Chet stopped in mid-swing shaken at how close he had come to hitting his sister.

"Iola…get out of the way", he said puzzled by her actions. Why would she want to protect Joe after what had happened?

"No", Iola repeated and then to Chet’s increasing bewilderment, she turned around to Joe and gently touched his face alarmed by how warm his skin felt…hot actually. She peered deeply into his fever glazed blue eyes and whispered, "Joe?"

The sob that broke from his lips tore her heart and she quickly gathered the distraught boy in her arms as she turned back to Chet and said fiercely, "Do you realize what you could have done!"

Chet felt like he had been physically slapped by the venom in her voice, "But I thought…" he struggled in disbelief, "that this is what you wanted…he hurt you…he tried…"

"No he didn’t’", she cut him off vehemently growing increasingly alarmed by how badly Joe was shaking in her arms, "William did."

* * *

Biff Hooper sat on the front step of the Hardy house and waited. He had come over shortly after getting back from his grandmother’s house. The big burly teen had played around with Sherlock for a bit and then decided to drop over. Normally he would have brought the bloodhound with him but the dog wasn’t very fond of William and he didn’t want trouble.

He was surprised when he got home and Joe wasn’t there. Usually his friend hung out at his house until they came back.

But he knew that Joe had been there morning because the dog wasn’t anxious to go outside and he still had fresh water in his bowl. Of course there was no sign of food, but looking at the young dog’s ample girth, he wasn’t very surprised. The dog always licked his bowl clean.

Biff did find a couple of things odd though. The biggest had been Sherlock’s reaction when he went to take him for a quick walk. The dog had gone nuts when he picked up the chain leash and came towards him to clip it to his collar.

Barking and whining, the dog had even went so far as to growl at Biff when he came close to him with the leash. Perplexed Biff couldn’t figure out why the dog was acting that way.

Finally he just gave up and just let the dog out in the backyard. He’d have to see if he could find one of his other leashes later after making a mental note to ask Joe if he had any idea what was up with that.

* * *

Biff wasn’t waiting very long before he saw Mrs. Hardy’s car pull up in the driveway and he stood up to greet Frank. He wondered where Joe was.

"Hi Biff", Frank called out when he saw Joe’s best friend, "how was grandma’s house?"

"Sterile", grinned Biff, "where’s Joe?"

Frank stiffened before shrugging his shoulders, "Don’t know."

Biff saw the reaction. He had assumed that by now the brothers had worked out whatever was bothering them. Frank and Joe were never upset with each other for very long…well until now, he revised.

Frank unlocked the front door and Biff followed him in, "He didn’t tell you where he was going?" he sounded incredulous.

Sighing Frank turned around and said tiredly, "Your house. He said he was going to your house. Did you try looking there?" He was starting to feel surly, the stress of the past couple of days overwhelming his normal patience.

Sensing a growing agitation Biff was tempted not to respond to that. But remembering how Frank had treated Joe after school on Friday when he tried to get a ride home with him, Biff couldn’t and retorted sarcastically, "Well now there’s a thought…Gee Biff do you feel like going over to the Hardy’s house to harass Frank about Joe…when he’s sitting pretty at your own house?"

Frank actually snorted, incensed by his own emotions and needing an outlet, "Whatever. Biff…take a hike. If I do see Joe around, I’ll tell him to give you a call."

Biff froze. Frank had never spoken to him like that before.

"Frank," he said in a low tone as the muscle in his jaw clenched, "why are you being so nasty?"

"Nasty?" Frank rounded on Biff, "Oh Biff I’m not the one being ‘nasty’" he placed special emphasis on the word "nasty" and the bigger boy regarded him warily as he felt the muscles become taunt under his shirt and his hands clenched unconsciously.

Slowly and taking a deep breath first, Biff responded, "Excuse me?"

"Oh you heard me", Frank was starting to get really worked up, "why don’t you ask my innocent little brother about that. I’m sure that he’d love to explain it to you."

"Frank…" Biff’s voice warned but Frank ignored him really warming up and very pleased to finally be able to get his frustrations off his chest.

"Come to think of it Biff, Joe probably is at your place right now…waiting for you. After all it isn’t any fun unless I know what he’s doing," by now Frank was in Biff’s face and the two teens stood almost eye to eye with Biff having the edge, "and William. Let’s not forget William. We all know how close twins are now…don’t we?"

"What the hell are you talking about, Hardy?" Biff growled tossing off all pretences.

"Okay let me spell it out to you", Frank was breathing hard as his anger simmered hotly, "Maybe Joe would prefer your company…more then Iola’s anyway."

The words were hardly out of Frank’s mouth before Biff punched him in the stomach and then followed up with a tremendous right hook knocking Frank back against the living room couch before he could block it.

Frank started to move but Biff pointed a finger at him in warning, "Don’t move Frank Hardy…don’t you dare move…" he was now breathing heavily and trying to cool down. He felt bad about hitting Frank but only because it was Frank, "No one and I mean NO ONE says things like that about my best friend…"

Frank looked up at him through one good eye as the other was quickly swelling up from where Biff hit him. His stomach felt like it had been hit by a locomotive and he groaned as he curled over to try and lessen the pain.

Towering above him, Frank could see that Biff was furious and he decided to take his advice and stay put. He really did not want to fight with Biff.

Biff continued forcing Frank to listen, "What the hell is your problem anyway? Something is going on with Joe and what do you do? You go around acting like a jerk! How dare you say that…that’s…that’s…that’s just low!"

Letting out a big sigh, Biff lowered his tone, "Frank this is Joe we’re talking about. Your brother…you do remember him, don’t you? Good hearted kid who would give you the shirt off his back in a blizzard."

Frank shook his head trying to make Biff understand as he said slowly and honestly, "That’s the problem Biff…I don’t know if I remember who he is anymore."

"He’s Joe, Frank", Biff asserted softly, "still Joe."

The two boys looked at each other for a few moments before Biff sighed and extended his hand, "You should put some ice on that eye, it’s getting mighty colorful."

"Yeah well", Frank grumbled as he carefully walked towards the kitchen to get some ice, "you didn’t have to hit me so hard."

Biff chuckled, "I don’t know…you were kind of asking for it."

Frank stopped with his hand out to push open the door and turned around to look the bigger teen, "Yeah, I guess I was."

"Anyway", Biff quipped, "that wasn’t hard."

Raising his eyebrow in disbelief Frank pushed open the door kitchen door and went in.

Opening the freezer he took out a small freezer pack to use as a cold compress.

Wrapping it in a dish towel, he held it to his face and sat down in the chair at the table. He was thinking about what Biff had said and knew he was right.

Letting out a big sigh, Frank realized that he really needed to talk to his brother. And wondered, for the first time that day, where Joe was.

* * *

"What?" Chet’s face had gone white as it sunk in what his sister had said, "It was William? But I thought…" his voice trailed off as he looked down at Joe and realized for the first time that his friend didn’t look very well.

"So did I", Iola admitted and then she turned back to Joe and smiled gently, "and I’m so sorry Joe. How I could have ever thought that you would…that you could…" large tears wet her cheek and Joe reached up a shaky hand to brush them away.

"D-don’t" he whispered as best he could, "d-don’t…c-cry…please."

Then he lowered his head and she cradled it against her chest as he finished, "I’m…s-sorry."

"Ssh", she whispered as she gently stroked his damp hair," it’s not your fault. You have nothing to be sorry for." And then she looked up at Chet with unconcealed worry in her large brown eyes, "Chet’s he’s burning up. We need to get him to the house."

Quickly appraising his friend, Chet kneeled down and reached out, "Here let me help him."

Joe saw him reaching towards him and shrunk back unsure of his intention. His mind was spinning and he found it difficult to keep up with what was happening. He did know that somehow Iola wasn’t mad at him and he craved the comfort her touch was giving him…but Chet.

The other boy saw the reaction and inwardly cringed understanding Joe’s hesitancy.

Lowering his voice, he spoke soothingly to the younger boy, "It’s okay Joe…I won’t hurt you," he choked on his own emotions as he realized how close he had come to doing just that, "I’m sorry…so sorry."

Joe watched him, wanting to believe, and then turned to look at Iola and she saw the fear and read what he needed. Smiling reassuringly she slowly relaxed her grip on him and started to get up while keeping a firm grip on his arm. Firm but gentle.

"Come on Joe", she said in the voice of an angel, "we’re going to take care of you. Trust me."

Trust me… those words seared into his heart and hesitantly he let Chet help him stand and lead him out of the stall. He couldn’t look at him, though…not in the face. He couldn’t look into his eyes without remembering…

* * *

Chief of Police, Ezra Collig stared at the younger officer with a look of complete disbelief on his face.

He didn’t say anything for a long time. He was so shocked by the allegations that Con Riley laid so openly out before him.

Con sat heavily in the chair across from the desk from his superior officer.

He trusted Collig with his life and with his confidence.

Although Ezra and Fenton Hardy were good friends and went back a long way, the Chief of Police was a respectable man.

What Con confided in him would neither go beyond this room or be held against him, if he were wrong.

Collig trusted the younger man’s instincts. He was a natural and an asset to his department and that made this even harder.

If Riley was so adamant about something as he obviously was about this…

Letting out the breath he hadn’t even realized he was holding he slowly nodded, "Fine. You have my support."

Con slowly rose and paused when he heard his Chief’s voice behind, "I just pray for Joe’s sake if no one else’s…that you’re wrong."