"I understand," Reiner responded, sighing because he had expected as much. "Remy probably wouldn't have let me get away with it this year anyway," he added. "I know you only entered with me last year because he had broken his leg and couldn't participate."

"Thanks," Joe said, smiling fondly at the man. "Do you know a Jeff Phillips?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Sure," Reiner answered. "Jeff and Millie Phillips live over on Bodenheimer Drive. Why?"

"I was trying to call Mr. Phillips earlier and he wasn't at home," Joe explained, not going into the details.

"No, Jeff's brother's widow broke her hip and Jeff and Millie went over to help out for a bit," the sheriff informed Joe.

"Where at?" Joe asked.

"Huntington Gap," was the answer. "They've been gone about three days now."

"I don't suppose you know when they'll be back?" Joe asked.

Reiner shook his head and opened the door of his truck. "Sorry," he said. "Jeff didn't say. Only asked me to keep an eye on his place while he was gone."

"Well, thanks anyway," Joe said, disappointment evident in his voice.

"Hey, don't be so down," Reiner tried to comfort Joe. "Remy is fine and, as you pointed out, there isn't enough evidence to convict him anyway."

"You're right," Joe replied, plastering a false smile onto his face. He wished he felt as confidant as the sheriff seemed to be. Joe waited until Reiner had driven away before returning inside.

"Did...did you accept Rupert's invitation?" Laura asked when Joe entered the living room.

"Hmm?" Joe asked, looking blank for a minute. "Oh, no," he said. "If Pops is out in time, I'll be going with him. Jeff Phillips is out of town," he continued. "He and his wife have gone to Huntington Gap for a bit."

"Look, I will have someone locate him and ask him who he dealt with at the bank," Fenton told Joe, taking his elbow and leading him over to the sofa to sit down. "But first, your mother and I want to talk to you."

Joe quirked an eyebrow and looked up at his mom and then glanced over at Frank and Aunt Gertrude, before finally resting his gaze on Fenton. "What is it?" he asked, his stomach knotting a bit because he wasn't sure if he was ready to hear what they had to say now or not.

"Your mother and I..." Fenton began, only to break off cursing as the phone rang. Seeing no one making a move to answer the phone, Joe got up and lifted the receiver on the third ring.

"Joe," Sally's terrified voice came through the line. "There's someone in the house," she whispered into the phone.

"Get out of the house," Joe ordered her.

"I'm locked in my bedroom," Sally told him. "I think they are in daddy's room."

"Stay put then. I'm on my way." Joe hung up the phone, his face strained. "Mom, call the sheriff. Someone has broken into the Conroy's again."

As Joe ran out of the house, Fenton and Frank were close at his heels. All three climbed into the van and headed to the Conroy's house. As Joe turned the corner onto the Conroy's street, a navy Mazda tore past them. Fenton strained his neck as he turned to get the tag number but the license was covered in dirt.

"Follow it," Frank urged Joe, anxious to find out who the guy was.

"No," Joe refused. "I've got to make sure Sally is okay." He parked the van and was out of it in seconds.

"Sally!" Joe shouted, racing up the steps and through the open front door. "Sally!" Joe yelled louder as he hit the steps, taking them two at a time to the second floor.

The sound of a desk being scooted was heard before a click and then the bedroom door opened and Sally rushed out, throwing herself into Joe's arms. Joe held her, uttering soothing words until she calmed down.

"I'm sorry," she apologized, sniffing and moving away from Joe. "I just don't know why this person keeps breaking in here."

"You saw him?" Frank pounced. "Are you sure it was the same guy who beaned Joe the other night?"

Sally shook her head. "N...no," she stuttered, her eyes widening fearfully. "You mean there could be more than one person doing this?" she demanded. The thought had obviously never occurred to her.

"I doubt it," Joe said. "But regardless, I want you to stay with a friend."

"No way!" Sally stoutly refused. "I will not be run off from my own home."

"Sally, please?" Joe begged.

She shook her head. "Come on, Joe. You wouldn't run away. Don't ask me too."

"Fine," an exasperated Joe gave in, running a hand through his blond hair. "But promise you'll keep the cordless with you at all times while you're at home?"

"I promise," agreed Sally, smiling at Joe.

"Would you mind if we looked around?" Fenton asked.

"Oh, no. Go ahead," she replied, turning to look at him. He started to leave the room. "Please find out who is doing this and make them stop," she begged, turning back to Joe.

"We will," Joe promised, kissing her forehead affectionately. He followed Frank and Fenton down the hall to Remy's bedroom.

Unlike previously, the place was a shambles. The bedcovers had been torn off and lay in the floor. Even the mattress lay askew. The chair by the desk was turned over and the curtains had been ripped from where they had hung and lay across the room by the wall.

"Nothing seems to be missing and nothing left this time, either," Sally observed from where she stood by the bed. She had stood in the doorway watching the three go through her father's things before coming inside and pushing the mattress firmly back in place.

"No," Fenton concurred. "This was done as a search."

"What?" she asked, her expression growing puzzled.

"The way everything is all messed up," Frank explained. "The intruder was looking for something."

Joe peered out the window. "I wonder why the sheriff hasn't gotten here yet."

"Call him," Frank suggested. Joe picked up the phone and put in a call to the sheriff's office. Deputy Greene answered.

"The sheriff radioed in he had a flat," the deputy told Joe. "But your mom said you and two other guys were on your way over there so I told the sheriff to head over as soon as he could. You know someone has to be on duty at all times when we have prisoners."

"Yeah, I know," Joe replied. "Thanks," he added, hanging up. Joe relayed the information.

"Maybe we should go talk to Remy," Fenton suggested. "When are visiting hours?" he asked Sally.

"Deputy Greene will let us see him now," Joe told him before Sally could answer.

Frank looked at his dad and nodded. He remembered how lax the sheriff had been and expected no less from the deputy.

"Will you be okay?" Joe asked Sally.

"I'll be fine," she assured him. "Besides, Reiner will be here soon."

"Okay," he said. "Lock the doors and keep the phone close."

"I will. I will," Sally replied, smiling at Joe's protective streak.

Joe drove down to the station and the three went inside. "Brad!" Joe shouted out the deputy's name when he never put in an appearance. "Deputy Greene!" he called out. Still no answer.

Fenton went into the back, telling the boys to stay where they were. A couple of minutes later he returned with a grim expression.

"Where are the keys kept?" Fenton asked Joe.

Joe pulled the top drawer open and removed a spare set of keys. He handed them to Fenton and then he and Frank followed him back to the cells. On the floor of Remy Conroy's cell lay the deputy's unconscious form.