Frank looked at his father and Laura. His dad looked better than he had in years. He had been thinking about Laura since his father had told him about her. His mother was dead and had been so for a long time. And he knew his father had loved her but he knew, too, that it was selfish to want him not to care for this woman. He looked at Laura. He could see why his dad had fallen in love with her. She was kind and lovely and had a gentleness about her. It was almost impossible to believe she was old enough to have a sixteen-year-old son.

Which brought Frank's attention to Joe. He was still amazed to find out he had a brother. And if he was amazed, he could only imagine how his father felt. Sixteen years without knowing his own son! How was he going to break the news to Joe? Was that what his dad and Laura were talking about when he and Joe had come inside? He didn't envy his dad this mission. He couldn't help wondering how he would feel had he grown up without a father and then one day just have him appear on the doorstep, wanting to pick up where he had left off. Would Joe accept the Hardys into his life? Would he accept them as a part of his life? Was he bitter? He hadn't seemed so when he talked about it. But once he found out that Fenton had been free to return to him and Laura several years ago and hadn't, how would he react?

Joe finished his conversation and hung up. "Looks like whatever you wanted to tell me will have to wait," he told his mom and Fenton. "That was Sally. Her dad has been arrested for embezzling," he informed his mom. "I've got to go. I'll try not to be late," he promised as he exited the room.

Frank bit his bottom lip. He wanted to tag along and find out what was going on but didn't want to push himself on Joe just yet. Joe would need time to adjust and pushing him when someone he cared about obviously needed him was not a good idea. He glanced at his dad and Laura and decided to see if his aunt needed any help with dinner.

"Frank," his father's voice halted him before he had left the room. Frank turned back to the twosome.

"Laura and I have decided to give our relationship another chance," Fenton told Frank, his eyes searching his son's for understanding and smiling when he saw it.

"I think that's a good idea," Frank replied, smiling. "But you have to tell Joe. Soon," he added. He and Joe hadn't talked much while they had been outside trying unsuccessfully to inflate the basketball which had somehow sprung a leak, but he had already started liking him, in spite of the fact they had different mothers.

***

Joe arrived at the sheriff's office in under twenty minutes. He parked out front behind the sheriff's off -duty neon blue pick-up and hurried inside. As he entered, a young woman, about nineteen years old with long black hair and big blue eyes came running over and threw her arms around Joe's neck. Joe wrapped his arms around her and gave her a tight squeeze.

"It's okay," he whispered in her hair. "Pops isn't going to prison," he promised her.

Sally Conroy sighed and pulled back from Joe. Looking into his eyes, she gave a sad smile. "You love Dad as much as I do," she said.

"Of course," Joe agreed at once. How could I not? he wondered. He had known Remy Conroy all his life. Remy's son, Dawson, and he were best friends, right up until Dawson had died in a shark attack. The shark had gone after Dawson and Joe tried to fight it off, but had been bitten himself. By the time both boys were taken from the water, Dawson had lost so much blood from having had both legs bitten off that he had died on the beach. Joe's wounds had not been so drastic. He had nearly lost his left leg at the knee but the doctors had managed to save it. As a reminder of that fateful day, however, Joe's knee still took spells, as Sally called them, and would refuse to work at times; usually before a major storm.

Joe didn't know when he had started calling Mr. Conroy "Pops," but the man had enjoyed it and treated Joe like his own son. Joe kind of thought it was because he knew Joe had no father of his own. Mrs. Conroy had died during childbirth with Dawson and his kids had grown up without a mother. In a way, his family and the Conroy’s were a complete family, even if it wasn't a legal one. They always attended picnic's and social events together. At one point, Joe had even thought "Pops" might propose to his mother but he must have been mistaken because they never did get married and they stopped seeing each other unless he, Dawson and/or Sally were around.

"Joe," Sheriff Reiner greeted him, coming over and putting a hand on his back. "It doesn't look good," he said. Sheriff Reiner was also a good friend of Joe's. Joe had a knack for helping people in trouble and that sometimes led to putting certain ruthless characters behind bars. Fortunately, Joe was bright enough to know not to attempt to beard the thugs alone. He had always called on a friend to back him up. Even so, the sheriff feared one day, Joe would get in over his head and no one would be around to dig him out.

"Didn't you find the money?" Joe demanded.

"Part of it," Reiner admitted. "A hundred thousand dollars was located in a savings account in First Federal of Arkansas."

"How much is missing?"

"Two million dollars," was the electrifying response.

"And you only found one hundred grand?" Joe sputtered in disbelief. "What more do you want for you to believe this is a frame-up?" he demanded.

"I think you're right," Reiner concurred. "But the evidence is there and I have to hold him until bail is set and made. You know that," he told Joe, looking at the boy fondly. He had tried to get Joe's mother to go out with him several times, but she kept refusing. Her refusal hadn't kept him from trying to bond with Joe. Maybe Joe could help put in a few good words about him every now and then and she might change her mind. Besides, a man could do a lot worse than to have Joe for a son. These thoughts ran through the sheriff's mind every time he came into contact with Joe.

"Who reported the money missing?" Joe asked.

"Bill Burton," the sheriff replied, naming the bank's president... "He noticed money had gone missing from a few accounts and ordered an investigation by Southby and Associates. They turned up the account in Arkansas."

"They are still looking, right?" Joe demanded.

"I don't think so," Reiner admitted. "I believe Todd Mavis released them once the account had been found."

"So the president hires them and the vice president fires them," Joe stated. "Why would he fire them without finding all the money?" he asks thoughtfully. "Unless he has something to hide."

"Be careful," the sheriff warned Joe. "You don't want to get into trouble for slander."

"I won't," Joe promised, smiling at him. "I'll keep my thoughts to myself until I find out what is going on. Can I see Pops?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Yes, please?" begged Sally who had kept quiet and let Joe do the talking.

Sheriff Reiner led the way to the back where the prisoner's were kept. "Remy," Reiner said, as they entered the enclosed area. "You got company."

Pops, a man with curly blond hair and green eyes, jumped to his feet and grabbed onto the bars when he saw who was there. "Sally. Joe."

"Oh, Dad," Sally said, rushing up to the bars. "We're going to get you out of there."

"Not tonight, I fear," Pops said, smiling at the two. "Joe. I'm glad you're here."

"Wild horses couldn't keep me away," Joe vowed, smiling in relief to see the man still had his usual, jovial, smile on his face. "What happened?"

Pops shook his head. "I have no idea," he said. "They claim I stole two million dollars from First Bank and Trust and hid it in various accounts, one of which they have found. Not only did I not do that, I have no idea who could have."

"Joe will find out," Sally promised her father. "He has a knack for that kind of thing."

"I know," Pops replied, looking at Joe as fondly as he would have his own son. "Take care of Sally until I get out of here?"

"You know it," Joe said at once.

"Time to go kids," Reiner said. "It's getting late and you two should be at home." Sally shot him a dirty look but was immediately contrite.

"You're right," she agreed, taking Joe's arm. "Take care of Dad?" she begged Reiner.

"You know I will," he assured her. After all Remy was one of his best friends, Reiner thought.

Joe helped Sally into the van and drove her home. "Don't worry," he comforted her as he came to a stop in her driveway. "I'll find who stole the money and clear Pops. I promise."

"I know you will," she replied, smiling confidently at him before leaning over and kissing his cheek affectionately.

Joe got out of the van and went around and opened the door for her. He walked her to her front door and took the key from her to unlock it. Opening the door, he flipped the light on and stepped aside to let her precede him inside. Almost immediately, they heard footsteps from upstairs. Joe took off up the steps at a run as Sally snatched the phone up and called the sheriff.

"Hold it!" Joe ordered, opening the door to Pops bedroom and seeing a figure in black sweats with a black ski mask ready to go out to the balcony where he would be able to climb to the ground.

Joe ran over and tackled the man, bringing him down to the floor; barely missing striking his own head on the desk which sat close to the balcony doors. As they fell, the intruder lashed out and smashed a fist into Joe's jaw. Joe, seeing it coming, leaned his head back a little so the blow was not as bad as it could have been. Joe grabbed at the man's neck and forced him back to the ground. The intruder brought up a muscled arm and knocked Joe's arm away with little effort. He pushed Joe off him into the desk's chair which turned over on Joe, and got to a standing position. Joe made to rise but before he could, the intruder picked up the lamp and brought it crashing down onto the back of Joe's head. Joe fell to the floor unconscious.