Chapter Twenty-Two

Frank sat on the hard, plastic seat, watching the scene around him. The police were talking to several hospital staff, taking their statements on the events that just ended. His father and Chief Collig were talking to a third man whom Frank recognized from newspapers as Vincenzo Martinelli. Nearby, Joe was with Nancy who didn't want to be admitted into the hospital after everything that went down. She was just ready to go home. And Angelo Biancci was being cared for by the hospital after he accidentally shot himself while fighting with Frank.

Leaning back in the chair, Frank rested his head on the wall, content to remain quiet even if there was chaos around him. He blocked everything out, thinking about what had transpired earlier. He thought about the moment he saw Nancy in the hands of Angelo Biancci, worried that she was going to get hurt. When she made eye contact with him, Frank could see the fear in her eyes though it suddenly changed seconds later to that of strength and resilience. As he moved down the hall towards where she and Biancci disappeared around a corner, Frank silently motioned for people to go in the other direction, fearful of anyone getting in the way of what could happen.

He crept down the hall and stopped at the end where he peaked around the corner to see Angelo holding a gun to Nancy's head. His heart dropped and Frank knew he had to do something to save her. When Joe caught his eye, he nodded to his brother giving him notice that he was there. Not long after, Frank tackled Biancci to the ground. Unfortunately, Nancy came with them, Biancci's arm still around her waist. When the second shot rang off, Frank thought Nancy was hit, her body still just inches from him. Her legs were trapped underneath Biancci's body so she couldn't get away during the scuffle. It was only when the mobster shot the last shot that it was over. Biancci cried out in pain and the police were finally able to swoop in.

Frank sighed. He didn't know what he would do if Nancy was dead. He couldn't get near her as the hospital staff and police swarmed in around them. It was after Joe went to her that Frank saw that she was okay, shaken by what had happened. Nancy looked at him, exchanging an unspoken acknowledgement that she was okay. Frank sighed in relief. He wasn't sure if could take losing another family member. Frank didn't care about himself anymore. He just wanted to make sure they were all safe.

He felt a presence and then the sound of someone taking the seat next to him. Frank said nothing, waiting for whoever was there to speak.

"Frank?"

Frank opened his eyes and looked over to see his brother sitting next to him. He crinkled his face, wondering if Joe would yell at him again. The look on his brother's face calmed those fears and most especially, what Joe said next.

"I'm sorry." Joe quickly looked down at his hands wringing in his lap. "I…I shouldn't have said those words to you back in the woods. Or after Mom died."

"Joe…"

"Let me speak," he interrupted Frank, looking back at him. Joe leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. He sighed. "I was so angry at what happened that I blamed it on you. You didn't deserve that. We were both upset about Mom and when we should have come together, I pushed you away. And then, when I saw Nancy almost dead, I blamed you for that too. I knew she was stubborn enough to force you into letting her come but I didn't let my mind catch up to my mouth. I know you probably don't want to talk to me but I just wanted to get a word out before you walked away."

Frank exhaled deeply and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as well. He looked over at Nancy who quickly glanced away as if trying to not get caught watching the brothers. His father was taking a slight interest as well though he continued his conversation with Collig and Martinelli. The rest of the people around them seemed to ignore the brothers, not knowing the conflict that had risen between them in the past. Frank softly chuckled and shook his head.

"What?" Joe asked, confused.

"Look at the two of us," his brother replied with a smile. "Mom would be hitting us up the back of our heads for being stupid. Both of us."

"Yeah," he agreed, nodding. "But I think she would have taken out that wooden spoon she loved to use on us when we got into trouble."

"'We?'" Frank glanced at him. "If I remember correctly, you had a black and blue butt 90% of the time when we were little."

Joe snickered. "You're right. That one time I couldn't sit for at least a couple of hours because she wailed on me after that prank on Aunt Trudy."

"And I was the one who got away with it," he laughed.

"I still owe you on that one."

The brothers went into an awkward silence, both of them staring at their clasped hands in front of them. Frank glanced at Nancy again to see her smirking though this time she didn't look away. He smiled at her and the two shared an understanding.

"Nancy put you up to this, didn't she?" Frank asked his brother seconds later.

"Yup," Joe sighed, leaning back in the chair. "I don't think she would have let me leave the hospital alive if I didn't come over here and talk to you. Thank goodness she can't talk at the moment too or I would never hear the end of it."

"She's still refusing to stay?"

"Yep. Stubborn as a mule, that one. Like another person I know." Joe turned to Frank, giving him a knowing look.

"What's that look for?" Frank leaned away from his brother, confused.

"You're just like her, Frank," he pointed out.

"No, I'm not," the older Hardy snorted. "You're the one who held the grudge against me."

"True but I did apologize."

"Is that what you want me to do?"

"No, but it wouldn't hurt."

"You have not changed one bit, Joe."

"I pride myself on being a total pain in the butt, Frank," Joe announced proudly, puffing out his chest. "Aunt Trudy tells me that every day. Though I'm surprised Vanessa still puts up with me."

"She seemed like a nice girl, Joe," Frank replied.

"You met Van?"

"Yes, at the station earlier today. Saw Aunt Trudy as well. They came in not long after I arrived, wondering what the police were doing to find you and Dad. I'm surprised Aunt Trudy didn't try to wail on my butt then and there in front of the whole police department."

"She was probably too shocked to do it, huh."

"I'd imagine so," Frank nodded. He sighed, looking at the floor. "What happened to…"

"Iola?" Joe finished the question. His brother nodded again. Joe took a deep breath. "We were well on our way to spending the rest of our lives together. We wrote to each other every other week while I was in Korea. One letter, she talked about a new job she was starting and couldn't wait to see me to show what she had accomplished. She was so proud of getting the job. Then her letters stopped several weeks before I came home but I just thought she was busy with a career and taking care of her parents after Chet got married. When I came home from Korea, she was a little distant towards me. Then I had some surgeries to repair my leg and had some issues with memory. Still do. She rarely came to visit and it hurt but I couldn't say anything because she wasn't around to say it. Then one day, I was taking a walk through the park on orders from my doctors and I saw her canoodling on a bench with Bryce Donaldson."

"The bully that made fun of everyone in high school?"

"That's the one. Apparently, he was her boss and they started dating while I was overseas. Broke my heart into pieces. I was planning on proposing to her once my last surgery was over. When I confronted her later that day, she didn't deny it. Iola screamed at me, saying that she stopped waiting for me to come home. And when I did, she called me an invalid because of my bum leg."

"Ouch."

"Yep. What a way to stab a man in the heart." Joe sighed in defeat. "What she didn't know was that I was nearly healed and the 'bum leg' she called only hurt when bad weather was coming or I sat too long. It wouldn't infringe on anything...else I could do if you get my meaning. But, she didn't want to listen. She didn't want to be a nursemaid instead of a wife, which is not what I would have wanted either. They eventually moved in together but when she found out she was pregnant, Bryce left her for another woman. Moved on from her. Iola lost the baby not long after. She's been trying to call me ever since."

"That's what Aunt Trudy was talking about at the station," Frank said thoughtfully. "I'm sorry, Joe. I'm sorry that I wasn't here for you when Iola hurt you. She just didn't seem the type to do something like that, to be honest."

"No, she's not the type. I blame Bryce for it. He corrupted her and took advantage of her. From what I heard, he's still going from girl to girl. Vanessa brought me out of it. She's the best thing that ever happened to me."

Frank bowed his head in thought. "I wish this never happened," he replied after a brief silence. "I wish I never bought those jewels. Then Mom would be here and we would have never grown apart."

"It's not your fault, Frank," Joe scoffed, waving his hand dismissively. Frank looked at him as his brother smiled. "It was inevitable that it happened. If it didn't, something else could have happened for all we know. It's the cards that were given to us. You couldn't have predicted the significance of those jewels either, which I'm still trying to figure out myself. Martinelli hasn't said anything more than what he already told us. He said he was waiting for you. And Dad and Collig are arguing over why Dad didn't say anything about knowing either Martinelli or Angelo Biancci so Martinelli hasn't had the chance to say anything."

"Dad didn't say the reason he kept that from us?"

"No. Only that he didn't think we needed to know." Joe leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. "I think we do now. It's not something that should be kept a secret. Besides, what if Dad was a mobster too as a kid. That would be a story to tell."

"No," Frank shook his head, "I think Dad will tell us when he's ready. But I don't think he was a mobster."

"I can dream, though," his brother chuckled. "Anyway, what did you do with the jewels? Collig said something about you burying them with Mom? Tell me that's not true."

"It is," Frank sighed, nodding. "After Mom died, I didn't know what to do with the necklace or the ring. I bought the ring for Callie. I was thinking about proposing to her but I changed my mind after talking it over with Mom moments before she died. I was going to break it to Callie then…"

"I get it," his brother bowed his head. "Callie wasn't the same for a while after you left. Then she met Henry."

"Is she happy?"

"Yeah," Joe nodded. "She's on her fourth kid now. They live over in Southport, in a house with a white picket fence. I'm sure if you called, she wouldn't mind hearing from you. Callie got over you a long time ago and isn't holding a grudge. She just wants you to be happy, wherever you are. I take it that the necklace was for her too?"

"Actually, no. It was for Mom's birthday. I didn't have a gift for her so since the clerk at the pawn shop included it in the price, I took advantage of it."

"You bought them at a pawn shop? Really?"

"Hey, I wasn't in my right mind," Frank pointed out. "I was never in my right mind back then. Callie kept pushing to get married and I wasn't sure if I wanted to. Like I told Mom, I felt like there was something more out there for me instead of being married and having kids."

"Maybe...someone else came to mind?" He looked confused as Joe grinned. "There was someone else. Finally, you admit it!"

"You are such a brat."

"I like the term 'annoying little brother' better," Joe said proudly. "You still feel the same way?"

"I'm not sure, Joe." He glanced at Nancy, feeling his face warm. Frank cleared his throat then turned back to his brother. "Ask me in a week or so once this whole thing blows over."

"Okay, we'll come back to it." Joe followed Frank's gaze and smirked knowingly. He sat back in the chair, thinking about the events of the last few days. Although his memory wasn't that great, something was nagging at the back of his mind. Joe glanced at Frank as a thought came up. "You said you buried the jewels with Mom, right?"

"Yeah, do I need to repeat myself, Joe?"

"No, no, no," he shook his head. "It's just a thought but were they in something?"

"Yeah," Frank nodded, giving his brother a curious look. "I put them in a velvet bag to protect them. Why do you ask?"

Joe got quiet for a moment, staring at the floor. What was it that I remember? Then it hit him but before he could say anything, Fenton, Collig, and Martinelli walked over to them.

"Frank," Fenton called out, "Vinny wants to talk to you, even though I don't want him to."

"Wait, Dad…" Joe started.

"Not now, Joe," Fenton stopped him.

"What do you want to know?" Frank stated, rising from his chair. "I don't know where the jewels came from and frankly, I'd rather forget about them."

"Frank, wait," Joe replied, quickly getting up. "There's something you need to know."

Nancy went up to him, placing a hand on his shoulder as everyone else continued to ignore Joe. She gave him a quizzical look and he whispered something in her ear. Nancy's eyes went wide and she looked at Frank who was now arguing with Martinelli.

"I told you I buried them!" Frank yelled. "There's no way to get to them and I'm not letting anyone disturb her grave!"

"You do realize that whoever is the buyer," Martinelli stated, his face turning red in anger, "They're gonna come after you and your family and I doubt that this time you're gonna see it coming. I highly doubt you want your friend to get hurt either because she'll be the first one who's gonna get hit!"

"I know that!" he said back. "I would do anything to stop that but I can't help you! And I don't think Dad will agree to that. You still haven't said anything that would help us in the case! Where are these jewels from and how do you know?"

"They're from Europe," the mobster finally announced. "They're part of a larger set and apparently, the buyer ain't too happy with Mr. Tannen. That's all I know. I came here to make sure things were set right. I didn't know anything else. You have to ask Tannen that. Besides, coming here gave me an excuse to see my old friend, Fen, here. I don't want to see anything happen to you or your girl."

"She's not my girl."

"Sure, she isn't."

At that moment, Nancy stepped in front of Frank, her eyes blazing. "You need to let Joe talk," she croaked. It was obvious that it pained her to speak but their eyes weren't on her but on Joe. The others all turned toward the youngest Hardy who looked nervous as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Joe?" Fenton asked. "What's going on?"

"I didn't know," Joe started, fidgeting with his hair.

Martinelli replied, "What didn't you know, kid?"

Joe looked up at Frank, apologetically, his eyes watering. "There are things I can't remember and there are things I don't want to remember but when you said that you buried those jewels, something came to mind."

"What are you talking about?" Frank inquired, confused. "You wouldn't have known anything about me doing that. There was nobody there when I put them in the coffin."

His brother bowed his head. "I saw you, Frank. I watched you after you broke up with Callie. I followed you back into the church before we left for the cemetery. I was so angry at you that I didn't care what happened or what I did. When I saw you place the bag in with Mom, I waited until you were gone."

"You didn't."

"I didn't want you to give anything to her after what happened," Joe sadly admitted. "I never looked into the bag I just took it after you left the room. Then you left me behind. You left me to fend for myself! I forgot all about it until Collig mentioned something about the jewels being buried and then our conversation just now. Had I looked inside the bag, we wouldn't be here. Nancy wouldn't have almost died and Dad and I wouldn't have been taken. I'm sorry. I was stupid."

A silence hung in the air as the group stood dumbfounded. Joe felt the tears flow from his face and Nancy went over to him, embracing him. Frank stared at the floor but he wasn't mad. He was relieved. Fenton stared at the ceiling, saying a silent prayer as Martinelli smirked, shaking his head. Collig was the only one who seemed angry.

"You mean to tell me that you could have ended this days ago?" he spat angrily.

"Ezra," Fenton calmly replied, holding up his hand to stop the man, "if Joe had remembered, Frank wouldn't be here." Joe looked at his father in surprise. Fenton smiled. "I believe him when he says he didn't know. You weren't stupid, Joe. You were being you. Where is the bag now?"

"At home," he answered, wiping his face. "I threw it in my closet."

"Great," Frank quipped with a chuckle. "We'll find it in another eight years."

Author's Note:

I am so sorry that it took so long to get this chapter out. Life decided to throw several curve balls at us and my brain decided to take a trip to La La Land. My apologies to everyone. Thank you to norsilaudin for calling me out on this. I will do my best to make sure that the rest of the story gets out a little quicker. I had a little hard time with this chapter but last night I had an epiphany with it and realized that this was what I wanted. I wanted Frank and Joe to talk before the rest of the story continued. They needed to let off some steam...and a few revelations themselves. Thank you to all who have faithfully stuck it out with me as we continue the journey. We are almost done and we need to find out a few more things before the end so bear with me for a little while longer. Thank you to everyone who read the previous chapter and a special thanks to those who left a review! I appreciate the kind words and your thoughts on the story. I hope that you enjoyed the latest addition and, if you will, please leave a review to let me know what you think! Have a great weekend and God bless! Much love to you all!