volume of the music to the point that it reverberated through his cell and bounced off its walls, the sound of which nearly drove Joe mad in his terror.

Ignoring his fear of groping hands in the dark, Joe climbed off the cot and stumbled to the door. "WHAT DO YOU WANT?" he screamed, thumping his fists against the door. "WHAT DO YOU WANT!"

The music was clicked off and silence fell once more.

"Please," Joe begged as he banged against the door. "I want to go home!" There was no answer. "Please," Joe whimpered, as he slid to the floor, his hand now feebly pummelling the door. "Please, I want to go home!"

Joe's whimpers dissolved into sobs in the echoing dark.

XXX

The man heard the desperate crying on the other side of the door and smiled to himself gleefully.

The child was starting to crack!

About time, he thought as he switched off the tape recorder. He had expected Joe to start screaming hours ago.

As the quiet sobbing continued, the man chuckled cruelly. When he was finished, the boy would know what madness felt like.

I will break you! he vowed silently.