Fenton Hardy was furious.  It was not bad enough that his youngest son was dead, but the thoughts that his grave had been vandalized were unthinkable. 

Frank had called the police and his dad immediately, and they all arrived at the same time.  Chief Ezra Collig looked stunned as he stood over the empty casket with the Hardys.

“I have seen some bad things in my years on the force but this is the icing on the cake.”  He said out loud what everyone was thinking. 

Murder, rape, assault, crime was far from a pretty thing but when even the dead were not safe – that was unthinkable.

“Fenton…” he had to ask, “Who would be sick enough…hate you enough…to do this?  To steal Joe’s body?” 

Fenton shook his head in frustration, and when he spoke his voice seethed in anger – a voice Frank didn’t know.

“I don’t know Ezra.  I’ve been racking my head trying to put this together but I keep drawing a blank.  The only guys I could think of are either in jail or dead.”

Frank wanted to scream.  He wondered for a minute, given everything that was going on right now, if anyone would have even noticed if he did.

The only thing that stopped him was the realization that if he did then everyone would think he was crazy and he wouldn’t be able to find out who did this.  And Frank wanted to very badly know, not only who did this, but why. 

Joe was dead.  Frank could not save his brother from that, but he was determined that he would at least bring him back to rest.  He had to find his brother’s body….

* * *

It was almost dawn before he and his father returned home. 

Frank was exhausted but he stayed with his dad to support his mom while she found out what happened. 

At first he and his dad thought that they might not tell her, but then as the worst of their imagination began to kick in, they decided she needed to know – who knew what this sicko was planning to do with Joe’s body? 

Frank was terrified, and shuddered the thought away, as for one brief second he imagined getting parcels of Joe.

Their mother was surprisingly strong and after the shock wore off, she got one of her pills and passed it to Frank.  He looked at her questioningly as he tried not to take it but she put it in his hand and closed his fist around it.

“Take it Frank, and get some sleep.  You can’t help your brother if you’re too tired to stand up.  I know about the nightmares—” she paused and stroked his shocked face tenderly.  He thought no one knew.  “I promise this will give you sleep only.” 

He fought back the tears, and reaching for a glass of water he took the pill.

And for the first time in two months, Frank Hardy slept… without his brother.

* * *

The Gray Man watched the Hardy house for a long time.  He fought with his knowledge and how much he should tell them. 

He didn’t want to be here.  He didn’t want to talk to them.  He didn’t want to tell them the truth – but now he had no choice, someone else knew.

As he knocked on the door, he started to prepare himself. 

He prepared himself for what he was going to say; what they were going to ask; and for what they might do.

* * *

Fenton immediately opened the door and the Gray Man was shocked by his appearance.  He had never seen the man looking so distraught. 

Seeing who was there the detective muttered, “Why am I not surprised?” and ushered him into his office at the side of the house. 

Laura popped her head out of the kitchen to see who it was, and almost dropped the plate she was drying.  Her eyes were swollen from crying, but other than that she looked a lot better than she did that night at the hospital. 

Quickly, she followed her husband and put up her hand to stop him from saying anything.

“Fenton Hardy…don’t!  I don’t want to be left out.  I know that his being here—”  She stopped and pointed at the Gray Man, “is not a coincidence. And I want to know what is going on!” 

Sighing inwardly, the detective reluctantly agreed, although to what he had no idea, as he didn’t know what the man wanted. 

He considered calling Frank down but then thought better of it.  He checked on his son only minutes before and the teen was sleeping soundly.  Whatever this man wanted to say could be told to Frank later.  Right now Frank needed sleep.

The Gray Man started, “Fenton, I’m sorry.  I’m sorry for everything…but please remember when I tell you what I am about to tell you, that I did what I felt was best.  And what I felt was best was that you didn’t know.”

Mr. and Mrs. Hardy waited for him to continue and he did, “I will admit that what I’m going to tell you, I’m only doing because I’m forced to….I need your help.”

He paused and then gave them back their life. “Joe Hardy is not dead.”