AN: here's part two. I may do other episodes of Adventures in Odyssey with a Hardy Boy twist. then it will be a cross over. :)
PART 2
"There's no sign of a struggle, no evidence that Joe was kidnapped. You know how young people are, Hardy, he probably decided to do some sight- seeing on his own." Agent Phillips said trying to be assuring.
"I know Joey Agent Phillips. He wouldn't do something like that without telling me first. Especially with everything that's happened. The boy in the hotel van, being questioned by you, and finding out someone tried to break into my room." Fenton snapped.
"Yeah, well, we've checked for fingerprints. Everything's clean, as you'd expect. Y'know, if you told me the truth in the first place-" agent Phillips said in an arrogant tone.
"I did tell you the truth. I didn't know I had the government computer until I came back. It looks exactly like mine. The van driver must've gotten them confused." Fenton insisted.
"Uh huh. Another coincidence." Phillips said suspiciously.
"I don't believe in coincidences, Agent Phillips but, yes, for lack of a better word."
"Then you're telling me that you have no idea who tried to break into your room?"
"Well, obviously, it was someone who wanted the computer. Beyond that . . . no." Just then the phone rang.
"Wait! Don't pick it up yet. Woody, start the tape and begin the tap." He said to another officer.
"The tape, and the tap, right." He said flipping them on.
"Alright Hardy, you're on." Fenton picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hi dad." Joe said from the other end.
"Joey! Are you alright?"
"Yeah I'm fine. But the person I'm with wants the computer." Joey said.
"He doesn't want me to be a name- dropper. He knows you're trying to tap the line, so I've gotta talk fast. He wants you to bring the computer and wait alone under the Big Clock in the centre of North University's South Park Campus at six o'clock." Joey instructed as he was told.
"But Joey! Joey!" Fenton called as Joe hung up.
SCENE CHANGE!
Back at the warehouse where Joe was, he had just hung up the phone from talking to his father.
"There. I hope you're happy mr. Blackgaard." Joe snapped, more annoyed at the situation than scared.
"Doctor Blackgaard. And yes Joseph brava. Well done." Blackgaard taunted.
"You're gunna be in big trouble for kidnapping me you know." Joe said angrily.
"Kidnapping? I don't believe I know what you mean. I invited you along for a look at my new electronics warehouse and you agreed. You're welcome to go anytime you like." He objected.
"Really? Good I'll see you later." Joe started to leave.
"Of course, if you do, it's anyone's guess about what'll happen to your father..." Blackgaard said threateningly.
"What do you mean happen?" Joe asked nervously.
"There are a lot of ruthless people who would do anything to get their hands on that computer." He answered ominously.
"People I assume you know personally right?"
"In a way, by staying with me, you're helping to keep him safe." He smiled.
"I figured there was a catch." Joe said sitting down again.
"Funny, isn't it - Hardy and I reunited once again over a computer? And all because of a meeting decreed by chance!" Blackgaard said laughing.
"Yeah. Hysterical." Joe said sarcastically.
"So, what do you think of my new operation?"
"Huh?"
"My warehouse! Every conceivable electronic device for every conceivable need. I'm opening a chain of stores." He said non-chalantly.
"You're kidding." Joe said nervously.
"Not at all. It'll be called the Electric Castle, instead of my other shop, Blackgaard's Castle."
"Clever."
"I was even thinking of opening one in Bayport. Perhaps on the sight of my old shop." He daydreamed.
"You wouldn't dare." Joe warned, nervous that this man was serious.
"It's been two years. I miss the place."
"They'll never let you back in Bayport." Joe said.
"Why not?"
"Because of everything you did."
"And what exactly did I do?"
"You know. Richard Maxwell told the whole story at his trial."
"Richard Maxwell? Currently serving time in the Campbell County Detention Centre for arson?"
"You know who I mean." Joe said annoyed even more.
"Uh huh. And the good people of Bayport would take the word of a delinquent over mine?"
"Well..."
"He burned down the Morton's barn. He burned down my shop. I can't be held responsible for his actions. At least, not without any proof. You . . . don't have any proof of anything do you?" Blackgaard defended.
"But why didn't you stick around to defend yourself? You just disappeared."
"I had urgent business elsewhere and left the managing of my property to Mr. Glossman. Is that a crime?" He said referring to his other 'friend' in sneakishness.
"No. But . . . but . . . Ooo! You have more loopholes than a spaghetti strainer." Joe shouted angrily.
"Ah, that Bayportean humour. Maybe I will pay a visit soon. After we get this bit of business taken care of. Maybe pay a visit to your brother." At this, Joe stiffened.
"The government isn't going to sit back and let you have their computer, you know."
"Oh Joseph . . . your lack of confidence deeply offends me." He said feigning offence, "What makes you think I'm not working with the government?"
"What?"
& & & & & & & &
Back in the managers office of the hotel Excelsior, Fenton Hardy was getting ready to make the switch.
"I don't like this, Whittaker, not one bit. You can't take the real computer! What if something happens to it?" Agent Phillips asked.
"And what if something happens to Joe if they discover I have a fake computer? We don't know who we're dealing with or what they're capable of doing." Fenton argued.
"I can't let you risk high security information."
"And I won't let you risk Joe's life. Agent Phillips, if you've run a check on me like you say you have, then you know I'll do everything in my power to safeguard the secrets in that computer . . .
After a pause, Phillips relented. "Alright. Bu if anything happens-"
"It'll be my responsibility. Besides, there are certain safeguards we can take. I assume you still use homing devices?"
"Of course." Phillips replied irritably, "Woody, put one on the computer."
"Yes sir." Woody said as he put the homing device on.
"Take a look at this map of the campus, Whittaker. We'll have our men stationed around the Big Clock...here at the library...here in the student union building ...and here in the Conservatory. I'll be in the Science Building, directly across from the Clock. I'll be able to see everything from there." Phillips detailed.
"Good."
"Unfortunately, today is the day for the college's annual Summer Arts Festival. The place'll be packed . . . How's it coming, Woody?"
"The homing device is on."
"Thanks. I'll need your handcuffs Agent Phillips." Fenton requested.
"Why?"
"Another safeguard. I'm cuffing the computer to my wrist. It won't go anywhere without me."
Phillips handed them over, "what about the key?"
"Just so you know I'm on the up-and-up, you keep it."
"Anything else?"
"Yes. I'd like a moment alone."
"For what?"
"To pray."
"Pray?"
"Yes. It's the best safeguard I know."
Phillips left and Fenton prayed fervently for the safe return of his son.
& & & & & & & & & SCENE CHANGE
"Dr. Blackgaard..." Joe called to the doctor.
"Yes Joseph?"
"It's almost six o'clock, shouldn't we be going?" Joe asked obviously.
"Where to?" Blackgaard asked irritating Joe.
"The Big Clock."
"And have government agents crawling all over us? You must be joking."
"But dads gunna be there. Waiting. Just like you said."
"So I did. Well, perhaps plans have changed since you two spoke on the phone." Blackgaard said ominously.
"Changed? But I thought-" Joe stammered nervously.
"No, no, no, Joseph. Don't try to think. Leave that to me. Dr. Blackgaard will take care of everything."
& & & & & & & & & SCENE CHANGE
At the Big Clock, North University South Park Campus, the government agents were getting ready for the swap.
"Pop everyone in place Woody?" Agent Phillips asked.
"Yes sir. They've all checked in and are hooked up to your remote mike." Wordy explained.
"Good. Your binoculars please." Phillips held out his hand.
"Here you are sir."
"Thanks . . . Mm. Whittaker is under the clock. Okay, boys, let's pay close attention. Too many people around . . . Whoever's behind this little trick knows what he's doing. It's easier to hide in a crowd. Check the homing device again."
"Working sir." Woody informed when they heard a gentle beeping.
"Wait. Some clown is approaching Hardy." Phillips announced alarmed.
"Who is it sir."
"Like I said: some clown. With balloons . . . Looks like he wants to sell Hardy one. Hardy's shaking his head no . . . The clown's moving off. False alarm. Hardy just nodded at me . . . I can't figure if he's an agent for one of the other divisions or not . . . I don't trust him, though . . . He's starting to pace - trying to look casual."
The clock chimed six o'clock.
"Six o'clock sir. Whatever's going to happen will happen now." Woody informed.
"Hardy's stopped pacing and is standing still. Wait. Something's happening . . . A crowd - what is that, a parade of some sort? - it's moving past. I'm having a hard time seeing . . . Woody?"
"I see him. He's still there. Stations get ready."
"I don't like this. Hardy, I'm going to hold you personally - Wait. I've lost him- Hang on, there he is . . ."
"Be alert, boys. There are a lot of people- Sir, the homing device just clicked off!" He exclaimed when the beeping stopped.
"What?! That's not him! Where-? Move in! Move in! Hurry! Blast it! . . . Hardy's disappeared!"
& & & & & & & & SCENE CHANGE
Back at the warehouse, Pinky had just come back to say that Hardy disappeared.
"What do you mean Hardy's disappeared? Pinky, you bungled it!" Blackgaard said angrily.
"Dad's gone?!" Joe exclaimed alarmed. He stood up and went over to them.
"Be still Joseph." Blackgaard warned him, grabbing his arm. Joe was getting a little scared. This man would do whatever it took to get what he wanted.
"It wasn't my fault he disappeared." Pinky answered nasally due to the clown nose he wore.
"Take off that ridiculous clown nose." Pinky did so.
"I followed your orders to the letter. I went up to him with the balloons and said to meet me behind the clock when it struck six. But he never showed! From the way the cops were running around they didn't know where he went either."pinky explained.
"Curious . . . Well, Joseph, it looks as if our Mr. Hardy doesn't care for you as much as we thought." Blackgaard said to Joe trying to get his spirits down.
"You're wrong!" Joe objected.
"Yes. For your sake, let's hope I am. Pinky, start packing. We have to get out of here. Time to come up with a new plan - and take off that ridiculous clown costume!"
& & & & & & & & & & SCENE CHANGE
Under the North University South Park Campus, Fenton Hardy was just coming to. A pounding headache greeted him.
'I will never get used to being knocked out' he thought.
"Oh . . . my head. It feels like someone shoved a bowling ball in my ear . . . Where am I? Who - ? No - it can't be!" He exclaimed as he sees who he's with.
"Hiya Mr. Hardy." The young man said cheerily.
"Richard Maxwell?"
"The one and only." He said a smarmy as ever.
"I must be dreaming. You're in the detention centre." Fenton said not believing what he was seeing.
"Sorry to disappoint you. I've been let off for good behaviour. Don't you just love our penal system?" He said arrogantly.
Fenton's head was still smarting, "ow, what happened?"
"First you fell. Well, that is, I dropped the sewer grating out from under your feet and then you fell. Pretty smart thinking on my part, if I say so myself. Now you see
him, now you don't."
"What about my headache?"
"Well . . . After you fell, I sort of had to conk you to make sure you came along, uh, "quietly." Really, I'm sorry. I only had a second to click off the homing device and pull you through the service door." Richard explained hesitantly.
"A door off the sewer?" Fenton asked incredulously.
"It's a beauty. You can't see it from above. And there's only a handful of maintenance people who know about it. That's one of the jobs I had before I went to Bayport. The cops are up there going crazy trying to figure out what happened to you, while we're safe here below." He said smirking.
"Clever. I suppose this means that Blackgaard is nearby? You two are working together to get this computer, right?" Fenton speculated still enraged that this man would dare to be involved in hurting his sons.
"Correct on the first. Wrong on the second."
"Really?" Fenton said skeptically.
"Blackgaard's around, but I'm not working for him. Just the opposite. I've been trying to figure out a way to get back at him for all he did to me two years ago. And, lo-and-behold, you drop in -so to speak."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning that I have a little scheme that'll get us all what we want. But I need your help."
"My help! Why in the world would I want to help you? You caused a lot of trouble in Bayport - for everyone."
"I know. But you saved my life, and I'd like to do you a favour in return - like maybe helping Joey." Richard suggested hesitantly, remembering his delicate relationship with the Hardy's.
"If you're not working for Blackgaard, then how do you know about Joey, or any of this?"
"Maybe I've been playing "fly on the wall" for the last few weeks. And maybe Greg Kelly was a former acquaintance of mine who led me to Blackgaard. And maybe I've been following him. And maybe I saw him nab Joe. And maybe I know where he took him. So maybe I can help."
"Those were a lot of maybes."
"Six to be exact. But they all happen to be true. So are you in?"
"Why should I trust you?"
"You probably shouldn't . . . but then again, I'm the only one who knows where Joe is. If you and the Feds wanna stumble around trying to find him, be my guest."
"I guess I don't have much of a choice."
"Now, now, don't be like that. Do it my way and we'll all be happy. You'll get Joe, I'll get Blackgaard and the government might even get their computer back."
"Alright what's your scheme?" Fenton relented.
& & & & & & & & SCENE CHANGE
Agent Phillips and Woody were still trying to figure out what happened.
"This isn't possible. He was there one second and gone the next. Turn on the homing device again."
"It's on sir. No signal. It must not be working." Woody informed.
"Or Hardy turned it off! Blast! I knew I shouldn't trust him! Either he's on some kind of mission that the Agency won't tell us about . . .or he's working on his own." He said thinking of a new idea.
"Sir?"
"For all we know, he might try to sell the secrets in that computer for himself - a double-cross!"
The homing device started beeping again as he said this.
"Sir! The homing signals back on!"
"Quick! Turn on the map!" Woody does so, "Where is he?"
"Checking coordinates,"
"Hurry!"
"As close as we can get . . . he's . . . somewhere in the warehouse district on the east side of town."
"Get moving."
& & & & & & & & & SCENE CHANGE
"Pinky, is everything set?" Blackgaard asked irritated.
"Yeah boss."
"Bring the car around."
"On my way." Pinky left and Joe got out of his chair curious.
"What are you going to do?" Joe asked.
"Mr. Hardy's disappearance makes me uneasy. Distance will provide peace of mind. Shall we go?"
"What if I say no?" Joe countered.
"Don't be such a child. Come along."
"You make me get in that car and you will be guilty of kidnapping. No loophole in the world can change that." Joe said crossing his arms stubbornly.
"You misunderstand me, Joseph. I only want to drop you off at your hotel." He responded diplomatically.
"I will walk thank you."
"This is a very rough neighbourhood. I insist on dropping you off . . . Get in the car."
"I'm not going anywhere with you."
"Listen to me, young man! I've wasted enough time toying with you! Now, get in the car!" Blackgaard snapped.
"What's your hurry Dr. Blackgaard?" A voice came from the doorway of the warehouse. Fenton Hardy stood framed in the doorway.
"Dad!" Joe exclaimed as he started moving toward his father.
"Not so fast young man!" Blackgaard said grabbing Joe, twisting his arm behind him at a painful angle.
"Ow! You're hurting my arm." Joe said trying to pry his arm away from the man.
"Blackgaard!" Fenton shouted.
"Well, well, well. Fenton Hardy. Live and in person. Just stay by the door where I can see you. Pinky!" He called.
"Pinky? You mean Pinky the clown?" Fenton asked.
"Yes. Pinky!? Where is that dolt."
"Waiting for you in the car, actually. He'd like to answer you, but . . . he's tied up at the moment." Fenton said satisfactorily.
"Oh, ho - you are the resourceful one, aren't you? Shall I assume you followed him here and that any moment the building will be swarming with police?" Blackgaard said mockingly.
"Assume what you like. I came for Joe."
"And you brought the computer?"
"Isn't that what you wanted?"
"Still want, Hardy. Shall we call it an even trade? Perhaps we can finish the deal I had intended from the beginning. Before you disappeared."
"Things have changed since then. We have another partner in this little arrangement." Fenton said mysteriously.
"And who might that be?"
"Me your excellency." Richard Maxwell said as he came from behind them.
"My, my - this is turning into 'Old Home Week!' Dear, dear Richard. Did you escape from the detention centre or do they have you attached to a long leash?" Blackgaard said laughing.
"I'm out on good behaviour. Go figure."
"Dad, what's going on?" Joe asked slightly scared.
"You might as well give up Blackgaard." Fenton suggested.
"Give up? Oh, please. Because the two of you have me surrounded? What are you going to do: frighten me with rude expressions?"
"Funny - you're a very funny man. But, I can do better than that. Like with this gun." He pulled out a gun.
The whole room gasped. Joe was really scared now.
"Dad. He has a gun." Joe stammered.
"Richard, this was never part of our plan." Fenton warned.
"It wasn't part of your plan. But it's been part of mine for two years. Two very long years of thinking about revenge." Richard said slowly loosing it.
"It took you two years to come up with this idea?" Blackgaard asked mockingly.
"Go ahead, Doctor - be glib. But the gun's still pointed at you."
"You'll have to shoot the boy first." He said shoving Joe in front of himself and wrapping his arm around Joe's neck keeping him in place.
"Okay." Richard said nonchalantly shrugging his shoulders.
"Richard!" Fenton warned again.
"No really, I don't want to get in anyone's way." Joe stammered.
"It seems prison has hardened you Richard."
"Not prison - you. Remember? You were the one who taught me not to let anyone get in the way of what I want to do." Richard snarled.
"Uh, guys can't we talk this out?" Joe said scared. His arm was throbbing in pain.
"With or without him Blackgaard, you and I have a score to settle."
"Don't do it Richard." Fenton said not daring to leap at Richard for fear of the man shooting his son.
"I can't believe you care nothing for this boy, Richard . . . You're not that callous, that hard . . . Look at him . . . so scared . . . so vulnerable . . . so . . . diverting!" With that last word, Blackgaard shoved Joe into Richard and the two tumbled into a pile of boxes.
There was a commotion in which Fenton collected Joe from the boxes, Richard sprang up throwing Joe off himself and into Fenton, and Blackgaard rushed to an escape hatch.
"Love to stay and chat, but you know the electronics business - rush, rush, rush! That's why I've had these little escape hatches installed! Just push a button and- aaaahh!" He pushed a button to open the hatch and it zapped him.
"Hey it didn't work." Joe exclaimed standing next to his father.
"That's right - none of them will." He said with a chuckle, "Feeble, Doctor, very feeble. I didn't work for you all those months without learning a few things - like how to sabotage your remote control gizmos. You're not going anywhere." He sounded deadly.
"L-let's be reasonable, Richard. What do you want? Surely there's something we can negotiate." Blackgaard pleaded sounding very cowardly.
"Getting revenge on you was never a negotiable point. You left me to die in the fire, remember?"
"Poor judgement on my part. What do you want?"
"Not so fast." Then Richard said to Fenton and Joe, "Hardy, you and Joe get out of here."
"I'd like nothing better, Richard. But I've gotta tell you - I think it's pretty dumb to throw away the rest of your life just for revenge!" Joe pointed out.
"He's right Richard." Fenton backed up.
"Actually, they both are-" Blackgaard mumbled.
"Quiet!" He snapped at Blackgaard, "thanks for your concern. Now both of you get out of here." He pleaded with Fenton and Joe.
"Come on dad, we'd better go." Joe said helplessly.
"No." Fenton said firmly.
"I'm not kidding around, Hardy! You and Joe get out of here - now!" Richard insisted.
"I'm not going anywhere until you put the gun away." Fenton persisted.
"Forgive me for interrupting, but I'm terribly uncomfortable having that gun pointed at me while you talk." Blackgaard snivelled.
"Don't worry. It won't be pointed for long." Richard snarled.
"What do you want Richard? Tell me."
"Make me an offer. Just so I can hear it."
"I have money, property. You could live anywhere in the world. Tell me what you want. Name it." Blackgaard begged.
"You, on your knees." Richard said deadly quiet.
"What?"
"Get on your knees."
"Richard stop this! Stop this now!" Fenton yelled.
"Stay out of this Hardy! And keep your brat out of it too." Richard rebutted.
"Alright I'm on my knees, now what do you want?" Blackgaard said.
"I want you to beg for your life."
"Uh..." Blackgaard paused.
"Richard," Joe said attempting to bring him sense.
"BEG!" Richard shouted.
"Don't...hurt me...Richard...please." Blackgaard stammered.
"You can do better than that."
"Please don't hurt me. I'll do anything you want - but please! Don't hurt me!"
"Say you're sorry."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry you had to spend two years in the detention centre. I'll make it up to you. Somehow. But please don't hurt me. Please! Just put the gun away! Whatever you want! Please!" He whimpered.
Fenton had had enough. He moved in between Richard and Blackgaard. As reluctant as he was to see this tyrant live, he couldn't in good conscience let Richard murder him. Joe gasped when he saw what his father was doing.
"Is this what you wanted, Richard? Is this the revenge? How does it taste, huh? Was it worth two years?"
"Get out of the way!" Richard ordered.
"Don't you understand? When you go out for revenge, you've gotta dig two graves - one for the person you're after, and one for yourself." Fenton rebuked.
"You're in the line of fire." Richard warned.
"That's right. And this is where I'll stay until you put the gun away. Richard, there's no such thing as revenge. Not really. It never replaces what you lost. It never restores. It doesn't even satisfy . . . You're out of the detention center. You have your whole life ahead of you. Now, please. Give me the gun." Fenton pleaded.
"Listen to him Richard. For pity's sake listen to him." Blackgaard said almost frantic.
"No! You've asked for this." He raised the gun to fire, "Get out of my way, Hardy, or I'll shoot."
"Richard!" Joe said appalled.
"Ready..." Richard said dramatically.
"I'm not moving." Fenton countered.
"Aim..."
"Somebody stop him please." Blackgaard asked no one in particular.
"Dad, get out of the way!" Joe shouted tugging on his fathers arm.
"Fire!" Richard shouted. Joe shoved Fenton out of the way and Blackgaard cried out in despair.
But instead of the telltale sound of the gun echoing off the walls, only a squirting sound came from the gun. Blackgaard sputtered as the the water hit him in the face. Richard just laughed.
"You know, sometimes you guys can be real drips . . ." Richard joked.
"It's water." Fenton said amazed.
"A...water gun?" Joe said also stunned.
"Sure! You think I'd wreck my life on account of this creep? I didn't even want to risk breaking parole by getting a real gun. He's not worth it. Pretty funny, huh?"
"Oh yeah, a laugh riot." Joe said sarcastically.
"A water gun. A water gun!" Blackgaard shouted with increasing anger and humility. He leapt up pushing Fenton and Richard over. He socked Joe in the jaw as he ran by and out the back door. "You haven't seen the last of me. None of you!" He shouted as he ran out.
"They always have to have the last word don't they." Joe said rubbing his jaw.
"Wait, listen." Fenton said. They heard sirens, and presently Agent Phillips and Woody came in, guns drawn.
"Great timing." Richard said smiling.
"Nobody move! Up against the wall! You're all under arrest for conspiracy, treason, and espionage!"
"What!? What are you talking about?" Joe said as he went up against the wall, his hands raised.
"You have the wrong people. The man you want just ran out the back door." Fenton said pointing from the wall.
"Sure he did. Woody, check it out."
"Yes sir." Woody left.
"Here's the key Hardy, get that computer off your wrist."
"Whatever you say." Fenton conceded.
"I'm not taking anymore chances. I'm taking you all in." Phillips said still pointing his gun.
"Good grief, I'm never gunna see the Sears Tower." Joe said dejectedly.
"You can count on that. You'll spend the rest of your trip answering a lot questions."
"Not as many as you have to answer." Richard said smartly.
"What are you talking about?" Phillips asked.
"Don't give him the computer mr. Hardy."
"Richard what's going on?" Fenton asked confused.
"Remember I told you I've been following Blackgaard for the past few weeks? Well, sitting outside of this warehouse let me see a lot of the people he met with."
"Yes?"
"Surprise surprise." Richard said mysteriously.
"Not another surprise." Joe said tired of surprises.
"I thought Agent Phillips here looked familiar. He's been coming and going quite a lot. Haven't you, Agent Phillips?" Richard said approaching Phillips.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Phillips stammered.
"Don't you? You and Blackgaard have been pretty chummy up until today. That's how he knew when to get the computer from the courier!" Richard accused. Phillips looked ready to kill. Joe stared nervously at him. If it came to a hostage situation, he knew Phillips would go for Joe.
"Alright nobody move!" He said pointing the gun right at Joe's head.
'Not again.' Joe thought, being tired of being used against his father.
"Hardy, the computer now, or I shoot your kid."
"Alright, alright here." Fenton said handing the computer over.
"It was so simple in the beginning. But, no, you two had to mess it all up. A small fortune. That's what I'll get for this computer." Phillips said moving the gun to point in the general direction of the others.
"Can I assume you'll be meeting up with Blackgaard later?" Fenton asked confident now that his son wasn't in the line of fire.
"Assume what you want. Tell Woody I'm sorry I had to rush off. Arrivederci, Amigos!" He laughed and headed out the door.
"Good grief, I need to sit down for a minute." Joe said sitting down.
"Are you all right Joe?" Fenton said going to Joe and inspecting the bruise dealt to him from Blackgaard.
"Are you kidding? I don't get any of this. I mean, some of the bad guys turned out to be good guys and the good guy was bad and the gun was a water pistol and . . . I'm all confused."
"Well, let's go back to the hotel. I'll explain it all to you there."
"The hotel?! How can you be so casual?! Blackgaard's escaped and Phillips got away with the computer!" Joe asked confused.
"Well, maybe." Richard said ominously.
"Then again maybe not." Fenton responded a mischievous smile on his lips.
Joe just shook his head and allowed himself to be led to the car and back to the hotel.
& & & & & & & & & SCENE CHANGE
A few hours later, Blackgaard and Phillips crowded around the computer in a cheesy hotel room in the wilds of Illinois.
"Hurry up, you dunderhead! Get the computer out of the case!" Blackgaard said impatiently.
"I'm hurrying, I'm hurrying. There it's out."
"Well power it up. Let us gaze fondly upon the new source of our untold wealth . . ."
The computer whirls on and the screen has the loading icon on it.
"Sounds healthy. Now the Department of Defense program loads itself up automatically and - Wait a minute! What is this?!" Phillips said alarmed.
"Hiya, Richard Maxwell here."
"And Fenton Hardy." A video recording came up on the screen showing Fenton and Richard.
"Sorry to disappoint you but, by turning on this computer, you've actually erased everything that's on it. Except this message, of course." The voice of Richard said.
"A little precaution in case our plan didn't work. Better the government loses its secrets completely than to lose them to you." Fenton said on the video.
"Hope you enjoyed our message. Have a nice day!" Richard said. The two men started laughing hysterically on the video.
"Ruined . . . Totally ruined . . ." Phillips complained.
Blackgaard growled at the screen, "Laugh now, Hardy . . . But I'm not finished with you - or your brats... not by a long shot . . ."
The end.
AN: hope you liked it!
