"I don't know," Craig told him as he and Frank climbed in Craig's car. "Jim called and said Jonny had been hurt and was on the way to Southport General."

At the emergency room, Craig checked with the nurse then returned to Frank. "The doctor is with him now."

"What happened?" asked Frank.

"The nurse wouldn't say. She said we would have to speak with the doctor."

Frank gave a sigh. He was worried about Joe and he knew if he didn't do something he'd blow Joe's cover and go back there anyway. So he decided to use the waiting time to talk to Craig.

"Did Jonny seem happy to you before he disappeared?" Frank asked him.

"Not really," Craig answered. "He's not a real emotional guy, remember. Why?"

"Something someone said," Frank replied. "I think Jonny may have taken off on his own."

"Why?" Craig asked again.

"Joe said his boss hadn't expected Jonny back so soon for one reason," Frank answered. "He did mean to leave, but whether or not he actually did on his own is another matter."

"What do you mean?" Craig asked, confused.

Frank told him about Jonny making plans with Kelly but disappearing first.

"You think he was kidnapped?" asked Craig. "Or killed?" he added, concern etching his face.

"We don't know enough.." Frank began, but was interrupted by the doctor.

"Craig Daniels," said the doctor as he approached.

"Yes?" Craig said, standing. "How is Jonny?"

"He'll be fine. He has a slight concussion. We wanted to keep him over night but he's refusing. He does need someone to keep an eye on him though."

''Sure,'' Craig assured him. ''Can we see him now please?''

''He'll be out in minute,'' the doctor stated. ''Watch him for twenty-four hours. If he gets sick or falls asleep and you can't rouse him, bring him back here.''

''We will.'' Frank promised the doctor.

Joe came out a couple of minutes after the doctor had left. He had a bruise in his forehead that ran back into his hair, but he seemed fine otherwise.

''Are you okay?'' Frank inquired then added quickly, ''What happened?''

''I'm fine,'' Joe answered him and then looked at Craig. ''Thanks for getting Frank,'' he said. ''Jonny had put you down as the person to call in case of an emergency.''

''No problem,'' Craig assured Joe. ''I'm just glad you're okay.''

''Yeah, well, I'm sorry you had to miss your class this afternoon.''

''Actually,'' Craig grimaced, looking at his watch, ''I can still make it if I hurry.''

''Go ahead,'' Joe said to Craig. ''Frank and I have a few things to we need to do before heading back to the boarding house.''

''Okay.'' Craig stated, grinning. ''Catch you later then.''

''Why did you want to get rid of Craig?'' Frank asked Joe after Craig had driven off.

''Was I that obvious?'' Joe grinned at Frank.

''Only because I know you so well,'' Frank assured him. ''What gives?''

''We've got to talk,'' Joe told Frank. ''But first, I need to get some aspirin. My head's killing me.'' They caught a taxi back to the boardinghouse and soon Joe was resting on the bed again in Frank's room.

Joe related the story Jim had told him earlier. ''I believed him, but now I don't know,'' he added after a few moments. ''When we got back to work it was Jim's turn to drive. I had one foot on the back of the truck to get on when I saw a bag with some weird looking type powder in it lying a couple of feet away. It was half burried under a uniform like I wear when I'm at work. I decided to see what it was, but as I was starting to let go of the truck, Jim pulled forward and my foot was yanked out from right under me. I barreled forward and hit my head on it.''

''You think he did it on purpose?'' Frank guessed.

''Not really,'' Joe said after a moment's thought on it. ''But dad taught us when we're working on a case always assume an accident isn't really an accident until we find out for sure.''

Frank nodded. ''But that still doesn't explain why you didn't want to say anything in front of Craig about it,'' he said.

''Jim said he never heard the guy mention Martin's name,'' Joe reminded Frank. ''What if the owner he was talking about was Sommer Daniels?''

Frank started to interrupt but Joe sat up and held up his hand, "I know Martin's involved with this drug scam but Craig's dad does own an import business and isn't above shady dealings."

''How do you know?'' Frank asked.

''I heard a lot about him at the race where I met him. There were rumors he had a spy working in the crews of at least two other seperate cars. If he could do it there, why not in business?''

''They were rumors,'' Frank tried reminding Joe.

''But Jeff Stone quit his crew the day of the race, two hours after to be exact, and started working for Daniels,'' Joe told Frank.

''It does sound suspicious,'' Frank agreed, but where does he fit into what's happening here?'' Frank demanded.

''Maybe nowhere,'' Joe admitted reluctantly. ''But he does have to be a suspect.''

"Okay," Frank finally agreed. "I'll drive over to Daniels World Trade in the morning and see what I can find."

''I'd better call Kelly and cancel our date tonight,'' Joe said getting up and going into the hall. ''You'd better split,'' Joe told Frank when he came back into the room. ''She's coming over for a while.''

''Will you be okay until she gets here?'' Frank asked, remembering what the doctor had said to him about Joe.

''Don't worry,'' said Joe. ''She's only a few minutes away.''

''Be careful,'' Frank said, going to the door. ''Knock on the wall if you go out,'' he added before checking the corridor and leaving.''

Kelly arrived twenty minutes later. ''Hey handsome,'' she said setting down the package she held in her hand, and sitting down beside it.

''Hi yourself,'' Joe said with a grin.

''Sorry I took so long but daddy wanted to send you a get well gift,'' she explained as she picked up the package and handed it to him.

Joe unwrapped the gift and looked at the tin. ''Gourmet popcorn,'' he said pulling the lid off of the tin. ''Tell your dad I said thanks.'' He popped a couple pieces in his mouth. ''Want some?'' he offered.

''No thanks,'' Kelly said and shook her head. ''I really don't like anything but buttered popcorn.''

Joe shrugged, ate a few more pieces, closed the tin and sat down beside her. ''Thanks for coming over,'' he told her.

''You poor thing,'' she said to Joe. ''Does it hurt a lot?'' she asked, gently pushing his hair off his forehead and looking at the bad bruise.

''Not really,'' he murmered, drifting off to sleep.

When Joe awoke it was dark outside. Kelly was curled up on the bed reading a book of Jonny's. She smiled and put the book down when Joe got up.

''Feeling better?'' she asked, coming over to him.

''Much,'' he told her. ''How about we go and grab something to eat?'' he asked. ''I'm starving.''

''Okay,'' she agreed. ''Let me run to the little girls' room first.'' She left and went down the hall to the restroom. Joe opened the popcorn and started munching some again while waiting on Kelly.

''You won't be hungry when we go to the restaurant,'' Kelly chirped when she returned and caught Joe munching on the popcorn yet again.

''Sure I will,'' he told her and grabbed the keys.

Next door, Frank heard Joe and Kelly laughing as they were leaving. Wondering why Joe didn't let him know they were going somewhere, he followed them, this time, making sure no one was following him.

Joe and Kelly dined in Burger King while Frank went through the drive through and ate in the car. He then followed them back to the boardinghouse.

''Jonny, you're the greatest,'' Kelly whispered into Joe's ear then said goodbye for the day. Joe climbed out of the car and headed up the steps. Frank parked his car and he followed his brother Joe inside.

''Joe,'' Frank called out as Joe opened his door. Joe paused to look at Frank then he went his room and shut the door, shutting Frank out. Frank didn't even knock, he turned the knob and pushed the door open, expecting to see Joe in trouble once again.

Joe, however, was alone. ''Geez,'' Joe said in disgust. ''You don't know how to knock?'' he demanded angrily.

''Not when you close the door in my face after I just called for you to wait up a minute I don't. What was the ideal?'' Frank retorted, confused by Joe's behavior because normally Joe would have waited for Frank and wouldn't have yelled at him for something like knocking on a door.

''There was a good reason for it,'' Joe said taking a couple steps forward.

''What?'' Frank asked.

''I didn't want to see you,'' Joe answered, and shoved Frank out the door and then locked it.