"I don’t know how, yet, but I know that it’s happening." Frank said grimly. "We need to get Mom to the hospital – oh, why isn’t Dad here?" he added, frantic with worry.

Laura emerged from the bathroom, her face pale. Bella and Frank both hurried to her side.

"Aunt Laura!" Bella seized Laura’s hand tightly. "Frank thinks you may have eaten something with poison in it—"

"Mom, we’ve got to get you to a hospital!" Frank broke in. "Linda wasn’t poisoned at the restaurant, it’s something here at the house!"

"But that’s ridiculous," Laura protested weakly. "Your father has been here; we’ve eaten the same things…."

"Please, Mom – let us take you, just to get it checked out!"

Whether or not Frank’s and Bella’s pleas would have been successful is unknown – for at that moment, the front door swung open to admit Fenton’s tall form. His son and his niece descended upon him, both talking at once, trying to explain the situation and emphasizing the need for haste in getting Laura medical attention.

"They’re right, honey." Fenton wrapped his arms protectively about his wife. "I’m not risking you by waiting in a situation like this. Bella, what’s the nearest hospital to here?"

"Lenox Hill," she said. "I can show you easier than give you directions." She suddenly turned and headed for the kitchen. "I – I have to clean up the cups…" she stammered. Somehow, she felt that things needed to be tidied up before they left – as if leaving a clean house would make a good impression on Fate; would insure Laura’s recovery.

"But Bella, we don’t have time—" Frank was beginning to call after her, when suddenly she came running back, clutching a green ceramic mug in her hands.

"Aunt Laura, how much of this did you drink?" she demanded.

Laura frowned. "I’ve had several cups today – and last night I drank quite a bit of it, after the boys called and told us about the fight they were in. I couldn’t sleep, so I sat up and drank tea." She shut her eyes and grimaced as pain clenched her insides with a menacing fist, leaning against her husband.

"Frank – Mr. Hardy – my mom and Laura are the only ones who drank this licorice tea!" Bella cried, waving the cup under Frank’s startled nose. "And Laura’s had a lot of it…."

"Bring the cup along, Bella," Fenton instructed her. "And grab the canister of tea, if you would. I think you’ve found your mother’s murder weapon!" He turned to his son. "Frank, go and tell Joe what’s happened. Bella and I will get your mother to the hospital right away, and you can join us there – or call me." He tapped his coat pocket, to indicate the presence of his cell phone.

"Bella, can I use your dad’s car?" Frank had started out the front door before realizing his need of transportation. She hastily dug the car keys from her jeans pocket, and handed them over. Frank gave Laura a quick, hard hug, and dashed again for the door. A wave of hot July air wafted over the three left in the hallway as it opened and shut.

* * * * *

Tony Prito and Joe Hardy walked down the stairs from their second-floor apartment. They had decided to eat a late lunch at Marco’s before readying themselves for the evening’s work schedule.

"I hope Enrico’s made a lot of soup," Joe sighed. He spoke cautiously, enunciating his words carefully, trying not to move his injured jaw or cut lips more than necessary. "I’m so hungry, and I can’t chew anything!"

"There’ll be plenty of soup," Tony assured his friend. "and maybe Rick or Alphonse can make you some sort of soft sandwich…."

They emerged into the brilliant sunshine, blinking as their eyes adjusted. Tony headed immediately toward the back restaurant door, but Joe turned towards the parking lot.

"I want to get my CD case out of the car," he explained to Tony, who swung about and followed him.

The two boys walked around the front of Marco’s and into the small parking lot. Joe pulled his keys from his pocket and glancing up to make sure he was aiming in the right direction, pointed the fob toward his Aztek to unlock it. But that one glance froze him in his tracks.

"TONY!" It was a near-shriek of anguish. "My car!"

Joe dashed across the lot, with Tony right behind him. Upon reaching his destination, the boy skidded to a halt, his feet slipping in the sparkling, crystalline fragments covering the paved surface – fragments of what had been the front windshield of the Aztek. All the

glass was shattered out, and wedged into the windshield wiper blade was a piece of paper bearing a scrawled message: We told you to get out!

"Oh, Joe – buddy, this is awful….oh man, Joe, I am so sorry!" Tony knew he was babbling, but he couldn’t seem to stop talking, to stop trying to clear the anguish from Joe’s face. "Joe, it’ll be okay, it can be fixed – it won’t take anything to put in a new windshield….Joe, say something!"

Joe stood immobile, staring at the little car which had been his pride and joy for the past three months. All the color had drained from his face, and the bruises he had received the night before stood out prominently. His blue eyes looked almost black against the pallor of his skin. Suddenly, his lips began to tremble. "My car…." he whispered, and dropped his head to his chest, fighting back tears.

"Joe, it can be fixed." Tony repeated. "It’ll be as good as new, you’ll see—"

He was interrupted by the sound of a vehicle entering the parking lot. Looking around, Tony saw Frank Hardy drive in, at the wheel of a red Mazda Miata. He waved his hand above his head, beckoning frantically for the elder Hardy to hurry and join them.

In just a few seconds, Frank was standing beside them, staring aghast at the damage which had been done.

"Take it easy, Joe." The elder brother wrapped a comforting arm about his sibling’s shoulders and squeezed tightly. "It’ll be okay. We can get the windshield replaced." He shook Joe gently. "I know you feel awful, little brother, but it will be all right." He didn’t like the look of total desolation on Joe’s face. He had seen it only a few times before – when Iola had been killed, and when Joe thought that Vanessa had died in a fire on a boat. "Joe, talk to me."

Slowly, Joe raised his head and gazed at his precious, violated car. Then he turned his eyes to meet his brother’s. "Someone’s going to pay…." he gritted. He clenched his fists, and Frank felt him tremble within his encircling arm. "I will kill whoever did this!"

"No you won’t," Frank told him soothingly. "You are going to calm down and listen to me, is what you’re going to do. Not to take anything away from the Aztek, little brother – but we have a more serious problem to deal with!"

Joe stared at his brother in disbelief. "What? What do you mean?"

"Dad and Bella just took Mom to the hospital," Frank reported tersely. "She’s sick – she’s started showing symptoms that Bella says are just like Linda’s were."

"What?" Joe seized Frank’s arm in frantic fingers. "Mom’s been fed arsenic too?" The tears he had held back while surveying his car filled his blue eyes again, and threatened to spill down his cheeks. "Frank, she’s not – she isn’t going to—"

"I hope not; I pray not." Frank replied. "Hopefully Dad will get her there in time for treatment. I think he will, Joe – she was still conscious and able to walk and talk – she’s just sick"

"Oh, God…." Joe dropped to a seat on the nearest car’s back bumper and buried his face in his hands. Tony patted his shoulder consolingly. Suddenly the younger Hardy looked up. "You came to get me so we can go to the hospital, right?" he demanded.

"Yes, but I didn’t anticipate this!" Frank indicated the glass-strewn parking lot. "You need to report this to the police and the insurance company right away."

"Joe, just make sure I’ve got all the information, and I’ll do it!" Tony offered immediately. "You and Frank need to be with your mom."

Dazedly, Joe opened the door – he found that it was unlocked, and the alarm wires had been severed – and opened the glove compartment. He pulled out a thick packet of papers, which he handed to Tony.

"There – I think that’s everything." he murmured. ""Here, take my cell, Tone – if you need me, call me on Frank’s number." Numbly, he followed Frank to the Miata.

"I will," Tony called after them. "And I’ll explain to Alex why you won’t be at work tonight! Frank! – one of you! – call me and tell me as soon as you know how your mom is, okay?"

* * * * *

Frank and Joe hurried off the elevator and raced toward the waiting room. Both boys drew up short when they saw Bella sobbing quietly in Fenton's arms. Frank's heart hammered in his throat; had something worse happened to their mother in the time it had taken for him to pick up Joe? Then he noticed the mutinous looks Joe was giving him. Frank raised an eyebrow as he waited for his brother to explain.

"I thought you said she would be okay." Joe hissed.

"I said I hoped she would. I thought she would be." Frank reminded his younger brother as they approached Fenton and their cousin. Fenton looked up; his relief at their arrival evident on his face. Then he saw their worry.

"Relax, the doctor is still examining her, but it looks like we got here in time."

Joe indicated Bella with a tilt of his head and mouthed What's wrong? Fenton shrugged, helplessly. After almost twenty years of raising boys he felt incredibly inept when it came to handling the emotional outbursts of a teenage girl. Joe sat on her other side and took over the job of comforting her.

"What's wrong, Tinkerbelle?" He put his arm about her and drew her close.

Bella sniffled and rested her head on Joe's shoulder. "I'm sorry, I have no right to carry on like this. But I can't help but feel this is all my fault."

"Did you put the arsenic in her tea?" Joe asked gently. On the ride to the hospital, Frank had filled him in on how Linda, and now Laura had been poisoned. Bella shook her head, miserably. "Did you know it was in there?"

"No, but…"

"But nothing, then. It's not your fault. The only one to blame is the scumbag who put it there in the first place. And when we find him, we're going to make sure he pays."

Bella nodded, seemingly reassured. As Frank watched her, he was convinced there was something else bothering her. But before he could question her about it, a doctor in green scrubs approached them.

"Hardy family?"

Fenton stood and shook hands with the doctor, introducing himself and the three teens. "How's my wife?"

"She's very lucky. Fortunately, you recognized the symptoms and got her here before any permanent damage could occur. We managed to rid her system of any lingering traces of the arsenic and we've started her on a drug to counteract the actions. Unfortunately, dimorcaporal has to be administered intravenously over a period of several days for us to be sure she's completely well. So we'll be keeping her for a few days. She won't be running any marathons any time soon, but she should make a full recovery."

"Can we see her?" Joe asked, after hugging Bella and exchanging elated high fives with Frank.

The doctor nodded. "She’s being settled in a room now. As soon as they finish, a nurse will be out to take you to her."

Bella looked at each of the Hardy men. Only now as the relief settled in, could she really tell how scared they had all been. But now another problem hit her. "If Aunt Laura is in the hospital, we'll have to postpone my mother’s funeral."

Fenton nodded. "It would probably be best. I know Laura would want to be there. I'll call and make the arrangements."

Bella shook her head. "No, I'll do it. You three should have some time alone with her once she's in her room. I'll join you after I call the funeral home."

Joe squeezed her arm. "You sure you're okay?"

Bella nodded. "I'm just glad Aunt Laura will be all right."

* * * * *

Bella parked the Miata in front of her home and got out. She was very tired. It was nearly nine o’clock in the evening, and the day had been stressful, to say the least. She unlocked the door, walked inside, and carefully re-locked it behind her, then leaned her back against it.

Thank you, God! ran through her mind, for Laura Hardy wouldn’t be joining her twin sister in death – not now. If only I’d been more observant when Mom started getting sick, she berated herself. She might still be alive now…. Bella pushed herself wearily away from the support of the door, and walked toward the stairs.

She snapped off the hall light and made her way up the steps, nearly stumbling more than once. Frank and Joe were so frightened…. They’ve gotten used to their father’s life being in danger, or their own jeopardized…but not their mother’s. And it was so awful, what happened to Joe’s car….

Bella prepared for bed, thinking about that situation. Who had hired the thugs that had attacked first Frank, then Joe’s car? They evidently were watching Marco’s, for otherwise how would they have known that the Hardys were still around and pursuing their investigations? The obvious choice was…Alexander Harrington. Bella shivered. She didn’t want to think badly of Alex, but all the signs pointed in his direction. She remembered her dream, all too vividly.

She fell asleep, still pondering

The sound of the telephone ringing awoke her, and she blinked her eyes open to brilliant summer sunshine streaming in through the windows of her room. Sleepily, she reached for the receiver.

"Hello?" she yawned deeply.

"Isabella, cara mia." For just an instant, Bella thought it was Tony, with his carefully-remembered Italian endearments – and then realized he would never call her Isabella. "This is your Uncle Dominic."

"Uncle Dom!" she smiled involuntarily. "Why are you calling?"

"I just received some surprising news, and I wanted to be sure you were all right. When I called the mortuary to find out when your mother’s funeral service was to be held, they told me that it had been postponed. I hope nothing has happened to you…?"

"Not to me, Uncle Dom, no. But my Aunt Laura is in the hospital, very ill. She apparently ingested something poisonous – the same way my mother did."

"No! Bella, what a dreadful thing!" Dominic sounded shocked. "I am so sorry, my little one. You are there at the house by yourself?"

"Yes, I am." Bella smiled. "But that’s all right, Uncle Dom; I’m a big girl, remember?"

"But you could be in danger, Isabella – what if you accidentally ate or drank something that had been poisoned, as apparently your aunt did?"

"I can always go over and stay in the apartment above the restaurant, Uncle Dom." Bella said aloud, patiently. "My friends Frank and Joe Griffin and Tony Prito are there; they wouldn’t mind making room for me."

"Bella, Bella – that isn’t proper at all!" Her uncle sounded shocked. "A young lady like you staying in an apartment with three young men? Scandaloso!"

Bella giggled. She knew she couldn’t explain that Frank and Joe were actually her cousins – and there was still Tony to consider! "Oh, I’ll be fine—"

"No, cara. I will be there shortly, and – let me see – ah, I have it! How would you like to visit your grandfather for a day or two?"

"My grandfather?" Bella caught her breath. She remembered the things Joe had told her, and the subtly-hinted-at things she had picked up from conversations. My grandfather…Antonio Scarpetti, the underworld crime boss…

"He would be overjoyed to see you, Isabella." Dominic was rushing on with his plan, not giving her a chance to argue. "He has long wanted to meet you. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes." The telephone was hung up with a click, and Bella lay in bed, staring at the ceiling in shock. Suddenly, she looked at the clock, and gave a little shriek.

"Fifteen minutes!" She sprang from the bed and dashed in the direction of the bathroom.

She only made Dominic wait five minutes, and he was very patient. But when she reached for the telephone to call Fenton at the hospital and tell him where she was going, the suave Italian stretched out a hand to forestall her.

"You can call him later, Bella, from your grandfather’s house. That way you can explain to him where exactly you are."

"Oh…all right." Bella replied, a trifle doubtfully. What difference did it make if she called now or later? She picked up her packed overnight case and followed her Uncle Dominic out to his Lincoln Continental. As they drove away, the telephone began to ring inside the house.

"That’s odd." Joe commented, depressing the button on the telephone to disconnect. "Bella’s not answering the telephone. Well, maybe she’s in the shower, or something."

"Try again a little later," his brother advised. "Are you going to go back over to the hospital and see Mom this morning? I’m picking Dad up in a little bit, since he stayed overnight there to be with Mom."

"Yeah, Tony wants to go too." Joe replied. "I guess we’ll have to take a cab, though. The windshield guy the insurance company recommended said he won’t be done for another hour or so. And you and Dad are going to go to the bank and see about finding the safe-deposit box, right?"

"Uh-huh." Frank finished tying his shoelaces and stood up. "You sound better when you talk, today. Your mouth feeling better?" He grinned at Joe’s nod. "That’s good. Well, I’ll keep my phone on." He picked up the keys to his father’s car, and left the apartment.

* * * * *

Bella’s eyes widened in awe as her uncle led her up the steps of her grandfather’s magnificent home. She had never imagined something on this scale – was this where her Daddy had grown up? She tried to imagine Marco as a young man coming into and going out of the house – but somehow, it didn’t fit. No, Marco wouldn’t have fit in, here.

"Come inside, Isabella." Dom was ushering her in. "your grandfather will be so pleased to see you."

They walked through the spacious hallways, and ended up in Antonio’s beautiful study. Bella stared at the tall, handsome man who rose to his feet and smiled at her as she entered. This is my grandfather – this is Daddy’s father! A sudden sob nearly choked her. If Daddy had lived, he might have looked like him, someday….

"Isabella!" The silver-haired old man walked forward, holding out both hands to her. "My precious child, I am so happy to see you at last! I am your Grandfather Antonio." He took her hands and bent to kiss her cheek. "Welcome to my home."

"Thank you." Bella said softly. She was charmed by the elderly gentleman’s manners. "Your home is so lovely."

"My dear little one, I would like you to consider it your home, if you wish – now that both your parents are gone." Antonio paused, noting Bella’s shocked reaction to that remark. He decided to slow things down a little, and changed the subject with dexterity. "There is someone that I would like you to meet," Antonio was already steering her toward the hallway again. "Your grandmother Rosalie is most anxious to see you. She is upstairs – her health is not the best, you understand; it is easier for us to go to her than for her to come downstairs…." His voice faded into the distance.

Left in the study alone, Dominic Scarpetti walked over to the cut-glass decanters on the sideboard, and despite the earliness of the hour, poured himself a stiff drink.