‘Who brought Joe back?’ he demanded.

‘No-one,’ replied the man excitedly. ‘We just noticed him walk along from the corner and up the path. This is incredible! I can’t believe we were actually standing here when it happened. What a story!’

‘Where have you been?’

‘Can you tell us what happened to you?’

‘Do you have any injuries?’

‘Do your parents know you’re home now?’

Biff began to forcibly herd the reporters out of the Hardys’ hallway and down the path, ignoring the questions.

‘Aw come on!’ complained one man, ‘Everyone really wants to know the story! We need to talk to him!’

Biff set his jaw firmly and stated, ‘Yeah? Well Joe and his brother really need to talk and make up for lost time. If you want the story, go to the police. No further comment!’

With that, Biff marched back up to the front door, went inside and slammed the door in their faces.

Biff found Joe still locked in Frank’s embrace. Placing a hand on Frank’s shoulder Biff gently suggested he let Joe sit down. The younger Hardy didn’t look particularly steady on his feet. They led Joe into the lounge room where he slumped wearily down onto the couch. At no time did Frank break the physical contact with his brother. He still couldn’t believe Joe was back.

Biff perched on the coffee table opposite the brothers.

‘Are you okay Joe?’ he ventured. Joe sighed and gave a crooked, little smile.

‘I..I guess. A little shaky. I’m glad I’m sitting down.’ He took a sideways glance at Frank. ‘How long have I been gone?’ he asked.

‘Three days,’ breathed Frank solemnly. He studied his brother closely, looking for any indication of mistreatment. Curiously, Joe looked very tired but otherwise in good condition. He was dressed in the same clothes he had left the house in, except for the addition of the official gym top.

‘What’s the last thing you remember?’ Frank asked.

Joe opened his mouth to reply but then hesitated. He ran his hand through his hair.

‘I..I remember locking up the gym.. and… and… Well that’s it really.’

Suddenly the front door opened. The three boys looked up to see an amazed Laura Hardy standing in the doorway. Recovering from the shock quickly, she sat beside Joe and wrapped her arms around him.

‘Oh, my baby!’ she cried. ‘We’ve been so worried about you!’

‘It’s okay mum,’ Joe assured her quietly. ‘I’m not hurt.’

Fenton tousled his younger son’s hair and looked questioningly at Frank.

‘He just walked up our path ten minutes ago Dad,’ explained Frank. ‘We haven’t had a chance to call the police or the hospital.’

‘I’ll ring and get a doctor and Chief Collig to come here,’ stated Fenton firmly. ‘I think Joe’s spent quite enough time away from home. I don’t want him going anywhere right now.’

As Fenton went to make the necessary calls and shed a few private tears of relief of his own, Frank turned his attention back to Joe and their mother. Still holding on to him, Laura looked closely at Joe.

‘Are you sure you’re okay honey?’ she asked.

‘I’m just really tired mum,’ sighed Joe. ‘And I really would like to know what’s been going on.’

Biff had been looking on, grateful that his friend had been returned unharmed. But now he had noticed something that aroused his curiosity.

‘Frank, Joe’s had a hair cut while he’s been missing.’

Both Laura and Frank stared at Joe. It was true. While Joe’s blonde hair was still wavy and a touch unruly, it had been trimmed slightly. Frank spied something else and indicated his brother’s hands.

‘And look at your fingernails Joe. They’ve been manicured!’

Joe stared at his fingernails that he generally bit. They were all perfectly shaped and filed.

He met Frank’s gaze and suddenly felt ill and very shaky. Who had done this to him? Why couldn’t he remember anything? Frank saw Joe’s face drain of colour and the sapphire blue eyes begin to fill with moisture.

‘Mum, let Biff and I help Joe upstairs so he can lie down for a while,’ Frank said, standing up.

‘I’ll make him some soup,’ agreed Laura, and went to the kitchen after kissing all three boys on the cheek. As concerned as she was about Joe at the moment, at least he was home! She could start looking after him again.

Frank and Biff stooped to allow Joe to drape an arm over their shoulders so they could help him up the stairs. Joe felt his head spin. He wished he were about to wake up and discover this had all been a dream. Once they were at the top of the stairs, Frank and Biff carried Joe between them into the bedroom. As Joe was helped onto his bed, Fenton came in. He took in his younger son’s ashen face and closed eyes. He was glad the doctor had promised to arrive soon.

‘Make sure he doesn’t have anything by mouth or change clothes until Collig and the doctor arrive,’ he reminded Frank, who nodded.

……

At 10.00pm that evening, Frank sat by himself in the lounge room, a mug of hot chocolate in his hands. His parents had gone to bed early and Joe was asleep. He closed his eyes and reflected on exhausting events of the day. The stream of visitors had seemed endless and the telephone had rung hot. The story of Joe’s re-appearance had made the evening news. Callie, Phil, Chet, the school principal and the football coach had been among the phone callers. At Frank’s request, Biff had dealt with some of the calls. The Hardys had been extremely grateful for his presence. Greta had called as well and had spent a long time tearfully gushing with relief into Fenton’s ear.

When Chief Collig arrived to speak to Joe, Frank had insisted on being present and his father had wisely agreed! Joe hadn’t been able to tell Collig very much, and the Chief kept the interview short, aware that Joe Hardy looked pale and fragile. Collig could tell the Hardys that a neighbour had seen Joe get out of a recent model, white 4WD prior to his arrival at the house. The neighbour had only remembered the letters W and G on the plates, but at least this was a start.

The doctor from Bayport General had given Joe a thorough examination, and had taken a blood sample. He assumed it would contain the Rohypnol that had been present in Riley’s and Cousins’ blood. Before the doctor’s arrival, Joe had asked Frank to stay while he was checked out. Fenton and Biff had tactfully returned downstairs.

The doctor had confirmed that no injury had been inflicted on Joe. There were no marks, bruises or cuts anywhere on his body. He had told Frank and Joe that fatigue and emotional upset were common side effects of the drug that was most likely in his system. It was possible but unlikely that he would recall any details about what had happened to him over the three days.

After a long shower and a bowl of soup, Joe had embraced his family again and gone to bed. Laura had insisted on sitting with him for a while and had come downstairs with the news that Joe had fallen into a deep sleep quickly.

Frank took a sip of his drink. He was exhausted but his mind was going around in circles. This was like no other case he had tried to solve. There didn’t seem to be any motive. There had been no ransom demanded. His brother hadn’t been physically injured. Frank also kept thinking about what Chet Morton had said to him on the phone earlier. ‘Thank God Joe’s back, Frank. There can’t be anything worse than a family member disappearing and never found again.’ This from Chet whose sister had been murdered a year ago! Perhaps he was right. Iola’s death had been final and followed by grief. While his brother had been missing, Frank’s gut had been twisted at the thought that Joe was being hurt.

The mystery of what had happened to his brother still plagued Frank. It definitely had something to do with Joe’s obvious good looks. Joe, Stephen and Joshua were all handsome and blonde. The kidnapper hadn’t been interested in harming them or in demanding money from their families. So what had been gained by the perpetrator?