When Frank arrived home, his mom went to warm up his dinner while Frank went upstairs to find Joe and his dad. Joe was just finishing up his homework when Frank entered his room.

"How did it go?" Joe asked, watching as Frank removed the pins that had held his wig in place.

"The day was a wash until I got ready to come home," Frank told him, seeing the spark take form in Joe’s eyes. "Let me clean up and I’ll tell you and dad about it while I eat."

"We’ll meet you downstairs," Joe said, closing his science book. After Frank had gone into the bathroom, Joe went in search of his father and told him what Frank had said. They went downstairs to wait for Frank.

Frank entered the living room from the foyer as his mother made her entrance from the dining room. "What did you do? Set your watches?" Joe teased the two of them.

Grinning, Frank took the plate from his mother and sat down on the floor by the coffee table. "Okay, so give," Joe ordered after Frank had swallowed his first bite. Obliging, Frank told them about the conversation he had overheard.

"Senator Redman is the guest speaker at Bayport University tomorrow night," Fenton informed his family, getting up and starting to pace. "And they are planning on assassinating him? I should have suspected he was the target," he moaned. "Redman’s campaign is strongly anti-terrorism. It makes sense they would go after him."

"How are we going to stop them?" Joe asked.

"We aren’t," Fenton stated, glaring at his youngest son as though he expected an argument. "As of now, you two are off the case."

"No way!" Joe shouted, jumping to his feet.

"No buts!" Fenton said sternly. "If I catch either of you looking into this matter again, I will have you put in protective custody until it is finished. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Sir," Frank answered for the both of them. Like his father, he was remembering the attack on Iola Morton, Chet’s younger sister and Joe’s girlfriend who had been killed in a car bombing meant for Frank and Joe because of their father’s involvement with a political candidate who was doing a rally on anti-terrorism.

***

When Frank and Joe awoke the next morning, their father had already departed to prepare for security for the senator. "Are you going to go back to your job after school?" Joe asked as he shoved his books into his backpack.

"Dad ordered us to stop investigating, remember?" Frank said, glaring at Joe through the open bathroom door.

"But these guys still need to be caught," Joe pointed out. "Besides, Stan has already invited me back for another golf lesson."

"NO!" Frank shouted, his voice filled with the concern he felt.

"Okay, what?" demanded Joe, his blue eyes searching. "First Dad and now you. What do you two have against Stan? He’s a great guy."

"Nothing. We just aren’t going to investigate the matter any further," fibbed Frank.

"Don’t give me that," Joe said, standing up and coming to stand in front of Frank, their gazes locking. "I want the truth."

"Fine," Frank caved in, his eyes breaking contact first. He seldom won a showdown of will with his little brother and this obviously wasn’t a victory either. "Axemeyer has been telling people you’re his son."

"What?" Joe erupted, his eyes squinting as he looked at Frank in disbelief. All of the sudden, Frank felt like a bug under a microscope. "That has got to be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of!"

Frank told him about what Steve had said. "Maybe Steve’s the inside man on this," Joe said.

"But why would he tell me about Axemeyer?" Frank wanted to know. "What possible reason would he have for lying about that?"

"I don’t know," Joe admitted. "But it’s..." Joe stopped speaking, thinking back on the times he had been with Stan and people had mistaken them for family and Stan hadn’t corrected any of them. He shook his head. "Stan’s a nice guy," Joe insisted.

"Maybe," Frank said, but from his eyes shown his true feelings on the subject. "But I don’t like the relationship you seem to be developing with him and I don’t want you doing stuff with him anymore."

Frank thought he might have gone too far. Joe was speechless for a minute. If it was anger keeping him silent. then there was going to be a knock down drag out fight if necessary because Frank was not going to back down. He did not trust Axemeyer and was not going to let Joe go around him.

Joe let out the breath he didn’t know he had been holding and shook his head, still trying to understand Frank’s and his father’s animosity towards the man. He walked over to his brother and put a hand on his shoulder. "If it means that much to you and dad, then I won’t hang out with him unless you, dad, or mom are with me. Okay?"

Frank let out a relieved sigh and hugged his brother. "Thanks, Joe."

"I have to call him and let him know I can’t go back to the club with him this afternoon," Joe said, heading into the hallway to pick up the phone. He dialed Stan’s number. "Hi, Stan," Joe greeted him. "I just called to thank you for this weekend and to let you know that I won’t need to go back to the club."

"Have you solved the case then?" Stan asked.

"Not entirely," Joe admitted. "Dad is still working on it but he ordered Frank and me off. He doesn’t want us in the line of fire."

"How about just a golf lesson?" Stan asked. "Just the two of us? No caddies. There shouldn’t be any danger in that."

"I can’t," Joe said, his tone apologetic. "Dad has forbidden Frank and me to go near the club until the case is done."

"How about a different golf course then?" Stan suggested.

"Thanks, but I’ll have to give it a pass for now," Joe said. "But thanks for all your help."

"Any time," Stan replied. "Just let me know when you’re ready for another lesson."

"I will, and thanks," Joe said one last time as he hung up.

Frank put a hand on Joe’s shoulder. When he turned around, he handed Joe his backpack. "Thanks, baby brother," Frank said.

"Yeah, sure," Joe replied, not looking too happy.

When they arrived at school, Frank parked at the end of the lot. "I wish they had set spots for the students who drive," he commented. "Then we seniors could get a spot close to the school no matter what time we get here."

Laughing, Joe got out of the van and waited at the end for Frank to join him. As they made their way toward the school a green Chevy came to a screeching halt near them and out jumped three men.

Two men jumped Frank, pinning his arms back as another man tried to pull Joe toward the car. Shouts were heard, mixed with running footsteps and soon several of the Hardys’ friends were rushing to the scene.

Joe swung wildly at the man who held him. He ducked but lost his grip. Joe backed away and prepared to go to Frank’s aid since their friends were still too far away to be of any help. Seeing they were losing, the two men dragged Frank to the car as the third hood grabbed Joe’s shoulder and landed a right hook. As Joe fell to the ground, Frank was forced into the car and it took off.