"Callie, I need you right now!" he finally told her, after every other tactic failed.

That was the last straw for Callie. She whirled around, her blue-green eyes flashing. "You do not need me Frank Hardy! And I certainly don’t need you anymore. I refuse to play second fiddle to your detective work and Joe any longer!"

Frank felt his face heat. "Joe is my brother, Callie! He has always been there for me, even before you. I will never cut him out of my life. If you can’t except that, then it’s time we moved on."

"Suits me just fine, Frank." Callie crossed her arms. "I’ve already met someone else anyway. Someone who understands me and won't put my life in danger!"

Frank felt like someone had just punched him in the stomach as he realized what those words meant. He stood there staring at Callie as she glared at him. "Callie," he finally managed. "You’ve changed. And I don’t think I like it. If you want to end our relationship this way, I won’t stop you."

With that, Frank picked up his jacket and left the Shaw’s house. He knew that he would probably never get Callie back. He also knew that she would go out of her way to avoid him.

Frank drove home on autopilot, his emotions on a roller-coaster. He’d honestly thought Callie still cared enough to stick with him. They’d known each other since first grade! They’d been dating for the last four years, and even though they’d had their ups and downs, they’d stayed together. Until now.

"I hate leukemia!" he whispered to himself as he parked the car in the garage. He sat there for several minutes, feeling completely numb inside. He had no idea that there were two young men across the street watching him.

The two men were making careful notes on the goings-on at the Hardy home, and had managed to take two rolls of pictures so far. They even had several good close-ups of Frank and Joe. C.J. would be very pleased.

Frank finally got out of the car and went inside. He avoided his parents and went straight to his room. He could hear the sounds of Third Day coming from Joe’s room and smiled a little. It’s a miracle Joe hasn’t worn that CD out yet! he thought to himself as he changed into a pair of sweatpants and an old t-shirt. He flopped down on his bed and absently started stroking Piper’s silky brown fur.

Her deep purr soon filled Frank’s ears. He scooped the cat up and hugged her to his chest. "You won’t ever leave me will you, Piper?" he asked her. Piper just licked his chin, then snuggled in his arms.

Frank felt his bed move and knew that it was Joe. Neither brother spoke for sometime. Joe had turned his stereo off and the only sound was Piper’s loud purr.

Finally, Joe spoke. "I take it you and Callie are no more?"

Frank’s nod confirmed what Joe already knew. He put his arm around his big brother’s shoulder, and Frank rested his head on Joe’s shoulder. It was times like this that Frank was glad he and Joe were so close. They could communicate their feelings without saying a word.

The next thing Frank knew, the sun was shining in his face. He slowly opened his eyes and saw Joe lying next to him, sound asleep. Frank must’ve fallen asleep on Joe’s shoulder, and Joe not wanting to wake Frank, had slept with him.

After solving that little mystery, Frank let his eyes close again to go back to sleep. Just as he was about to drop off again, he realized that it was Sunday and he sat up.

"Relax, Frank," Joe mumbled. "Dad said last night that we’re not going to church today. You need to sleep."

Frank nodded, then lay back down and was soon fast asleep. Fenton was right. Frank was exhausted and needed sleep.

That afternoon across the street, the Hardy’s new neighbors were still unpacking. The Nickersons had moved in three weeks earlier, and Mary Nickerson and Laura Hardy had become instant friends. The Nickersons had three children, but their oldest had been left behind in Illinois at college. Becka, their only daughter, was 17 and Alan was fifteen.

Becka was in her room, hanging pictures without much success. She wrinkled her nose and pushed a stray strand of kinky, honey-blond hair out of her eyes. "You better hurry up and come home, Ned!" she told her room. "I’m no good with a hammer."

She finally gave up and went outside on the front porch for some fresh air. Bayport was nice, but it just wasn’t home. Her father’s company needed him here, though, so they’d moved from River Heights, Illinois, to Bayport, Connecticut. So far, Becka only liked two things about Bayport. The ocean and Frank Hardy who lived across the street. She’d only talked to him a few times, and their families had had dinner together one night. She was instantly taken in by his easy smile, soft brown eyes, and his intelligence. In fact, he reminded Becka of her older brother.

Then she noticed he was sitting on his front porch swing. He looked down about something. Becka poked her head back inside. "Mom, I’m going across the street!"

"Alright!" her mother shouted back.

Becka crossed the street and went up the Hardy’s front walk. Frank was reading, his chocolate-colored cat curled in his lap. She tapped on the post and he looked up. "Hi."

Frank couldn’t help but smile. He’d also been impressed with Becka. She traded one-liners and bad jokes with Joe like a pro. "Hi yourself. What brings you over?" He closed his book, the newest Tom Clancy novel, and laid it down beside his leg.

Becka sat down on the swing. "I needed to get out of the house. I’m sick to death of boxes!" She shook her head slightly. "This is the first time we’ve ever moved."

"I’m glad I was four when we moved. I didn’t have to help." Frank glanced over at Becka. Her eyes were a strange violet color, and he though they were stunning. Her hair fell just past her shoulders and was more kinky than curly. She had a light sprinkling of freckles across her nose and she dimpled when she smiled.

Becka turned her head and caught Frank looking at her. She smiled as he suddenly became very interested in the stripes on Piper’s coat. "You look kinda down. Anything wrong?" she asked gently.

Frank sighed. "You’ll hear about it Monday anyway." He scratched behind Piper’s ears and her purr got even louder. "My girlfriend dumped me last night."

Becka laid a hand on his arm. "I’m so sorry, Frank."

"Thanks. But it’s been coming for a while now. She doesn’t like my being a detective."

"I think it’s neat!" Becka declared. "Are you working on a case right now?"

Frank’s mood lightened. "Not right now. I’d like to get through finals week with as few distractions as possible!"

Becka giggled and Frank’s heart leaped. "I know what you mean."

The two talked and laughed for another hour, trading little brother stories and covering a wide range of subjects. When Becka finally left, Frank found himself looking forward to school in the morning. Becka was going to ride with him and Joe tomorrow, and Frank found himself excited.

Then a familiar chill swept over him and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. He had that feeling that someone was watching him. He carefully looked around, scanning for anything out of the ordinary. When he saw nothing, he just shrugged to himself and went inside, taking Piper and his book with him.

The next morning, Frank had to force himself out of bed. Joe was already in the shower and when Frank heard the water running, he almost fell out of his bed.

About five minutes later, Joe opened the door and steam billowed out. "Whatsa matter, big brother? Sleep too late?" he teased.

"I just didn’t think you knew how to get up on your own," Frank shot back as he slowly stood up. Dizziness was becoming a real problem. The constant dizziness had been his first clue that something wasn’t right. The bruises that popped up for no reason and refused to go away had been his second clue.

Frank walked slowly over to his closet and pulled his clothes out. At least that was now one thing he didn’t have to think about. Over Christmas break the entire Bayport school system had converted to uniforms. The dress code did include jeans though, for which Joe was very thankful.

Twenty minutes later Frank was moving a little faster, but still slower than normal. Laura watched him closely, worry clouding her blue eyes. "Frank, are you sure you’re up to driving today?"

"I think so," Frank answered as he sat down. He had to force himself to eat, and he did it slowly. The oral chemotherapy drugs weren’t as bad as the IV kind, but they still left his stomach queasy and sapped his energy.

As the boys were headed out the door a few minutes later, Laura stopped Joe briefly. "Watch him, Joe."

"I will, Mom." He kissed her cheek, then joined Becka and Frank in the van. They had picked it up yesterday afternoon, good as new. Becka’s bright smile had already distracted Frank from the way he felt, and he was on the verge of laughing uncontrollably when they reached the high school. Joe had grumbled about having to sit in the back seat and getting no respect from his brother all the way, and Becka had egged him on.

Becka hurried off to her first class as soon as they were parked, but the brothers followed at a more leisurely pace. Joe put his arm around Frank’s shoulder, as much to steady him as anything else. "I like her, Frank."

"But what about Vanessa" Frank asked.

Joe looked at Frank and saw the teasing gleam in his eyes. He started to punch Frank in the arm for that one, but stopped himself just in time. Any kind of impact on Frank’s body left an angry, painful bruise. "I could say something smart in reply to that. But I won’t."

Frank raised one eyebrow as they stopped in front of Frank’s class. "And why is that?"

Joe shrugged. "Because I can’t think of anything!" With that he disappeared into his first class for a three hour test on American and European literature.

Frank went into his own class. He had to force himself to concentrate because he could see Callie out of the corner of his eye. He knew from the look on her face that trying to get her attention would be useless. Somehow he made it through the morning, then met up with the gang by the lockers.

He couldn’t help but smile as he saw Becka with Vanessa. How can I still be hurting over Callie, and falling for Becka at the same time? he asked himself.

"Frank, you’re getting that intense look again."

Biff Hooper’s comment jerked Frank back to reality. "I hadn’t noticed, Biff." He looked at his friend briefly as he opened his locker and dumped his notebook inside.

Biff just shook his head. "Who’s up for lunch?" Everyone said yes, then headed for the cafeteria.

Joe hung back, still trying to get his locker open. When he finally got it open, his eyes widened in shock. A purple and yellow braid was hanging inside. And it was stained with blood.