Joe released from hospital. He was going to Frank's condo to rest but instead he helped Tony save his pizzeria from foreclosure. Since he needed a ride while Tony signed papers at the bank, Joe called Biker. Realizing Biker was really sick, Joe dragged him to a free clinic. Frank had to meet with the FBI. He got into their computers and realized the only people who had a worse track record of catching Shark were the FBI.
"But Those Who Hope In The Lord Will Renew Their Strength. They Will Soar On Wings Like Eagles; They Will Run and Not Grow Weary, They Will Walk and Not Be Faint." Isaiah 40:31
JOE - IN FRANK'S EXTREMELY NEAT CONDO
I slam the front door in Biker's face. Getting him to the clinic cost me. I limp to Frank's couch and collapse. I grit my teeth against the waves of pain coming off my leg. I close my eyes. Nothing is getting me off this couch.
Someone knocks on the front door.
"Delivery."
"Leave it!" I shout.
"Gotta have a signature."
If Frank was here, I would force myself to walk to the door without limping. Thank God, I'm alone.
"Need you to sign for this."
"Not happening," I say in a voice far weaker than I'd hoped.
I hear a metallic click. The front door opens. The delivery guy walks inside.
FRANK - INSIDE HIS CAR BEFORE HITTING THE CONDO
I can hear everything on the security system at my condo.
"Need you to sign for this," the delivery guy says.
"Not happening," Joe replies.
I can tell from his voice, my brother is in rough shape.
I hear a click.
"Joseph. We meet again."
The sound of Shark's voice hits me like a physical blow.
"Surprised to see me?" Shark taunts.
Stall him, Joe. I'm on my way.
"No. Looks like I win the pool," Joe says.
"Pool?"
"Yeah. I guessed you would break in by 12:30. What time is it?"
"12:45."
"I told Frank you were smarter than you looked."
Keep him talking, Joe.
"Joseph, this is not a trap. You are hurt and alone."
"Would Frank leave me hurt and alone?" Joe asks.
"No," Shark mumbles.
Yes. I did. But I cannot afford the luxury of guilt. I push down my emotions and the gas pedal.
JOE - STILL STUCK ON THE COUCH
"Would Frank leave me hurt and alone?" I ask.
"No," Shark mumbles.
While Shark searches Frank's living room for the ficitonal trap, I look for a weapon.
I'm stuck on the couch. Any object within arm's reach could be a weapon. Unfortunately, Frank is the world's biggest neat freak. His bad habit of picking up after himself (and me) means the coffee table is bare. If I survive, I will have a cleaning intervention with Frank.
I mutter my favorite prayer.
"God, I've been stupid. Help."
I grit my teeth and force myself to stand.
"Hardy, you don't look good," Shark says.
"I don't look good? Dude, you're wearing a purple jumpsuit."
"It's a Bayport Delivery uniform."
"You look like Barney on a bad day."
"Enough. I am going to kill you. Then I'm going to kill Frank."
Adrenaline rushes through my body. I have to stop Shark before he hurts Frank.
"How did you get in here without setting off the alarm?" I ask, as I inch toward the TV.
"Joseph, I'm a man of many talents. Don't worry. I rearmed the security system when I locked the front door."
"I was hoping you'd say that."
I grab the TV remote and throw it at Frank's living room window. The glass shatters. For a split second there is eerie silence. Then the alarm shrieks. Good news is Frank won't walk into a Shark ambush. Bad news is Shark looks angry.
"Bad move, Hardy," Shark points his gun at me.
I can't run. I'm done.
"Too bad Frank isn't here," Shark says.
FRANK IN HIS LEXUS
"Too bad Frank isn't here," Shark says.
No plan. No backup. No time. What would Joe do?
I push down the gas pedal, drive over the curb, through my front yard and crash through the brick outside wall of my condo.
The crash stuns me.
My eyes can't focus. I try to unbuckle my seat belt, but I can't find the release button.
JOE TRAPPED
I can't breathe. I'm pinned under a wooden beam.
Through the smoke, I see two hands lift the beam.
Frank?
I take a breath.
"Miss me?" Shark asks as he pulls me up by my hair.
The front half of Frank's Lexus is in the living room. What's going on?
I hear a crash. The upstairs toilet falls through the ceiling and lands on the hood of Frank's Lexus.
Still in shock, I watch Shark fire a round of bullets into the windshield of the Lexus.
"Frank is dead! Now it's your turn, Joseph."
FRANK - SITTING IN WHAT IS LEFT OF HIS LEXUS
My fingers find the seatbelt release button. As my seatbelt retracts, I fall against the passenger door. Glass shatters all around me as bullets shatter my windshield. My hand finds the passenger door handle. When the door opens, I fall out into a smoke-filled room.
Too weak to stand, I crawl on my hands and knees.
"Frank is dead!" Shark shouts. "Now it's your turn, Joseph!"
Shark holds a knife against my brother's throat.
"Any last words, Joseph?" Shark asks.
"Leave my brother alone!" I shout and tackle Shark.
I land on top of Shark. He has lost his knife, but he grabs his gun from its holster. He fires, but I twist his arm. The bullet hits the burning ceiling.
"Why are you so hard to kill?" Shark asks.
He hits my shoulder with the gun. I Iose my grip on Shark. He rolls out from under me. I look up and find myself staring into the muzzle of Shark's gun.
"Time to die, Frank," Shark says.
A white toilet seat hits Shark in the head.
"Ten points!" Joe shouts. "Hey, how are we getting out of here?"
We are surrounded by flames. There is only one possible way out.
I grab Shark and toss him in the backseat of the Lexus. Joe climbs in after him.
I hop in the driver's seat and turn the key. Nothing.
God, please get us out of here.
I turn the key again. The engine catches. I hit reverse and push on the gas pedal.
The sudden speed slams me against the seat. We back out and end up in my neighbor's yard across the street.
"You ok?" I ask Joe.
He nods.
Someone opens the driver's door.
"What's going on here? First you blow up Main Street, now you have destroyed Fox Run!" Mr. Greene shouts.
Before I can say anything, Joe walks around the front of the truck with Shark. A white toilet seat hands around Shark's neck.
Shark looks dazed.
"I'll always be after you. I'll escape wherever you put me," Shark says. "I won't stop until you are dead. You will live in terror."
The words catch me off guard.
"Dude, if anybody should be terrified, it's you," Joe says. "Our cleaners are on a month-long cruise. I can't remember the last time that toilet seat you are wearing was cleaned."
Shark goes pale.
"Y-you don't understand. I will hunt you the rest of my..."
"Listen Baby Shark, every person we put away says the same thing," Joe says.
A black helicopter hovers overhead. It lands by the fire trucks.
"Gray," I whisper and stare at the most ordinary-looking and deadly man I have ever met.
Gray nods at Shark. Four heavily armed men surround Shark.
"Make sure he is ready to transport," Gray says.
Two men cut off Shark's shirt. A gun is taped to Shark's back.
"Diehard," Joe says. "It looked like a good idea in the movie."
One of Gray's men rips the heavy duct tape off Shark's back.
Shark screams in pain.
"Gray, nice of you to stop by," Joe says.
I've never understood the back and forth between Joe and Gray.
"I was in the neighborhood," Gray says.
A convoy of black government vehicles with flashing red lights pulls up.
"Hold it. This is my collar," Agent Smith says.
His men slide a strait jacket over Shark's arms and fasten it closed.
"Load him," Gray says.
"Hold it!" Agent Smith shouts. "He killed two of my agents!"
"I know. He will be alone in a 7 by 12 cell twenty-three hours a day," Gray says.
"Stand down," Agent Smith shouts.
Her agents lower their guns.
"He's all yours," Agent Smith says.
"Wait! I have rights!" Shark shouts as he is loaded on the helicopter.
Gray boards the chopper and it takes off.
JOE AT THE HOSPITAL
"You need a cast," Dr. Tager says.
"I just got out of a cast!"
"I know. Yesterday I cut off your leg cast. But since you didn't rest your leg, you are back in a cast," Dr. Tager says.
"No way! Forget it!
"Does risking permanent damage sound like a better option?" Dr. Tager asks.
"I'm not wearing a cast!"
"You leave me no choice," Dr. Tager says.
He leaves.
Two minutes later he is back with Frank.
"Frank, just discussing with Joe if he would prefer a leg cast or permanent leg damage," Dr. Tager says.
Frank looks bad. Black eye, swollen lip and bleeding nose.
"Hey, you can't discuss my medical information with him!" I shout.
"That only applies if I'm treating an adult," Dr. Tager says.
"I don't want a cast!"
"I'll give you two a minute alone," Dr. Tager says and leaves.
"I'm not getting a cast!"
"Decisions have consequences," Frank says. "Did you rest your leg yesterday?"
"Yes."
Frank gives me "the look."
"So you went directly home from the hospital to rest your leg?"
"I'm not getting a cast!"
"Your choice."
"Really?"
"Yes. But I can only work with a partner who can watch my back. Sounds like you can't do that."
"I can't watch your back in a cast!"
"I can wait until your cast comes off."
"No!"
"This isn't up for discussion."
"I'm not doing it!"
"Your choice," Frank says and leaves.
I feel stupid and alone.
"You want the cast?" Dr. Tager asks.
All I can manage is a nod.
A nurse puts a small, round pillow under my knee.
While she holds my foot up, Doc Tager puts a beige stocking on my foot and rolls it up to my knee. He wraps a beige bandage around my leg. I grit my teeth. This has to happen. I can handle it.
"You ok?" Dr. Tager asks.
I nod.
He wets more bandages around my leg under the knee and around my foot. I feel like a trapped animal.
"When this dries, I'll put on the walking boot and you are good to go," Dr. Tager says. "I'll check on you in a few minutes."
"Attention Code Blue in Room 325. Code Blue in Room 325," someone says over the PA system.
Dr. Tager and my nurse run out the door.
I grab the walking boot and strap it over my cast.
I need to get out of here. The chaos from the Code Blue covers me walking down the hall and out of the hospital.
Frank - At the Hospital
Exhausted. I have not slept in 24 hours. I am dealing with federal, state and local authorities.
I am not in the mood to deal with anyone.
"Frank," Dr. Tager says.
Dr. Tager walks down the hall without waiting to see if I will follow him. Trailing behind him like a stray dog, I follow him into an exam room. Joe sits on a table covered in bruises, cuts and a neat trail of stitches from his elbow to his wrist. I hate seeing my brother hurt. It always feels like my fault. Why didn't I keep him safe?
"I don't want a cast!" Joe shouts.
I take a deep, calming breath. I do not feel any calmer.
"Decisions have consequences. Did you rest your leg yesterday?"
"Yes."
I shoot Joe 'the look.'
"So yesterday you went directly home from the hospital to rest your leg?"
"I'm not getting a cast!"
"Your choice."
"Really?"
"Yes, but I need a partner who can watch my back. Sounds like you can't do that."
"I can't watch your back in a cast!"
"I can wait until your cast comes off."
"No!"
The last crumb of my patience crumbles.
"This isn't up for discussion."
"I'm not doing it!"
"Your choice."
I leave before I say something I will regret.
"Mr. Hardy, do you have any comments on what happened?" A TV reporter asks me as she shoves a microphone in my face. Her cameraman blocks me from leaving.
"No comment."
"Really, you destroyed Main Street and Fox Haven. You have nothing to say. Not even an apology to those whose homes have been destroyed."
I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
"I do not have government clearance to tell you anything. I am sorry for the destruction."
I walk toward the cameraman so quickly he falls over.
My phone rings.
"Hardy."
"I have wired some money to your account."
"Gray, I do not want your money." Being connected to Gray is my worst nightmare.
"It's not my money. There was a reward for capturing Shark."
Gray disconnects before I can respond.
I have to find Joe. I'll bring him a burger and fries from the fast food place across the street. I walk in the exam room. It's empty. I dial Joe's number. His phone rings on the counter by the sink. I will kill my brother when I find him.
I grab his phone. I wonder how much it would cost to have a microchip surgically placed in Joe. My brother's phone rings.
"Hello?"
"This is the Bayport Free Clinic. Your test results are back. You have syphillis. We need to see you immediately for treatment."