Dr. Greenland ushered the Hardys away from ‘Joe’s’ bed to give him a final exam before releasing him. As he carefully checked him out, he was a bit concerned about his behavior.  

Joe had been admitted to the hospital two years ago and had been under Dr. Greenland’s care for a week before he was well enough to be discharged. During that time the doctor had become fond of his young patient and they had developed quite a rapport. But as he tried to talk to ‘Joe’ right now, the young man was treating him with a fair amount of indifference.  

The doctor finally gave up any attempts at talking to the teen and finished the examination in silence. There was something about this that was a bit off, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.  

“Your back healed nicely,” he finally commented as he finished with the teen, “No scars – you’re very lucky.”  

‘Joe’ reddened slightly and turned his face away.  “Yeah I’m lucky like that.”  

“Well hopefully that cut on your temple won’t scar either,” the doctor commented as he watched his patient carefully – what was bothering him so much about the kid?  

“I don’t know if I’ll be that lucky,” ‘Joe’ said as he gave the doctor a wry smile. Inwardly William was counting his blessings on that injury. That was the one obvious difference between him and Joe - well obvious without having Joe remove his shirt, he was sure.  

William bore a scar from the bullet that grazed his temple when Fenton stopped him from shooting Joe.  

But now, the same area was covered with a bandage and had new stitches.  There would be a scar of course, because there already was one. But the three idiots who attacked him had given him a reason for one…now hadn’t they?  

“Now, like I told your parents,” Dr. Greenland was saying, “You’re going to be sore for a week or so anyway, until those bruises start to heal. So take it easy, okay?”  

‘Joe’ nodded his head and quipped, “as if I have a choice. You’ve met my family.”  

Dr. Greenland looked at the teen strangely for a moment before nodding in agreement. For that one moment the teen sounded like the old Joe the doctor remembered, but something still wasn’t right.   

Shaking his head, he decided that ‘Joe’ was just feeling too miserable to be himself anyway right now. He’d probably be feeling much better in the morning.

* * *

It was starting to rain by the time Fenton pulled his car into the driveway and Frank helped ‘Joe’ into the house. Although he insisted he was feeling fine, the younger boy was still a bit unsteady, so Frank kept a close eye on him as they went upstairs.  

Fenton and Laura followed behind them. The detective still had not told his son about the plans to have him put under Con’s protection, but he knew he couldn’t delay any longer.

* * *

“How’s your knee?” Frank asked ‘Joe’ as they went into Joe’s bedroom. He had noticed that this brother, while a bit shaky, wasn’t limping, and took this as a good sign. He’d been worried that the bullies had worked over the weak knee, possibly causing more permanent damage.  

William cast a quick glance at Frank not knowing what he was talking about – the knee? He quickly chose a safe answer as he sat down slowly on the bed; his head was still pounding. “No worse than before.”   

“Good,” said Frank as their parents came into the room behind them.  

“Joe,” Fenton said softly, “We really need you to pack a bag – we can’t put this off any longer.”  

Having no clue what Fenton was talking about, ‘Joe’ just looked at him but didn’t say anything. He’d already decided that the less he said, right now, the better it was - at least until he settled down a bit more into his new life and everyone had accepted him as Joe.  

Fenton continued, “But there’s going to be a change of plans. Instead of moving you to a safe-house, you’re going to go and stay with Officer Riley at his house – under his protection.”  

This changes things, William thought as he continued looking at the detective. Con didn’t know Joe as well as his family did…hmmm, interesting….  

“So take what you need, including your school books. And I’ll drop you off at the police station. Collig thinks it’s too risky for me or Frank to drop you off at Con’s house directly – we don’t want anyone to know exactly where you’re staying. Not even your friends.”  Fenton watched ‘Joe’ closely, expecting him to react in some way, but was pleasantly surprised to see his son seemed to be taking everything in stride.  

He continued, “Con will take you to and from school in an unmarked car. You are to go nowhere without him. Is that understood?”  

William contemplated that for a few moments. It would make things easier for him to stay with Con for a few days anyway, until ‘Will’s’ body was found and the extra precautions were no longer needed.  

However, as there was no sign of Joe anywhere in the house, the twin could only assume that Doug had done his job. Which meant Joe was waiting for him in Usher Hall and Will was very anxious to see his brother again….  

Hmmm, complicated, he finally decided, but not impossible.  

So nodding his head as much as its throbbing would allow, he said meekly, “If you think this is the best way…well then, I’ll get my stuff together.”  

Fenton nodded, satisfied that ‘Joe’ was going to go along with this.  “I do, son. If there was any other way I’d take it….But right now, this is for the best.”  

He glanced at Frank, surprised that his older son had remained silent during this.  But Frank just sighed as he sat down on the bed next to his brother and put a comforting hand on his arm.  “I agree with Dad. If there was some other way…but we need to make sure you’re safe first.  William is not going to get anywhere near you again….I would kill him first!”  

Both Fenton and Laura looked at Frank in shock. They had never heard such a tone in a voice before as when he said those last five words – it was chilling.  But then again, they weren’t with him and Joe that night either….  

Frank was William’s witness…and what he saw that night had been scorched into his memory forever.  

William looked at Frank, but glanced away before the older boy caught his eye. He had already learned that his brother and Frank were close – too close for William to risk the older boy seeing right through him.  

If he did, then Frank would know right away with whom he was dealing.  

Instead, he just nodded his head in humble agreement, even as his mind  was enticed by the challenge….I would kill him first….

* * *

Frank watched as his brother slowly put clothes together in an overnight bag. Something was bugging him, but he couldn’t place his finger on it. But it was something about the way ‘Joe’ moved….

* * *

The rain had just started by the time Doug pulled up in front of Usher Hall and smiled to himself. Things had gone very smoothly, and as he glanced around and saw no one else in the area, he couldn’t help but think of how Lady Luck was on his side.   

His side, but not the side of the teenager who was still locked in his trunk! That was for sure.  

He had no idea what exactly William had planned for his brother, but he knew it wasn’t going to be good.   

Getting out of the car, Doug paused for a moment and bit his lip. It wasn’t too late to turn back. So far it was only kidnapping and possibly aggravated assault; that was nothing compared to accessory to murder….  

But then as he thought about William and what his demented friend would do to him if he let Joe go, Doug went for self-preservation.  

“Sorry Joe,” he murmured as he reached to unlock the trunk, “But it’s either me or you…and I don’t know you.”

* * *

Joe’s eyes flew open as the car ground to a halt.  Where was he?  

And then it all came back to him, and he realized he was locked in the trunk of a car.  

Not good, Hardy, he thought as he struggled to keep from blacking out again. His head was pounding, and his vision swam as he heard the sound of a car door being slammed, and knew his attacker was coming back for him.  

Realizing he wasn’t tied, Joe decided he still had a little bit of luck left on his side, and hoped it was enough as he closed his eyes to pretend he was still unconscious.  Shuffling slightly, he felt something cool and metal and realized it was a knife.  Probably the same kitchen knife the other boy had threatened him with….  

Hearing the trunk being unlocked, Joe curled his hand around the knife handle and tried to prepare himself for what he needed to do.  

No one was giving him to William…no one!

 

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.