"Where's your brother?" Laura asked, not answering.

"He went to see Vanessa," Frank told them. "Why did you cancel the card?" he asked her again.

"So you would have to come home," she replied.

"It was you who wrecked our lab instead of Dad, wasn't it?" he asked, shocking his father.

"You did what?" shouted Fenton at Laura, his eyes wide in shock.

"I should have realized," Frank said, half to himself. "Dad would have caused more damage. He'd have know we would be suspicious if there wasn't any major damage done."

"I didn't know what to do," Laura said, crying. "Joe's my son," she said. "He shouldn't have to go off and try to find someone who doesn't even know he exists. Fenton and I love you both the same."

"That's not entirely true," Frank said but continued before anyone could interrupt him, "but that isn't even the issue here. Why does it matter so much to you if Joe finds his natural father? I would think you would want to know who raped you."

Laura stared at her eldest son. She knew he would take up for Joe no matter what. She realized she stood no chance arguing with him on the subject, so she turned away. "Call Joe," she ordered. "Tell him to come home. I want this matter settled before we go to bed," she added as she left the room.

"What's with her?" Frank asked his dad.

"I don't really know," Fenton replied, staring after Laura. But I intend to find out,' he thought to himself.

"We ran out of suspects," Frank said, interrupting his dad's thoughts. "That's why we came back."

Fenton nodded. "How's Joe?"

"Not good," Frank replied. "He's convinced he might be like his dad."

"That's ridiculous!" Fenton shouted angrily. "Joe could never hurt anyone like that."

"I know," Frank agreed. "But convincing Joe is the hard part," he added, going to the phone and picking up the receiver. Vanessa answered on the third ring. "Hey Vanessa."

"Hi, Frank," Vanessa answered. "When did you guys get back?"

"We got into town around an hour ago," Frank said with a frown. "Isn't Joe there?" he asked, a gnawing of dread rising from his stomach to form a lump in his throat.

"No," she replied. "Was he coming over?"

"Even with heavy traffic, he should have been there by now," Frank said in alarm.

"I'm coming over," she said.

"No!" Frank shouted to keep her from hanging up. "Stay there. I'll drive over and see if I can find him on the way. He may have had car trouble or something."

"Okay," she agreed. "But hurry," she added worriedly.

Frank hung up the phone. He told his father about his plans and was on his way out the door when the phone rang. "Hello," Frank said, rushing back and snagging the receiver on the first ring.

"Frank?" said a voice. "Good, you're there. Is Joe?"

"No," Frank replied, recognizing the voice as that of Sergeant Con Riley, a friend of his and Joe's at the Bayport Police Department. "Why?"