DISSONANCE
by
Duckling
Chapter 27
The Chapters
Nurse Baker looked up at the large clock on the opposite wall and noted the time: 2:34 a.m. This would be as good a time as any, she thought.
Checking to make sure the vial was in her pocket, she got up and went to the storage closet for a syringe. After a moment’s preparation, she headed down the hall to the boy’s room.
Upon entering the room, the woman stood by the bed, regarding the scene. Moonlight filtered in through the slats in the blinds, bathing the sleeper with a silver sheen. For a minute, she could almost imagine the figure on the bed to be her Charlie. Entranced, she stretched out a finger to touch her lost child. Her fingers smoothed the silver-gold hair as she thought of her son. Her fingers suddenly stilled: Charlie had had black hair. This child was not hers.
Her features hardened and she blinked out of the trance. With a firm shake of her shoulders, she withdrew the syringe, stepped over to the IV and expertly injected it into the feed.
Taking a step back, she smiled in satisfaction. Very soon now, the boy should be dead.
***
Frank Hardy cried out, then sat up abruptly in his bed, trembling and gasping for breath.
“Frank?” a soft voice questioned as Bix reached over and flicked on a small lamp in the room they shared. He had been awakened by the other boy’s cries.
Frank continued to shiver and stare, unresponsive to either Bix or the light.
Bix crossed over to Frank and perched on the edge of the bed. The door to the hallway suddenly swung open and he saw Biff standing silent on the threshold.
“Couldn’t sleep,” the tall blond boy muttered. “He okay?” he asked with a nod at Frank.
“I don’t know,” answered Bix. “He’s not responding.”
Biff joined the other boy. “Frank?” Biff coaxed softly. “Frank, it’s okay. It was just a dream.”
Thinking that Frank’s nightmare might have been prompted from worry about his brother, Bix added gently, “It’s okay Frank. Joe is safe. He’s okay.”
Frank shot out an arm and grabbed Bix by the wrist. Wild, scared eyes bore into his own as Frank shrieked, “NO! No! Joe’s isn’t safe! He’s dying!”
Biff and Bix exchanged startled glances. Frank suddenly began sobbing.
“He’s dying. Joe is dying,” the elder Hardy brother gasped out between heart-wrenching sobs.
Biff somewhat awkwardly placed an arm around the other boy’s shoulders. He looked on helplessly as Frank continued to cry. It unnerved Biff to see his friend, usually so in control of his emotions, weep like this. And he didn’t even want to think about Frank’s statement: the thought of Joe actually, finally, dying was too much for him to bear. Surely Frank must have had some horrendous nightmare. Joe couldn’t die; he’d come so close so many times before and yet miraculously survived. Surely, he’d do it again.
Suddenly the phone rang ominously. Biff and Bix regarded each other with horrified glances as it shattered both the still night air and their peace of mind.
***
Light suddenly flooded Joe Hardy’s room as a harsh voice roared out: “Just what the blazes do you think you’re doing?”
Nurse Baker turned towards the door, stunned.
Confronting her was the powerful form of the night doctor, Dr. Alberts, his solid frame heaving with anger.
After yelling for security, the doctor crossed the room and hit the emergency call button. Joe’s pulse was erratic and weak. “I asked you what you were doing.” The man bellowed at the nurse. “What was in the syringe?”
A uniformed security officer and some nurses stepped into the room.
The woman stood for a moment, mouth open in shock before she simply responded: “Cyanide.”
The doctor’s face flamed with fury as he cursed.
Suddenly Joe went into cardiac arrest. As the guard escorted Nurse Baker firmly out of the room, the others worked feverishly to save the boy.
***
Fenton Hardy sat in the waiting room chair, stunned by this latest attack. Laura sat huddled beside him.
Biff and Bix sat on either side of a catatonic Frank
Con Riley sighed inwardly as he stood at the entry to the waiting room and regarded them. Their investigation had not been as thorough as it ought to have been. Had they taken the extra time to trace the whereabouts of Ruthers’ former wife, all of this might have been avoided. He dreaded telling them, knowing full well how they would accept the news. Fenton would be consumed with guilt, while Frank would be ablaze with fury.
Squaring his shoulders, the cop stepped over to the little group. Fenton glanced up at him expectantly. “Well?” the eldest Hardy asked.
Riley kept his eyes on Frank as he answered softly: “Nurse Baker’s full name is Ruth Baker Ruthers.”
Frank’s eyes narrowed as Con’s words sank into his consciousness. Fenton had turned as white as a sheet.
“After Ruthers was incarcerated, she divorced him and reverted to her maiden name.” Con finished quietly.
Frank turned cold, angry eyes on his father. Again. The boy thought. Once again, my father failed to protect Joe.
Laura gave a small cry and leaned away from her husband. How could he have failed to have noticed that? He was one of the best detectives in the nation. Reproach welled up in her blue eyes as she regarded her shaken husband. Fenton reached out his hand in mute appeal, but Laura jumped up and stepped away. She couldn’t deal with this now. Joe was hurt, once again, and Fenton could have prevented it. She walked over to the far corner and stood staring out through the window into the night.
Fenton slumped in his seat. He had lost them. All of them this time.
Let the author know what you think of this story
Home Library Authors Rogue's Gallery Vehicles Chums Message Board Rap Sheet Links Contact
Disclaimer
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.