"Are-are you 100% sure?" Collig asked, his heart stopping beating in suspense. He shot a glance at his friend who seemed to be too shocked to react anyhow to Angelica’s statement. "Can-can you be mistaken about this man?" he asked as he showed the photo of Paul Stevenson to her again, afraid that the answer might be negative.

Angelica studied the features of the man on the photo. Both men in the room were watching her closely, desperate to hear the answer. Moment later, which had lasted eternity to Fenton, she scarcely nodded, "It was him….He was…of course, was younger, but…. I could never forget his fa-face…" her face turned wry as new tears stung her eyes.

Silence filled the room as the news were sinking in. When it finally hit, Collig’s face broke into a smile. Unbelievable! When all hope seemed to be gone! He had seen many happy endings to sad stories, but this one was in truth….miraculous. "Fenton, can you believe it?" the Chief was thrilled with joy. "Fent, do you realise what it means??"

He didn’t. Fenton stood rooted to the ground, his mouth opened in shock. Only when Collig touched his shoulder and he saw his happy smile Fenton managed, "You-you mean," he said in a quiet wavering voice, "that all these years you lived near me and knew all along who he was with?…And never told me about it??!"

Angelica lowered her head in shame and put her face into her hands, "I'm so….so so-o-o-rry…I…I j-just…" she replied in a quivering voice, choking with tears, "I just cared about my…my kids…."

"And what about my kids?!" Fenton could barely control his sudden anger. "Why couldn’t I care about my kid because you kept silent all the time??! You, how could you….." he was interrupted in his mid-sentence by the Chief.

"Fenton, it’s not the right time to accuse her of anything, he was a victim herself," Collig put a hand on his friend’s shoulder, feeling sorry for the distraught woman who was sobbing her heart out. "Besides, you have better things to do now, don’t you think?"

Fenton looked into his direction and again he felt dumbfounded. Could this all really be possible? I must be dreaming it. But then he caught Collig’s inquiring look which was asking him what he was still doing here instead of being with his son. His face lightened and he took a breathe in to still his heart which was threatening to jump out of his chest. But just then…. No, no, this is too good to be real. He knitted his eyebrows, "Ezra….Is…."

"Fenton, come on!!" Collig laughed kind-heartedly. "What are you waiting for?? You’ve heard her!"

Fenton looked at Angelica again, collecting his thoughts. It just couldn’t sink in. "You mean…that Joe is…is… actually my Joe?" his eyes went wide and his mouth opened. At the Chief’s nod he froze.

So many times before he thought, dreamt about how he would react when this day, this moment would come, and it seemed to him that he would be running around, screaming in happiness and laughing like mad, hugging and kissing people who’d be around, he’d be thanking Heavens for bringing his boy back to him…but instead, now that this moment came he simply couldn’t react. Fenton stood still, numbly staring at Collig, too shocked to realise that it was really happening to him.

"Oh God…" he whispered as his lips finally curled into a smile. "God, God, God, God…." he put his hands on his burning cheeks, unable maintain himself. "My boy, can this be true?…." tears of happiness welled up in his eyes at that thought. When he saw Collig’s happy eyes, he couldn’t help but laugh. "I have found him!! Can you believe it?? I've found my child! Ezra…I'm…..I don’t know what to say!" he threw his arms around his friend, pulling him close. "I'm just in Heavens! I'm so happy…"

"I'm sure you’ll be even happier when you see him right in front of your eyes," Collig responded, returning the hug and patting Fenton on his back.

"Of course!! Oh dear God, this is so unbelievable…."on the spur of the moment, he rushed to Angelica and gave her a quick kiss on her wet cheek. She instantly raised her shocked eyes at him. "Thank you!" Fenton sang, grinning broader and broader with each passing second. "Thank you!!! Oh God, what am I still doing here?? Where is he??" he asked, storming out of the room. "Is he still here?"

"I'm afraid, no," Collig replied, catching up with him. "He must be in New York already."

"Oh damn it!!" Fenton cursed, running to the elevators. "Give me his address! I'm going there right now!"

Joe didn’t say a single word since the three-hour trip from Bayport to New York began. Sitting on the back seat of Robert’s car, he was dumbly staring out of the window, shutting the outer world out. What he wanted most of all was to be as far away from that bewitched town as possible. First Paul’s story, then his terrible death and now it turned out that he was living side by side with his family. His real family.

He closed his eyes, recollecting every time he had encountered with Frank or Fenton or Laura. I even listened to him talking about how his father was "devastated" when I was gone… Total lie. They were glad to get rid of me…Dad, you were so right…They are terrible people. Tears filled his eyes as he remembered about Paul. What wouldn’t he give away to turn back time and save him. Or die as well…. damn it, why did he have to save me?… I wonder if he knows who I am….

Joe probed his jeans pockets and his heart sank. The chain Paul had given him. He left it in Bayport. If they searched the house which they sure did….And he dared to come to me today? He had enough impertinence to come and stand there, just looking at me, and then just wish ‘have a good life’, oh how nice of you, dear daddy… Joe shook his head slightly. This must be so to your taste…. On the other hand it means he doesn’t give a damn about me, so he won’t come after me. Excellent. But deep down inside he knew he wanted to look him in the eyes, tell him he knew everything and see his reaction.

No, no, he argued with himself. I don’t want to ever meet him again, Joe thought, rubbing his sore forehead. Damn this headache…It’s all his fault, if he didn’t come yesterday, I’d….tears arose in his throat again. Why the hell did it have to happen to me? Why couldn’t things remain the way they used to be? Just me and Dad and nobody else…I need no real family, I want Dad who cared about me… Joe threw his head back in order to stop the tears from falling down.

"Joe, are you alright?" Robert asked softly, watching Joe from his driver’s seat.

Joe nodded, turning his head to the right to look out of the window. He knew Robert quite well and he knew he could rely on him and be himself in front of him, but he didn’t want him to see him cry.

"We’ll be there within 10 minutes. I know you’re tired and you have a lot on your mind, if you want to talk about it, you know that I’m here for you," Robert forced a waned smile, trying to get Joe to say anything. Still, the teen was silent. "Do you want to talk? About anything you want?" he offered, willing to do anything to get Joe to stop thinking about his sorrow.

Joe shook his head, lowering his head and staring at his hands. Inside, he was grateful for Robert being so nice and caring, but on the outside he wanted to be left alone with his thoughts, no matter how painful they were.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" Robert asked nevertheless.

"Bring my father back?" Joe asked hoarsely.

"Joe…." Robert sighed, his eyes still on the road. "This is hard for everyone and I am not going to ask you to try to calm down, forget anything or whatever….I just want to help."

"I know," Joe answered quietly. "I know and I’m grateful, but.. I just can’t.. can’t stop thinking about everything…It’s like only yesterday he was here and now… he’s not coming home…" he bit his trembling lower lip. "I just can’t accept it…"

"He’ll always be with you. He’s your father."

I wonder what you’d say if you knew everything. But Joe preferred to remain silent. He looked out of the window. They were already in the Queens, New York, it was 7 in the evening and twilight was falling. They were moving down the street, on the both sides of which stood houses. Mostly all of them were white 2-storey buildings with claret-coloured tiled roofs, they stood in the shadow of thick trees. The street didn’t look as if well-off people lived there, but from how accurate and nice the houses looked Joe could tell the inhabitants were quite successful. Just like Robert. He was not surprised when the car pulled into the driveway of the Owens’ house, which looked rather similar to the neighbours’.

"Here were are," Robert announced as he turned off the engine.

Not saying a single word, Joe opened his door and climbed out, glad to stretch out his stiff legs. Just as he collected his backpack, a petite woman opened the front door and started towards him. Joe forced a smile for her. Mary Owen was like a real mother when he and Paul would visit the Owens.

The dark-haired grey-eyed woman rushed to Joe and gave him a bear hug, "Oh, Joey, my sweet, I’m so sorry! This is so terrible! It is a real sorrow for all of us, it was such a shock! How do you do, honey?" she asked softly, looking up to see his face which showed only deep sadness and fatigue. "Let’s go inside, my sweetheart. Are you hungry? I’ve cooked dinner for you."

"No," Joe declined. "I’d rather go to bed, if you don’t mind."

"Of course, Joe," Mary nodded her head. "Anything you want, my sweet."

As they entered the cosy house, Robert put a hand on Joe’s shoulder, "Why won’t I take you to your room so you could rest?" At Joe’s nod he led him upstairs. "If you need anything, I’m always somewhere around, don’t be too shy to ask. Try to get some rest, ok? And don’t worry about anything, I’ll take care of everything."

‘Everything’ means the funerals, Joe guessed, a lump arising in his throat. "I’ll be alright," he whispered, spinning on his heels, avoiding looking Robert in the eyes, he just wanted to be left alone with his feelings.

"The bathroom is there, Mary left there everything you might need," he said, pointing at the door in the room. "I hope you’ll feel comfortable here. I know it’s rather empty now, but your things from Bayport will be taken here sometime later and it will be fine," Robert went on, looking around the cosy beigeish room. There were a bed, covered with a brown bedspread, a wooden table, 2 bookshelves, crammed with many books, and a wardrobe. The beige curtains were covering the window, so the room was set in mild warm darkness.

"It’s okay with me, don’t worry," Joe replied.

"Okay," Robert nodded and left to leave. "I repeat if you need anything…"

"I will call for you," Joe finished for him.

"Exactly," Robert managed a quick smile. "Now rest, good night."

Left alone, Joe felt extremely lonely. No one…I have no one to be there for me anymore. He looked up at the ceiling as tears stung his eyes for the millionth time this day. Why did you leave me on my own when I need you so much? Who is going to help me get through this mess? His mind kept on asking itself questions it couldn’t answer. He wanted to block his thoughts, not wanting to suffer anymore, but they kept on rushing through his troubled mind anyway.

The situation seemed to be so knotty that Joe saw no light at the end of the tunnel. Who is going to be my guide from now on? Instantly his mind reminded him of the Hardys. No, definitely not them. They don’t want me. I don’t want them. I’m never going to be a part of their family….

Confess it Joe, you’re a Hardy, his inner voice told him. "Never!!" he said out loud in sudden anger. He was seething with rage and…fear. Fear for what the future had in store for him. Fear for not knowing how to solve the situation. Fear for being left alone without Paul.

Who am I without you? the simple thought made his legs give way under him. Physically and emotionally worn out, unable to stay strong anymore, he tumbled down on the bed and grabbed a pillow, pulling it close to his chest and face. Burying his nose in it, he let it all out. Tears came in wide torrents, as he lay in the dark room, hopeless and inconsolable.

"Come on, Ezra! Come on, speed up!" Fenton Hardy urged Collig, anxiously fidgeting on the seat of the Chief’s car. "We’re going at a snail’s pace!"

"I’m doing all I legally can," the Chief replied, glancing at the speedometer. They were going at a full speed towards New York. "Calm down, he’s not going anywhere."

"Yeah, I know, but…can you move faster anyway?"

"I can’t," Collig said, though his lips were curled into a grin. He could understand what was happening with Fenton and how much he wanted to be with his son. But no matter how much he wished to get Fenton to him as soon as possible, he couldn’t let them end up in an accident.

"Sorry, I understand, I just…" there were so many thoughts in his head and he was so very much seething with utter happiness, that Fenton couldn’t control himself. "I just want to grab him and pull him close and never let him go. Just like this!" with this he grabbed his friend’s arm which Collig hurriedly pulled away.

"Fenton, control yourself!" Collig nevertheless laughed genially. "You’re becoming too unpredictable."

"And I don’t care! My Lord, do you understand what it all means to me? 17 years and still, I’ve found him!" Fenton couldn’t stop grinning. "He’s so grown up already, so smart, so well brought up, so handsome, isn’t he?"

"He is, Fent, he is."

"I swear I knew it was him the moment I saw him! He definitely has Laura’s eyes, no doubt, don’t you think? She’ll be so happy when I tell her our baby’s coming home after all. We’ve lost all these years, but I swear on my honour, I will make up for the lost time!" Fenton was jabbing happily. "And can you imagine Laura and Frank’s faces when I take him home?"

"By the way, maybe you should call them and tell them right now?" the Chief suggested.

"No, no! Not now! It will ruin all the surprise," Fenton eagerly shook his head, smiling broader at the picture in his mind: here they are, he and Joe, at home, and he tells Laura and Frank that he found him, and Laura bursts out crying tears of joy, and Frank, still shocked, re-asks if this is true, but then, in the end, his face breaks into a smile too and then the picture of family idyll finishes it all. "Can you imagine how happy they’ll be? And he?"

"Speaking of him," Collig’s face grew a bit gloomy, "it’s only yesterday that he’s lost his father."

"You’re right, but he’s going to find a new one! A real one, I mean."

"Fenton, he’d lived with Paul all this time, why do you think he’ll run to you, throw his arms around your neck and call you ‘father’ straight away?"

"But I am his father!"

"Fenton…." Collig searched for the right words to say. "Sorry for telling you this, but if you ask me I seriously doubt he’s going to share your rapture. You have to consider it, he is too wretched at the moment and, unfortunately, it may be that you’ll become just another problem for him in addition to many of those he already has."

Fenton’s happiness was overshadowed by sudden anxiety. In all his elated state of mind he never thought about what would Joe feel. Fenton thought - no, Fenton wanted - for Joe to accept him as a father straight away, but he completely forgot that Paul had meant very for Joe and that he would have to compete with him even though he was gone.

"Fent, what are you thinking about?"

"About what you said. Damn it, you’re 100% right… That’s going to be a trouble… What am I going to tell him? My poor boy, he had to go through such a terrible thing. And to think that I almost lost him to Antoneskou again…" Fenton shuddered at the thought of what would happen if he was late for just a second. "Ezra, what should I do?" coming back from heaven to earth, Fenton suddenly felt very confused.

"I’ve no idea, but you still have enough time to think about something," Collig replied, his car tearing along the road. "Relax and weigh everything now. And when we get there - we’ll see what to do or say, depending on circumstances."

Joe woke up in a dark room. It was stuffy there and he could barely breathe. As he stood up, he looked around, but it was so pitch black that he couldn’t see his own hand. A strange sense of déja-vu flowed over him. His intuition seldom let him down, so he knew exactly where he was - the last time he was in this strange place he had this nightmarish dream about him and his father being killed by an invisible somebody.

His stomach tying itself in knots in anxiety, he kept on looking around, trying to see anything, but with no luck. To run? But where? To stay here? But what will happen? He was irresolute.

He almost jumped out of his skin when he suddenly heard a squeaky sound. This was a strange sound as if something heavy was rubbing against the floor. Joe could only guess what it could be as he stood there, in the middle of nowhere, not knowing what he should do.

The sounds were coming and coming - and they seem to be approaching him from everywhere. Swallowing, Joe reached out his arm and his fingers touched something clammy and rough. A wall! And it was moving on him!

Spinning around, Joe was about to run away, but to his horror he only found another wall there. His heart threatening to jump out of his chest, he rushed aside just to find another blockade… I’m bricked up!! Gosh, I'm bricked up! It’s gonna crush me! rushed through his mind. "Help me!!" he screamed at the top of his lungs. "Somebody, please, help me!!" he yelled again, knowing all alone that he wasn’t heard. Seconds later he felt 4 massive walls touch him, threatening to squash him in a matter of seconds….

"No!!" Joe whooshed as he sat upright in his bed. Breathing heavily, he looked around. He was in his room in the Owens’ house and everything was quiet. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and glanced at the walls. Never being claustrophobic before, this time however Joe felt scared as he sat on his bed, all alone in his room. Terrified at the thought that his nightmare would somehow come true, he jumped from the bed and ran out of the room.

All he wanted was to be out there, somewhere where he could feel secure. Space, I just need space. And he knew only one place where he would feel fine - outside. Not bothering to tell Robert or Mary about where he was going, he ran downstairs and out of the house.