"Uh, Dad," Joe said anxiously, "could you say something? You’re making me kinda nervous staring at me like that with your mouth open…"

"Sorry," Fenton apologized with a rueful smile.

"So," Joe asked with another look in Frank’s general direction, "what do you think?"

"To be honest, I was wondering how you manage to get yourself into these situations."

At Frank’s burst of laughter, Joe slouched down in the chair. "Apparently it’s a gift," he said sourly.

"Let me make sure I’ve got this straight," Fenton requested. "Kara Lidster used to be Vanessa’s best friend, but they’ve pretty much been out of touch since Vanessa moved to Bayport, other than the occasional birthday or Christmas card. During that time, Kara got a job with BRG and married a man she barely knew who it turns out used her just to get U.S. citizenship. Once he got that citizenship, he disappeared leaving her mired in debt.

"Four days ago, after an intensive investigation by both the NYPD and Federal authorities Kara was arrested and charged with embezzling three million dollars from BRG over the past few years. She calls Vanessa – out of the blue – tells her the whole story and says she’s innocent and has been framed. She then asks if Vanessa would convince you to investigate and find out who really stole the money. She readily admits that was the only reason for her call and the evidence against her is overwhelming," Fenton reiterated everything Joe had said, unable to contain just a hint of sarcasm. "Does that pretty much cover it?"

"Yes," Joe replied, slightly annoyed at his father’s tone.

"And what exactly did you tell Vanessa again, in response to all this?"

"I said I would meet with Kara this afternoon and talk to her," Joe said a little defiantly, this time leaving out the part where he said he hadn’t promised he would investigate anything just yet.

Fenton looked at him for a moment before picking up the phone. Checking his address book, he dialed a number and waited for an answer.

"Hello, may I speak with Brad Galloway please? Yes, I’ll hold." Having been put on hold, Fenton looked at Joe again. "We know Kara’s side of the story. Now let’s hear what Brad has to say about all this."

Frank sat silently watching the exchange between Joe and Fenton, noting the abrupt change in their demeanor. The once comfortable silence was now tense and Frank saw the same look of stubbornness mirrored in their eyes. Subconsciously, they had all ready drawn their battle lines and both were prepared to defend their position with a vengeance. He got the distinct impression things were about to deteriorate rapidly.

Once Brad came on the line and Fenton made small talk with his friend, Frank noted Joe began shifting restlessly. When the reason for the call was established and Brad was put on speakerphone, Joe’s fidgeting increased dramatically.

Brad began by explaining Kara’s history with his company. She had been singled out and actively recruited by many prestigious investment and banking firms during her senior year in college, having gained the reputation as a financial wizard. She accepted an entry-level position with BRG and began work immediately upon graduation. Kara had been promoted faster than anyone in the company’s history and was now the assistant to one of the Senior Vice President’s – or had been until her arrest four days earlier.

As he continued speaking, the story of the missing money began to unfold. A major client wanted to revamp his entire portfolio and asked that Brad look at it personally. In doing so, he noticed a pattern of unauthorized transfers in addition to the legitimately scheduled transfers. Every few months an additional amount was deducted, but rather than being used to purchase stocks or bonds, it was diverted to a Swiss bank account. The amount was small enough and timing of the transfers was spread out in such a way that they would not be noticed unless the entire account was pulled and scrutinized.

Now having his suspicions raised, Brad pulled all the accounts handled by this particular Senior Vice President, whose assistant just happened to be Kara. Every single account had the same type of transfers set up with a set amount of money going to various Swiss bank accounts. Since the money was not always taken from the same account every month, it wasn’t too difficult to cover up the theft. Further investigation revealed Kara was initially responsible for setting up the computerized money transfers each month on all the accounts in question.

When Brad realized what was going on he immediately called the police who in turn brought in the FBI to assist. It was quickly determined Kara’s supervisor had no knowledge of the illegal transfers, which added up to almost three million dollars over the course of the past three years. The investigation had taken four months and been done in secret so as not to alert the perpetrator she had been discovered.

Kara had initially set up every transaction, from her own computer, using her code name and password. In keeping with the company’s security policy, code names and passwords were not to be made known to anyone other than the individual using them. Employees were required to change them every three months, commit them to memory and were not permitted to store them or write them down anywhere, making it almost impossible for anyone else to have access to them.

"I really didn’t want it to be her, Fenton," Brad said sadly. "I had very high hopes for her with my company. In fact, her supervisor and I were talking about grooming her for a higher position in the company when this all came to light. I guess the bills her husband left her with finally got to be too much," he sighed. "You know, I wish she would have come to me about that. I would have gladly arranged some kind of loan so she didn’t feel as if she were drowning under the pressure – and didn’t resort to theft to take care of it."

"Brad, do you think you could send over everything you have on her?" Fenton requested. "Being that she is a friend of Joe’s fiancé, we’d just like to check it over ourselves…if you don’t mind, of course."

"I don’t mind at all. Personally, I’d be thrilled if you found something the police missed and discovered it really wasn’t Kara. I just can’t believe she’d do something like that. She’s the last person in the world I would have suspected…" his voice trailed off. "Well, let me go and I’ll have my secretary arrange to get everything sent to you via courier. You’ll have it tomorrow morning."

"Thanks, Brad." Fenton replied, ending the conversation a moment later after exchanging a few final words.

Fenton then called Sam Peterson, Chief of the NYPD and his former partner. Sam also agreed to send over everything he and the FBI had compiled on the case.

After concluding that call, Fenton looked at Joe intently. "You can talk to Kara this afternoon. Tomorrow we’ll have everything the police and the feds have on her. If they really have what they say, we’ll see that she’s guilty and you can drop it." That said, he picked up a pen and opened a folder on his desk in a silent signal he considered the matter taken care of.

Frank winced, knowing that would not go over well with Joe. Glancing at his brother, Frank saw a flash of anger in his eyes as he responded to their father.

"That’s it?" Joe asked tersely. "Subject closed?!"

"I know she’s an old friend of Vanessa’s," Fenton looked at his younger son, obviously beginning to lose patience, "but it’s such an open and shut case…why do you think it needs to be investigated?"

"I didn’t say I was investigating, I said I was just going to talk to her," Joe retorted, a touch of annoyance in his voice. "Just so I’m clear, are you telling me I won’t be permitted to investigate if you decide she’s guilty based on what you see tomorrow?" Joe asked unable to contain the antagonism in his voice.

Fenton’s eyes narrowed as he glowered at Joe, and all Frank could hear was the voice of a family friend echoing in his ears. "Your father’s temper can make Joe look like a pussycat." He held his breath, waiting to see how his father would respond.

"Just so I’m clear, are you telling me you’re going to investigate this further regardless of what the evidence shows?" Fenton challenged.

Joe visibly tensed as his father stared at him. Frank’s eyes darted back and forth between the two and he wondered if he should call his mother into the office to help him referee. Then Joe seemed to regain control of his infamous temper.

"I’m going to keep an open mind – something you always taught us to do." Joe replied evenly.

‘Okay, not exactly diplomatic but at least he didn’t explode,’ Frank thought relaxing a little.

Frank could see his father flinch slightly at the dig. "This is the NYPD and the Federal government, Joe. Brad said they’ve been investigating this for months. They wanted to be absolutely certain they had the right person before they made an arrest. They have found nothing – nothing – to indicate it was anyone other than Kara."

"And they’ve both been known to be wrong on occasion – occasionally even proven wrong by you."

Fenton threw the pen he’d been holding down on the desk, obviously angry. "Yes, but I always had something to start with! Something that didn’t add up! You’ve got nothing other than the fact that Vanessa wants to help a friend – a friend who she hasn’t heard from in six years and suddenly needs a private investigator, gratis, I might add."

"So what are you saying? I’m supposed to tell Vanessa to turn her back on her friend without even trying? Why? Because you say so? Because Brad Galloway happens to be one of your oldest friends? Well, Kara is one of Vanessa’s oldest friends!" Joe shouted back, giving up trying to control his temper. "I’m not a kid anymore, Dad. I don’t need your permission to investigate anything!"

"Like that ever stopped you even when you were a kid!" Fenton yelled, shocking even himself the second the words left his mouth.

Frank held his breath as the silence suffocated all of them. Instinctively, Frank leaned forward slightly thinking he might actually have to physically restrain his brother.

Slowly, Joe stood up obviously enraged but keeping it bottled up inside. He stared at his father for a long moment before he spoke in a low voice. "I’m taking the afternoon off. I have an appointment in New York City."

"Joe…" Fenton began, his voice tinged with regret, but Joe walked out of the room as if he hadn’t heard.

"I can’t believe I said that," Fenton groaned, leaning his head back, disgusted with himself.

"Not exactly your most tactful moment," Frank gave him a bemused look. "Then again Joe did push your buttons."

"It’s not that I don’t want him to investigate," Fenton leaned forward now, looking earnestly at Frank. "I just don’t want him to investigate for the wrong reasons. I don’t want him to feel obligated to do it if he’s even the least bit uncomfortable…and I’m getting the impression that he’s already made up his mind to do it - for Vanessa - regardless of what the evidence shows." He ran a hand through his dark hair nervously. "Think he’ll accept an apology?"

"You know he will, Dad," Frank assured him. "But wait until tomorrow. It’ll give him a little time to cool off."

"Always playing the peacemaker." Fenton shook his head and grinned ruefully. "Guess I should be grateful only one of you inherited my temper."