Last Chapter! Thank you so much to all those who have reviewed! I hope you enjoy this!
Chapter 20
"Who are you exactly?" Joe asked with a more serious tone.
"I'm her father," the man stated matter-of-factly.
"OH," Joe said and gave him a once over. "Just one sec!" He closed the door a little bit and walked toward the front room calling his father. Frank stopped him right after he turned away from the door.
"Who is it?"
"Kailey's father," Joe replied skeptical.
"Oh, really," Frank replied, peeking over his brother's shoulder to get a look at the man.
"What is it?" Fenton asked in the doorway. He had heard Joe's call and came to see why he hadn't come in the room.
"Kailey's dad's at the door."
"Hmm," Fenton mumbled and approached the door. Getting closer, a grin broke across his face and he stopped and turned towards his sons. "Now why doesn't one of you go open the door for the poor man standing in the cold?"
Frank hurriedly let the large man in. He stepped inside and began to take of his winter attire. In a booming voice he addressed the Hardys, "Well, Hello Fenton, haven't seen you in a while! Now, Frank and Joe, it has been an extremely long time, you're men!"
Frank and Joe moved off to the side as the older men greeted each other. Laura entered the pretty crowded hallway just as there was a patter on the steps. Kailey flung around the corner and ran to her father. The raw emotion of the hug was extreme, but short-lived.
"Are you alright?" he pulled her away so they were at eye level with his hands on her shoulders.
"Now I am," she replied with a big ol'grin across her face and gave her father another quick embrace.
"Would you like something to drink sir?" Mrs. Hardy asked as the father and daughter broke away.
"Yes please, that would be lovely Laura," he replied, following the group into the kitchen.
They were cramped, but comfortable in the kitchen. Kailey's father had just told them how everything went down over at his end and how he just had to come see how she was getting along so far away. He couldn't honestly believe he was betrayed by his best and closest friend.
"What are the police doing about Elena?" Frank asked, extremely curious about their next move.
"Well from the very little I was told, I got the gist they were keeping a lookout for her, but have no leads that I know of," he happily replied to the eldest Hardy boy.
"Basically they're just sitting around, waiting for her to mess up?" Joe ventured.
"Pretty much," the older man agreed. "Fenton these are two wonderful detectives you've brought up! You'll be outta a job soon, they'll be taking all your business."
"Ah, good friend, thanks, but I hope they graduate college first before following exactly in their father's footsteps," Fenton jumped in and looked gratefully at his wife.
"These boys have a lot to do before that," Laura added.
"Yeah, like passing Pre-Calc," Joe told the adults, getting a good laugh from everyone.
Mr. Hardy looked at the time on the stove then at his old friend. "Can we have a word in my office?" he asked.
"Sure," the large man replied and helped Fenton to his study.
"Let's clean up," Mrs. Hardy announced after the men left the realm of the kitchen.
The boys and Kailey happily put away their cups and wiped the counter from the various cookie crumbs.
Fenton and her father talk in his office, then he gets a phone call that has to be taken alone.
Sam starts off, "Fenton, one of them finally cracked. We're going to round up the rest of the gang!"
Fenton smiled, "That's good Sam, that's really good!"
"Yeah, I know partner. Well, I just figured I'd let you know the good news. Right now I haveta go help out these knucklehead policemen," Sam replied.
"Go gett'm!" Mr. Hardy told him before hanging up.
Yawns were going around the group when Fenton came from the study. All were sitting around the TV in the front room. He announced, "Well, they think they've got them cornered. Sam will tell me more tomorrow!"
"Really?" Frank popped up.
"That's great news dad!" Joe added.
"That's wonderful dear," Mrs. Hardy agreed, "But I do believe you should all go to sleep, it's pretty late."
"You know they're tired if there's no hassle," Kailey's father remarked as the teens slowly got up to leave the room.
"Hey bud, I'll see you tomorrow. I've got a hotel already planned out with my luggage," he looked at the family. "Laura, don't take it personally, I just didn't think there'd be enough room in this house."
"Right you are," she replied.
Kailey gave him a hug and the Hardys shook his hand, then the large man left. Everyone trudged to their respective beds and fell asleep eventually.
Jovial laughter was heard Sunday morning as Joe trudges down the stairs. Something must be extremely hilarious he thought, recognizing his brother's obnoxious laugh from the crowd. Honestly he was tired and not completely in the mood for anything cheerful.
"No way!" said a young girl's voice, filled with laughter.
"Yeah these two knuckleheads decided to goof off."
"Man oh man Fenton, your sons sound like a handful."
"You've got that right, but that's saying something coming from you with five of them."
Joe looked at the clock in the kitchen, it was 10:30, mid-morning.
"Oh hello sweetie, what would you like?" Mrs. Hardy asked, noticing the presence of her youngest.
"Just some orange juice for now, I'm still trying to wake up," Joe replied.
"Sure, just take a seat by your brother after grabbing some cereal," Laura directed him.
"Hey sleepy head," Fenton greeted the blond-haired boy.
"Mornin' everyone!" Joe said to Fenton, Kailey, her father, and Frank all sitting around the table. They each replied in their own fashion, moving around to make room for him.
"Get a good rest?" Laura asked, handing him his drink.
"Yep! So what were you guys laughing about?" he asked.
"OH I was just telling them about you and Frank getting into trouble when you were younger," Mr. Hardy explained.
Great, Joe thought, he embarrassed us in front of the guests. I doubt Frank could have come up with a witty remark to rebuke whatever tale dad decided to tell. He decided to shove cereal in his mouth instead of replying, Joe wasn't nearly awake enough to hold a substantial conversation he needed fuel. He glanced at the others. Frank looked as though he had also just rolled out of bed, but everyone else seemed dressed and ready to embrace the day. Maybe they missed the memo, he thought sarcastically.
"Anything new about the case?" Frank asked his father. He had finished his breakfast and was eager to know more about went down the previous night.
"Well, Sam sent me a lengthy email about all the people they captured last night, including the cop. I believe it's officer Alan that was giving you a hard time in interrogation. The number the man gave Mrs. Figg was a pay by minutes cell and part of the confiscated items from the raid last night. That's actually how they zero-ed in on the perpetrator's location," Mr. Hardy told the group
"That's awesome dad!" Frank declared.
"Yeah, I know son. I think that about wraps up the case, except for some paper work. With their confessions they will probably making deals for their time in the joint, it's just a case of how much they will sell out their coworkers," Fenton answered.
"Hah, of course," Joe added.
"Dad how were the families chosen? Or are they still looking into that?" Frank asked.
"One of the men rounded up worked as a janitor in a few of the establishments the families frequented. He apparently mentally categorized them or something to that extent we assume as vulnerable, especially the ones that didn't need any bad press as well as the broken families that were more terrified of losing a child and didn't want to trust anyone, even the police."
"That's crazy!" Joe exclaimed.
"Yeah, I know. Hiring henchmen to intimidate the families really paid off, only one disobeyed the warning, but the guys just left the kids and everything afraid of it being looked into further. That's where officer came in to clean up their messes. Apparently some of the families that were contacted did talk to police, but were dismissed by Alan," Mr. Hardy continued.
"Wow, what's going to happen to him?"
"Not too sure yet, but definitely he'll be in jail."
The conversation had dwindled down after that. There was an elephant in the room, everyone could feel that a topic was being tip-toed around. So the weather was the safe subject, but didn't last too long.
"Anything from Brandon?" Mr. McDowell spoke up that was his main concern, besides keeping his little girl safe.
"Sam saw Brandon the other day and spilled the beans that he was in cahoots with Elena. He had no idea where she could be heading," Fenton told his old friend.
"I just couldn't believe Brandon was in on this. I'm actually going to see him this afternoon at the hospital," Kailey's father declared.
"Dad, do you think that's a great idea?" she asked, glad he had answered her before.
"I need to let him have a piece of my mind. After that I can really relax." Kailey sighed, he's wasn't one to argue with.
"Alright, then what am I going to do? When are we heading home?" she asked.
"You want to leave us so soon?" Joe asked, smirking.
"Well, this has been one crazy week. I can't even imagine what would happen if I spent another week here," Kailey retorted.
"You got us there," Frank remarked.
"Well, hun, I'll leave it up to you," her dad interjected as he started to leave the table.
"Leave what?"
"The choice to stay or leave. Didn't you finish most, if not all work that was due for school. If you only have some more finals to take, I'm sure the school will understand and the principle ahd already agreed to let you take them in the prescence of a trusting adult."
"Are you serious?" Kailey exclaimed, extremely surprised. Usually her dad was a bit on the controlling side. She'd really be safe in Bayport from Her?
"Yes, I would never joke about things like this," her dad said with a big grin across his face.
"You're awesome dad!" Kailey replied, jumping up to hug him.
"So does that me a yes?" asked the inquiring minds at the table.
"Yes, I think so," she looked at her hosts, "If that's not too much to ask of Mr. and Mrs. Hardy. Everyone is still in class no matter where I go. And having the choice, I'd rather like a relaxing week after the one we just had."
"When's Aunt Gertrude coming?" Frank asked.
"Not until the end of next week dear," Laura told him.
"Sweet! Though Kailey, I think you'll like her, she's quite the spit-fire!" Joe jumped in the conversation.
"Yes, of course Joe! Kailey you're welcome here as long as you want to stay!" Fenton interrupted Joe.
"Thank you!" Kailey said appreciatively to the Hardys.
"That's settled then!" Laura declared. "You can stay here another week!"
"Thank you so much, Fenton," Mr. McDowell said embracing his friends separately, "Laura."
"It's not a problem! Now go! Before the roads get too busy!" Mrs. Hardy urged him.
"Yes, of course, bye sweetie!" he said walking to the front door, smoothly throwing on his large coat and slipping easily into his boots.
"Bye dad!" she replied. Then she turned around and looked at the Hardys. They were sitting around the table laughing with each other. What a wonderful family, she thought, this'll be nice!
"Come on slow poke!" Joe's call-out broke Kailey out of her thoughts and he motioned her over.
She gratefully obliged and joined the Hardys at the table, her new home away from home.
A/N: Please review and let me know of any errors:) I hope everyone has a fantastic summer!