When Joe pulled into the Hardy's driveway, he groaned to see Aunt Gertrude's car parked there. The last thing Devon needed was the formidable woman hovering over her. He glanced in the rearview mirror; he wasn't surprised to see Devon's eyes closed and her breathing even. The sedative the doctor had given her must have knocked her out.

Chet caught his look and smiled grimly. "Thanks for helping us."

Frank turned around in his seat. He too wasn't surprised to see the poor girl asleep. "That's what friends are for, Chet. Joe and I will do everything we can to help but there's something you need to know."

Chet frowned. "What is it?"

"Frank, why don't I carry Devon inside and get her settled on the couch while you talk to Chet? I'll see if I can't get Aunt Gertrude to leave us alone for a little while."

Frank nodded. All three boys climbed out of the van and Joe eased Devon's slumbering form into his arms. She groaned but didn't awaken. As Joe disappeared into the house Chet turned to Frank. "What is it?"

Frank sighed. "As we said in the hospital, Devon's parents were murdered. Well, Dad found out Devon witnessed the murders."

Chet paled. "No wonder someone's after her. Did the person escape or what?"

"Chet, no arrests were made. Devon apparently blocked the incident from her mind. She had to be committed to a mental hospital for a while."

Chet shook his head. "Poor Devon, no wonder she was so upset at the hospital. But still, it's possible the murderer is trying to kill her before she could identify him."

Frank hated to tell his friend the rest but knew he had to be truthful. "Chet, there's more. Dad's gone to Austin but the officer he talked to alluded to the fact that the police think Devon's memory loss is a cover-up. They think she might be responsible."

Chet's expression darkened. "Devon wouldn't have killed her parents. I can't believe you would suggest such a thing. So much for friends helping friends."

Frank held his hands up in protest. "I didn't suggest it, Chet; the officer in Austin did. I'm just telling you what we learned. I don't want to believe Devon could do such a thing anymore than you do."

Chet, somewhat mollified, nodded. "Okay, so where do we begin?" It was obvious he had no doubts that Frank and Joe could get to the bottom of the mystery.

"We're going to have to question Devon - get her to level with us about everything she knows about the murder. Chet, Joe and I will have to ask difficult questions no matter how painful it might be for Devon."

Chet thought about what Frank said. "I know. I trust the two of you. I know you won't hurt Devon. Come on, let's go check on her."

Aunt Gertrude met them in the kitchen. "There you are, Chet. Joe just told me about the accident. You poor dear. I made an apple pie this morning; I'll cut you a big slice."

Chet's mouth almost watered at the mention of Aunt Gertrude's apple pie but then he remembered his diet. He'd already splurged for pizza earlier. He forced a smile. "No thanks, Miss Hardy. I'm sure it's as wonderful as always but I have to pass."

Gertrude was shocked. She looked to her oldest nephew. "Frank, I think you need to take Chet back to the hospital. I think he must have hurt his head worse than they thought."

Chet laughed. "No, I'm really okay. I'm just watching what I eat."

Gertrude shook her head. "A piece of pie never hurt anyone but I won't force you. Frank, I have a couple of errands to run. You're mom will be home soon. If you think you'll need me to help with that poor dear..."

"NO! No, Aunt Gertrude, I'd hate to mess up your plans. You go on and run your errands. We'll be fine. Really."

A few minutes later, Frank and Chet joined Joe in the living room. Devon was lying on the couch asleep. A frown marred her expression. She whimpered pitifully. "'Laney."

"That's her sister." Chet explained. "She died not long ago in a car accident. What happened today must have brought back memories."

Suddenly Devon's eyes flew open and she looked around wildly as if she didn't know where she was. Chet wanted to reassure her but Joe held him back. Joe could tell by the unfocused expression in her eyes that she wasn't fully awake. He spoke to her reassuringly instead. "Devon, it's okay. You are safe. You were in a car accident earlier with Chet but you are both okay."

Slowly, Devon's eyes focused in on them and she blinked rapidly. A couple of tears slid down her cheeks. "I didn't mean to fall asleep."

Seeing she was now aware of where she was, Joe released Chet who immediately sat beside her and put his uninjured arm around her. She leaned her head against Chet's shoulder for a long moment until she was able to compose herself. "Thank you for everything you've done. You must think I'm pretty pathetic."

"NEVER!" Chet insisted emphatically. "How can you even think that?"

Devon sniffed. "Oh, I don't know, in the past two days someone put a razor under my handle and you're nearly killed in an accident while driving my car. Then on top of everything else you find out that my grandparents and Uncle Rex think I'm crazy and need to be committed. My own godfather thinks I might be causing these accidents deliberately. That sounds pretty pathetic to me."

"No it doesn't." Frank told her calmly. "But it does sound like someone could be going to a lot of trouble to make people believe that it's true. Devon, we want to help you if you'll let us."

Devon looked small and vulnerable cuddled next to Chet. "I don't know what you can do or why you'd want to but okay."

Joe hoped Frank had had time to fill Chet in. The last thing they needed was for Chet to get mad and upset Devon.

"Devon, we know your parents were murdered and that you witnessed it. I know you don't remember much but tell us everything you do remember."

Devon shuddered. "I can't. What happened that night was so terrible that at the time I didn't just block it out - I blocked everything out. For over a year and a half I was in a catatonic state; my body did everything it was suppose to but it was like my mind shut down."

Chet tightened his hold on Devon. His heart went out to the one who'd stolen his heart that she had had to go through all that. "So what happened to bring you out of it?"

Devon shrugged. "I don't know; the doctors are divided as to whether someone may have said something that made me snap back or if I just finally felt safe enough to come back. One day I was in the recreational room at the hospital and I just started screaming. I screamed and cried for over two hours before they could get me calmed down."

Remembering the way Con had said she'd been at the scene of the accident, Frank frowned. "I'm surprised they didn't sedate you."

"I guess they figured after a year and a half of nothing they'd better not risk forcing me to be quiet. The next couple of weeks weren't pretty at all. I wouldn't sleep; I wouldn't eat; and if you so much as looked at me funny I'd break down in tears. The police were frustrated because they needed my statement and I couldn't give it to them. 'Laney was really the only person who could be around me without upsetting me." Devon wiped a trail of tears from her eyes.

Frank and Joe exchanged a look. Frank could tell his brother was feeling bad for every negative thing he'd ever said about Devon. As much as he felt sorry for her though, they were still no closer to knowing anything. He waited for her to continue.

"Finally, things regained some sense of normality. I could usually get through the day with fewer and fewer breakdowns. Finally the only time I would have a panic attack was when I tried to remember that night. I was more or less my normal self even though I was quiet and more withdrawn than usual. I wanted to help the police. I wanted the person who killed Mom and Dad caught and punished but I'd have a major almost mind crippling anxiety attack every time I tried to force myself to remember."

"In spite of that, have you remembered anything about that night?" Joe didn't miss the sharp glance Chet gave him. He knew however if they didn't push her a little they wouldn't find out who was after her.

She reluctantly nodded. "It's come to me in painful snatches but I more or less remember most of the night." She shuddered hard.

"Take your time and tell us." Frank urged. "I know it's hard but it's really the only way we can help you."

"'Laney had gone directly to a friend's house after school. They were going to a dance that night. I never was much of a social creature so I was at home. Daddy and I were putting a puzzle together in the den while Mom was in the kitchen making supper."

Unconsciously, she inched closer to Chet and drew his arm more protectively around her. "The doorbell rang and Daddy went to answer it. He came back a second later and told me to work on the puzzle by myself and to keep an eye on supper for Mom. He said he and Mom would be in his office and that I wasn't to disturb them."

"Who was at the door?" Joe carefully probed sensing she needed a momentary distraction.

Devon looked at him like she was seeing him for the first time. "I don't know. Whoever it was didn't come into the den. I didn't think much about it. But then I heard Mom scream. It was muffled like they didn't want me to hear. I was worried so I started toward Dad's office. That's when I heard my dad and someone else arguing."

"Did you recognize the voice?"

"I think I must have because I wasn't afraid only curious. Now, though, in my memories the other voice is like the teacher's voice in the Charlie Brown cartoons - all distorted. Then there was a gunshot. I threw open the door. My dad...Daddy was lying on the floor. Blood was everywhere. He'd been shot...shot in...in the...head."

She gagged and then shuddered hard, obviously reliving the experience. Chet just held her close, rocking back and forth.

With a look from Frank, Joe disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a glass of water. Devon accepted it with a shaky hand. It was still several minutes before she could continue. The three boys didn't try to hurry her.

Finally she continued, her voice as shaky as her hands. "I screamed when I saw it. My mom rushed toward me and told me to run and hide. For a moment I couldn't move but then she shoved me toward the stairs. I ran up the steps and then I looked back. Mom was following me but whoever it was followed her as well. She was only halfway up when he shot her in the back. Her eyes never left my face as she fell in a heap on the stairs. I couldn't move. But about that time, sirens entered the neighborhood and someone was banging on the door. The guy ran out the back of the house."

Frank gave her a moment to recover. "Devon, this is really important. Did you see his face?"

"I had to have. I know I must have looked him in the eye at least briefly when he shot my dad an I know for sure I stared at him for the longest time between the time he shot my mom and when he ran. But in my memories where his face should be is just a blank. I saw him and he saw me but I have no clue what he looks like."

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