Hardy Detective Agency

As the boys journeyed through the woods, Frank tried to focus on Joe and getting him out, something he had control over, rather than on his parents, something over which he had no control. Twice they had to circumvent Jarrell’s men costing them time, much to Frank’s dismay. He’d taken up a position at the back of the stretcher, wanting to keep a close eye on his younger brother. Although Joe never said a word, Frank could tell the small, but constant motion of the stretcher as they walked, was getting to him as evidenced by the frequent grimaces and the time or two Joe bit his lip to remain silent. Just when Frank thought they’d have to stop and give Joe time to recover from the continuous jarring, they finally emerged from the woods.

Immediately, Frank looked around scanning the area about the cars. With a heavy heart, he saw no sign of his parents, although he clearly heard their voices echoing in his head.

‘I’m counting on you…Take care of Joe…’

Swallowing back tears, he squared his shoulders and turned to Biff.

"Can we take your SUV? If we put the backseat down, we can slide Joe right in the back." He asked, appearing as in control as always.

"Sure." Biff replied as the boys headed towards his vehicle.

Tony and Chet, who were in the lead, exchanged a nervous glance. They’d known Frank almost all their lives and had seen him cope in situations that would have left most other people emotionally paralyzed and virtually helpless. They’d seen Frank get Joe through the worst times in his life and knew Frank could do that with ease and grace because he always had his father to fall back on. Neither of them dared think of how Frank would even begin to handle having to tell Joe their parents were dead, let alone pick up the pieces of their shattered world.

As they approached the SUV, Frank heard a car door open and shut, quickly followed by two more. Fearing Jarrell’s men had beaten them out and were now lying in wait, he spun his head around in the direction of the sound – and let out a huge sigh of relief. Phil, Fenton and Laura had just emerged from Phil’s car and were now walking towards the group.

Looking back at their friend, Tony and Chet noticed Frank’s slightly watery eyes and rapid blinking, grateful Laura and Fenton had reached their destination unharmed, resulting in at least one happy ending. Glancing down at Joe as he turned back around, Chet prayed it wouldn’t be the only one.

"How is he?" Laura asked, looking down at Joe worriedly.

"Fine." Joe replied, cracking one eye open and smiling at his mother.

Fenton had opened the back of the SUV and now helped the boys move Joe inside. Laura threw the backpack in beside him, and began to climb in, fully intending to ride in the back next to Joe.

Taking the keys Biff offered, Frank turned them over to his father. "It’ll take you about two hours to get to the safe house from here. I’ll call you the second I’m done testifying tomorrow."

"Safe house?" Laura asked, spinning around and staring at her husband and son.

"Yes." Fenton replied. "None of us is safe in public until after Frank testifies. We can-" he began, trying to explain to his wife that he’d worked out a plan to get Joe the medicine he needed before she exploded but he was too late.

"What?!" Laura cried out looking at Fenton in absolute disbelief. "Joe needs to be in a hospital not a safe house!"

Fenton looked at Frank before replying. "Honey, a hospital is the first place Jarrell will look for him. Frank hasn’t testified yet. Until he does, Joe – all of us – are still targets."

"Well, put a guard on his room then! He has to be hospitalized!" Laura said angrily, unable to believe her husband was arguing about this.

"It won’t help, Mom." Frank said softly. "Jarrell won’t waste time and effort trying to get past a guard."

"Then there’s no reason we can’t take Joe to a hospital – now!" Laura glared at both Fenton and Frank, her patience having all but disappeared.

"Laura," Fenton began softly, "what Frank means is Jarrell won’t bother to try and get Joe individually. He’d think nothing of blowing up an entire hospital full of people to kill Joe and send Frank a message. He’s a terrorist. That’s what they do."

‘He’d think nothing of blowing up an entire hospital full of people…’, Laura inhaled sharply, trying to process those words. "But…Joe…he needs antibiotics…"

As Fenton opened his mouth to explain Joe would get the medicine he needed that night, he was interrupted once again, this time by Joe himself.

"Mom," Joe said, in a soft, raspy voice. Everyone turned towards the SUV to look at him. "Dr. Gregory can call in a prescription." Joe suggested, referring to his family physician. "Sam can go pick them up." He looked at her pleadingly. "Dad and Frank are right. We have to go to the safe house. Besides," he smiled, "I want to see Vanessa."

Fenton leaned in and looked at Joe, smiling in thanks. That was exactly what he’d been trying to tell his wife. "The antibiotics will be waiting for Joe by the time we get there." Fenton turned and reassured his wife.

Not certain this was the best thing for her son, but seeing she was outnumbered, Laura reluctantly agreed to the plan. Climbing into the back of the SUV, she settled in next to Joe.

"I’ll call Sam and Dr. Gregory as soon as we’re on the road." Frank promised his mother as Fenton got behind the wheel and turned on the engine. He looked at Joe, who smiled at him.

"Take them down for good, bro." Joe said, in reference to Frank’s day in court.

"I will." Frank promised. "And you start getting better, okay?"

Joe gave him a thumbs up as Frank closed the hatch on the vehicle, waving to his father as they pulled away.

Handing Biff his car keys, he got into the passenger seat and pulled out his cell phone. Feeling a sense of relief that his family was finally safe from Jarrell, he made the necessary calls, then sat back and closed his eyes, only now letting himself acknowledge just exactly how physically and mentally exhausted he was. Within minutes, Frank was sound asleep.