HDA - Mistaken Identity by the Wildcat Ghostwriters Chapter 6

Joe Hardy sat patiently in the passenger seat of the Trans Am. It felt good to feel the cool air in his face as he sat in the car waiting for Adam to bid Alyssa farewell for the millionth time. But it was okay. The T-tops were off, the smell of pine filled the air, and the youngest Hardy decided to just enjoy the peace and quiet for once. As he sat there, Joe glanced over at the porch again. He felt a twinge of guilt fill his own gut as he thought about his own true love back in Bayport. It would have been so great if Iola could be there with him right then. She would have loved a walk in the moonlight in the country with the wind whistling through the pines. It was just so peaceful. The scene reminded him of the many times that they had ventured out in the woods on the Morton family farm. The Morton farm also had a grove of white pine trees that overlooked one of their three ponds. It was one of Iola’s favorite places and it was a secret romantic hideaway for the young couple. Iola loved to hear the frogs on those warm summer nights as well as the moonlight dancing across the small ripples in the pond. It made the small pond sparkle with a shimmer of diamonds. Joe always let on like it was "corny", but deep down he treasured the times that he had spent with his girlfriend under those pine trees and the stars. He figured that Alyssa was the same way. It was easy for Joe to understand why Adam loved Alyssa so much, enough that even a wheelchair would not make a bit of difference. Joe knew that if anything ever happened to Iola, he would make sure that one way or another that they would share the same memories… even walking back to their favorite spot.
Oh Iola, I can not believe how much I miss you right now. Those dark eyes, soft skin and the way that you turn your head when you smile and your long brown hair falls down by your face.

Then his thoughts turned to Alyssa. Even though Alyssa made it look so easy, her life must be totally different than what it had been before whatever happened to her. Joe knew that they told him it was an accident, but that is all he knew. He assumed it was a car accident, but that was just an assumption.

I never thought about anything like that ever happening to Iola or even Frank for that matter. I do know this, if it ever did God forbid, I would stand by the both of them. We would have a normal life doing normal things. Alyssa and Adam can do it; I could do it too.

The younger Hardy was so deep in his thoughts he never noticed that Alyssa waved at him and went into the house. He also did not even notice that Adam Kramer had walked back to his car.

As Adam opened the door, Joe about jumped out of his skin. Adam started to chuckle as he stood back watching the younger Hardy catch his breath.

"I thought that you was supposed to be some top notch detective boy!" Adam quipped as he took the driver seat.

"It is not like I am on an official stakeout right now either," Joe remarked back. "Besides it is my job to watch what is going on. Frank does the safeguarding."

Adam just shook his head and smiled.

"Well Mr. Wiseguy, who does what on your stakeouts?" Joe fired back.

"We don’t really do stakeouts. Jason and I are more into going undercover and getting in the middle of things than standing back watching things. But that is just because our cases have been like that. I mean we do a little snooping and staking, but probably not like you and Frank," Adam admitted as he turned the Trans Am on. Motley Crue filled the air after he hit the power button on his CD player.

"Finally someone with the same music tastes!" Joe commented recognizing the familiar song "Home Sweet Home". "Frank hates his type of music, but it really calms me down."

"Same here. Jason can stand it," Adam said as he put the car into drive and started to make their way back towards the Kramer household. "He likes country and some of the old stuff. I like the oldies too, but Jason just plays it and plays it and plays it."

"Frank likes different kinds of things, but mostly anything that you would find on a top forty radio station. He hardly has any CD’s because he listens to the radio on the Internet. He is such a computer geek."

"Sounds like Jason, except he listens to his country collection."

"You know Adam, it is scary just how much we are all alike. We both have fathers who are investigators. Our mothers have the same name. We are about the same age and do investigating ourselves. We both like the same kind of music and have the same tastes in girls. We both have snoopy older brothers."

"Amen to that one my friend!" Adam yelled out. "I swear, sometimes I feel like I just have to crawl out of my skin and breath because Jason hovers over me so much."

"I know what you mean," Joe nodded. "Frank is so protective that I can’t do anything sometimes. I mean, I am seventeen!"

"Exactly! You would think that we were both seven or something. Then there are those names that Jason calls me. That really gets to me," Adam commented. "This is my little brother. Now calm down my dear baby brother."

"Same here. Frank always calls me his "baby brother" right in front of people and right at the worst times. I don’t think I am a baby anymore. He is only a year older than me any ways," Joe said. "But it is nice to have them around I guess."

"Yeah, I don’t know what I would have done without Jason at times."

There was a long pause of silence between the two friends.

"But I know what you mean by just wanting to bust out and do something," Joe said. "But it seems like I never get the chance."

Adam’s eye brow raised. "So you have never done anything just for the fun of it?"

"I would not say that. But Frank is always around and let’s just he lets me know what is dangerous and stuff. You know, the second father syndrome."

"But Frank is not here."

Joe just looked over at the younger Kramer with a quizzical look.

"I heard you like fast cars," Adam said with a sly smile.

"Yeah, I do a lot of tinkering with our van. But Mom’s sedan and Dad’s car are not exactly hot rods or anything," Joe remarked. "Why?"

"Want to take a spin?" Adam asked, stopping the Trans Am in the middle of the county road.

"I don’t know Adam. I sort of have enough speeding tickets."

"Live a little Joseph! Frank is not around and trust me, the sheriff’s deputies are on the other side of the county," Adam said.

"How do you know?"

"Let’s just say that drag racing a few times opens you up to knowing when and where the cops are going to show up," Adam finally confessed.

Joe’s eyes widened at Adam’s confession. Adam noticed the look on his face. "What’s the matter? Haven’t you ever walked on the other side just a little?"

"I was accused of murder once, but of course I didn’t do it. I also drove a real racecar behind my brother’s and everyone else’s back. But that is about the extent of my criminal record," Joe replied.

"Just take a hold of her and try her out. Let it go. For once, feel free," Adam hounded the younger Hardy.

Joe thought for a moment.

Okay, if I do this and I get caught speeding and reckless driving, Dad is going to kill me! But this is one hot car. It is not a racecar, but it has been a long time since I have done something I wanted to do without Frank giving me a lecture.

He looked over at Adam, who sat there with an ornery schoolboy grin. Joe’s answer was made when he hopped out of the passenger seat without even opening the door. Adam let out a whoop and moved over the console to let Joe in the driver seat.

Once Joe was buckled and settled in, Adam looked over at him. "Now this is my baby and I just don’t let anyone take her for a spin. So take it easy okay Joe."

"As I said, I drove a race car! I think I can handle it just as long as you are sticking by your word that the cops are elsewhere. That way I can really let her fly," Joe commented.

"I know they are so lets just have some fun before we have to report back to our supervisors," Adam said, buckling in. Joe reached over and hit the play button.

"Now for my favorite song on this CD," Joe remarked as "Kickstart My Heart" ripped through the still night.

With a smile, Joe punched the accelerator. The old car sprung to life like it had just came off the showroom floor. Not only could Joe feel the front raise as the car gained more speed, he felt the adrenaline run through his own veins like fuel for his spirit. The Trans Am cornered like a dream, hugging the corners like it had magnets in its tires. Even the sound of the eight -cylinder engine was music to Joe’s ears. He could feel its power in the wheel as well as in his foot. Frank would die if he could see this!

He looked over at Adam. The younger Kramer was sitting in the passenger seat enjoying the speed as well. Joe loved driving down country roads back home as well. But the van just did not corner or give you the feel for the open road like Adam’s beloved Trans Am.

"This is a great car Adam," Joe yelled out.

Adam just nodded and grinned.

"I hope you don’t plan on telling Frank about this," Joe yelled out again.

"As long as you don’t go running your mouth to Jason," Adam answered back.

"I don’t know if it is just doing it that makes me happier, or knowing the Frank would kill me if he knew what I was doing that makes me happy," Joe called out.

"I know exactly what you mean," Adam replied. "I think it is a little of both."

Joe finally slowed the car down a little, but still about a few miles over the speed limit. It was amazing to him just how rural Emerald Beach was. Not one car had passed them and they literally had the road all for their very own. Adam lay back in the seat a little and closed his eyes. He loved the feel of the air coming through his T-tops. He was enjoying the moment until Joe spoke up.

"Uh, Adam?"

"Yeah."

"I thought you said the cops were on the other side of the county."

"They are on the other side of the county. Everyone knows that is where the only deputy in the county is at, waiting on Old River Road for the usual gang to go flying by."

"Then who is this coming up behind us."

"Probably just another car. We do have other people out here in the boonies you know."

Joe smirked at Adam’s comment. "I know that. But these lights are brighter and they are coming up on us like a cop."

Adam sighed and sat up. "You are just paranoid." Before he could turn his head though, a small red light appeared on the dash of the car behind them.

"Oh, this is just great! Dad is going to skin me alive for this!" Joe muttered as he began to slow the car down to pull it over to the side.

Adam looked at the car and his gut twisted and turned. Something did not feel right. Something definitely did not seem right at all. He knew for a fact that Deputy Whittington was on the other side of the county. It was then that he saw the second vehicle behind the car. That was definitely strange.

Meanwhile Joe was still griping over the fact that he was in big trouble with his father, not to mention having to listen to Frank and his sermon.

"I can’t believe that I let you talk me into this Adam!"

"JOE, DON’T STOP THE CAR."

"WHAT! You want me to get into more trouble! You are totally insane Kramer!"

"Joe, listen to me. DON’T STOP THE CAR FOR GOD’S SAKE!" Adam said calmly from the passenger side.

"Why? Why should I not pull over for a cop?" Joe finally asked sarcastically.

Adam looked over at Joe just as he was about to slow down the car even more. "Because it is not a REAL cop."