Fenton Hardy was mentally cursing and feeling totally discouraged when he felt the eyes on him. He looked up to see Joe, Phailin, and Harry standing nervously before him, a serious but defiant expression in their eyes. Frank stood close behind those three, holding Yuki in his arms. Frank’s rather protective stance as he hovered over the others had warned Fenton that this would not be something he liked, but would have to be handled delicately.

“Dad, there was something else we did not tell anyone” Joe began, then paused and started to fidget rather anxiously.

Fenton laid a comforting hand on Joe’s shoulder and gave his youngest an encouraging smile, even as he got a bad feeling in his guts about whatever these kids were going to tell him next.

“There were photographs…photos of us….” Joe paused. It was too painful still to talk about that. So he glossed over it knowing his dad could easily pick up what he did not say.

“And there were a few of the photos with them…with us…during that meeting.” Joe choked out those few words.

Photographs! Fenton repeated in his mind, his heart almost stopped for an instant. He had no doubt what those photos were about.

Then Joe continued, his eyes pleading for understanding from his father. Joe knew well the consequences for tampering with evidence. “We wanted to destroy those films and photos…because we couldn’t bear to…”

And Phailin interrupted, glaring at Fenton. “We knew we were destroying evidence. But those were us…were ours. ”

She added before Fenton could respond. “You have no right to disapprove of what Joe did. That was our decision. You have no right to blame us. To make us feel bad. You don’t know what we went through”.

Fenton had to smile inwardly. This girl had guts. He looked over all the kids again and felt his heart constrict with anguish for what they had gone through. No one, especially not little children, should have to go through what they had gone through.

The father took a moment to consider the situation before him. It was clear that the withholding of this piece of information had cost all of them. Fenton sighed. The only way left was to move forward for now.

“There is nothing wrong with wanting to destroy those pictures,” he told the kids, and then added in a stern tone “Though by doing so, you may have helped those who committed the crime to get away with the deed.”

Joe, Harry, and Phailin had all returned their focus to their shoes; their faces flushed red, the guilt from the knowledge of the consequences of their actions clear in their slumped demeanor.

Fenton ignored the fact that his elder son was glaring daggers at him. Frank obviously felt he was being too harsh.

Then Joe continued. “And dad, I was the only one who knew where those photos and the back-up CDs were hidden. And only one other person knew I was the only one.”

Suddenly, the significance of what Joe was saying hit Fenton.

“Are you saying you know who the leak in this case is?” He queried urgently.

Joe gave a quick nod, and tried to speak, but found that for some reason, his voice was stuck in his throat. He turned to Frank, who understood what his brother wanted and took over from there.

“Two things were not right about the whole situation.” Frank started. “One was the fact that the killings only started a few days before the trial date. The second was that the murder attempts continued even after it was clear that the case against them had weakened considerably. The only logical reason would be that there was something else out there that was still a threat.”

“Joe arrived at that conclusion.” Frank said the pride in his voice clear for all to hear. “Then he persuaded the others it was time to hand over the photos.”

Then Frank looked his father in the eye and said, “Dad, it was Cole Anderson.”

Fenton was shocked by the revelation. Cole Anderson had been his buddy since police academy, and they had served together as part of the NYPD for a short while.

“He was the only one who knew about back-up CDs, and that Joe was the only one who knew the hiding place. He must have known about the photographs too, because he questioned Joe many times about it, even though Joe denied it each time. Furthermore, isn’t it protocol for the FBI agent to personally inform the family of the victim, especially since Joe is still legally a child? And Agent Anderson did not contact you, even when Joe had failed to report in each month.”

Fenton digested the information that Frank and Joe had given him, over and over in his mind. And all the pieces fell into place, once he removed the assumption that Joe reported in monthly on his own.

“Joe did not come home. And Cole could not locate him. The key evidence was still out there. So they dared not pick off the witnesses early, fearing that it would tip us off,” Fenton finished off Frank’s line of thought.

And a chill gripped his heart. Joe had lived this long only because he had run away from home. And he had been safe in school only because of the exclusive nature of Red Creek Towers.

Then Fenton exchanged a look with his eldest, telling him that he was entrusting them all to his care. He got Frank’s acknowledgement before moving off. There was much work to be done before the day was over.

<O>

It was well past dinner time before Fenton got back to his family. Fenton decided to brief everyone despite the lateness of the hour so that they could sleep in peace.

He had Sam Radley and Con Riley go and pick up the evidence from the hiding place. Then they had cooperated with the D.A. to incorporate the new evidence into the case.

Then he and Agent Coolman had obtained an arrest warrant for Cole Anderson, and a special warrant to search all off Cole Anderson’s properties. Knowing that he had lost, the man had confessed to his role and even provided more leads in return for a reduced sentence.

Finally, the clock had struck midnight, and Laura stepped in and sternly ushered everyone to bed. They still had to be ready for court tomorrow, she reminded them.

Frank had lain in his bed right next to his brother’s. He watched Joe until his brother fell asleep. They caught the leak, and now had even more evidence than before. Then Frank allowed himself to sleep, secure in the knowledge that Joe was safe at last.

This case was over. Almost.

OHBHBHBHBO

On Frank’s Birthday:

Mr. Pan woke up early to find that Joe was already awake and sitting at the dining table. The breakfast was ready, hot and steamy, sitting on the stove waiting for him.

Joe was looking at the handcrafted wooden frame before him. Next to the frame were numerous sketches of a young man with similar features to Joe’s. Mr. Pan had known that was Joe’s big brother.

The old man looked at the sketches. They were exceptionally well drawn. Though what was interesting was the change in the nature of the drawings over time. The earlier ones had depicted the brother looking handsome, serene, and confident. In other words, perfect. The later ones had his brother in the midst of various activities. In one, the brother was frowning and chewing his lips as he concentrated on the chess board before him. In another, his face was screwed up in frustration as he struggled with a fishing line. In yet another, he was curled up in a couch reading a book with a contented happy expression on his face.

And Mr. Pan looked on with approval as Joe selected the latter pictures to place in the frame before wrapping it up and tying it with a bit of twine.

They went for their morning walk and practise together, each simply enjoying the other’s company. Then they returned and had breakfast together. Later, they went to work on the gardens, before taking their lunch break together. They went through the routines and it was like any other day.

But Mr. Pan knew that today would end a little differently. Joe had already told him why he had to go home today. His young disciple had a good grasp of symbolism.

After a late lunch, Mr. Pan bade his disciple follow him into his study. There, he had traced the genealogy of his line of Taiji masters, which Joe should know as a formal disciple. Then he passed Joe a small jade pendant and a pair of beautifully crafted hand daggers. It was something that each master passed on to his student, and one day, Joe would pass those on to his own too.

Then, the master gave his student a ride to town, where Joe caught the public bus back to Bayport.

The old man could not help but feel sad and lonely as he drove home alone. He sighed. Back in his house, he sat on the verandah which Joe had polished, and gazed into the garden which they had both planned and created. And he sat there till the sky turned from blue to a blazing sunset to a dark purple. Finally, he moved to the kitchen to prepare a small dinner for himself.

Something caught his attention. He saw a small package and an envelope on the table. Inside the package was a picture frame containing a sketch of them both practicing Taiji by Red Creek Pond. He read the letter and his eyes misted over. That disciple of his sure had a way with words.

And he smiled. Of course he would not mind Joe coming over every now and then. And he looked forward to meeting that clearly very special big brother too. Then he laughed. The heavens had been kind to an old man. Suddenly, the rooms around him felt brighter and livelier. Mr. Pan had the feeling that they would have more adventures together again before long.

The old man whistled a happy tune and started cooking his dinner.

<O>

On the bus, Joe looked at the pair of daggers and the pendant that was entrusted to him. He was both honored and touched by the magnitude of his Shifu’s faith in him. He recalled everything he went through, and the lessons learnt over the past months. Yes, it had been a learning experience. And he had turned out the better for it.

All too soon, the bus reached Bayport. And Joe got off the bus and made his way to Elm Street. But the closer to home, the more nervous he felt. Suddenly, he wasn’t so sure of himself anymore. After all his family had assumed he had run away from home. He supposed he sort of had.

And this Joe was no longer the same Joe of five months back. He had changed. He was no longer that innocent boy.

So Joe stood there, across the road, hidden from view, watching the festivities in his home. He watched all his and Frank’s friends arrive. Watched the light and shadows from the windows, and imagined the fun and laughter going on in there, which he felt he was not a part of. He watched the friends leave.

He watched his brother drive Callie home and return. Then he forced himself to approach his home. Coming home was harder than he anticipated.

Soon, he was standing apprehensively outside the kitchen door.

He rang the doorbell. And he waited.

Then the door opened.

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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.