Con Riley woke up in a cold sweat.   

Sitting up he swung his legs onto the floor and sat perched on the edge of the bed for a few moments, his chest heaving and soaked from the intensity of the dream.  

Or nightmare really.  

He just could not shake that something was wrong.  

Glancing at the time he shook his head.  It was 5:30 am .  

Oh well, he thought, might as well get an early start on the day.  

Standing up, he stretched and then smiled as his gaze caught the smiling face of a brown haired woman holding a cat.   

Rebecca.  

A lump formed his throat and he hurried to the shower.  Even after time, it still hurt when he thought of her.  With the pain came the loneliness….intense, overwhelming loneliness.  

And that made him think about the caller.  

Joe.  

The more Con thought about it, the more convinced he became that the caller was Joe Hardy.   

He was still bothered by the mixed signals he had received Saturday night from the twins.* * *

20 minutes later when he sat down at the small table and half heartedly finished a bowl of Corn Flakes, Con knew he had to talk to Fenton.  

Originally he had not wanted to do so because of his respect for the investigator.  Surely he would have picked up on it if there was something amiss with Joe and William.  But then as he stood up and put his bowl in the sink he was struck by a thought.  

What if Fenton hadn’t?  

From what the caller told Con, his brother was a psychopath.  He certainly exhibited the characteristics of one.  

…A person with an antisocial personality disorder, manifested in aggressive, perverted, criminal, or amoral behavior without empathy or remorse… 

And Con knew that they were the best con-artists around.  

It was not inconceivable to think that this teenaged boy, if he was a psycho, could have fooled everyone…and even under their noses…in their own home, was terrorizing his brother.  

Shuddering at the thought Con started to look for a phone number he didn’t use very often.  But he figured if anyone would know when Fenton Hardy was coming back to town, or how to get in contact with him, it would be Sam Radley, another PI whom Fenton worked closely with.  

Looking at the time, he hoped Sam wouldn’t mind an early walk up call.

* * *

Frank awoke with a start.   

For a few moments he was confused not understanding why he felt so horrible and why he couldn’t move.  His throat and mouth were parched, his wrists stung painfully when he tried to move and he couldn’t keep the pathetic moan from his lips.   

Frank’s head felt heavy and stuffy, his body ached from being tied, the burns on his arm were sore, his stomach was growling and he needed to pee.  To sum it up, he felt plain miserable.  

But then as the events of the previous 18 hours came back with fervor, Frank forgot his own discomfort as his eyes sought out the shadow on the floor.  

“J-Joe?”  He rasped his own voice almost unrecognizable to him.  Licking his lips, he tried, again, “Joe?’  This time it came out a bit stronger.  

There was no sound from the floor.  Panicking, Frank strained his hearing trying to pick up any sounds to tell him his brother was still alive.  For a few seconds he panicked…not hearing the laboured breathing from last night.  

But then he heard a soft moan and the sound was back.  Frank had never thought hearing the sound of his brother struggling to draw a breath would ever be comforting.  But right now it was.  

Joe was still alive and their father would be home soon.  

“Hold on little brother”, he whispered not wanting to arouse William’s attention if he heard them, “just a little longer… hold on.”  

The still form on the floor said nothing.

* * *

Fenton Hardy had just stepped outside the airport when a familiar voice called out to him, “Mr. Hardy!”  

The private investigator smiled and turned around recognizing the younger uniformed officer, “Con, I thought I told you to call me Fenton.”  

Con flashed him a smile.  Maybe someday he would feel comfortable enough around him to call by his first name but right now he was still too much in awe of the man…and that made this even worst…what if Fenton didn’t know… hadn’t noticed? How could he not?  

“Can I talk to you a moment?”  Con hadn’t really thought about how to broach the subject and was hoping for some inspiration.  

“Okay, a moment.  I’m anxious to get home”, Fenton admitted as the officer drew him a bit further from the bustling airport entrance.  

“Well this shouldn’t take too long”, Con started before deciding to just come out with it, “I think I know who the ‘just Joe’ caller was…”  

Fenton was confused for a second before he remembered what Con was referring to.  He was tired and just wanted to go home.  The more he thought about his strange conversation with Frank, the more he became convinced that something was going on.   

And as much as he hated to think so, he was afraid it might involve Joe.  

Over the years, Fenton had oft times butted heads with his more impulsive, fiery tempered youngest son.  He had thought that Joe would be more like Frank but he was completely the opposite and the investigator found himself at odds as to what to do with the child from time to time.   

As much as he loved his youngest son, Joe was just so…so…so persistent at time…even bordering on the obstinate.  

And Fenton was also concerned about what the effect that his and Laura’s absence might have on William.  The boy was settling in nicely and he would hate to see any setback in that.  

Now if only Joe was handling the adjustment so well…  

“Really?”  Fenton said, “Anyone I know?”  

Con hesitated before looking directly into Fenton’s dark eyes…so much like his older son’s…”It’s Joe.”  

“Joe?”  Repeated Fenton, not catching on, “Con tell me something I don’t already know…Joe who?”  

“Joe Hardy.”

* * *

William opened his eyes and yawned.   

He glanced down at his wristwatch before stretching.   

It was going to be a glorious today.  

Although it had taken 10 years of waiting, his patience was finally going to pay off…  

and he was going to get everything he deserved….including his brother’ life…

 

Sucks to be you Joe…he thought to himself…sucks to be you.* * *

Fenton felt as if Con had just punched him in the stomach.  He stared open mouthed at the cop before he finally recovered enough to say, “Excuse me?”  

Con was overcome with a strong feeling that this wasn’t going to go very well at all.  

“I said that I think the caller was your son, Joe, and that the brother is William,” there he had said and he continued quickly to try and defuse the situation as he could see Fenton working to reign in his temper.  

Many people never knew it but the investigator had quite a volatile temper himself… he was just better at controlling it then his youngest son, “I don’t know for sure…that’s why I need your help.  I was at your house on Saturday night and stayed over until the morning and I just didn’t like what I was reading from the boys…Joe particularly.  I’m convinced that something is going on.”   

Fenton still didn’t say anything although Con could see how tightly clenched his jaw was and he went on, “I wasn’t going to say anything to you until I could find out more information… but the more I think about this, the more concerned I am for both Joe and Frank. If I’m right, from what Joe has already told me, William is very manipulative and dangerous, hurting him at every chance.”  

“You’ve spoken to Joe?” Fenton said slowly.  His mind was reeling with what Con was saying.   

“Not since he called the Helpline”, Con admitted, “he wasn’t exactly overly talkative when I was at your house, but considering that William was only a few feet away, I didn’t think he would.”  

“Oh”, Fenton said chewing this around in his mind.  His first impulse had been to get angry over the insinuation that he had no idea what was going on in his own home, but the more he thought about it the more he realized that Con might be right.  They did have a problem but the problem wasn’t William.  

It was Joe.  

Letting out a weary sigh, Fenton smiled weakly at Con, “I appreciate your concern Con and thanks.  You’ve opened my eyes to the fact that there might have been something more serious going on then I was even thinking.”  

Con let out the breath he didn’t know he had been holding, relieved that Fenton was hearing him.  But then as Fenton continued, Con’s brow furrowed in concern.  

“Joe has not been handling this impending adoption as well as I had thought he would, “the investigator admitted, “He’s been moody, withdrawn, and evasive…just to mention a few.  I had hoped it would pass once he realized that we still loved him and having Will around wouldn’t change that…however I guess I underestimated just how he was going to respond.”  

Now it was Con’s turn to stare open mouthed at his long time idol…was he saying what he thought he was saying?  

Did he think Joe was the problem??  

“Excuse me?” Con finally managed and Fenton fixed him with a sympathetic look.  

“I’m sorry Con, it’s one of those ‘joys’ of parenthood that you’ve been spared…teenage angst and drama,”  Fenton knew about Con’s wife and unborn child and tried to put it as gently as he could but there was no way the officer could understand.  He didn’t have kids, “Joe is acting out.  It’s quite typical.  He’s going through a rebellious period, if you prefer.  If it was him that called you, I can guarantee he was just doing for attention.”  

Con felt a cold shiver go down his spine.  

“I’ve spent enough time with William that I’d have picked up on something if there was a problem.  I’ve dealt with enough psychopaths to know if there was one in my house.”  

“Would you though?”  Con asked honestly, “They’re usually very intelligent people who are masters of manipulation.”  

Fenton’s eyes turned dark, “Didn’t I just say that Officer Riley?  Look William might have been raised by the state but you can’t honestly expect me to sit here and listen to you try and convince me that he’s crazed maniac. A mixed up kid… maybe…but a psychopath… Riley that’s stretching it…far.”  

Con felt the ice getting a bit thin but as Fenton continued he knew he had no choice but to step out on it anyway.  

“However I’ll talk to the boys when I get home and remind Joe that it’s no joke to call up a HELPLINE and waste their valuable time. Now if you’ll excuse me…”  Fenton turned to leave.  

“Fenton wait!’  Con suddenly didn’t feel like referring to him as Mr. Hardy anymore, his opinion of the man lessoning the more he heard. Why was he so insistent on blaming Joe?  

The investigator turned back, an eyebrow arched in surprise to hear the officer using his first name.  

“You said that Joe has been moody, withdrawn, and evasive… these are textbook symptoms of child abuse, “Con used the ugly words and Fenton reacted…child abuse.  

“Officer Riley”, the detective’s voice was chilly, “I appreciate your concern… however there are things going on that even you are not aware of.”  

A couple of people cast curious glances at them, and Fenton lowered his voice as he continued, “I spoke to Joe when he was in the hospital before Will came to live with us and he told me he still blames his mother’s death on his brother.”  

“What?” this was news to Con who hadn’t been able to find out much yet.  

“Oh yeah”, Fenton continued his voice rising a bit as his anger was starting to get the better of him, “when the boys were four their mother was stupid enough to keep a loaded gun in their place.  The kids found it and it went off when Will was playing with it…killing their mother.”  

The officer was speechless.  That was horrible.  

“So if you want to know what is going on, I can tell you in a few simple words…Joe is punishing William.  It’s as simple as that.  And I blame myself for not realizing to what extent this might get, but I promise you that when I get home, I am going to have a serious talk to him and this will be straightened out!’  

“Fenton...” Con started again.  He remembered seeing Joe flinch when William looked at him.  If anyone was being punished, he doubted it was Will.  

“Riley, this is none of your business,” Fenton cut him off incensed at his persistence.  

“Fenton, you know as well as I do that anything involving a minor is my business...and the fact that I know and care for your sons makes it even more so, “ Con said trying to keep his voice low as he saw people glancing at them.  

"Yes Officer, MY sons. Keep that in mind.  Now if you'll excuse me I have to go home and see my family… why don't you go buy flowers for yours?”  Fenton knew it was cruel when he said it but right now he was too angry and it came out.  

A small flash of pain graced Con's face before he regained control and started to walk after Fenton, “Hardy!”  

And then before Con realized what he was going to do, Fenton Hardy took a swing at him.  Reflexively, the cop ducked and returned a powerful blow to his chin, staggering the detective.  

Immediately Fenton launched himself at the younger man and they scuffled as around them people were shouting…  

“Someone call SECURITY!”  

“Call 911!”  

“Officer needs assistance!”  

And then suddenly a big burly guy was pulling Fenton off Con and two others helped restrain him as a third helped Con to his feet and asked him if was alright.  

“Yes thank you”, Con said as he gained his feet and brushed his uniform off. Around him, he could feel the increasing ire of the men who were holding Fenton.  They were not very impressed that he had attacked a police officer.  

Quickly Con moved towards them and taking out his handcuffs he snapped them on Fenton and started to lead him away from the crowd calling back to them, “Thanks guys.  I’ll take it from here.”  

When he got back to the car, he undid the handcuffs and Fenton pulled away from him rubbing his wrists and then his jaw.  

“Fenton”, Con started but Fenton cut him off in a low, seething whisper, “Stay away from my family.”  

And then he pushed away from the officer and stalked towards the long term parking where he had left his car.  

Con watched him go before picking up his radio and asking to be put through to Collig and gave him a brief account of what had happened.  

The Chief of Police was surprised and then perplexed as his own instincts were warning him something bad was going down.  

“Head over to the house, I’ll meet you there”, Ezra advised.  Fenton might be his longtime friend, however if there was any chance that his sons were in danger, Ezra had to put their safety first.  

He just prayed that they were all wrong and that they would owe Fenton a big apology.

* * *

William opened up the bedroom door and was pleased to see Frank watching him warily.  

“How’d you sleep?”  he asked sweetly.  

Frank glared daggers at him, his own hatred of William was so intense it scared him. He has never felt this way about anything or anyone before. It the yin and yang of emotions.  

With the same passion as he felt love for Joe, he felt hate for Will… a hatred consummated in the dark by the fear of losing his brother and the knowledge of why.  

“Still not talking?”  William said as he knelt down beside Joe, “Too bad, I was going to give you a choice today.”  

“What are you talking about?”  Frank finally said wondering what the blond boy was up to now.  

“Well it’s quite simple actually”, William admitted as he gazed down at Joe.  And then touching his hand against his back he looked up at Frank, “We can either finish our little game from last night…” Frank shuddered, “or we can play the Mystery Game.”  

“The Mystery Game?”  Frank said warily.  

“It’s your choice Frankie…all yours”, Will didn’t elaborate and Frank closed his eyes praying his father would soon get home.  

There really wasn’t any chose.   

Frank knew what the other game was and figured the Mystery Game could never be as bad as that, along with the hope that a change in venue might afford an escape attempt, the older boy sighed and said quietly, his eyes never one leaving the still form of his brother,  

“The Mystery Game.”

 

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.