"Go call for help!" Frank shouted at Eric.

Joe was lying face down on the floor, and Frank could feel a large bump on the back of his head. There was blood everywhere! He gently turned his brother over on his back. Frank breathed a small sigh of relief, when he realized the blood was coming from Joe’s nose, which had apparently made contact with the hard floor when he fell.

"Joe, can you hear me? Come on Joe, wake up," Frank said gently shaking his brother. Suddenly, his cell phone rang.

"Hello!" Frank said sharply.

"Frank," Vanessa began, "I don’t mean to bug you, but Joe hasn’t called me yet…"

Cutting her off mid-sentence, Frank quickly told her what little he knew.

"Oh, no!" Vanessa shouted into the phone. "I’ll grab the girls, and we’ll be there in ten minutes."

Before Frank could object, the phone went dead.

"Help is on the way," Eric stated appearing behind Frank once again. "How is he?"

"I can’t get him to wake up," Frank said nervously. "He has a pretty big bump on his head and a bloody nose. Can you tell me what happened?"

"I’m afraid I can’t tell you much. I asked Joe to watch the front for me, while I went to the bathroom. As I closed the door, I heard someone lock it. That’s all I heard until you called our names," Eric told Frank.

For the next few minutes, Frank tried continually to get Joe to respond, but Joe remained unconscious. Suddenly, the door swung open. Vanessa and the girls had made it in record time, beating the police and the ambulance. Vanessa ran straight to Joe’s side but froze, momentarily in shock.

"Oh God, no!" Vanessa yelled, as she saw the blood on the floor and Joe.

"Vanessa, calm down. The blood is coming from his nose. I think he must have hit it when he fell," Frank stated in a much calmer voice.

"Joe?" Vanessa said softly, as she knelt down beside him. "How long has he been unconscious?"

A tear slid down Vanessa’s cheek, as she ran her fingers through his hair. "Joe you have to be okay. You just have to be." Vanessa sobbed.

Hearing Vanessa’s voice, Joe started to stir.

"What happened?" Joe asked groggily, blinking his eyes at the bright light.

"I’m not sure what happened Joe," Frank replied. "I was hoping you could tell me."

Joe tried to sit up, but Vanessa gently pushed him back down. "Don’t move Joe, you were out for a long while."

Hearing sirens in the distance, Vanessa said, "Here comes help now."

Closing his eyes against the bright light, Joe began to tell the others what little he knew. "After Eric went to the back, I decided to check out the security monitors he had mentioned. I stepped around the counter to get a better look. On the fourth monitor, I saw two cars, and two men holding a gun on another. I think they shot him, Frank. That’s all I remember. Where’s Eric? Is he okay?"

"He’s fine, he went outside to wait for the police and ambulance," Frank replied.

"I don’t need an ambulance," Joe protested. "I just have a headache. Help me sit up."

Frank grabbed Joe’s right hand and slowly pulled him into a sitting position. The paramedics rushed in as Joe felt the room start to spin.

"Over here," Frank said as he stood, allowing them access to his injured brother.

Soon, Joe had convinced the medics that he was okay, and refused the suggested trip to the hospital. The medics had taken care of his bloody nose and Vanessa was holding an ice pack on the large bump on the back of his head. Vanessa was not happy at Joe’s refusal of the suggested medical treatment, but decided now was not the time to tear into her stubborn boyfriend.

Sergeant Con Riley had arrived, and was questioning Eric. Realizing that Eric wouldn’t be much help, he waited for his turn to talk to Joe. Seeing the medics depart, Con headed for Joe.

"Are you going to be alright?" Con questioned after getting his first look at a very pale Joe Hardy.

"I just have a killer headache and a bump. I’ll be fine," Joe said in a low voice.

"Joe, I need you to tell me as much as you can about what happened here tonight," Con stated in an official tone.

"I’m not sure Con, but I think I saw two men shoot another man. I was watching the counter for Eric. I decided to check out Mr. Henry’s new security monitors. I think it was on the fourth one, the one that monitors the back lot. There were two cars, but I couldn’t tell what color they were. The monitors are in black and white," Joe said slowly.

"Joe, I never saw anyone else around. The police checked the area, and there’s no sign of the men or the cars," Frank stated hesitantly. "But, they did find blood in that area. I’m afraid that’s just not very much to go on."

Looking from Frank to Con, Joe said, "Find Eric. He can tell us where the recorder is. Since I saw it on the monitor, it was probably captured on tape."

Joe began struggling to get to his feet, but Frank quickly commanded, "Stay put, Joe. Con and I will find Eric and check it out."

A few minutes later, the trio returned with bleak looks on their faces. "Well," Frank began. "I’m afraid whoever knocked you out took off with the tapes, but nothing else has been touched, not even the safe or cash drawer."

"I have one of my men dusting for prints, but I doubt they will find anything," Con said matter of factly.

"So, all we have to go on is what little I saw," Joe stated bluntly.

"Don’t worry Joe," Con said. "Try to get some sleep. I’m sure if it was a murder that you saw, the body will turn up soon. Maybe you’ll remember more details after a good night’s sleep. I’ll be in touch boys."

"Wait Con," Frank said. "I’ll walk you out."

Callie and Cassidy, who had stood by silently taking everything in, followed Frank and Con outside. Eric was also outside now, being questioned by Mr. Henry, the storeowner. Joe and Vanessa were left sitting on the floor alone.

Vanessa put her arm around Joe, and he laid his head on her shoulder. "Are you sure you’re okay, Joe?" She asked quietly.

"Yes, Babe, I’m fine," Joe replied. His head really was hurting, but he was not about to admit it.

"Joe, when I called Frank, and he told me what had happened, I was so scared. I don’t know what I would do if anything ever happened to you."

A smile brightened Joe’s pale face, and he slyly said, "Frank always says I have a hard head. I guess this proves it!"

"Joseph Hardy! I’m serious! Why are you so stubborn when it comes to your own safety?" Vanessa almost shouted, stone faced. Then her features softened, as she tried to fight back an escaping giggle. "I guess you are hard headed."

Joe pulled her close and gave her a sweet kiss. "I love you, Vanessa," he said in a soft voice, and she melted instantly.

Frank came back in the store holding Callie’s hand. Cassidy had volunteered to warm up the van for the boys, as the temperature outside had plummeted.

"Joe, lets get you home. Mr. Henry already sent Eric home. He’s ready to lock up now," Frank stated.

When Joe finally made it to his feet, he remembered he had not yet paid for the gas. "Hold it, Frank I need to pay Mr. Henry for the gas first." Reaching for his wallet, Joe was shocked to discover it had been taken. "Uh, Frank, my wallet’s gone!" Joe exclaimed.

"Why would they take my wallet, and leave the safe and cash drawer untouched?" Joe asked.

Frank knew Joe was still not thinking clearly. "Joe, they took your wallet so they would know the identity of the only witness to their crime. I probably scared them off before they could take care of you," Frank said with a wrinkled brow.

Realizing Joe was now a target of some unknown criminals, Vanessa tightened her grip on Joe’s hand.

"Frank, since they took all the evidence do you really think they will come after me?" Joe asked, still not thinking clearly.