Laura pedaled as fast as she could although she was growing tired. Stan hadn’t been lying when he said they were miles away from anyone. If only she had thought to bring some water! Breathing heavier than before, she put on another burst of speed, pushing the pedals hard as the road began an incline.

She wondered how much time she had left before Stan came after her. She gave a faint smile as she thought about the way Joe had conned Stan into staying with him that morning. She had heard the remark Joe made about not being any good at Algebra. It was a good thing Stan didn’t know she had been studying to be a teacher for high school algebra when she met Fenton. Of course, she realized that was really one of the few things Stan didn’t know. He had talked to her many times over the years but he had never waited to hear about anything even remotely related to her life with Fenton. How could I have been so stupid? she wondered. She should have known something wasn’t right with Stan.

As Laura reached the crest of the small hill a large van hurtled over it. She put on the break and skidded to a stop as the van and the two police cars that were following it did the same thing.

“Laura!” shouted Fenton as he leapt from the van and ran to her side.

Laura threw her arms around her husband’s neck as he pulled her close. “It’s Stan,” she informed him.

“We know,” Fenton whispered against her hair. “What are you doing here? Where’s Joe?”

Laura pulled back as Frank and one of the policemen came over to join them. “At the house,” she said. “Stan put Joe’s leg in a heavy case so he can’t even walk. Joe was keeping him occupied this morning so I could get to a phone and call for help.”

“Where’s the house?” demanded Frank. He was relieved to see his mother but until he knew Joe was also safe he was remaining in investigative mode.

“About ten miles back,” Laura answered.

“It is the old McBride place,” said the officer. “Let’s move,” he instructed, heading back to his car.

Laura went with Fenton and Frank tot he van and the three vehicles continued their trek. They hadn’t gone far when a car sped past. “That’s Stan!” Laura cried out.

Frank spun the wheel and took off in pursuit. One of the police cars followed while the other continued to the McBride homestead. “He’s probably looking for you,” deduced Fenton, glancing at Laura.

“I don’t think so,” disagreed Frank. “He saw us. Why wouldn’t he be going back for Joe?”

“He who runs away lives to fight another day?” suggested Laura quoting an old adage.

“Or else, he has Joe with him and decided to run in case you made it to a phone,” Frank theorized as he floored the gas pedal.

“We’re losing him,” observed Fenton.

“No, we’re not,” replied Frank with a huge grin on his face as he slowed down. “Sheriff Lymon must have radioed in for reinforcements,” he said.

Ahead of them, Axemeyer was already being pulled from the driver’s seat by two deputies and in front of them sat two squad cars blocking the road. Frank put the van into park and he and his parents got out and hurried over to Stan’s car.

“Where’s Joe?” demanded Frank.

Stan ignored him and looked at Laura with a sense of loss and disgust. “How could you have left him?” he asked. “He never would have left you.”

“I didn’t leave him,” Laura defended her actions. “I went to get help.”

“Help? I was helping you! And Joe! Hardy’s just gotten you so mixed up you can’t see that!” Stan shouted at her. “I won’t give up on you,” he said. “You deserve better. So does Joe.”

“Joe?” asked one of the officers looking at them from the back of the car. “Blond hair? About seventeen?”

Frank ran to the officer’s side and looked in the rear window with a gasp. “What did you do to him?” he screamed, turning an intense glare on Axemeyer.

Axemeyer met Frank’s eyes but never said a word as the deputy radioed in for an ambulance. “He’s still breathing,” said another deputy who had opened the door to check on the incapacitated youth.

“Of course he is!” snapped Axemeyer. “I am not the one who hurts him,” he stated, turning to glare at Fenton.

“Get him out of here,” ordered the sheriff sensing Fenton tense up. Frank crawled in the car to stay with Joe until the ambulance arrived while Fenton pulled Laura to his side and held her tightly.

***

Joe opened his eyes slowly, afraid of where he might be. He felt a hand touch his shoulder and he turned his head to the left with a little trepidation. “Frank!” he exclaimed in delight as his face broke into a relieved smile.

“Hi, Baby Brother,” Frank greeted him.

“Mom made it, huh?” Joe surmised.

“Almost,” said Laura, coming into Joe's line of sight with Fenton. “Your father and Frank had already figured out where we were and met me on the road.”

“How?” Joe asked, amazed.

Fenton told about Rogers’ confession. “Once we obtained a federal warrant for the bank, it was easy enough to trace where the funds went to,” he ended, reaching out and ruffling Joe's hair affectionately.

Joe’s leg began itching and he reached down to scratch it, his eyes widening in delight as his fingers touched his leg. “They cut that thing off after they x-rayed it to see if any damage had been done,” Frank told him.

“What about Tarlton?” asked Joe.

“How did you know about him?” asked Fenton curiously.

“Stan said he called him and let him know you were after him,” explained Joe.

“Well, that explains why he left work,” Frank said and told Joe about Tarlton and Oliver.

“Are Chet and Biff okay?” asked Joe anxiously. The thought of his friends being hurt while they were trying to help him didn’t sit too well.

“They are fine,” answered Frank soothingly. “Biff even has his van back.”

“What’s going to happen to Stan now?” asked Joe.

“He will probably be tried for kidnapping,” answered Fenton. “Rogers swears Axemeyer isn’t crazy.”

“He’s not,” concurred Joe. “He knows mom and I aren’t his family.”

“Then why did he kidnap you?” demanded Frank in confusion.

Joe glanced at his dad a bit guiltily. He really didn’t want to hurt his father’s feelings but he had to explain. “Stan doesn’t think Dad is a good father,” he said.

“That’s crazy,” exploded Frank. “Just because we solve mysteries...” he began but went quiet when Joe shook his head.

“There’s more to it than that,” Joe said. “He doesn’t think Dad is around enough or that he cares about me.”

“Why would he think that?” asked Laura curiously.

Joe shrugged. “Did you know he went to every game I played until he was sent away?” he asked instead.

“Joseph,” Fenton put in quietly, taking Joe’s hand in his. “Just because I am not always there doesn’t mean...”

“I know,” Joe interrupted, feeling uncomfortable. “And I understand. Well, most of the time,” he amended. “I do wish you were around more,” he added, causing his father to wince a bit. “But I know what you do is very important and I know that you spend as much time as you can with us,” he continued. “I love you and I know you love me. Even if you are wrapped up in something, I know that if any of us needed you, you would always put us first. Stan just doesn’t understand.”

“You said you didn’t,” Fenton reminded him with a frown. “Some of the time.”

Joe shrugged. “It’s okay,” Joe said. “I just meant that was the reason Stan kidnapped us. He thinks you should be around more.”

“I got that,” Fenton said. “But you said...”

“Okay,” admitted Joe, realizing he had said too much and would have to fess up. “I do wish you were around more. I wish we could do the things that normal fathers and sons do.”

“We do things!” objected Fenton. Had Stan brainwashed him?

“Like going to the race together?” asked Joe watching his father’s face closely.

“Exactly!” agreed Fenton, breaking into a smile because Joe did remember.

“Where you were working on a case and had me check the cars while you kept the driver busy?” Joe asked. “Face it,” he continued without waiting for a reply. “We never do anything together that isn’t work related. You canceled the fishing trip that day I went with Stan. You said you would make it up and the two of us would do something later. It’s been months. When is later?”

“Joe...I...” Fenton faltered, trying to defend himself but unable. The truth of the matter was he felt he had nothing in common with his youngest son and was afraid.

“Would you mind turning out the light?” Joe asked, closing his eyes. “I’m kind of sleepy,” he lied, not wanting his family to see how hurt he really was.

Laura followed Fenton from the room after saying goodnight and switching off the light. “Joe,” said Frank softly, touching Joe’s arm. Frank knew how much Joe was hurting but he also knew his dad did love Joe very much even if he seldom actually showed it.

“What?” asked Joe, not opening his eyes.

“Dad does love you,” Frank said.

“I know,” Joe admitted. “But you’re more paternal toward me than he has ever been. I hate to say it, let alone think it, but Stan was right. He would have been a better father.”

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The Hardy Boys Fan Fiction authors of the Hardy Detective Agency 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.