"Your nephew?" Frank repeated.  "Is that the reason you were reassigned?"

"Yes," Thompson admitted.  "And, had I been  in my superior's place, I would have removed me from the case as well," he continued.  "However, I am disappointed that Devon's killer is still free.  From everything I heard about him, he had a bright future."

"Yeah," Joe agreed.  "He wasn't only smart, but nice too."

"You knew Devon?" Thompson asked in amazement.  Joe told him about playing ball with Devon and Jim.  "Ah, Jim.  There was no way he could have committed the murder.  I was shocked when I heard he had been arrested."

"You've told us who couldn't have done it," Frank said.  "Now, tell us who might have."

"Janice Lenin was one of our suspects," Thompson said.  "She was Devon's step-father's mother.  She hated Devon and his mother.  Apparently, she had wanted her son to marry someone else."

"Did she have an alibi?" Joe asked.

"Same as the other suspects," Thompson replied.  "Home in bed."

"What was the estimated time of death?" Frank asked, realizing they knew when the body had been found, but not when he had been murdered.

"At approximately 2:30 a.m." Thompson answered.

"2:30!" Joe exclaimed.  "What was he doing out at that time of night?  Didn't his parents know he wasn't at home?"

"The last time his parents had seen him alive was when he told them goodnight at ten and went to bed," Thompson informed them.  "Devon left his room through his window sometime after that."

"Why?" Joe asked.

"If we knew that, we would probably know who the killer is," Thompson answered.

"Who else did you suspect?" Frank asked.

Thompson shook his head.  "Tim Donalds, he was the Lenin's next door neighbor."

"Why was he a suspect?" Joe asked.

"He and Devon had been in a few arguments," Thompson said.  "His wife said he was in bed with her and he couldn't have killed Devon."

"She could be lying," Frank pointed out.

"True," Thompson admitted.  "But we ran him in for questioning anyway.  He insisted we give him a lie detector test.  We did.  After the test and almost eight hours of questioning, we decided he was telling the truth."

'"Who else?" Frank asked.

"That's it," Thompson said.  "There were no other suspects."

"What about his step-dad?" Frank asked.  "Didn't Devon hate him?"
"It was my understanding that Devon disliked his step-father for marrying his mother.  His step-father was actually proud of him and loved him very much," Thompson said.

"What about the long sleeves?" Frank demanded.  "Was Devon being abused?"

"No," Thompson denied with a shake of his head.  "Devon had been involved in a lab accident at school a few years previously.  His arms were burned badly and he always wore sleeves to hide the disfigurement."

"Is there anything else you can tell us about the investigation?" Frank asked.

Thompson shook his head slowly, trying to think of something he may have neglected to mention.  "That's pretty much it," he said.  "I wasn't on the case for long."

"Thank you for your time," Frank said as both boys rose.

Thompson stood and escorted the boys to the front door.  "Good luck," he said, as the boys were leaving.

Frank and Joe climbed back into the car and drove off.  "I think we're going about this the wrong way," Frank said on their way back to town.

Joe looked askance at his brother.  "Why now?" Frank asked.  "Why try to frame Jim now?  What's different?" 

Joe grinned because he had basically said those same words to Agent Patrick before the wreck.  "Maybe we should see if Jim's schedule has changed any over the last few months," he suggested.  "I could hang out with him and his mother and do what they've been doing.  Maybe go through her date book for this year."

"That's a good idea," Frank agreed, pulling into the Hardy driveway.  "Oh, good," he said, changing the subject.  "Dad's home."

"Hi, boys," Mr. Hardy said as they entered his office a few minutes later.  "I talked to the Lenins," he added.  "It seems Mrs. Lenin had received a phone call telling her someone was going to come around and try to blame her and her husband for Devon's murder."

"No wonder she was so jumpy," Joe commented.  "Any idea who the caller was?"

"None," Mr. Hardy replied.  "She did say the caller was a man."

*****

Joe left for the Barley's on his motorcycle and Frank dropped his dad off at the airport on his way to see Janice Lenin.  He had found her address in the phone book as he waited for his father to pack.

Frank arrived at the ranch-style house less than twenty minutes after leaving the airport.  He brought the car to a stop in the driveway and got out.  He walked up tot he door, glancing about at the multitude of flowers which filled the yard and lined the walkway.  He knocked on the door and waited.

A tall, angular woman with graying hair and sharp blue eyes answered the door.  She reminded Frank vaguely of his father's maiden sister, Gertrude.  "Yes?" she asked, her eyes taking in Frank's calm demeanor and clean-cut appearance.

"Mrs. Lenin?" Frank asked.  "My name is Frank Hardy.  I was wondering if I could ask you some questions."

"Concerning?" she inquired, lifting a brow in question.

"The murder of Devon Miller," Frank answered.

"You don't look old enough to work for the government," she stated.

"My brother and I are detectives," he informed her.  "Jim Barley, a friend of my brother's, was arrested for the murder recently."

"He was cleared," she countered.  "It was in this morning's paper."

"Yes, Ma'am," Frank admitted.  "However, whoever killed Devon tried to frame Jim and we intend to find that person."

"I certainly hope you have better luck than those brainless S.B.I. agents," she said, stepping aside and gesturing for him to enter.

Frank smothered a laugh, knowing Joe would have gotten along fabulously with the woman.  They went into the living room and Frank took a seat on the rust colored sofa as Mrs. Lenin sat in a matching chair. 

"Now, young man," she said, looking him in the eyes.  "What did you wish to ask me?"

"Why didn't you get along with Devon and his mother?" Frank began.

"Straight and to the point.  I like that," she complimented him.  She leaned back in her chair, her eyes never leaving Frank's face.  "Shelia tricked my son into marrying her."

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