Joe Hardy opened his eyes. The brief nap in the Gray Man’s car only made the exhausted youth more tired. He focused and realized someone was sitting next to him in the back seat.

 

"Welcome back to the world of the living," Chief Collig said, noticing Joe’s deep blue eyes focusing on him. "You’ve probably developed a nasty kink in your neck from the position you’ve been in the past hour." Joe moved his head and neck cautiously, knowing Collig was probably right.

 

"Welcome back to the world of the living, yourself Chief!" Joe smiled. He then became serious, "Did you really believe I wouldn’t shoot you to save Frank?"

 

"You’re no killer, Joe," Collig stated, "No matter how much you love your brother." Joe looked carefully at the police chief.

 

"You had more confidence in me than I did," Joe said softly. "I wasn’t sure whether I could kill you or not until it came time to actually pull the trigger."

 

* * *

 

Con Riley had finally sent Phil Cohen, Vanessa Bender and Callie Shaw to their homes, admonishing each to call him directly if any of them heard from Joe Hardy. He was a good cop and this whole situation was making his stomach turn. He didn’t want to believe for one minute that Joe Hardy was capable of killing the chief of police. ‘Joe, just turn yourself in so we can get some answers.’ he silently begged.

 

* * *

 

After stopping for a quick bite to eat at a fast food restaurant, the Gray Man dropped Ezra Collig and Joe Hardy off at the police station.

 

As the chief walked into the building, gasps, followed by stunned silence filled the atmosphere. The chief looked around at the police staff and paused.

 

"Obviously," he began, "Rumors of my death were highly exaggerated. I am very much alive. Who is responsible for the warrant out on Joe Hardy?"

 

"Ah...that would be Riley, Sir," stammered Officer Mike Fisher who was manning the front desk. "Shall I page him, Sir? I believe he’s still at the hospital with the Hardy family."

 

"No," Chief Collig responded, grabbing a set of keys on his way out the door, "Come along, Joe. We’ll get to the hospital right now." Joe followed Collig to a squad car in the police parking lot.

 

* * *

 

Phil Cohen couldn’t believe his eyes. ‘That’s Joe with...with Chief Collig!’ he thought as he drove past the police station. He grabbed his cell phone and punched in Vanessa’s phone number. ‘She’s never going to believe this!’

 

* * *

 

"I need some air," Officer Con Riley said out loud as he headed for the main door of the hospital. He ran right into a blond teenager, and began apologizing when he realized who it was.

 

"Hardy," Con scowled at the boy, "You’ve got some serious explaining to do!" He grabbed the boy’s arm, afraid Joe would disappear again.

 

"Let him be, Riley," came the commanding voice of Ezra Collig. Con stared at the chief, unable to find his voice. "Let’s find the Hardy’s, Riley. They deserve an explanation."

 

* * *

 

"Frank has a brother," Fenton Hardy was explaining to Dr. Hannah Takahara, "We’re just not sure where he is at this time." Laura Hardy began sobbing and her sister-in-law gently embraced her. Fenton had already told the women about Collig’s murder and Joe’s fingerprints on the gun.

 

"Alright," the doctor replied, unsure about what was going on, "I’ll set up testing for the three of you immediately. The sooner we find a compatible kidney, the sooner Frank will be well again. Follow me."

 

Chief Collig, Joe Hardy and a still stunned Con Riley entered the waiting area. Not finding the Hardy family, the chief inquired at the nurse’s desk for their whereabouts.

 

"They have all gone up to the 6^th floor to be tested as donors..." the nurse began.

 

"Donors? Donors for what?" Joe interrupted, panic squeezing his heart.

 

"Apparently their son needs a kidney transpl..." the nurse continued. Joe took off at a run toward the elevator bank. Collig and Riley did their best to catch up to the youth, but were no match for the young athlete. Too impatient to wait for the elevator to arrive, Joe dashed up the stairs, two at a time until he reached the 6^th floor.

 

Pausing just a moment to catch his breath, Joe went to the nurse’s station and asked about donor testing.

 

"I’m Frank Hardy’s brother," he said anxiously. The nurse sent him down the hall. "Thank you," he said, taking off again.

 

"No running!" the nurse called after the boy. She then noticed two police officers coming from the elevator and following the boy down the hall. The nurse stared in amazement, then picked up the desk phone. "Millie," she said, "You won’t believe what I’m seeing in this place today..."

 

Joe burst into the testing room, drawing the attention of everyone present. A pretty Asian woman and two other nurses were taking blood and DNA samples from Joe’s parents and aunt.

 

"Joseph!" Fenton cried, jumping from his seat and ignoring the protest from the young nurse. The man grabbed his son in a fierce embrace. "We’ve been worried sick about you! Don’t worry about anything. I’ve already called our lawyer and..." Fenton’s mouth dropped open as Ezra Collig walked in the room, followed by Con Riley.

 

"I don’t believe a lawyer will be needed, Fenton." the chief said with a smile, "But I believe Riley and I will be tested as donors along with Joe, if that’s okay with all of you."

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The authors have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.