The car looked to be occupied, all right. The windows were steamy, and although the interior was dark, it looked like at least one person was sitting there. It was most definitely parked where an occupant could watch the lighthouse…but what in the world for?

Joe frowned, considering making a quick stop to find out what was going on…and then he glanced over at the passenger seat, where Matt Eckersley huddled silently in his cocoon of blankets, hugging himself and shivering. Nope, this is one mystery I’ll have to let go for now. Matt can’t take much more. As much as Joe would like to have his curiosity satisfied about someone keeping surveillance on Stone Point lighthouse, Matt’s needs came first. He needs to be home in bed, dreaming of Macey – or, barring that, being fussed over by Mom! Joe chewed a corner of his lip thoughtfully. He hoped Matt didn’t end up having nightmares about his near-brush with death!

"If there’s something wrong – car trouble or something – they can contact Mr. Carter at the lighthouse; he’s still there," Joe said aloud, and signaled his turn onto the road leading to Bayport. "If it’s still there tomorrow when we come back, we’ll check it out. As it is, I think we’d better get home before your mom or my dad sends out a search party to look for us." he added, catching Vanessa’s eye in the rear-view mirror. "We’ve been gone a lot longer than we planned."

Vanessa dug into her bag and brought out her cell phone. "I’ll call Mom." A few moments later, she spoke again. "Mom? I’ll be home in a little while; we just now left Stone Point."

"Don’t even try it, kiddo," Andrea told her daughter. "The electricity’s out here. The storm dropped power lines all over the place; two of them are down in the lane road, and it’s completely blocked by utility trucks. Could you stay at the Hardys’ tonight, do you suppose?"

Vanessa relayed the question to Joe, who nodded emphatically. "Mom, I can do that, but are you okay? Are you going to be all right out there by yourself?"

Vanessa ended the call, then phoned the Hardy home. "Laura, this is Vanessa. I’m calling to beg a favor – my mom says the power lines are down across the road by my house, so I can’t get home. Could I possibly spend the night—"

Evidently the answer was a quick affirmative, for Vanessa chuckled and said "Thanks!" Then she continued: "We’re on our way back from the lighthouse now…and, Laura? There was…sort of an…accident. No, no, Joe’s all right; he’s fine; just wet and muddy. It’s Matt – he took a skid down a cliff face. He’s not hurt, but he’s soaking wet, and pretty shaken up."

"Sounds like I’d better have something hot ready for him to drink," Laura said. "And he’ll need a warm shower and dry clothes."

"Yeah, uh-huh," Vanessa kept her replies brief, trying not to make Matt feel self-conscious about being discussed like this…although Matt didn’t seem to be paying any attention to the conversation. "Thanks, Laura. We’ll be there in a little while."

Disconnecting, Vanessa leaned forward between the front seats. She smiled at Joe. "There. No one has any reason to worry about us, now." She flinched as lightning flared briefly. "Unless we get struck by lightning, that is."

Joe chuckled and nodded, but glanced again over at Matt, with considerable concern. Matt had been uncharacteristically silent all this time, his arms wrapped tightly around himself; and he was still shivering, even though the ferocious heat blasting out of the vents, combined with their wet clothing, was rapidly turning the Aztek into a sauna on wheels!

Wish we could have found him some dry clothes to change into, Joe fretted. He’s still soaked through, and if I’m any judge at all, he’s in shock. Joe’s own clothes were clammily clinging to him, but although he was damp and uncomfortable, he was feeling okay. He hadn’t been scared half to death as Matt had – except for the fear that he wouldn’t be able to save Matt, that is! Mom’ll know how to take care of him, he mused. Hot soup, hot cocoa, something like that. He can take a warm shower…yeah, she’ll know what to do.

As they drove through town, they found pockets of power-outages scattered all along their route home, but the Elm-and-High-Streets neighborhood still had lights comfortingly ablaze. As Joe entered the driveway, he was somewhat surprised to see a familiar blue-green Sunfire parked in front of the house, between Vanessa’s Jeep Wrangler and Matt’s pickup. Wonder why Red’s here? Well, DUH, Hardy, she’s with Frank – but why isn’t she safe at home on a nasty night like this? He pulled into his customary place next to Frank’s Saturn, and quickly ushered Matt and Vanessa in out of the rain, through the back kitchen door.

A cozy scene met their eyes: Frank, Megan and Fenton, sitting at the kitchen table and sipping something from large mugs. Cocoa, perhaps, or hot tea. Steam rose from the cups in lazy tendrils. A platter of chocolate-chip cookies sat in the center of the table. Laura stood at the stove, stirring something in a saucepan.

"There you are!" Practically before the trio was in the door, Frank and Fenton were on their feet and swooping on the unsuspecting Matt, divesting him of the sodden blanket he still clutched about himself, taking his coat and offering dry towels in exchange, urging him to kick off his shoes. Frank tossed a towel in Joe’s direction, as well.

"Get Matt dried off a little, and then take him upstairs, Frank, and get him into the shower," Laura directed briskly. "Joe, I suggest you take one too, and put on some dry clothes. Heavens, you’re covered with mud, both of you! Vanessa, honey, how wet are you? We’re a little short of clothes in your length, unless you borrow sweats from Joe!"

"I’m fine, just mostly my hair and my shoes," Vanessa assured her hostess. "Thanks, Mr. Hardy," she added, accepting a towel from Fenton. She shrugged out of her coat, toed off her shoes, and started to rub the moisture from her hair.

"Come on, you heard Mom. Showers, both of you." Frank firmly marshaled both Matt and Joe ahead of him in the direction of the stairs.

Frank followed Matt into the bathroom and turned on the water in the shower. "Get those wet clothes off, Matt, and get in there," he said, adding gently, "If you need any help, I’m right here." Frank was watching his friend closely; the normally-bubbly Matt had been completely quiet since he’d walked into the house; he was pale from his ordeal, whatever it had been – and he was still shaking hard. Frank wasn’t sure if the tremors were from being chilled, or from fright and shock. Most likely a combination of both, he surmised.

Matt nodded wearily and began to remove his drenched clothing. He managed to strip off his sweatshirt, but the long-sleeved, buttoned shirt beneath stymied him. He fumbled helplessly for a moment before heaving a defeated sigh.

"Frank…man…I – I c-can’t get the b-buttons…undone. My f-fingers d-don’t want t-to work."

Frank looked at Matt’s hands, clenched on his shirt front, and suddenly realized that it wasn’t merely cold and nerves that was making it so difficult for the other man. His hands were bruised and abraded, scraped raw in spots; his fingers showed broken nails and scratches, all evidence of Matt’s desperate struggle on the cliff. No wonder he couldn’t manage the buttons!

Frank smiled reassuringly, and with matter-of-fact briskness helped Matt remove his clothing. "There. Now, in." He held back a corner of the shower curtain and waited while Matt shakily obeyed. As he pulled the curtain closed, Frank saw Matt abruptly sink down, sitting in the tub and letting the water cascade over him, not protesting as the warm, wet spray hit him. "You okay?" Frank asked quickly.

"Um-hmmm." Matt didn’t say anything more, but Frank heard him heave a deep sigh.

"I’ll take your wet stuff downstairs to be washed, and I’ll get you some dry things to put on," Frank told him, mentally adding first-aid ointment and adhesive bandages to the list. "Take as long as you want; there’s plenty of hot water. But a word of caution: if you hear the pipes go thump, prepare for a nasty surprise and be ready to act fast. Joe’s going to be taking a shower too, and when he turns on the hot water in our bathroom, it’s going to turn it cold in here!" He gathered up Matt’s mud-covered clothes and departed, shutting the door quickly behind him.

When Matt finally emerged from the shower, he found dry, warm clothes awaiting him; his own underwear and sweats, plus some thick, heavy socks that he didn’t recognize, but which were extremely welcome. On the bathroom counter he saw a box of assorted Band-aids and a little tube of first aid cream, plus a hair dryer. Thankfully, he availed himself of all the items.

Frank, who had evidently been listening for the hair dryer to stop, tapped on the bathroom door a few minutes later. "About ready to go down?"

Matt opened the door, and nodded. He followed the elder Hardy down the stairs, and sank into a seat at the dining room table, where a large bowl of steaming soup awaited him. Joe was already there, enthusiastically emptying a similar bowl.

Matt managed a half-smile at them, but still didn’t speak. He picked up a spoon and dug in to the soup. Frank realized with a start that he hadn’t heard Matt say anything at all, except to ask for help undressing, since he got back from the lighthouse! This was very, very disconcerting!

"Matt – you all right?" Joe had obviously noticed the older man’s silence too. He reached to touch Matt’s shoulder gently, and smiled at him with a hopeful expression on his face.

"Fine," Matt murmured, eyes downcast, as he took another sip of the soup. "Soup’s good."

Frank and Joe exchanged troubled glances, and Frank gave his brother an almost imperceptible shrug, saying with the motion: Give him some more time! Joe, still worried, finished his soup and took his bowl to the kitchen.

Laura swept in, her hands full. She set a large mug of hot chocolate beside Matt’s soup bowl, and put a plate of the chocolate-chip cookies in front of him. "Here, Matt, comfort food at its best."

Matt actually managed a real smile this time, when he saw the cookies. "Thanks, Mrs. Hardy." He snagged a cookie and took a bite, then closed his eyes and smiled happily. "Those are the best cookies ever," he mumbled, and took another bite, following it with a sip of hot cocoa. "I think I’m starting to feel better."

"That’s because Mom’s chocolate-chip cookies could cure the ills of a nation, and bring about world peace at the same time," Frank quipped, taking a couple of cookies of his own.

"I believe it." Matt’s grin was a faint shadow of his usual one, but it was a grin, nevertheless. "And Mrs. Hardy, you ought to give your soup recipe to the hospitals, because I’m starting to feel great, the more of it I eat!"

Laura laughed. "No special secret; Campbell’s and I do all right together," she chuckled. "Matt – Frank and Megan and Fenton and I have already eaten dinner, and Joe and Vanessa ate while you were taking your shower. Do you feel like having some?"

Matt considered it a moment, then shook his head. "I think the soup and the cookies will do me just fine." He sighed again, and applied himself to the soup.

When Matt was done eating, he and Frank joined the others in the family room. Matt was escorted firmly to a loveseat, and Laura plugged in an electric blanket to spread over him.

"Get comfortable here, honey, or if you’d rather go straight to bed, you’re more than welcome to do that, too."

"I’ll stay here." Matt settled on the small couch, and snuggled the heated blanket about himself. "It’s unbelievably nice here…thanks."

Frank had sat down next to Megan on the long couch, holding her hand tightly as they cuddled close together. Matt cocked his head as if noticing Megan’s presence for the first time.

"How do you happen to be here, Megan?" he asked, curiously.

"My house lost power too," she explained, smiling. "My mom works for Bayport Electric. She stayed at work to help with dispatching the repair crews, although she usually works in Personnel, not Dispatch, and she might be there all night, depending on the storm. I didn’t want to be home alone in the dark and cold, and since Vanessa is staying the night, Laura was kind enough to ask me to stay, too!"

"I wondered why you were here, Red," Joe commented, stretching out his long legs towards the fireplace. "Not that I don’t like you here, mind," he added with a chuckle. "I just was noticing that it’s sort of turning into a slumber party, here!"

Frank cleared his throat and protectively tucked Megan into the curve of his arm. "I’d like to hear what happened out at the lighthouse, if you three don’t mind," he requested, eyeing Joe, Vanessa and Matt inquiringly.

"It all started when we went to the Bayport Historical Society," Vanessa volunteered. "We were talking with Cherise LeGault, from the Society, when they got a message that the Stone Point lighthouse had been broken into – well, at least, that the alarm was going off out there."

"So Cherise said we could go along," Joe took up the story. "We stopped on the way and picked up Matt, so he could get started taking pictures. Cherise showed us around the lighthouse and the keeper’s cottage, just a little, and gave us keys so that we can go back on our own. It turned out that the alarm had been set off by a guy with car trouble who tried to get into the lighthouse to get out of the rain." He slowed, and added, reluctantly, "And then Matt went outside to take some more pictures, while Vanessa and I talked with Cherise."

Matt stirred in his nest of warm blanket. "Guess that’s my cue, huh?" he said. His voice still sounded a little raspy, but was slowly returning to normal. "I wandered around outside, trying to get shots in the rain. I took off my hat, because it was in my way, and I was backing away from the lighthouse, looking in the viewfinder of the camera…when all of a sudden, there wasn’t any more ground, man!"

Megan caught her breath, the sound sharp in the quiet room. "Oh, Matt…" she whispered.

Matt gave her a rueful, smiling glance. "Yeah, big-time panic, man. I slid and grabbed and slid some more…and then I managed to hang onto that little plant – I don’t know what it was, but it was obviously the best plant in the whole wide world, because it didn’t break off when I hung on it!"

"For which we’re all very grateful," Frank observed quietly.

Matt blushed slightly. "I don’t think I said ‘thanks’ often enough, Joe and Vanessa, for saving me – and for, like, keeping me from going completely bonkers…’cause, you know, I was seriously about to totally lose it out there, ya know?" He gazed at them, his hazel eyes wide and sober. "I thought I was gonna die, you know…I’m really, really glad I didn’t – but I was pretty sure I was going to." He shuddered. "Splat…on the rocks…" he whispered.

Joe leaned forward, blue eyes intent. "Matt, my friend, there was no way I was going to lose you over any cliff! I’d have climbed down there after you if I’d had to, you know. You were NOT going to go splat on the rocks. I’m just sorry you ended up losing that camera!"

Matt blinked for a moment, and bit his lip, then summoned a smile. "It’s bad, yeah, but I had it insured; all my equipment is. I gotta call my agent, I guess. Tomorrow, though. Not tonight." Matt blinked again, and looked around the room as if he’d suddenly noticed something. "Wasn’t your dad around earlier?"

"He got a call," Joe replied. "While you were in the shower. One of those ‘hurry up and pack a bag and get out the front door; it’s a biggie,’ types."

"Huh?" Matt’s eyes went round. "You mean, he just LEFT, just like that? Because someone called him for a case?"

"Yep," Joe nodded. "we’re pretty used to him leaving at the drop of a hat."

"Whoa, dude….that is like soooooo cool!" For the first time in hours, Matt’s face once more contained animation and sparkle. "It’s like living with James Bond, or something!"

Frank and Joe burst into laughter. "James Bond? Well, I’d never thought of it exactly like that!" Joe spluttered. "Dad doesn’t drive an Aston-Martin, and he rarely drinks martinis…."

"I don’t know," Megan disagreed softly, "I think he’d make a really great James Bond!"

Frank tilted his head to one side and eyed her smilingly. "Dad’s too domesticated to be James Bond."

Not long afterwards, Matt yawned hugely. "Dudes, I’m like, really, really tired," he murmured. "I’m like falling asleep right here."

"I think it’s bedtime for you, Matt," Laura said gently, from the doorway. "But we’ve got some juggling to do, with the girls staying here tonight."

"I can sleep on the couch—" Megan began.

"You can have my room," Joe said at the same moment, to Vanessa.

Laura shushed them both and continued addressing Matt. "Matt, I really hate to do this to you, but your room has the double bed. Do you suppose you could sleep in Frank’s room tonight, and let Vanessa and Megan use the guest room?"

Matt nodded sleepily. "Sure thing, no prob."

"I get the floor and a sleeping bag, then," Frank surmised.

"Why not the couch?" his mother queried. "Unless you’d rather sleep on the floor, of course!" She beckoned to Megan and Vanessa. "Come along, girls, let’s find you something you can sleep in."

Frank eyed the drowsy Matt, as Laura, Megan and Vanessa departed. "Matt? Would you rather have me in there, or the room to yourself?"

"Doesn’t…matter, dude." Matt unsuccessfully tried to stifle another massive yawn.

"In that case, I’ll take the couch," Frank decided. He grinned teasingly at Joe. "I know why you’re getting to stay in your own room; it’s because you’ve got to play tomorrow!"

"There are some advantages to being on that football team, at least," Joe commented wryly. He glanced at the windows as they rattled in a fierce onslaught of wind and rain. "Still a really nasty night! I hope it clears by tomorrow!"

"Jack called before you got home; he’s canceling tomorrow morning’s flights. He didn’t want to risk the planes or the cargo," Frank said, following his brother’s glance. "I’m just as glad; I wasn’t looking forward to it!" He got to his feet. "Come on, Matt, let’s get your stuff before the girls take over your room."

Matt and Joe followed him from the room. Thirty minutes later, peace settled on the Hardy household.

*****

"Well, at least the sun is still shining!" Vanessa turned in the front passenger seat of Joe’s car and smiled at the half-dozing Matt, who was sitting in the back seat, bundled warmly against the chilly late-afternoon air.

Matt had had quite a morning, Vanessa knew. He’d been thoroughly fussed over by Laura and Megan and herself, and hovered over by Frank, too! Joe had had to leave for his game earlier than Matt was awake, but Vanessa was positive that had he been home, Joe would have joined the rest of them in coddling Matt Eckersley – coddling which reduced Matt to mumbling embarrassment at the extra attention lavished on him!

He had called Phil Cohen, in New York, to tell him about the accident, and to ask him to locate the insurance information on his cameras. Phil had done his share of fussing too, demanding to be reassured that Matt was essentially unharmed, before he fulfilled the request for the insurance information.

Vanessa had been a little surprised that Matt had insurance on his camera equipment, and she knew she wasn’t the only one. Matt seemed so flighty…but when it came to his profession, the guy suddenly lost all that air-headedness!

"Those cameras cost me major bucks, dude!" he’d said, laughing. "Man, it would be like totally stupid to not get them insured! I just hope the insurance company doesn’t consider the cliff edge crumbling to be an ‘Act of God,’ or somethin’, or I’ll never get the money back for that camera!" He’d been on the phone for almost an hour that morning, taking care of things – but at the end of it, he’d smiled broadly, and announced that it sounded like everything would be cool.

They had all gone to watch Joe’s football game, delighting in the blue skies and sun which had replaced the violent storm of the night before. Frank admitted that it would have been entirely possible to fly cargo runs, but since Jack had canceled them…oh well! It was chilly, but enjoyable, and although the Titans had lost the game, it was close. Joe hadn’t been all that unhappy with the outcome; his disposition remained sunny, thank heavens! Vanessa smiled to herself. And now they were on their way back to Stone Point.

"You know, I was thinkin’…." Matt spoke up as Joe steered the car down the small paved road that led to the lighthouse.

"Oh boy, we’re in trouble now! Vanessa babe, open the windows and let out the steam!" Joe jibed, smiling teasingly into the rearview mirror at Matt, who responded with a quick gesture and a grin of his own.

"Ha-double-ha-ha. Man, I’m like serious, here. I was just thinking how cool it would be to find a boat and, you know, like, take pictures inland toward the lighthouse. I’ve never done shots of one from the water."

"Cool is right, Matt," Joe said, grimacing with distaste. "It’s freezing out on the water in November, you know!"

"Oh. Okay." Matt shrugged, and immediately dropped the subject. Vanessa saw him turn his attention out of the window.

"Joe…." she spoke slowly, "We could, maybe, if we all bundled up really warm – and brought hot stuff to drink in thermoses. The temperature would only be in the 40’s and 50’s. An hour wouldn’t do any harm."

"Maybe." Joe was dubious, and Vanessa knew it. But he had seen Matt’s reaction too. "Well, we could maybe take the Sleuth….I’d have to talk to Frank about it; we haven’t used it since…hmmm, maybe July? Before Tahoe, anyway. We’d have to see—"

"You have a boat?" Matt interrupted, going from sleepy and disappointed to excited in about one second flat. "You have a boat?"

"Yeah, Eckersley, we have a boat." Joe grinned at Matt’s enthusiasm. "A speedboat. We got it when I was…fourteen? Something like that. We used to use it all the time, but it’s taken some beatings and bashings, and it’s been sabotaged more than once – so it’s a bit the worse for wear, which is why we don’t use it very much. But, maybe—"

"This is so cool! You have a boat! Dude, this is like too freakin’ cool! You think Frank will agree to go out? This would be, like, so cool! I mean, I can see us out there, racing around, and I could take a bunch of really cool pictures! You have to let us, man! We like have to do this! I haven’t been out in a boat since I left California! I mean, I did a couple of shoots on board one, but I haven’t been out actually on water and moving!"

Joe laughed and exchanged an amused look with Vanessa. "I’ll talk to Frank about it, but Matt, even if we do go, it’ll only be for an hour or so. It’s a lot colder on the water than on land. This isn’t California, remember? And we’ll have to check the Sleuth over, and make sure there are enough life vests and things…." he continued, obviously thinking out loud, now.

He parked the car, and they all got out. Frank’s Saturn pulled in behind them, and Frank got out, then went around to open Megan’s door. Vanessa cocked an eyebrow in Joe’s direction when she noticed that – she’d had to exit the Aztek on her own – but he seemed oblivious to her thoughts, and she finally laughed, shook her head a little, and kissed him. Joe seemed surprised, but pleased.

As they walked toward the lighthouse, Joe filled Frank in on their idea – or rather, Matt’s idea. Frank shook his head doubtfully, but he finally agreed that it might be do-able.

"We’ll need to look the Sleuth over first," he warned. "It’s been awhile since we’ve taken her out."

"I know – we know," Joe nodded. He chuckled as Matt gave a whoop of delight.

"Totally cool, dudes!"

Vanessa typed in the pass code to allow them to enter the lighthouse, which she had carefully copied into her notebook, then unlocked the door. Although they would be getting research data from Cherise, when she got there, Joe wanted to take his own measurements…just to see if the lens was really as tall as the brochures said. Besides, it was more fun to do research than just read about it in a pamphlet!

Joe stood back and watched, smiling, as Megan and Frank climbed the circular staircase. They both look fully recovered, finally – much, much better than they did a month ago! Frank was holding Megan’s hand tightly clasped in his, leading her up the stairs, and Joe saw him smile as he bent down to hear something Megan murmured in his ear. Joe smiled again, with a touch of envy. Frank always looks so calm – how does he do it? I’ve always envied that trait!

Once they were all in the lens room, Matt set down his large camera case, opened it, and pulled out a camera. He checked it over, attached a lens, and then grinned and started shooting pictures. Multiple pictures. Pictures of everything…including the two couples!

Joe pulled out a large, fabric tape measure and handed one end to Vanessa. He grinned at Matt’s soft "Cool!" and accompanying camera-click, and stepped off to measure the width. Discovering the step-ladder set to one side, Joe climbed up and he and Vanessa measured and recorded the height of the huge lens.

Frank and Megan, unneeded at the moment, wandered outside to the catwalk encircling the lens room. Frank stood behind his girlfriend, and wrapped his arms about her, holding her close and secure as the wind rushed past them. He dropped a soft kiss somewhere in the vicinity of her ear, as they looked over the view, then stopped and frowned. Releasing Megan, Frank poked his head back into the lens room.

"Matt? Do you have a telephoto lens?"

Matt looked up and nodded. "Sure, dude, of course."

"Can I borrow it?" Frank requested.

"What is it?" Megan asked, curiously.

"Not sure yet, baby," Frank answered, "but I’ll let you know in a minute."

Matt handed him a camera with a long lens attached. Balancing it carefully, Frank peered through the viewfinder until he saw what he wanted to see. He carefully shot a picture, then a second, and a third, before he turned back to Megan.

"What is it, dude?" Matt had joined them out on the catwalk, although he was extremely careful to stay pressed tightly against the glass wall of the lens room, seemingly reluctant to get anywhere near the railing.

"There’s a boat out there," Frank replied. "A sailboat. See?" He pointed out over the water. "Someone on the boat was watching the lighthouse with binoculars. When he saw me look at him through the lens, he started pulling up anchor and setting sails."

"That’s weird." Vanessa and Joe had joined the others on the catwalk now, all of them staring at the rapidly-departing sailboat. "There was someone in a car watching the lighthouse yesterday. A guy was sitting in his car in that rainstorm…and then there was the guy who tried to get in, of course. The one who said he had car trouble." Vanessa looked thoughtful.

Frank frowned, and motioned for everyone to go back inside.