Disclaimer: We do not own the Hardy Boys or any of the canon book characters, nor do we own the Sentinel or any of the canon television characters, and are making no monies from this story. Any Original Characters belong to the author(s). Co-written with Talefeathers of the HDA.
For those of you who are not familiar with The Sentinel's characters, we hope this will be a pleasant introduction to them for you. For those of you who are already acquainted with Blair, Jim, Simon and the others – enjoy! Trying to fit these four stories into two different story arcs [Hardy Boys and The Sentinel] just barely worked. Band of Brothers and Welcome to Cascade take place before September Song [Hardy universe] begins, and any time after The Perfect Partner [Sentinel universe]. Missing Persons happens right after Fanfare for June [Hardys]; A Matter of Public Record takes place any time between Death on the Fourth of July and February Flirtations [Hardys], and before Remodel and Rebuild [Sentinel].
This particular story was written in 2007. Technology does not match today's levels.
For those of you who think that Darius and Bobbi get off too easily - well, Talefeathers is/was a lawyer by profession, and I figure she knew more about what can be plea-bargained down and negotiated, than I do!
Missing Persons
A Hardy Boys/Sentinel Crossover Story
By EvergreenDreamweaver & Talefeathers
Chapter 13, Conclusion
At seven-thirty that evening a congenial group met at The Breakwater for dinner, gathering about a round table set beside a large window with a picturesque view of Puget Sound at sunset. Simon Banks was expected, but had accepted conditionally, citing paperwork that had been neglected far too long, and mentioning that he would probably be late. So only the three Hardys and Detectives Sandburg and Ellison were currently there.
All of them looked considerably better than the last time they had been together. Jim Ellison's makeshift bandage was now replaced by a tidy butterfly strip. The swollen bruise on Blair Sandburg's cheek had been reduced by the judicious application of cold compresses, although the discoloration would remain for days. All three former prisoners had showered, shaved and blissfully slept most of the day away – and both Frank and Blair had caught up on lost sleep as well.
"You're right, this place is great," Fenton observed now to Blair, looking appreciatively around the restaurant. "No wonder you suggested it for lunch the other day."
"Jim and I like it," Sandburg agreed. "And their dinner selections are even better than their lunches!" He scanned the menu happily, looking for his favorites.
It was natural that they would discuss the incidents which had involved them all, but they kept the conversation on other topics until after their entrées were partially gone and their hunger slightly assuaged. Then and only then did the subject come up.
"So – have you heard anything?" Joe demanded of the two Cascade detectives. "What's happened with those guys?"
"We haven't heard much, other than that they got a lawyer fast," Blair said. "Compliments of John Sartellis, Darius' cousin. That man just thrives on being helpful," he added with a wry grin, eliciting answering chuckles from Jim, Joe and Frank. "Simon may have some news when he gets here."
"I talked to Bobbi after you left, before they were taken to the police station," Fenton said quietly, and both Ellison's and Sandburg's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"Dad! When did you—?"
"It was while you were sorting through all the stuff in that drawer, getting my things and yours, Joe."
"So what did she say?" Frank demanded. "And why didn't you tell us before now?"
"We were all tired and I figured it would get discussed this evening anyway," his father said, smiling.
"Okay, tell," Joe prodded.
Seeing that four pairs of eyes were fixed on him – and that, while Frank and Joe merely looked curious, both Sandburg and Ellison looked somewhat grim rather than amused, Fenton hastened to comply, giving a condensed version of his conversation with Bobbi Van Lansing.
"First of all, she did some apologizing," he began. "She insisted that they never intended to kidnap anyone, and things got out of hand." He continued with the explanation Bobbi had given him and was relieved to note that both the police officers' somber expressions lightened into amused resignation.
"After overhearing some of her tirade after they took me, I can actually believe it," Jim commented dryly.
"But it's so...stupid!" Frank exclaimed, shaking his head. "Why didn't they just let you go, instead of penning you up like that?"
"Panic makes people do strange things," Blair remarked. "Although I'd like to know just why Darius Sutherland panics so easily. But we may never find that out."
"Here comes Simon," Jim glanced across the room to the entrance door where Simon Banks had just appeared. "Maybe we can get some more info from him."
Banks looked wistfully at the others' half-eaten entrées, but shook his head when their deferential waiter asked if he would like to order. "Nah...I'm too far behind everyone else. But I'll have dessert when they do. And coffee now," he added. The waiter nodded and complied, and Simon settled back in his chair, sipping his coffee with evident enjoyment.
Without a word, Sandburg kindly put a portion of his salmon fillet on a bread plate; Ellison added a handful of French fries, and Frank contributed a few green beans and a clean salad fork, which they gravely passed over to the captain. Banks started to protest, looked again at the plate, and gave in with a pleased grin.
"Captain Banks, do you have any more news about the people who kidnapped Dad and Joe and Jim?" Frank asked hopefully, after a few minutes of eating and casual conversation. "What's going to happen to them?"
Fenton hid a smile behind his water glass; he might have expected Joe to nail the big police captain and demand details, but hearing it come from Frank was a surprise. But then, he mused, Frank had been the one most involved with the work of finding them, in the end – and his elder son seemed to be on quite a friendly basis with the formidable Captain Banks.
"As a matter of fact, I do," Banks replied, smirking a little. "Their attorney managed to come up with a deal – a plea bargain. Slick work, I might add, and he did it fast. The DA was pleasantly surprised – and agreeable."
"What were the terms?" Blair inquired.
"Muscaletti and Tambura will be charged with kidnapping – Sutherland and Van Lansing are not being charged with anything, since they didn't actually do the kidnapping or the assault on you three. If that works for you?" Banks' eyes rested briefly on Fenton, then moved to Joe.
"What about unlawful detainment?" Sandburg sounded aggrieved on his partner's behalf.
Banks shrugged slightly. "I'm not the one who made the deal, Sandburg; I'm just giving you the facts of the matter. Look, kid, they aren't interested in pursuing it, they've got bigger fish to fry in Cascade with real crimes. Going after accidental kidnappers is just a nuisance and extra work."
Blair made an annoyed noise deep in his throat.
Jim smiled a little and patted his shoulder soothingly. "It's okay, Chief."
"So Rico and Bruno are looking at jail time," Fenton remarked, "and Bobbi Van Lansing and Sutherland are free to go. Well, I guess that's fair enough. She'll still have to explain to her family – that might be punishment enough!" He was remembering Bobbi's apology and explanation, and the mention of her 'smothering' parents. He chuckled a little. "But I'm going to add a kicker to my fee, for hazard pay!"
"We'll still need statements from you and Joe," Banks reminded him. "Tomorrow okay for you?" He looked significantly at his senior detective. "You can do yours first thing in the morning, Jim." Ellison grimaced, but gave a reluctant nod.
Fenton nodded too. "I've booked our flight home for just before six p.m. tomorrow evening. So we can get everything done easily before we go."
Joe sighed. "I wish we didn't have to leave quite so soon. Dad never got to see anything of Cascade."
"Sure I did," his father said. "I spent a lot of time running around looking for Bobbi Van Lansing before those guys grabbed me. Still," he grinned, "I admit, I spent a lot of time NOT seeing it too."
"Can we do anything yet tonight?" Joe suggested hopefully. "It's our last night in Cascade – the night is yet young – and we slept all afternoon, after all!"
The others laughed. "Ah, youth," Fenton murmured, shaking his head. "Sorry, son, but I don't think I care to – and if you and Frank went off to hang out somewhere, I'd spend the whole time you were gone worrying!"
Joe shrugged philosophically. "Well, it was a thought."
"Besides," Blair reminded him, "it's not like you and Frank haven't seen the city. You spent nearly a week dashing all over the place with Daryl last August."
"He's got a point," Frank conceded, to Joe, who grinned and let the subject drop.
When dinner was over, the Hardys followed Ellison and Sandburg to the loft to pick up the boys' luggage, then returned to their motel, promising to be at the police precinct downtown the next morning to give their formal statements and to say goodbye. Simon Banks reluctantly headed back to his office, knowing the stacks of files on his desk would not have magically disappeared during his brief absence. Jim and Blair gratefully settled in to watch a movie on television and continued unwinding from the stresses of the past few days.
#####
Darius Sutherland slipped silently onto the hard plastic seat on the visitor side of the glass-partitioned holding cell. He was enormously grateful to be on this side with the door he could freely walk through, rather than on the other side secured by heavy locks and watched by a guard. His relief at being free, however, was tainted with guilt that his liberty came at his old friends' expense: Bruno and Rico were to be charged with three counts of kidnapping while he and Bobbi were allowed to go free.
He wondered as he waited how Bruno would feel about the deal. Darius had only discovered late last night his fate, that of his girlfriend, and his two friends. While he had been elated that he – and Bobbi – were free to leave, he was dismayed at the news that Bruno and Rico would undoubtedly serve time.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sharp snick of a key being turned in the lock of the door on the prisoner side of the room, and he looked up quickly to see Bruno enter the room. The big man allowed himself to be guided to the chair facing Darius, his mouth surprisingly upturned in a wide grin. "Darius!" he exclaimed, genuine warmth in his voice. "You're free! That's great!"
"Yeah, but...I'm sorry," Darius stated sadly, his guilt increased a hundred-fold at his friend's happiness in his freedom. How could Bruno be pleased with the situation? He was facing serious charges while he, himself, got to escape scot-free.
"Hey!" Bruno said gruffly, but not unkindly, "Why the long face? You're free, Dario." A sudden thought caused his smile to fall. "Or did they keep Miss Bobbi in too? They shouldn't do that," he rumbled, concern for the lovely young woman coloring his voice. "They shouldn't do that at all. Miss Bobbi is a lady; prison is no place for a lady."
Sutherland gave him a small smile. Trust Bruno to care for his and Bobbi's welfare over his own. "No," he said quickly, wanting to reassure his old friend. "No, they let her go too. It's just you and Rico who are being charged with the kidnappings."
"Well, that's right, after all," Bruno agreed calmly, smiling again now that he knew Darius and Bobbi had been released. "We were the ones who did the nabbing, not you or Miss Bobbi."
"Yes, but I—" But I told you to – the first time! Or at least, I suggested it! Guilt still gnawed at Darius, but Bruno was having none of it.
"Now you hush, Dario," the larger man admonished gently. "Rico and I talked it over last night in the holding cell. We done the crimes, it's only right we do the time. 'Sides, this way I can meet some new people. Always interesting people in prisons."
"I'd imagine there are scary people in prisons," Darius retorted.
"Them too," Bruno conceded. "But they don't ever bother me or Rico none."
"No," Darius acknowledged, "I guess they wouldn't. As long as you're together, anyway." Privately he wondered if he could ask the lawyer to arrange something of this order, to see that Rico and Bruno were kept together while in prison. Surely that wouldn't be too much to ask, would it? The attorney John had engaged for them seemed knowledgeable and sympathetic enough. Thank God for John!
Bruno hated to see his brilliant, dazzling friend so sad. He had always been fascinated by Darius' sunny disposition and charm; that was partly why he and Rico had decided to stand up for him when they were all children. Darius had always attracted attention. And Bruno had always ensured that Darius only experienced the positive kind. He wanted to erase the unhappiness from his friend's features.
"Besides, we'll behave in there – so maybe we'll get out early. Rico 'n me, we know how to get along in jail. So, tell me before they kick you out, what will you and Miss Bobbi do now? Are you going back to New York?"
He was pleased to see a genuine smile break over Darius' face. "Bobbi and I are flying to Hawaii this afternoon...to get married."
"Hey," Bruno boomed happily, "that's great! Congratulations! Rico and I will come visit once we're out of here, if you're still there. Always wanted to go there."
"We'll probably have to go back to New York before then, but we'll make a special trip back later, so that you and Rico can go too," Darius vowed with a lump in his throat.
At that point, a sharp rap sounded on the locked door, signaling that Darius' visit had come to a close. The guard who had been waiting just outside entered the room and motioned for Bruno to get up. The big man complied, throwing one final grin at Sutherland before turning towards the door and shuffling out.
Darius watched in silence, wondering how he ever managed to get such a good and loyal friend.
#####
"Impressive place," Fenton noted softly as the three Hardys rode the elevator to the Major Crimes division. His favorable impression increased as they exited into the large square hallway with its embedded Cascade Police crest, and headed for the frosted-glass doors.
Once inside the Major Crimes bullpen, Fenton and Joe were escorted to separate interview rooms to give their statements; Fenton accompanied by Detective Rafe and an appreciatively wide-eyed Joe by Inspector Megan Connor. Frank, somewhat at loose ends, was offered a chair near Blair's desk where he watched the young detective efficiently type reports. Ellison was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Jim this morning?" he asked at last, and Blair grinned.
"First he had to do his formal statement, and then he had to run out to meet one of his snitches for another case. He said to tell you guys that you couldn't leave until he got back!"
Frank laughed. "We won't. Dad probably would like a tour of the building, if I know him."
"We can do that," Blair assured him. "Might not be me conducting the tour, but there's always someone around that doesn't mind showing the place off."
Ellison, however, returned a few minutes before Fenton emerged from the interview room. Joe had finished first and was waiting with Frank. The younger Hardy eyed Jim's feet surreptitiously and smirked a little. Whoever the snitch was, it must not have been the one they called 'Sneaks.' Ellison's shoes were still very much there.
"Get anything?" Blair inquired without pausing a beat in his rapid typing.
"Maybe," Ellison grunted and pawed through the stack of files on his desk until he found the one he sought. He took his notebook from his pocket and tore out a page, which he slipped into the manila folder. Then he looked up at Joe and Frank and smiled. "All done?"
"Yeah, we're just waiting on Dad. We thought maybe we could find someone to give us a guided tour of the precinct – if that would be all right."
"Don't see why not. Check with Rhonda; she'll draft somebody." Jim glanced up as Fenton re-entered the bullpen, accompanied by Rafe. "There's your dad."
An hour later, the Hardys returned to Major Crimes, still escorted by Rafe, who had volunteered to be their tour guide. Regretfully, he said goodbye and returned to his desk. Jim and Blair were at their desks; both men rose as the Hardys approached.
"Taking off?" Blair sounded a little wistful.
"Yes – going back to the motel to pack, check out—"
"And then go do touristy stuff until we have to get to the airport," Joe interrupted his father with a grin. Fenton ruffled his hair affectionately.
"We'll walk out to the elevator with you," Ellison offered, and the five left the bullpen, the Hardys waving farewells to the officers they knew.
As they stood in the square hallway, a hush fell briefly over them all. Handclasps were exchanged, then they stood, uncertain of exactly what to say or do. Characteristically, it was Joe who broke the silence.
"Tell Daryl we're sorry we missed seeing him. We'll catch him next time."
"Will do," Blair agreed. "Next time we get together, how about some more basketball? This time maybe two-on-two, or three-on-three?"
"Sounds good."
Jim laid a hand on Frank's shoulder. "I hear you're a hell of a chess player," he said quietly. "I'd like to play you sometime – if you wanted to."
"I'd like that a lot," Frank nodded.
"If you get back to the East coast, consider our home yours," Fenton invited, and the two Cascade detectives smiled their appreciation.
"We'll keep an eye out for seminars in New York City."
The ping of the elevator arriving ended the moment.
"Safe flight..." "Take care out on the street, guys..." "Thanks again for everything..." "We'll be in touch." "Let us know you got home okay..." "Thank God for e-mail and texts!"
And they were gone.
#####
A young man and woman picked up their minimal baggage from the conveyor belt after the security cameras had scanned it, and resumed their stroll towards the departure gates. The young woman took a cell phone from her purse and dialed a familiar number as she walked.
"Hello, Mom? Hi, it's me – Bobbi. Yeah! Um...sorry I haven't called recently. Yes, I saw Mr. Hardy. He suggested I call you, yeah. I just wanted to let you and Dad know – I'm in Washington – no, not DC, the state. On the West coast. But anyway...I'm leaving in a few minutes. I'm flying to Hawaii...with my fiancé. Yes, that's what I said. No...you've never met him – but his name is Darius."
The End