To say Joe was angry when Frank told him how he burned his hand would be an understatement. It didn’t help matters that Frank shrugged off what Lydia had done. As he had told Joe, he expected her to react when he mentioned that Fenton was in Chicago. Frank downplayed his injury when Laura saw his bandaged hand. Aunt Gertrude mumbled something about being careless and paying more attention to what you were doing, but her face showed the concern that she felt.

It was just a little past five o’clock when Joe sat down at his computer desk, trying to work on his homework. He couldn’t concentrate, he kept thinking about Frank’s “accident”. He got up and walked through the connecting bathroom to Frank’s room. Standing in the doorway he quietly watched Frank sitting at his own desk.

“How’s your hand?” he finally asked.

“A lot better after Aunt Gertrude put that ointment on it.” Frank turned around to face his brother. “I’m all right, Joe – it wasn’t a bad burn.”

“It doesn’t matter,” said Joe with a frown. “You know she did it on purpose!”

“No, I don’t. For all I know it could have been an accident.” Frank had to smile when he saw the expression on Joe’s face. It was a mixture of disbelief and anger. “Look…I’m just holding off judgment until we learn more about Lydia. We really don’t know that much about her.”

Joe plopped down on Frank’s bed, a frown on his face as he stared down at the floor.

“I guess you’re right,” he sighed. “She really hasn’t told us much and I don’t think she’s even told Phil anything.”

“You’re right, she hasn’t – Phil would have told me if she had. In fact the only thing he did tell me was that Con found her,” Frank said.

“You think Con would tell us anything?”

“It wouldn’t hurt to ask! Let me call the station and see if he’s still there.” Frank took out his cell phone.

Before Frank had a chance to call Con, Laura called up to let them know dinner was ready. “I’ll get him on his cell phone after dinner,” said Frank as he snapped his cell shut.

“It’s a good thing he gave us his number!” laughed Joe.

“Mom, Aunt Gertrude, you outdid yourselves!” sighed Joe as he patted his stomach.

The two women smiled at each other, and Laura affectionately tousled Joe’s hair.

“Thank you dear, that was very sweet of you…but you still have to do the dishes.”

Joe let out a resigned sigh as Frank bit back his laughter. He glared at his older brother as he slowly rose from the table.

“I wouldn’t be laughing if I were you, Frank Hardy. You’re helping Joe clear up the table!” said Aunt Gertrude as she tapped lightly on the back of his head.

Joe stuck his tongue out at Frank who rolled his eyes.

“Real mature, Joe!”

“Maybe not but it made me feel better!” grinned Joe.

Fenton walked into the kitchen to find Laura and Aunt Gertrude laughing and Joe sticking his tongue out at Frank, who was trying to snap a dish towel at him.

“What’d I miss?”

Upon hearing Fenton’s deep baritone, Laura let out a happy laugh as she hurried over to her husband and threw her arms around his neck. Fenton let out a blissful sigh as he hugged his wife tightly.

“Dad, you’re back!” “Why didn’t you call?” Frank and Joe yelled out together as they went to greet their father.

“Wow, I should go away more often! I was only gone for one night and look at the reception I’m getting!”

“Don’t you dare!” said Laura, slapping Fenton’s arm.

“Are you hungry?” asked Aunt Gertrude.

“You mean Joe and Frank didn’t eat it all?!” exclaimed Fenton feigning shock.

“Ha, ha, Dad!” Frank shook his head as he went back to the table and began clearing it.

“Yeah, Dad – don’t quit your day job!” teased Joe.

“Everybody’s a critic!” laughed Fenton as he sat down at the table.

Joe and Frank waited till Fenton finished eating dinner before asking him any questions about his trip. Joe put the last dish in the dishwasher and turned on the machine; Frank helped dry and put the pots and pans away. Once done, they joined Fenton who was drinking a cup of coffee. Aunt Gertrude washed the plate Fenton used, then left to watch TV. Laura stayed, as she was curious how the case was going.

“Did you find anything out about Mr. Tanner’s attempted suicide?” asked Fenton.

“You could say that – it may not have been a suicide attempt,” Joe said.

“Dave Paulson called this morning – when they tested Mr. Tanner’s alcohol intake they found another substance in his system…so Dave had them test the alcohol left in the glass….They found a trace amount of the same substance,” Frank explained.

“Which makes us think that Mrs. Tanner’s death wasn’t an accident,” commented Joe.

“We also came to the conclusion that Lydia Barlow didn’t tell us everything. She either saw something or...” Frank sighed, ”or she had something to do with Mrs. Tanner’s so-called accident.”

“Lydia…you mean Phil’s girlfriend?” gasped Laura.

“Right now it’s just a hunch,” said Joe. “Frank was going to call Con and ask him about Lydia’s background.”

“Hmmm…very interesting,” mumbled Fenton.

He surprised everyone when he suddenly got up and hurried out of the room. He came back a minute later with a book. When he placed the book on the table, Frank and Joe saw that it was a yearbook. Fenton had marked the page Clair Miller’s picture was on. He flipped the book open to that page and turned it towards Frank and Joe.

“Do you recognize her?”

Frank and Joe studied the black and white photo.

“It’s not a very good picture…she could pass for Lydia but…”

“I have to agree with Frank….There is a slight resemblance but I’m not a hundred percent sure.”

“I have a feeling you two are going to miss school tomorrow,” smiled Fenton. “Instead of calling Con, let’s go see him in the morning. After we talk with him – we’ll go see Mr. Tanner.”

Joe and Frank liked that idea.

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Disclaimer

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.