Frank chuckled dryly. This wasn't the first time someone had expected Fenton Hardy to be a miracle worker but he was surprised to hear it come from Chet. "Relax, Chet. Dad didn't recognize Devon's name off hand but he promised to do some checking. If there is anything to know about Devon Marshand, he'll find out."

Chet nodded, appeased. "Okay, I guess that's the best I can hope for right now." He checked his watch and frowned. "I wish she'd get here. I want to talk to her before school starts."

"Who?" Callie asked as she joined Frank, Joe and Chet at the entrance of the school.

"Devon." Frank supplied as he greeted his girlfriend with a kiss. Briefly he filled her in on what had happened the day before.

Callie's face softened in compassion. "Poor Devon. She may not be the friendliest person in the world but she doesn't deserve to be harassed that way either."

Joe pointed to a dark sedan that had stopped beside Devon's green Amigo. "There she is now. Want us to go with you?"

Chet shook his head. "I doubt she'd want all of us hovering around. Let me know when you hear from your dad."

*****

Rex Avery frowned as he saw Chet coming closer. He looked at Devon in concern. "Remember what we talked about. You can't trust him. You especially can't trust his two detective friends."

Devon's face fell. "Are you sure? This could be my chance to finally have a friend." She blushed. "Maybe even more than a friend."

Rex sighed. "We went through this last night. What if he's just stringing you along so he can hurt you? Can you take the pain that would cause? I don't want you to have to find out."

"And if he genuinely wants to be my friend? Can I afford not to trust him?"

Rex knew he had to hurry as Chet was getting closer and closer. "Then he finds out what happened in Austin. Will he understand what you went through? Can he handle the truth without hurting you? Devon, I care about you too much to see you hurt. Don't trust him."

Devon lowered her head and slung her backpack over her shoulder. "Okay, Uncle Rex. I know you are only looking out for me. I'll see you after school."

When she closed the car door and turned around she wasn't surprised to see Chet standing there. He smiled at her. "Hey, Devon. How's your hand?"

She refused to meet his concerned gaze. "It's fine." She started to walk past him but Chet caught her arm lightly. He looked slightly hurt and confused.

"Hey, don't walk away. I was worried about you. I still am. I don't want the person who sent you those roses or put the razor on your door handle to try something worse."

"I need to see a teacher before class."

She shook her arm free and hurried toward the school. Chet just stared at her until she disappeared into the building. Then he rejoined Frank, Joe and Callie. He shook his head. "It's one step forward and two steps back with her."

Callie gave his arm a reassuring squeeze. "Maybe she'll listen if I tried to talk to her."

Chet smiled. "You'd do that? I thought you didn't like her."

Callie returned his smile with one of her own. "You like her and I hate to think of her going through all that alone. We have first period together. I'll try then."

*****

Callie almost missed her chance to talk to Devon. The object of Chet's affection didn't come into the classroom until just before the late bell rang. As luck would have it though, the only available seat for Devon to take was next to Callie. As the history teacher began his lecture, Callie opened her notebook to a clean sheet of paper and neatly printed on the top of the sheet. She slipped the notebook over to Devon's desk.

Chet is worried about you.

For a moment, Callie thought Devon was going to ignore the note but finally Devon set her own pen to the paper. Callie held her breath waiting for Devon's reply. Finally the girl passed the notebook back to Callie.

Callie suppressed a grin. So the Ice Princess was thawing just a little. She returned to the notebook and wrote out a new message.

A moment later Devon returned the notebook. Callie stared at her reply, confused. She was forming her next message in her head when the history teacher cleared his throat. She looked up. "Miss Shaw, I'm waiting for you to tell the class why people called the purchase of Alaska Seward's Folly."

Embarrassed at having been caught not paying attention, Callie answered the question and tried to participate in class. Still every few seconds her eyes returned to the notebook. The words sent a shiver down her spine even though she didn't understand what Devon meant.

*****

The beginning of third period found Chet anxiously watching the door for Devon to come in. Callie had found him after first and had showed him the notes. Joe could tell he was worried. Then he saw a girl he knew had second period with Devon come in the room. He stopped her. "Cory, was Devon in 2nd?" The tall red head nodded. "I don't think she's gonna make it to third though. I saw her heading toward the parking lot."

Chet was up and out of the room in an instant. He caught up with her at the Amigo. She was sitting behind the wheel sobbing. He opened the door and pulled her into his arms. To his surprise, she let him. He wondered what had upset her so much. "Dev, did something else happen?"

She nodded her head and drew in a couple of shaky breaths. It was obvious she was trying her hardest to regain her composure but it wasn't working. Reaching toward the passenger seat she grabbed a glossy 8 X 10 she'd carelessly flung in that direction only moments earlier. "This was in my locker after second period."

Chet looked at the picture. He did a double take as he looked from the picture to Devon. There was no doubt the picture was of her but he'd never seen her look as glamorous as she did in the picture. Then he noticed the writing at the bottom of the photograph. Too bad she died so young!

He hugged her again, his anger boiling. "That does it. I'm getting Frank and Joe and we are going to take this to Con Riley at police station. Whoever's behind this won't get away with this."

Devon wiped her eyes and shook her head. "Going to the police won't do any good, Chet. There is nothing they can do about this."

"Dev, someone's threatening to kill you. There are laws against that."

Devon looked confused for a moment and then glanced at the photograph. "Chet, that's not me."

Chet just looked at her in astonishment. How could she say that? Was she so upset she wasn't thinking straight? Finally Devon gave him a wistful smile. "Chet, that's a picture of my sister DeLaney. 'Laney and I were twins."

"Were twins?" Chet touched her cheek. "What happened?"

"'Laney di...died in August. She was in a car accident."

"I'm sorry." Chet now understood the hurt and empathy he'd seen in Devon's eyes after Iola's memorial service. She'd known how he had felt upon losing his sister because she knew that pain first hand. That two-word apology seemed so inadequate but what more could he say?

Devon turned away. "'Laney was my best friend - perhaps my only friend - as well as my twin. Losing her was like losing the best part of myself. Seeing that in my locker just reminded me of what all I did lose when she died."

"Why would someone put this picture in your locker?"

Devon sighed and wiped the tears from her cheeks. She still refused to look Chet in the eye. "Someone is reminding me that her death was all my fault."

*****

From the top of the steps at the entrance of the school, Joe watched as Chet led Devon to the passenger side of the Amigo and help her in. Joe frowned as Chet ran back around to the driver side and get in. He hoped his friend knew what he was doing.

"Joe, there you are." Frank touched his shoulder. "I've been looking for you."

Joe looked at his brother, surprised. Why wasn't he in class? "What's wrong?"

"Dad called. He wants us to come home immediately."

"Has something happened?" Joe was surprised that their father would pull them out of school.

Frank led the way to the Hardy's van. "He found out some information on Devon. He's about to leave town to learn more but he wanted to fill us in on what he found out before he left."

"Chet just left school with Devon. Something upset her before class."