-DAMAGE CONTROL-

 

‘So what’s going to happen now Dad?’ asked Joe, sipping at the hot chocolate his aunt had placed in front of him. The question surprised his father. Fenton had presumed that the aftermath of the case would be the last thing Joe would want to discuss right now!

‘Well,’ he said, clearing his throat, ‘there’ll be an inquest. Con said he has enough details from you and Frank to give to the coroner. He also has photographs and evidence from where you were held, the apartment, and Biff’s and Chet’s cars. I doubt seriously whether anyone will suggest there needs to be a trial.’

‘I should certainly think NOT!’ said his sister vehemently. ‘If there’s even the tiniest suggestion of putting Joe and Frank through any more, I shall be telling Chief Collig exactly what I think of the justice system!’

The whole group laughed, except for Gertrude who was deadly serious. As the laughter settled, Callie spoke up.

‘Do you think the press will start calling like they did the last time?’ she asked Fenton. Callie had personally hated the intrusion and she knew that Laura Hardy had found the invasion of privacy most disturbing.

‘I reckon the reporters should be told to back off completely,’ remarked AJ. ‘I mean, all those photo’s of you guys coming out of the court ended up plastered over Winter’s walls. It made it easier for him to track you down. As detectives, shouldn’t you get some kind of protection.’

‘I think I could probably argue something like that AJ,’ said Fenton, stroking his chin thoughtfully. ‘That’s quite a good suggestion.’ AJ shrugged off the compliment but was clearly stoked by the praise.

‘But once the story gets out about how Joe rescued Frank,’ said Vanessa worriedly, ‘they’ll be some reporters who’ll persist. They always want hero stories.’

Joe put his hand down forcibly onto the table, drawing everyone’s attention.

‘And THAT,’ he emphasized, ‘is exactly what I DON’T want. Jeez, I didn’t do anything heroic, and I don’t want everyone in Bayport reading about.. you know.. what I did!’

After a few moments of awkward silence, Biff had what he considered to be a brainwave.

‘Why does anyone else have to know?’ he asked, his face animated. ‘The press goes to the police for an official statement. They only need to give the basic facts. Frank went missing, he was found, and Winter was dead at the end of it. They can speculate all they want, but if none of us says anything, they’ll have nothing more than speculation.’

‘Yeah,’ piped up AJ. ‘And Joe’s under 18, so his involvement shouldn’t really be revealed anyway.  I have had some personal experience in this area,’ he added, his face reddening slightly.

‘Will the police tell John Winter what happened specifically?’ Frank asked his father.

‘It will be at their discretion,’ Fenton told him, smiling faintly. ‘And it could certainly be argued that it’s in Joe’s best interests for him not to be told. But for this to work, we must all be careful to keep the details to ourselves.’

‘As long as that’s what you really want, honey,’ said Mrs. Hardy to Joe. ‘If you want people to know, we’ll support you. You’ve done nothing wrong. The people who know you and love you won’t think any less of you.’

Joe shook his head. He knew how newspapers could twist words and sensationalise stories. He didn’t want his family dragged through all that. He met Frank’s eyes and saw that his brother understood.

Chet put both of his beefy hands onto the table, palms upwards.

‘Well, at the moment, the only people who know what happened are us sitting here and the police. I propose we join hands and take an oath that our lips are sealed.’

Silently, the group joined hands. Despite his doubts that this would work, Joe was moved by their determination.

‘We solemnly swear to tell no-one about the events of this evening,’ said Chet seriously. Everyone nodded their heads. Satisfied, Chet added, ‘And we jointly ask Aunt Gertrude to get cracking on a fresh batch of blueberry pie tomorrow.’

‘You young scoundrel!’ scolded Aunt Gertrude as the group broke hands and laughed.

‘If you’ll excuse me, I have a couple of phone calls to make,’ said Fenton, leaving the table.

‘And I think I’ve had more than enough excitement for one day,’ announced AJ, standing up. He was warmly fare welled by the Hardy family and friends. Well, they’d become more like my family and friends as well, AJ thought to himself. It was a great feeling, equal to the relief he felt at Frank being back safe and sound.

‘I can give you a lift home,’ Joe offered as they stood on the front porch.

‘Nah,’ said AJ. ‘I like to walk. Gives me time to think about things. And you’d be mad to choose driving me home over spending time with Vanessa! I’m surprised you’ve left her to come out here!’

He extended his hand which Joe gripped and shook warmly.

‘I’m glad everything worked out,’ he told Joe sincerely. ‘I don’t know how, but it’s all worked out.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Joe told him, still holding his friend’s hand. ‘I’m sorry you ended up being dragged into all of that, but I’m sure glad you were around.’

‘Man, none of that was your fault!’ exclaimed AJ. ‘You didn’t ask Carson Winter to attack your family. I’m just glad I could help out. All you did was make me feel like part of your family.’

It was true. Despite the terrible events that had occurred, AJ had never felt so included. Frank and Joe had put their trust in him, shared their home with him, and given him the opportunity to help solve a serious mystery. AJ wasn’t stupid. He knew that there had been times over the last week when the Hardys would have been totally justified in suspecting him of mischief. He was the newcomer with a blemished past. But not once had they treated him with suspicion. On the contrary, thanks to them, he now had several new friends. And ‘Aunt Gertrude’ had practically adopted him! And the only thing he could think of that could possibly explain it, was because he had befriended Joe when he was undercover at his school. But how could anyone help befriending Joe Hardy?

AJ uncertainly pulled Joe into an embrace. Joe responded by hugging his friend tightly. Unaccustomed to feeling so appreciated, AJ felt quite overwhelmed.

‘Up to a gym session some time with me and Biff?’ asked Joe, clapping AJ on the back and starting to return inside.

‘Might as well,’ replied AJ, wiping his eyes quickly with the back of his hand. ‘I think I might have even stopped smoking already – thanks to your aunt, and some major stress earlier today!’

‘We’ll talk soon okay?’ Joe called as AJ began his walk home.

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.