“Anytime,” Biff replied. “Let us know when Joe can have visitors?”

“Will do,” Frank promised before disconnecting. He relayed Biff’s information to his father.

“Frankl, huh?” Fenton said, gripping the steering wheel. He was not a man who believed in coincidences. “Call Sam and have him find out everything he can about the man,” Fenton instructed his eldest son.

Frank made the call and hung up after Sam promised to get back to him as soon as possible. Fenton pulled into the parking lot on the third deck of the hospital and they hurried inside.

“How is he?” Fenton asked Laura softly as he bent down to give her a kiss.

“No change,” Laura replied. “But Nurse Leif keeps assuring me that isn’t bad.”

“Why don’t you go down to the cafeteria?” Frank suggested. “I’ll stay with Joe.” He took the chair vacated by his mother and leaned forward.

“Hi, Baby Brother,” he said softly. “We’ve made some progress. It won’t be long before we catch who did this to you. The police are already looking for Russell. He won’t get a chance to hurt you again.”

“Didn’t hurt me,” Joe mumbled as his eyelids fluttered open.

“Joe! You’re awake. How do you feel?” Frank asked, his brown eyes reflecting the joy he felt.

“Sore as all get out,” moaned Joe. “Now what were you saying? I didn’t get it all.”

Frank hit the call button for the nurse before telling Joe about the knife and Pete meeting Frankl in JuJu’s. Frank quit talking when the nurse came in to take Joe’s pulse, temperature, and blood pressure.

“Well, now. That’s more like it,” Nurse Leif said, smiling down at the youth. “Keep this up and you’ll be out of here in no time,” she told him as she headed out the door.

“Now, what did you mean when you said Russ hadn’t hurt you?” Frank demanded. “Nurse Lenz said he nearly ran her over getting out of here.”

Joe told Frank about Russell's visit. “I guess he just got scared when I got sick,” Joe ended.

“But he must know something or else the police would have picked him up by now. He’s definitely hiding something,” Frank said, frowning.

“What’s your next move?” Joe asked.

“We haven’t discussed it yet,” Frank answered truthfully. He wanted to go in undercover and get to know Frankl; get enough on him to send him away forever. But telling Joe that would upset him. It might even drive him back into a coma. Frank wasn’t going to risk that!

Joe must have picked up something in Frank’s tone. “You are going to keep me informed on this case, aren’t you?” he demanded.

“Of course,” Frank said, pretending to be offended. “We’re partners.”

Joe looked at Frank suspiciously and was about to say something but his parents entered the room at that point. Frank let out a relieved sigh and stood up. “He seems to be doing better,” Frank said, smiling.

“Oh, baby,” Laura said, rushing over and kissing Joe’s forehead. “You’ve had us worried to death.”

“Sorry,” Joe replied as Fenton came over and ruffled Joe’s hair.

“The nurse told us you were doing much better,” Fenton said, smiling down at his youngest son in relief.

“I guess I am,” Joe agreed, realizing for the first time that he was feeling much better than he had been the last time he had seen his family.

“And if you rest and do as you’re told, you will be moved out of the ICU and into a regular room in no time,” Frank said.

“And I am going to stay here and make sure he does,” Laura asserted.

“Unfortunately, we are going to have to leave,” Fenton said with a grimace. “You had to wake up just as visiting hours were ending.”

“Better late than never,” Joe responded with a mischievous grin.

“See you tomorrow, little brother,” Frank said as his dad opened the door to usher him out.

“Dad,” Joe called out to his father before he could follow Frank into the hallway.

Fenton stopped and turned to look questioningly at his son. “Keep an eye on Frank. Don’t let him do anything stupid.”

“Frank?” Fenton asked, amused.

Joe gave a sight shrug, wincing as he recognized that hadn’t been the smartest movement he could have made. “You know Frank. Whenever I get hurt, he always feels responsible even if it’s just because he wasn’t there to prevent it.”

“I know,” Fenton acknowledged. “But that doesn’t mean he won’t be careful.”

“But it does mean he will do what he has to do, no matter how dangerous it is, to get the person responsible for hurting me,“ Joe told him, surprised his father hadn’t realized this about Frank by now.

Fenton nodded as his smile faltered. He left the room and followed Frank from the hospital thinking about what Joe had said. He supposed he shouldn’t be surprised. He had always known Frank and Joe were closer than any two people had ever been.

“Dad, I want to go undercover,” Frank said once they were in the car. “I can get a job at Sampson’s and get buddy-buddy with Frankl.”

Joe nailed him! Fenton thought. “No,” Fenton stated. “It’s out of the question.”

“Why?” Frank demanded. “It’s the only logical thing to do,” he pointed out. “He had to be involved even if he wasn’t the one who actually stabbed Joe. Although, my money is on him,” he added.

“Mine too,” agreed Fenton. “And that’s exactly why it’s out of the question. I don’t want you putting yourself into danger like that.”

“What danger?” argued Frank. “I’ll be in disguise. And I can pretend to be older. If I’m there when I am supposed to be in school, who would even assume I would be Fred Macmillan?” he asked, making up a phony name.

“Pete and Russell would know,” Fenton said.

“I don’t have any classes with either of them,” Frank informed his father. “And if Russ shows up, the police will take him in for questioning. Pete is the only one I would have to worry about and I can get the guys to pretend I’ve been around.”

“All right,” Fenton relented. “But I want you in a good disguise.”

“Agreed,” Frank said as Fenton pulled to a stop in the driveway. “ I guess I had better call everyone and let them know the plan and how Joe is doing.”

“I’ll fix dinner,” Fenton said. Frank grinned as he ran inside. He knew his father’s idea of dinner. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Sam called just as Frank and Fenton were polishing off the last of the sandwiches. Fenton took the call then sat back down at the table. “Frankl has a record,” Fenton informed Frank. “He has been busted for possession twice and armed robbery once.”

“Then how did he get a job at Sampson’s?” Frank wondered.

“Frankl’s parole officer is Sampson’s sister,” Fenton explained. “Apparently, she thought Frankl could go straight if he had a decent job and begged her brother to hire him.”

***

“I‘m going to stop by the hospital this morning and tell your mother what you are doing. I don‘t think we should let your brother know just yet. I don‘t want to risk his blood pressure shooting back up,” Fenton said the next morning as the two were finishing breakfast.

“Agreed,” Frank said, smiling. He had been going to ask his father to keep quite but it was better if he thought it was his idea.

“After I see Joe, I am going to take off for a bit,” Fenton continued. “I want to keep an eye on Walter Barlow. It’s obvious he gave Joe the LSD,” he added. “Maybe I can find out where he got it and who he called to kill your brother, in case Frankl doesn’t pan out.”

“Be careful,” Frank said.

“I will,” Fenton promised. “You too.” He quirked an eyebrow as he looked at Frank. “Not coming with me to the hospital?”

“I’ll be along a little later,” Frank said. “I couldn’t get a hold of Chet, Biff, or Phil last night. I want to square things with them about tomorrow and then I’ll stay with Joe while Mom comes home and gets some rest.”

“Good idea,” approved Fenton.

***

When Frank showed up at the hospital later that morning, Frank was alarmed to find his room empty. “Where’s Joe?” he demanded of the first nurse he saw.

“Calm down,” the nurse instructed him, smiling. “He was doing much better and has been moved into a room on the fifth floor.”

“Which one?” Frank asked.

“I’m not sure,” the nurse told him. “Check at the nurse’s station. They can tell you.”

Ten minutes later, Frank stepped through the open door of 519. “Hey Baby Brother,” Frank greeted Joe with a big grin on his face.

“Hey,” Joe returned. “At this rate, I might be out of here in time to help with this case.”

Laura made a strangled noise but did not comment. No point in making Joe mad. “I’m going to run home for a bit,” Laura told him. “You take it easy and I’ll see you later,” she added, leaning over and kissing him.

Frank settled down into the chair beside Joe’s bed. He would call their friends later to let then know Joe could have visitors but for now, he just wanted a little quality time with his brother.

***

Monday morning at five after nine, Frank walked into Sampson’s Hunting and Supply shop. He was wearing black denim pants with a plaid short sleeved shirt. He had dyed his hair and eyebrows a light black with a temporary hair dye and his face was covered with a two-day growth of beard. He wore a pair of wire framed lenses over a pair of green colored contact lenses.

“Can I help you?” asked a tall, muscular man in jeans and a tee shirt as Frank entered the store.

“Hello,” said Frank. “Could I speak with the manager?”

“That would be me,” the man replied. “I’m Donald Sampson.”

“It’s nice to meet you Mr. Sampson,” Frank greeted him. “My name is Fred Macmillan. I would like to apply for a job.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not hiring right now,” Sampson informed Frank.

“How about part time?” Frank pushed.

“Sorry,” Sampson said.

“I’ll work any hours for minimum wage?” Frank begged. “I really need the money.”

“I’m sorry, Son,” Sampson told him. “I just don’t need any help at this time.”

“I see,” Frank said, trying hard not to scowl. He had never had trouble getting a job before. Why did it have to happen now?