‘What if she really is innocent…what if she’s not?’ Joe thought, torn. Deciding it wasn’t his place to mention it – at least not yet – Joe remained silent, and focused on Vanessa and how good it felt to hold her in his arms.

Watching Tony and Kara, he had to admit they made a great looking couple, and seemed to have a lot in common. Kara’s quick wit meshed perfectly with Tony’s sardonic sense of humor and Joe found himself hoping Kara really was innocent. Listening to Vanessa’s unrestrained laughter, Joe realized how good it would be for Vanessa to have her old friend back in her life. It had been almost a year since he’d heard that kind of happiness in her laugh or seen her so completely relaxed in the presence of anyone other than himself. For that reason alone, he hoped Kara really had been framed and he could find the evidence to prove it.

A while later, Tony checked his watch and announced, quite reluctantly, that he had to leave. Kara walked to the door with him and the two engaged in a whispered conversation. Ignoring the occasional chuckle from the star-struck couple, Joe excused himself, explaining to Vanessa he wanted to look at the files he’d brought home before going to bed.

Retreating to the bedroom, Joe began to re-examine the evidence in earnest. However, it wasn’t long before his concentration waned as the muffled voices of Kara and Vanessa carried down the hall and proved to be very distracting. Hearing Vanessa break out in unbridled laughter, Joe smiled, enjoying the sound.

‘She sounds so happy,’ he thought nostalgically. ‘Just like she always used to before…it…happened…’

The voices and laughter suddenly grew louder as Kara and Vanessa walked down the hall. Joe’s heart sank a little as Vanessa’s words carried into the room.

"Don’t worry, K. Joe is the best detective in the world!" she enthused. "He won’t quit until he finds out who really stole that money!"

‘She has so much faith in me!’ Joe groaned inwardly. ‘What if I can’t find anything to prove Kara’s innocent?’ He suddenly shot up as a new thought struck him ‘Or what if I find more evidence to prove she’s guilty?!’

A moment later, Vanessa walked into the bedroom and sat down next to him, eyeing the multitude of papers spread out on the bed. "How’s it going?" she asked hopefully. "Find anything that looks promising?"

Joe hesitated for a split second, wondering if the truth would destroy her faith in him. "No, not yet," he smiled wanly. "But I’ve just started digging."

Much to his surprise, Vanessa leaned in and kissed him – long and hard.

"What…what was that for?" Joe asked breathlessly, when Vanessa finally released him.

"Just a little token of my appreciation," she winked. "It means so much to Kara, knowing that at lease we believe in her, even if no one else does."

Watching Vanessa walk into the bathroom and close the door, Joe’s guilt level jumped off the meter. As he glanced over the list of money transfers once again, Joe realized the more he examined the evidence, the less certain he was of Kara’s innocence. If not for Vanessa’s unwavering faith in her friend, Joe wasn’t sure he’d bother with the case.

Feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders, Joe prayed there was something out there that everyone else missed…and that he would find it. If not, Vanessa would be crushed – and he’d feel solely responsible. Groaning, he leaned back against the headboard and ran his hands through his hair. He didn’t necessarily believe in Kara yet, but he couldn’t possibly admit that to Vanessa. It suddenly dawned on him how much he enjoyed being up on the pedestal Vanessa had put him on. She often joked that he was her hero, yet Joe knew behind the teasing was a measure of truth.

Sadly, he wondered how far from the pedestal he’d fall – and how much it would hurt – if Vanessa found out that he didn’t have nearly as much blind faith in Kara as she did. An even more unsettling thought immediately followed – when all was said and done, would he still be Vanessa’s hero?

*****

The next morning, Joe sat draped over a chair in his father’s office, staring out the window. Blocking out the sound of his father’s voice, Joe thought about the epiphany he’d had during the night. He’d slept restlessly and had finally awakened for good after being haunted by the look he’d seen in Kara’s eyes when they had first met.

Desperation…hopelessness…despair… He knew that look and the feeling that went along with it, having experienced all of them, firsthand. He’d never felt so alone as he had during the short, yet agonizing, time when his own father and brother had decided he was guilty of murder. They had chosen to believe the so-called evidence instead of his heartfelt pleas of innocence. It was a feeling he wouldn’t wish on his worst enemy – and one he would never forget.

‘There’s gotta be something everyone else missed. Vanessa is a great judge of character. She couldn’t be that off base about Kara.’ Joe mused. ‘And she couldn’t possibly fake that kind of desperation…’

"…and then Joe will climb to the top of the Brooklyn Bridge and jump off," Fenton Hardy stated. He looked hard at his younger son who obviously hadn’t heard a word he’d said about the new client the firm had just acquired. "Is that all right with you, Joe?" he asked, annoyance clear in his voice.

As Joe snapped his head around, Frank saw the glazed look in his eyes and knew Joe didn’t have a clue what their father had just said. ‘Great, here we go…’ Frank thought disgustedly. He slouched down in the chair hoping to avoid the verbal fireworks he knew were only seconds away.

"Yeah, sure, Dad. Whatever you think is best," Joe replied agreeably.

Clamping his mouth shut, Fenton glared at Joe angrily. Practically biting his tongue off, Fenton stood and walked to the very same window that had captured Joe’s attention seconds earlier. He stared out at the gray landscape of winter, which did nothing to diminish the irritation he felt.

‘What?! What’d I do?!’ Joe looked at his brother nervously.

Frank rolled his eyes in disgust and shook his head before turning away from Joe. "I can handle it, Dad…"

"NO!" Fenton bellowed turning on Frank, having lost the battle with his temper. "Absolutely not! The last time I checked, he still worked for this firm!" Fenton continued, jabbing an accusing finger in Joe’s general direction, all the while keeping his eyes locked on Frank.

"Hey, back off!" Joe responded, automatically coming to his brother’s defense. "If you’re mad at me, say so! But don’t take it out on, Frank!"

"I would if you’d give me the courtesy of listening!" Fenton shot back, whirling to face Joe.

Frank sucked in his breath, waiting for Joe’s response. Despite the justification, he winced at his father’s caustic remark and wondered if he should have worn his striped shirt and referee’s whistle to work.

"I’m listening," Joe countered defiantly after a tense silence. "So go ahead, let me have it."

Frank’s eyes darted back and forth between the two like a ping-pong ball. Just as he was debating whether or not he should take cover, he saw Fenton close his eyes and take a deep breath. Seconds later he opened them and gazed at Joe unflinchingly.

"I would appreciate it," he began in a much calmer voice having regained a somewhat tenuous grip on his temper, "if you would show the same interest in the cases of our paying clients as you do in your pro bono work," Fenton finished, walking back to his desk and taking a seat once again.

Joe stared at the floor for a moment and swallowed his pride. "You’re right. I’m sorry." A hint of defiance mixed in with the contrition in his voice.

Frank exhaled softly wondering how much longer he would have to act as peacemaker and referee between Joe and Fenton before his nerves were completely shot.