Joe Hardy strode down the center of the walkway, scanning people for red hair, brown eyes. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a reflection of himself and stopped. He took two steps back, thinking it was a mirror. Why had that store turned one of its display windows into a mirror, he wondered. He stared at the reflection for a long minute, finally noticing something was wrong. He glanced down at the jacket he was wearing--right, the blue and white ski jacket. But the reflection had been wearing a neon green and orange ski jacket.

Joe raised his head but the reflection was gone. Okay, that was weird. Had they moved the mirror? He shook his head and kept walking. After a few minutes, he sighed and headed back to catch up with Frank. It was too crowded, just to try and catch sight of her. They needed a different plan.

He found Frank in the food court, talking to Callie. "Hey, something weird happened." He nodded to Callie. "Since when does that outdoor camping supply place have a mirror in one of their display windows?"

Callie gave him a rude stare. "What on earth are you babbling about?"

"I was walking and caught sight of my reflection but the weird thing was he was wearing a different jacket." Joe shook his head. "Then the reflection was gone."

Frank's eyes widened and he looked at Joe. "That's it. That's what her brother meant." He stood up. "I think we're done here."

Both Callie and Joe looked at him. Callie frowned. "What?"

"Not you, Cal. I mean the case. It's over."

"Huh?" Joe shook his head. "Why is it over?"

"I think our missing author got sidetracked. Come on." Frank started for the exit, then glanced at Callie and realized he was doing the same thing Joe had done earlier. "Callie, do you have plans for tonight?"

"No. Why?"

"Want to go to a concert?"

Callie frowned. "What concert?" She slowly shook her head. "Wait--that concert? It's been sold out for weeks."

Frank, feeling more relaxed now that he'd figured it out, grinned. "I think we can get around that little problem. Want to go?"

"You bet. What time?"

"Six-thirty. We have to go get Vanessa, then get to the auditorium."

Callie laughed. "Sounds good to me."

                                  ***

"Okay."  Joe settled in the passenger seat of the van as Frank drove home. "Mind telling me how the case could be over?"

Frank spared a glance for his brother, trying hard not to smirk. "Well...it should be obvious--even to you."

Joe shot him a glare. "Why don't you humor me?"

"Well...all right. Remember what her brother said?"

"That we could have backstage passes?"

Frank sighed. "Before that."

Joe grunted. "Why don't you just tell me?"

"He said he wanted to see his sister meet you."

Joe thought for a moment. "Okay. So?"

Frank sighed again and turned into the driveway. "What if her husband just happens to have blond hair and blue eyes?"

Joe stared at him. "Wait--you're saying I look like--" Joe's voice trailed off and he slapped his forehead with his palm. "I feel like an idiot. That wasn't a mirror, was it?"

"The different jacket was a pretty obvious clue."

"You'd better not be smirking. But the writer's still missing."

"The second clue was the dedications page in her book. She refers to Joe and her future but no mention of being married." Frank shrugged. "But Marc mentioned her husband. Ten to one, they're newlyweds."

Joe frowned. "So you're saying she met up with her husband? Why didn't she call?"

"Probably lost track of time," Frank said, hoping he wasn't blushing.

Joe did blush. "Oh. But what do we tell Slade? Merlyn has probably panicked the entire family by now."

Frank thought a moment, and then shrugged. "Well, we could drive over there, tell him what we've figured out."

"Well, hurry. I need to get ready for tonight."

Frank rolled his eyes. "It's only two o'clock."

"Just go."

Frank sighed, backed out of the driveway and drove down to the Lancaster estate. He pulled into the circular driveway and parked. The brothers got out of the van as a car pulled up behind them.

Joe turned around and saw a pretty redhead get out of the passenger side of the cherry red Aston-Martin. Her gold-brown eyes went wide. "Oh my God. Joe!"

Joe gave her a startled look, but realized she wasn't talking to him. She had whipped her head to her left to look at the man getting out of the driver's side. Joe took his first good look. The man was still wearing the garish ski jacket, his blond hair wind-blown and his blue eyes wide with surprise.

Frank stared at the newcomers. The man could've been his brother's twin. The man stepped forward, stuck out a hand. "Joe MacKensey, friends call me Mack." He slid a glance to Frank's brother. "Might avoid confusion?"

Frank shook the man's hand. "Yeah...That's my brother--Joe."

Mack shook his head. "Amazing. Casi, I'm beginning to get an idea of what it's like to have a twin," he said with a grin.

Casi took a breath. "You be quiet," she told Mack. She walked forward, ready to say something when behind Joe a door banged open.

"Cassandra, my God, you're okay."

Casi glanced past Joe Hardy. "Arch, I called, talked to Sully, told him about the change in plans."

Joe turned as Frank and Mack joined them. Archimedes Slade looked rather angry. "Sully?" He turned and yanked open the front door. "Sully!"

Casi came up to Joe Hardy, studied him for a moment. "What's going on?"

Joe Hardy swallowed hard. "Um, Mr. Slade thought something had happened. He hired our dad to look for you."

She blinked, startled. "Hired? You mean Arch hired a detective to find me?"

Joe was getting embarrassed as she studied him. "Um, yeah."

She shook her head. "I called Sully. I swear."

Her husband came up behind her, grinning  "Relax, Case, it's not like he did a horrible deed. Probably forgot about it, or either got sidetracked. Ethan's good at that, too."

Casi rolled her eyes. "Oh be quiet." She smiled at Joe Hardy. "Sorry, if I was an inconvenience. I wish I could make it up to you." She snapped her fingers. "My brother--"

Joe cleared his throat. "He already gave us backstage passes."

Casi's smile widened. "But?"

"We were thinking of taking our girlfriends to the concert but it's been sold out--"

Casi laughed. "Consider it done. What are your names?"

Frank stepped forward, introduced him and his brother. "It's nice to meet you."

"Same here," said Mack. He nudged Casi forward. "We'd better get in there before Arch does something regrettable to Sully."

Casi nodded. "Yeah, I guess so. See you guys later," she called as she and her husband went inside.

Joe turned to Frank. "See? I told you it would work out."

Frank shook his head. "Just get in the van. I thought you were in a hurry."

"Right. Let's get going."

Frank groaned and started the van. He watched Joe get in and then drove around the circular driveway and headed back home. He parked in the driveway and shut off the engine. "It's going to take you four hours to get ready?"

"Three. We have to leave at six to pick up Callie at six-thirty and we have to get Vanessa. Three will work." Joe bolted from the van and started up the steps to the house.

Frank decided to give it up. His brother had been distracted since all this started. He followed his brother inside and they started for the stairs. Their mother stepped out of the kitchen with a smile. "Since you're headed that way, can you put those boxes back in the attic."

Joe skidded to a halt. "But I just got them down."

Laura smiled. "We never put up the decorations this early, Joe."

"All right, but I gotta hurry." He grabbed a box and ran up the stairs.

Laura watched him, and then turned to Frank. "What's the rush?"

"There's a concert tonight we've been invited to. Joe wants plenty of time to preen." Frank shook his head and picked up the other box. "Don't fret, Mom, I'll make sure he behaves himself."

"Well," she said and glanced toward the living room. "You have guests."

Frank stepped forward and saw a bunch of people seated in the living room. Not one of them looked familiar--until he spotted a mass of gold curls. "What?"

Laura gave a careful point in the direction of the blond. "He said he came by yesterday, talked to you." She shrugged. "The girls are helping me with snacks."

"Girls?" Frank shook his head. "Never mind. I'll be right back." He darted up the stairs, set the box down and shoved it in the direction of the attic door, then bolted for his brother's room. "Joe."

"What?" Joe's voice was muffled from the sweater he was pulling off.

"Put that back on and come downstairs."

Joe poked his head halfway out of the neck of the sweater. "If this is a trick to get the shower first, it ain't working."

Frank rolled his eyes. "Joe. Sorcerer's downstairs."

"What?" Joe's blue eyes went so wide Frank could see white completely around the pupil. "They--they're--um--"

"Breathe, little brother. Put the sweater back on." Frank helped his suddenly shocked brother pull the sweater on. "Come on. Don't want to look slack-jawed when we get down there."

"Sorcerer. They're here." Joe suddenly beamed, ran his hands through his hair, and then clapped a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Frank, send my presents back. I've got my Christmas and almost two months early. All right!" Joe jumped up in the air, and then raced out of his room. A second later, he was back. "Paper, pen. I need a pen, a notebook."

"Whatever for?"

"Autographs, idiot. Are you going to stand there all day? Come on, Frank." Joe bolted out of the room again.

Frank sighed softly and shook his head again. That was his brother--couldn't live with him...couldn't live without him. He chuckled and headed downstairs to meet the music group. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

                                  The End