Chapter 21

Michel's house was a pretty one, small but extremely cozy, tuck away contentedly at the corner of a small street. It was in one of the lower middle-class area of Barnett Bay, a one storey house with a small garden. Joe had thought Michel would be one to own a bachelor pad but here he was, in a place which seemed decorated by a woman.

"Nice place...can't believe it's yours." Joe commented, noting the fastidious arrangement of the furniture, everything was picked up to nicely matched and compliment one another with display pieces bringing on a healthy contrast.

"My ex-wife did it up. I did not meddle much with it...when she left." Michel spoke. Joe could tell he was trying to sound casual but he could detect the heaviness in his heart.

"Tough love. Why?"

"My job entails secrecy and lots of time away. She's young, gorgeous and...very dependent. When I'm not there for her to depend on...she depended on someone else. As simple as that. I'm over her, just want to find my daughter though."

"You two divorced?"

"Annulled. She got it annulled. I only got a bed so you can take it. I'll be out here if you need anything. There's a bath..."

Joe patted Michel's back. He had thought he was probably the only person abandoned by loved ones. Maybe it was the feeling of loss forged a strong bond between the both of them. "I'm a guest. I'll sleep outside...thank you. And I find my way around. Your place's very small."

"That's what she liked about it. Less cleaning to do." Michel gave a half-hearted smile. "Alright then, shan't force you or anything. I need to sleep. We'll see Grey Man tomorrow night...or should I say...tonight."

"Go ahead old man. Don't you worry about me."

Joe waited until Michel shut the door before he allowed the smile he wore to go off. Sitting on the sofa, he hugged a cushion very close to himself. He was terrified by the turn of events, by the horror of the mess in just one night. It was the second longest night he ever had to endure. He wondered if he would ever find salvation.

"Jesus came and died for us class."

"For our sins?"

"Yes."

"So all the bad things can be forgiven?"

"Yes Joey."

"Cool! I think I like Jesus already."

Frank was in a happy mood, or at least, as close to happy as he could be. He had engineered the spreading of news that the thieves had only made off with formula of an antibiotic that was already in the market and not important at all to the company and had circulated rumors that the Maximillian Enterprise had just received a huge grant from the government for a whole new system of surveillance instruments that would be extremely vital for the military operations of tomorrow and that Macmillan enterprise was on the verge of yet another scientific breakthrough in some yet unmentioned area. The rumors would be made real tomorrow afternoon when the grant would fall into his lap and as for the breakthrough, it would come sooner or later. The share prices rose again to an even higher level and everyone was happy. He had even contemplated buying over some of the more pesky directors' shares, just to save him the headaches from their demands.

The game of business was tough and many would love to see Maximillian go under. But Frank knew it was his responsibility to see that Maximillian expanded as much as it could while he was at the helm. And then he would pass it over to Ben when Ben was ready. But lately, it seemed as if that scenario would never come to pass. Ben was never in his office, always off on some urgent business he had to take care of. And all who were left were Frank and his Uncle Bob, his late mother's brother. Frank had often wondered why his grandpa did not leave the empire to Bob and he had wondered if Bob ever resented the fact that suddenly; the whole business empire that was his father's would go to his brother-in-law. He had quizzed his father about it but all his father said was the past should be left alone.

And Bob had seemed happy with the whole arrangement. He cared about the company too and was always there to give Frank "pointers" that Frank would ignore and the whole office would quiver at their anger. However, Bob would always congratulate Frank whenever his disobedience paid off, saying things like he hoped Frank understand that being a very conservative guy, and he was not used to taking risks. And Frank had understood, though he still could get extremely irritated by his uncle's cowardice in taking business risks.

"Frank, you must understand. If something goes wrong, you'll be out of here in second."

"I understand Bob, perfectly. And that's why I'm making sure I never go wrong."

"We have our differences, but I hope you know I meant well."

"Yes I do."

"And I'm going to...well...retire next month. Maybe rear some racehorses...you know."

"What? So soon? And who's going to take your place?"

"I don't know, but I guess it's up to you. Choose wisely though. I want to set up a small little café somewhere and just get away from all these daily business wars. Or maybe rear a few race horses. It can get rather tiring sometimes, the daily wars you fight behind close doors and a screen. And you should stop drinking so much. You know how your dad feels."

"Maybe you can teach me a thing or two. I know it was hard to quit smoking."

"You just need the will."

And Frank knew exactly how his uncle felt. He felt the same way too but what choice could he have? Until he could probably force dad to force Ben to take his rightful position, Frank knew he would forever be trap in this situation.

He clicked a button on his intercom and asked for Hope to pass him the files that had just came to his attention on the newest development in his R&D centre in Silicon Valley. He knew he must make good on the scientific breakthrough rumor somehow and he hope to see that his R&D was not slacking away. And also, he wanted to share that little victory joy with her. Her beautiful smile would complete the victory dance.

Why am I always searching for excuses to touch her, to get close to her, to be alone with her? What about Nancy? Why am I enjoying time with Hope more than Nancy?

Is it because I know she's Joe's girlfriend?

No...I felt this way before I knew...but...

Guiltily, he admitted to himself that with Hope being Joe's girlfriend, he did have a sense of perverted joy if he could get Hope to love him and not his brother.

What happened to the noble Frank Hardy of the past?

Hope entered his office and like always, his face would always lit up with a smile, no matter how tired he was. Her radiance would just light up the cold, formal setting of his office and his second home. Yet, today, his smile faded as he saw her disheveled and disinterested. Her make-up was blander than usual and her pretty eyes were slightly puffy. And the most important manifestation that something was wrong with her was that her shoes mismatched her outfit, something anathema to women.

"Are you alright?" Frank put down whatever file he was flipping through and immediately stood up, walking over to Hope who was standing on the other side of his desk.

Hope did not look up. She simply put the files on Frank's table before starting to walk away. But Frank would not let her go when she was looking as down as she was. He had not noticed earlier in the morning because he was in such a rush to get to his table to execute the necessary tactics following last night's break-in. Now, he was cursing himself for not caring, not being there. His heart rushed out to her, he just had a sudden instinct to protect her from whatever was wrong.

He put a hand onto her shoulder to stop her from going away too soon and drew her close to him. He could smell her perfume; feel her softness as she collapsed in his arms. The need to just hold her was overwhelming strong. Guilt creep in as Nancy's face suddenly started hovering at the back of his mind but he crushed it down, allowing himself to fall into temptation.

To fall into her eyes... that will be bliss.

She cried for a while into his chest and he could feel her tears seeping through the thinness of his shirt. Gently, he stroked her soft hair. She was so perfect, so beautiful. Joe did not deserve her. If he was not involved with Nancy at that moment, she would be his.

How can I do this? Still calling Nancy, needing Nancy when all that I could think of each day is Hope?

"Frank...I can't do this...I'm sorry..." Hope muttered into his chest. Yet, she was holding him back, tightly, desperate for someone to listen, someone to just care for her.

"I told myself I will not cry...not again."

"Hope, you can cry here, for as long as you want. I won't mention this to anyone, not even to you." His voice was soft, low and his motive was genuine sincerity. Hope looked up into his eyes, engulfing him in its yearning, its depth. He could not help himself, he needed some form of touch too, some form of closeness to someone following the catastrophe. Things just happened. He kissed her.

It was a gentle kiss, one that she did not resist from. He could taste her lipstick mingled with her salty tears. Her breathe was like fresh strawberry mint. It just felt so right at that moment and he did not want the kiss to end, and it seemed as if neither did she.

But all wonderful things had to end somewhere. Hope broke the kiss and stepped away, as if in shock at what she had just done, what she had just revealed to herself.

"I can't. I can't do this."

"Why not?" Frank's voice was husky as the words got caught in his throat.

She eyed him sadly and then turned away. "I will be just as bad as him. I can't..."

Frank squeezed her shoulders and held her from behind. He had longed for her, had been so fiercely attracted to her the moment he had seen her. And he would not let her go, now, seeing her so lost, so hurt, he would not deny that he never cared for her, when he really did.

I'll tell Nancy later. It won't be easy...but...neither can I do this.

And so he broke his hold her also. Both of them now guilty at having cheated, if only for that little while, on their respective partners. Yet, there was something between the both of them, something that would not just go away.

Hope started walking towards the door. This time, Frank did not stop her. It would not be right. Though he knew that there were already rifts between him and Nancy before he had met Hope, it still would not be right. He had to work out his problems with Nancy first, something long overdue. And then, he would decide from there, what to do with his feelings for Hope.

That will be... the right thing... to do. I owe it to Nan. I owe it to Hope.

"Can I still fetch you home this evening?" Frank softly asked. But the yearning in his voice resonated in the silent room.

Hope stood still, as if battling with herself for a moment. It was only a few seconds but to the two in the room, it was an eternity.

But temptation had already snared the both of them into its sticky web, entangling them together, never to be able to break free. In a still voice she replied, "Yes. I will see you later."

The door shut and once again, Frank was alone in that huge office of his. The memory of the kiss, the smell of her hair, the saltiness of her tears lingered on.

And those eyes, those wide, smoldering dark eyes were all he could think about for a very long time.

Hope and Frank sat for a prolonged period in the car. The ride had been silent, neither party knew what would be right to say, or knew how to say what they wanted to say. Frank had already drove up to Hope's house but she did not alight immediately and thank him with that more than grateful smile like usual. Instead, she sat still, waiting.

Is she waiting for me? But what do I say? What can I say?

"Frank...about today..."

Frank immediately broke out from his train of thoughts. So, Hope had made the first move and he was glad for he would not know how to break the silence.

"I...I wasn't thinking...I seen him with...with another guy...and...it just hurts so much."

"Hope...I'm sorry..." Frank reached over to stroke her cheeks, knowing how hard it was for her, willing herself not to cry.

Another guy? Did Joe turn gay? I think that would be impossible...but...Hope will not be mistaken...right?

Hope touched his hand and pressed it closer against her warm, tender cheek.

"And I was wondering why he never kiss me...and about us..." She turned to look at him at last. Frank found himself caught again. His heart was pounding, he was afraid of what she would say.

I kissed you Frank because I was hurt and wasn't thinking that's all. I'm sorry. Can we be friends again?

"I did want that kiss to happen. I know it's bad...you are still with Nancy and she was so nice to me the other time...Frank...I...I don't want to come between you two and I don't want to in the end, find out that I was just treating you like a substitute, someone I run to whenever Joe hurts me..."

Frank grasped her hands tightly into his. He felt like he was not in his car, but in a beautiful place with an angel next to him and that he could finally wake up everyday happy and contended because she would always be around.

"We'll work it out. You...you are not the third party. But I have to settle things with Nan, we are already drifting apart but we are trying to hide it from ourselves or rather, I was trying to hide from it. But know this; you are not a third party. If anyone is to be blame, it's me. I've changed."

And how true that was. In only a few words, Frank had uttered the truth that he had been running from for 5 years.

I've changed. I have to accept the change. I'm no longer the old Frank Hardy, running around happily with friends in little ol' Bayport. I have changed. And Nancy knew. She knew.

But we cannot go back, no matter how much we wish to because...the past is... past.

And Nancy was part of the past that I had so desperately being trying to cling on to, somewhere at the back of my mind.

Their lips met again, first tentatively, like a sweet first kiss, then with increasing fervor and passion that would ignite their very beings.

And elsewhere, a bouquet of roses fell forgotten on the dirty ground and hands clenched into fists. Elsewhere, the breaking of a heart was silent to the streets but deafening to the owner.

Elsewhere fell a single drop of tear.

Joe had woken up before Michel did and immediately went to wash up. It was close to evening time but Joe had something on his mind. No matter what he had promised Michel or appeared to have promised Michel, he could not stay in his house without going over to check up on Hope, to know that she was safe. And he still harbored the hope that last night's break up was because neither of them were thinking straight, that Hope was probably just in a bad mood. He would try to cook up a story whatever, but he had to try. He could not bear to let her slip out of his life. It just hurts too much. He wanted her too much.

He wrote a note to Michel and left it on the coffee table. He spotted Michel's shades at the same time and slipped it on, thinking he may need some disguise. As quietly as he could, he stepped into Michel's room and rummaged through the wardrobe for some form of sport jacket and found one that was a couple of sizes too big but it would have to do. Grabbing a cap as well, he headed for the streets.

He spotted some plain clothes strange looking men loitering around the area and they seemed like Network agents to him. His paranoid level was running very high, ducking in and out of their sight; he hid at the side of Hope's house, knowing that the agents from their angle could not spot him. He had bought Hope a small bouquet of roses earlier, something he hardly did but he wished that it would all go well. If anyone could save his sanity, Hope could.

And he saw the red Porsche pulled into Hope's driveway. His heart lurched because he knew to whom that car belonged to. He wanted to scream when he saw they exchanged a kiss. He wanted to die right then.

Why?

And the bouquet fell to the ground, and so did a tear fell from his right eye down his cheeks. That was all, a bouquet of rose and a tear.

Not to mention the resonance of the question, forever etched in his mind.

Why?

"He just left." Michel kept his eyes, afraid to look at Grey Man.

Grey Man, a usually composed character flared up at Michel earlier. Michel had turned out for their meeting without Joe, like he had promised over the phone this morning. Seeing Joe asleep, he had went back to fall into a deep slumber, waking up to find Joe gone with a note.

Got something to attend to. I will not fail you though, will come back in time to go meet Grey with you.

They had waited for over two hours. Frank, Nancy, Michel and Grey were supposed to gather in his office at 8 o'clock. It was 8:15p.m when Michel called to say that Joe had gone out and had not returned. He just arrived, after waiting for Joe without much success.

"You know what's your problem? You're too soft! Believing in people too easily! You should have turned him over to me last night when you found him!" Grey shouted into Michel's face, without sparing any thought for Michel's feeling.

Frank was angry too, because he too felt Michel should had sent Joe over to them immediately. Yet, Michel's trust in Joe was puzzling. They had only known each other for a couple of months. It made Frank wonder if Michel was the man that Hope had seen Joe with.

"Well, he did seem desperate last night! You don't know him at all...you don't know what I've seen in the soup kitchen!"

"A mental breakdown here and there does not a good person make, Mic! I'm not saying you should not trust him or anything but we have to be partial! He could be under stress because of guilt!"

"Fine! Put it all on me!" Michel grabbed his coat angrily and flung the door opened.

"Where are you going?" Grey Man demanded.

Without looking back, Michel answered, "To find him and bring him here."

Chapter 22

"Who's that?"

"Pizza"

"Coming."

Joe waited for Hope to come to the door. He had been in luck. He had managed to eavesdrop on Hope calling for pizza on her mobile before entering and immediately waited at the end of the street for the pizza boy to show up. He had some time to drop by a convenience nearby for a bottle of hard liquor and he had time to down it. He spotted the motorcycle the pizza boy was on and flagged it down. Giving the pizza boy a fifty (the last bill he had), far more than what the pizza would cost, the boy was more than happy allow Joe to take his worn down pizza jacket and the pizza. Disguising himself as the pizza boy, he was surprised to note that the Network agents that were supposed to be looking out for him as well as protecting Hope and Caramel did not even bat an eyelash. He would have to tell Michel to step up security at Hope's place.

But first, he had to clear things up.

Hope opened the door and was about to pass him a ten when he pushed his way into her house while lifting up his cap to show her who he was. She gasped a little but let him in anyway, a little shocked that he would go to these means just to see him.

"What do you want?" She asked, closing the door and very elaborately shut it, mocking his madness a few days ago.

"I want to talk." Joe set the pizza down on the table and sat down on the sofa he knew so well. He had sat on it many times while regaling Caramel with fairytales and stories filled with adventures that he himself had loved when he was young and Caramel would be entranced by his ability to bring a story alive.

"You don't have to be in this get up to talk to me. Anyway, there's nothing to talk about."

"Yes there is. Damn it Hope!" Joe punched the sofa hard. He had not managed to be able to control his anger and hurt after all. "I saw you!"

"And so did I. We're quits now. Goodbye." Hope was about to open the door when Joe with incredible speed rushed over to her side and clamped his hands over hers.

"Don't chase me out. Like I said, we need to talk."

Hope expression changed from one of indifference to one with a little fear, not so much for herself but for Carmel whom she spotted running down the stairs to greet Joe. Plus, she smelled alcohol in his breath.

"Joe! I thought I heard you! I missed your stories...Mommy..where's the pizza? Goody...we can all share!"

"Hullo..kiddo..."

"Caramel...go into your room and stay there. Don't come down, alright?" Hope ordered her daughter who looked at Joe with some sense of awe at the transformation from the good-natured uncle she had come to know into this funny-sounding man. Hearing the no-nonsense tone in her mother, Caramel hurried up the stairs to her room.

"What are you doing here like this? Go away Joe! I won't have this in my house, you hear?"

Joe grabbed her by the shoulders suddenly pushed her onto the sofa. Hope's heart did a lurch, she had not known Joe could be so strong; she had been so used to his vulnerability, his tenderness.

"So...I can't come in? After all I have done for you I can't come into your house? We're not over yet Hope...you didn't give me a say and I say, we don't break up."

Hope regained her composure, stood up and gave him a push towards the door. "I'm sorry Joe. We are over. You made it so."

Like a mad man, he rushed towards her with fearsome speed. Grabbing her by the shoulders again, he slammed her against the wall. She was breathing pretty hard now, panic rushed through her like never before.

I had felt as safe as could be in his arms. I had.

"Why! Why must it be him?! I told you not to work for him! Told you!" He emphasized his sentence by shaking her. She had to fight back, somehow. Joe had turned psychotic.

"Let me go damn you! It wasn't his fault! I saw you! I saw you with your...him!"

And at once Joe let her go. She crumbled to the floor sobbing, she did not want this, never in her whole life. But it was her fault too; she should have made it clear to Joe, made him understood.

He then held her tight and in a little boy's voice, pleaded with her. "Hope...you don't understand...you don't...I'm sorry...it...it's not like what you saw...you must believe me...I...I have my reasons for not clarifying with you sooner...he's...he's just a friend...he can be too affectionate at times...I'm sorry...I didn't mean to hurt you...don't cry...I won't hurt you anymore...there...we'll be like before again Hope...I promise you..."

Hope was touched by what he had said, but not touched enough. "We can't be like before, I know what I saw, and I don't want to be a pawn in your love life Joe! I can't accept being there until you sort your feelings out!"

Joe eyed her with a deadly look that just suddenly came to his eyes. His Doctor Jekyll Mr. Hyde transformation was scaring Hope immensely. She hoped Caramel was not listening. She did not know Caramel had came out of her room and witnessed the whole thing but was in too much shock to help, not that her tiny hands and little feet could help much.

"What did he tell you? He told you something...didn't he?" His voice was calm, but as lethal as his eyes.

"DIDN'T HE?!" Joe shouted when Hope failed to respond fast enough. Then, dragging her to her feet, he gave her sharp push and she knocked her left cheekbone against a cabinet. Before she could recover, he was looming over her again and she silently prayed that a miracle would happen.

"You're mine Hope...you're mine! He cannot take you away from me...no one can. You're mine...to cherish...to protect." Joe held her still and bent down to kiss her. Fear took over, she screamed.

The scream woke Caramel out from her shock. Her mind had thought fast as she ran to her mother's room to pick up the mobile there. Someone bigger than her had to help. She had to help. She was very adept in using the mobile since her mom had taught her and she remembered one of her mother's friend, someone called Frank who had always come and fetch her mom. She scrolled down the name list for his name and pressed the call button. After three rings, the call was picked up.

"Hope? Is that you?"

"Please...come quickly..."

"Caramel? What happened? Tell mommy to come to the phone..."

"He's hurting mommy! I'm so scared! Mommy's so scared! He's hurting mommy...please come quick..."

"Who? Nevermind...I'm on my way. Caramel, I want to you to stay calm, all right?"

"Please...hurry..."

Frank, Nancy and Grey were in Grey's office, unsure of what to do after Michel stormed out. Nancy had tried to reason with Grey and to Frank's surprise; Grey did not remain angry for long and decreed that they stayed for another hour. Frank paced up and down the room, willing for the door to open and for Michel to just step in with Joe so they could get the case over and done with.

"Leaving Joe unguarded...that's stupidity." Frank muttered under his breath. Nancy, who was still sitting down in her chair eyed him curiously.

"I thought that would be what you would do before."

Frank did not like the look that Nancy had given him. It was like she was judging him and searching him and she had found something she did not like. Frank thought Nancy understood the dynamics of his feelings towards Joe but it appeared that she did not. She had always been asking Frank to go see Joe, to pick Joe up from prison, to maybe spare a thought for Joe but after all these years, Frank wondered why she could not accept the fact that Frank Hardy did not want to have anything to do with Joe.

Hated myself. I hate myself.

"That was before. This is now. He has changed."

"So did you."

"He changed and that's why I did." Frank spoke in finality.

Nancy stopped arguing with Frank. Discussions about Joe brought tears to their relationship, a relationship that never seemed more strained in the past months. But Frank knew he needed Nancy to be on his side. He hated it when Nancy went against him.

She has her own mind. I can't control how she feels.

And am I feeling so much resentment because now you want out? I wanted it to carry on in the first place, maybe she is just as tired as me...

"Do you blame me?" Nancy questioned silently. Frank turned towards her, a little startled. It was like she could read his thoughts.

"What?"

"Blame me. I was the one...I was the one after all who gave that statement against Joe that brought him down."

"You merely saw him behind the wheels. You spoke the truth. Like I said before, I don't care anymore."

"Don't care about the truth or...don't care about me?"

"Look here, I'm going out for a while. I don't want to remain here and witness the two of you thrash out your feelings for each other. But I warn you Frank, don't make Nancy cry. These past few years with her, I have begun to treat her like a daughter." Grey Man stood up and left. It then dawned on Frank that maybe Nancy had been revealing more about their relationship to Grey Man, of course they would be close, working all the time together, sharing little information Nancy obtained from him.

When Grey Man was gone, an awkward silence fell on them. Nancy leaned forward and propped her head with her hand which was resting on the desk. Frank sat down on the chair next to her.

"I feel guilty Frank, that was why...I...I feel I have to get the both of back together somehow...I have this nagging feeling that there was more than meet the eye. I know the theory was Joe wanted the money, he was somehow influenced by Lena Begins, a teenage Assassin posted to Bayport High. But...it doesn't seem to fit."

"The evidence did. That's enough." Frank answered bitterly. "I tried to clear his name too Nancy, but...all that came up...him being on the scene of all the crimes...him unable to defend himself, everything...plus the fact that he was in so much debt from taking those damn drugs..."

"He was depressed then Frank! We never helped him...we..." Nancy's voice faltered. There was too much regret.

"So it's my fault then that my baby brother went astray?"

"It's very tough to find out that your mom was raped and you were the child that was borne out of it! And tougher still when the secret was out and no one came to your defenses." She blurted out the horrible skeletons that had been hidden in the Hardy's household for a long time. After the case, Frank had forbidden her to talk about it. The past was past, as he would put it. But he was still plagued every night by the past.

Laura Hardy had tried to convince Joe that what the man was saying were all lies but Joe had refused to listen, blaming himself for what she had gone through. She had loved Joe fiercely but it all changed when a case of theirs led them to find out that Laura was drugged and raped and exactly 9 months later, Joe was borne. She had not had sexual relations with Fenton during that month and they assumed that Joe was prematured. Yet, what the man claimed and Laura's flashbacks had convinced her and the whole family that Joe was probably not Fenton's son and it would explain Fenton's coldness towards Joe when Laura had doted so much on him as he was the only who knew and kept the truth from Laura for fear of hurting her. Laura cried for nights, unable to give her favorite son the attention and love she used to give so freely to him. Seeing Laura's distancing away from him and Fenton's angry glares at times when he saw in Joe the man who had defiled his wife, Joe befriended Lena Begins who got him hook to heroine. Frank found it difficult to get close to Joe too when he needed support and it was during that time that they assumed Joe had a personality transformation. A month odd after his addiction, Laura Hardy fell to her death at home. Joe was seen entering the house by a neighbor around that time but other than eye-witness account and the fact that the eye-witness was an old lady with failing eye-sight, Joe was acquitted by the jury, though he could hardly give them a coherent account. Frank convinced Fenton to let Joe come home.

And came home he did. Leaving Bayport and the horrible memories, they returned home to Barnett Bay. Joe still continued contacting Lena and occasionally experimenting with drugs. Frank grew more and more separated from his chancy brother. And then Joe went into debt because he had consumed more drugs than he could have paid for. Not only that, the Network found out that Lena was working for the Assassins and caught her. She committed suicide saying that she had accomplished what she sought to do. Joe was seen by Nancy behind a car ramming into Ben but he had sped off and Nancy could not keep chase. Frank, Fenton and Aunt Gertrude had gone to the hospital to keep vigil by Ben's side. Joe had vanished. Yet one afternoon, when everyone was at the hospital except for Marjory who had a headache from crying for her mother too much, the police called his dad and Frank remembered driving like a madman all the way home, worried about Marjory, fearing that she was badly hurt. Marjory in rambles told them Joe had raped her. Though Marjory had washed away all traces of evidence on her, they managed to find Joe's hair on her bed and she had remembered, before she passed out, seeing Joe on top of her. Joe had returned to retrieve his watch and a gold locket that Laura and given him that he had neglected to take away after running away from home the first time. He was gone by the time they had returned. Somehow, he was spotted one night trying to pawn his watch in some unknown pawnshop by the policemen who were working on this case. They gave chase and Frank had been the one in the end to catch up with Joe finally after a long pursuit.

The theory was that Joe had killed Laura Hardy so as to get his hands on the fortune that grandpa Maximillian had left for his favorite grandson but left it in Laura's care. It was quite a sum, amounting to a couple of million but Fenton contested against giving it to Joe after Laura died which was stated in the will that should that event occur, even before Joe reach 21, he would be entitled to the money. Fenton had ruled out a clause that mentioned Joe as Laura and Fenton's child and since Joe was not Fenton's child, the will could not stand. In an act of revenge, Joe probably wanted to do the whole family in. He had, as they theorized, wanted the money for the Assassins cause or whatever, having been influenced and brainwashed by heroine and Lena Begins.

It did not help that Joe himself was not able to present much defenses, citing the excuse of memory lapse. The jury sentenced him guilty and Fenton discharged on final fatherly act. He used his influence to get Joe an early release.

5 years. The Network wanted to keep him in longer and would have if not for lack of evidence that he had been wooed to the Assassins side and if not for Fenton's insistence. Frank found it weird that Fenton, who had probably hated Joe all his life, would be so kind to him. But Fenton simply said he had done his best, considering that Laura did loved and favor the boy above everyone else.

Everything about the case was sketchy in the beginning but evidences keep piling up. In the end, it was Nancy's and Marjory's account that did Joe in, not to mention that Joe's hair been found on Marjory's pillow. And Frank had seen how Joe would have shot him, had tried to shoot him when he ran after Joe. He had, up until that point still harbored a hope that Joe was innocent but that gun shot severed everything. Yet, Frank told no one about how Joe shot at him and barely missed him. It was a nightmare that he would carry for the rest of his life.

Joe would not shoot at me. How did he change so much?

"It's not your fault. Justice was done." Frank said without much emotion. Nancy hung her head low.

"You know...I'm...do you still love me Frank?"

Frank had no answer to that. Trust Nancy to pick a time like this to force him to choose.

"Because I'm not sure if I do...do want this relationship anymore." Nancy muttered sadly.

Frank found himself hurt by what she said. But he looked at her and could see the weariness in her eyes, the tears that were about to fall and he realized that she had stayed on because he wanted her to, selfish Frank Hardy had needed her until he was tormented daily by his attraction towards Hope. He felt very guilty, extremely guilty.

"Neither am I."

Nancy held out her hands for his. He touched it and at that moment, the both of them understood that the long, tedious journey, no matter how sweet it had been and how much hurdles they had crossed was at the end. They had always been better as friends. Best friends. Frank could not begin to say how sorry he was when his mobile rang. Looking at the screen, he saw that it was Hope's mobile.

"Hope, is that you?" From a corner of his eyes, he saw Nancy face smile in silent revelation.

"Please...come quickly..."

Chapter 23

Nancy saw how Frank dashed out of the room after receiving the call from Hope, or so she thought. He had in a fluster mentioned something about Hope being in danger and ran off. Grey Man entered the room and raised an eyebrow at Nancy. She had worked closely with the older man and she knew he was about to query her about Frank. She simply shook her head and smiled.

"It's over. I love him...but it's...it's over. Hope called him."

"You told me before you wanted it to be over."

"I know."

Grey Man went to her side and stood next to her. She leaned her head against his stomach. He had been like a surrogate father figure to her since Carson Drew passed away 2 years ago due to a sudden heart attack but he had gone peacefully, with a slight smile on his face. She hurried to his bedside to see him one last time. Frank was supportive then, but it was the clear the losses they had endured on both their part limited their ability to give to each other. They need to break away and seek new lives.

Grey Man knelt down and Nancy rested her head on his shoulder and cried. He smoothed her hair like how Carson would whenever she was sad or angry or just feeling negative. "I miss him already. Have I made the wrong choice?" She blubbered into his shirt.

"No dear..." Grey Man answered, remembering the look of concern on Frank's face, deducing somehow Hope, Joe's girlfriend, must had meant something to him after she entered into his firm as his PA. And he also knew the strained relationship between Nancy and Frank, how they had to go to lengths to keep some of the magic alive and it was wearing the both of them down, was affecting her emotionally and physically. Frank may not have noticed but Nancy had thinned down quite a bit.

He patted her on her back. "I don't think so."

Joe's nose barely brushed against hers when he backed off. He was not thinking straight, he had just wanted to kiss her lips, thinking maybe that was why she had left him for Frank, because he would not kiss her lips, thinking maybe somehow because of that she thought he did not love her when he did, a lot. When she screamed, he came to his senses.

What have I done? I have gone berserk! I have only wanted to talk...will not hurt her...no...

Gingerly, he caressed her cheeks for one last time. She was crying so badly that his heart broke. He had made her cry. He had done nothing but made her cry...maybe...maybe it was a good thing. Maybe Frank was a good thing for her.

"You deserved better than me..." He stroked her injured cheek. There was a slight scratch, not enough to scar, and a bruise seemed to be forming. He remembered being so angry and hotheaded that he pushed her. He remembered the feeling of abandonment, of not wanting her to go away.

And you chase her away. You always do. You always hurt people. Maybe that's how you started hurting them too...you just can't remember.

"He's...he's much better. He can make you smile...give you a good life. When we were young, he would beat me in everything...and you...you deserve the better one..." His voice was dreamy, sad. His face softened, became melancholy. The anger was gone, the desperation had left. Love had conquered.

He did not see the puzzled look in her face amidst the fears and the tears.

"But believe me Hope...I love you...I love you so much. I will never want to hurt you...nor let other people hurt you. I love you. You are my Hope. My hope..." He brought a finger to his lips and then laid the finger on hers. He could not kiss her. He did not deserve to.

I don't deserve love. All the crimes I did, all the things that happened. I don't deserve you.

Hope did not have to know what happened to him before. No one have to. It was his burden to bear alone, for the rest of his life.

"Did he hit you? I'll get him for it." Frank had sped all the way back to Little Port. When he arrived, Hope was clutching Caramel who was crying in her mother's embrace. Hope simply had a daze look on her face. Her hair was messy and her left cheek was bruised. Frank had felt anger at Joe who had hit her, who had hurt her. Gently, he went over to her and hugged her and then she broke down.

They had managed to tuck Caramel into bed after Hope ensured her daughter that she was fine and she was never going to let Joe in for the 100th time. Caramel was not as convinced as she was tired. Finally, she could not take the tiredness being used to going to bed at 9p.m and slept soundly. It was very late when they finally settled down.

Hope was now in Frank's arms. They were sitting on the sofa and Frank was rubbing her bruised cheek, trying to ease the pain. Hope winced a little when he rubbed too hard as he asked her who had done it, and gently guided his hands away. Leaning her head on his shoulder, she sighed.

"It's ok. It's all over."

"No...its not...we have to make a police report. He beat you."

"He pushed me, I hit the cabinet..."

"It's the same Hope. I'm so afraid for you..." Frank murmured into Hope's hair. They were both tired but thankful to have each other around.

The living room had a romantic glow to it since Hope had left the orange light on only. Frank held her tighter and Hope felt herself drowning in his warmth when she suddenly remembered.

"He spoke as if he knew you...said something about your youth...And you do looked weird when you saw his photo the other day...do you know who he is?"

Frank was silent, his body stiffened. Hope looked at him, fearing the worse.

"Please...don't shut me out...he used to shut me out also and look where we ended up...I don't want you to hide anything from me..."

He smiled at her and kissed her forehead. He would not shut her out, would not let her suffer the torment she had went through. This time, he would be nothing but honest.

"We used to be brothers."

And she gasped.

Joe kept walking. He did not know how long he had walked, did not know how far he had walked just that his eyes were tired but he could not sleep, his feet were aching but they would not stop. To stop would be think about what had happened and he did not want to let reality sink in yet. It was still nice to pretend that Hope was still his.

I was too late, did too little too late.

He just kept walking until his face was suddenly blasted by a gust of the salty sea breeze. He was surprised that he had reached the docks already. The docks in Little Port were just next to those in Barnett Bay. In fact, the two sister towns were only separated by a small little river and a small little bridge, and the neighborhood near the docks of Little Port was comparable to the average ones of the wealthy Barnett Bay.

Joe then decided to just hike all the way up to Barnett Bay, back to Michel's house. With a start, he realized that he was late for the appointment; Michel must have thought that he had somehow betrayed him. Running as if his life depended on it, he caught the last shuttle bus to a street near Michel's and then ran all the way to his house, only to find it locked.

He must have gone without me. I have failed again, haven't I? Been nothing but a failure. Can't even remember the most important parts of my life.

He sat down by the steps, dejected and terrified. He was so lost he just did not know what to do. He knew that he had no chance whatever with Hope and he did not know if they were going to throw him back into prison again. Suddenly, he felt very alone and very scared. Huddling himself, he felt tears finally coming into his eyes.

Hello dear friends, where have you all gone?

He was crying silently when he felt a strong arm on his shoulder and someone sitting next to him. Making out the figure of Michel, he looked up now at the only person who had trusted him, if he trust him still. Michel put his arms around Joe and just let him cry for as long as he wanted.

"I'm so sorry...please don't desert me. I did not run away...did not."

Michel nodded in understanding and the two of them sat on the steps for a very long time.

Chapter 24

Joe kept his head down all the time. The initial greeting had been extremely tensed, amounting to only a few nods here and there. He could not look them in the eyes. Getting more and more paranoid all the time, he was afraid he might give away something that would make them despise him more than they already did and in front of him were three people he had knew well and had not seen for very long, except for Frank. Michel had received a call last night after finding Joe by his doorstep that the meeting was re-scheduled for the next morning. Michel made Joe sleep in the room while he slept in the hall, after making sure he had his keys hidden where Joe could not find and had locked both the gate and the door. Joe was hurt but he knew he deserved it. Michel told Joe he did not wanted to do things this way but he had no choice. He could not afford to have Joe running off again on a whim.

He was alright with Nancy, who was congenial towards him. But Gray Man, his supposed mentor, had an unreadable look on his face.

And Frank was another story altogether.

That afternoon's episode and driven the wide chasm between the brothers even further apart and no matter how hard Joe wanted to jump across it to Frank's side, he could never do so. Frank was like a stranger, a stranger who did not want to be friends with him and it was impossible to reach him, to see a flicker of brotherly warmth from his brown eyes. He eyed Joe with cool professionalism, like he was getting ready to interrogate a prisoner. That was what he made Joe felt, condemned, guilty, never to crawl out of the hellhole.

What do you expect? That he comes over and hug you say "I'm so sorry about that afternoon little brother, lets go get some ice-cream and forget about the whole thing!"

No, I don't.

Then stop your whining...it's getting irritating. Oh, how Frank will not forgive me, Frank will not smile at me...arghh! What's wrong with you? Have prison made you all so low and unsure of yourself?

Yes. But Frank's not like that. One day, he'll take me home again.

Yah Yah Yah...tell that to Mother Goose and maybe she'll believe you. Once Frank knows what happened and he will, you can be sure he'll jump miles away from your filthy soul...like anyone in their right mind will!

Then he don't have to know...and you won't tell him!

I won't tell if you won't tell.

I won't.

Good. Then keep it that way and...stop sniveling. You're making me look bad.

And so Joe debated with himself inside, but to the three people surveying him, he was just being withdrawn, quiet. Michel touched him on the shoulders and very gently persuaded him to open up to them

Come clean with your sins, she means.

Oh..just shut your crap will you?

And how do I do that? You switched me on, remember?

And I'm trying to find a way to switch you off.

You can't...you see...don't you get it?

"Joey...you're safe here...it's ok, you're among friends." Michel gave a very assuring smile but Joe was not assured. Yet, he knew he had to trust them, had to tell them. He was too stupid and too weak to refuse to be part of the theft.

"Kleptous...he made all the plans. I just follow them...and then that's all."

"Huh?" Nancy was taken aback. She eyed Grey Man strangely and Grey Man answered her with a strange gaze of his own.

"Alexander Kleptous? You knew him in prison?" Nancy queried, she was taking down some notes. Joe could not make out what she was writing.

"He came out a year earlier than me, having served his time...but yah...I knew him."

"Interesting..." Grey Man mumbled softly.

Frank caught it and asked, "What's so interesting?"

"I'm trying to figure things out...but go on."

"Joe, you told me about Hope, about Caramel...everything...tell it to them...what you told me." Michel prodded. Joe could tell he was desperately trying to help out.

Joe forced himself to not blurt out every single detail. He had started with that one sentence to keep them occupied for a while as he tried to find a way to tell the whole story without revealing what Kleptous had done to him.

"He comes see me, followed me to my address and...and threatened to kill Hope if I don't do it. And sell Caramel to be a child beggar, cut of her limbs and make her beg for life."

Gray Man's eyes widened. They kept quiet, so Joe could continue.

"And he gave me a bag you see, a gun, a knock-out gas canister, some ropes, a few stones..."Joe chuckled when he remembered what he thought when he saw the stones. "And lockpicks and a card and a tiny bomb..."

"What card? My office's card?" Frank interrupted.

"Yes."

"How did he get it?"

"I don't know."

Frank was trying to keep his anger down. Very calmly, he continued. "You are not a techno savvy guy Joe, plus you don't know the leaps and bounds of technology while you're doing time. How the hell you get into my basement? How did you make it past the metal door?"

"It was opened."

"And the cameras?"

"Kleptous told me it's fixed."

"So it's confirmed it's an inside job."

"Yah...that's what I figured." Joe replied miserably. His longest, most cordial conversation with Frank in a very long time was via an interrogation. He should get himself into trouble more often if he wanted to hear Frank's voice again.

"Any idea who?" Frank looked at him intently, willing for an answer.

"No."

"You sure?"

"Yah."

"Any idea why they want the vial? What they intend to do with it? Did Kleptous mention anything?"

Joe was exasperated. He did not know anything, he was not part of that nefarious group, at least not yet but if he went crazy, he just might. He just wanted them to take action, destroy the vial and make sure no one ever get their hands on it ever again. He just wanted them to catch Kleptous and end his torment. He suddenly just wanted to be left alone.

"I don't know! Maybe they watched too much cartoons and want to rule the world!"

"That's their ultimate goal isn't it?" Frank deadpanned. He pondered for a while. "The virus takes a few years before it could be detected and can be spread very easily, being airborne. They have the person who's close to formulating the antibody...rule the world...hold the world ransom."

Gray Man nodded. "That sounds as crazy as they can get. Too much X-Files. But it is as we figured out. "

"And now they have what they need...all thanks to you." Frank's voice was dripping with poison.

"Then what am I supposed to do Frank? Huh? Call the police? Call you?" Joe shot back. His reserve was gone. The old impatience crept back. The need to take some action was never more urgent now.

"You could at least thwart his plans!"

"And you could have at least watched over your company more!"

"So it's my fault that you broke in and stole what could destroy the world as we know it?"

"Fine! It's all me! Blame it on the convict what the heck! You don't have Hope's life hanging by a thread in your hands. You would have done the same."

That shut Frank up for a while. Gray and Nancy wisely stayed back. This seemed like a good time for the brothers to thrash things out. Even though the bonds were not strong anymore, Nancy and Gray silently acknowledged the fact that the two brothers, between themselves, always seemed to be able to find a way to solve any problems. If only they would work together now.

Michel was silent throughout the exchange but he sat beside Joe, having a person on his side kept Joe calmer than he would have managed.

In a quieter voice, Frank directed a question at Joe. The old familiarity of sitting down, working things out was getting to him as well. They needed each other, not only in investigations but also in spirit and mind. If only Frank could realize it.

"So what do you propose we do? Something that can't hurt Hope and destroy Caramel?"

Joe shook his head and slouched against the sofa. "I don't know. I'm sorry...I really don't."

"Will Kleptous come find you again?"

"No. He promised he won't disturb me again."

Gotta keep a lid on my emotions. He could sense something!

I'm glad you know.

"Grey, I have been meaning to ask you about the bomb...where is it made? It's a peculiar thing...I have never seen or read anything about it. Maybe we could gather some clues from there." Frank turned his attention away from Joe which Joe was glad. He needed a break; he felt he was losing it again.

"It's from your company. But you won't know about it." Grey Man answered.

"Why won't I? I know all the projects that land in my hands." Frank countered, a little baffled.

"It's a bomb that was in the making before you came on the scene. They wanted to make a more powerful minute bomb but got that effect that Joe performed instead. Tried for years but failed. And thus it was shelved."

"So the project was closed?"

"Yes, your dad felt it was a waste of money. When you came on the scene and declared you would not support destructive weapons making but go into other fields to make up for the profits lost, I guess it was pretty much forgotten."

"Who would know about the project?" Frank asked and then answered himself. "It would have to those either in power when the project was approved and close enough to know that it was slowly being forgotten...and the scientists too...plus some other personnel...there's just too many people to go through."

"We can start with the security department, maybe probed around, ask some question..." Nancy interrupted Frank's train of thoughts. Joe smiled, thinking how like the old times it was. Frank caught that smile and scowled, Joe immediately wiped it off.

"I'll do that...as their employer, I have the right...it will not seem too suspicious." Frank responded. He was still deep in thoughts.

"And now Joe, your brother seemed to not have anymore questions for you, we do have some." Grey Man leaned forward and looked into Joe's eyes, making Joe extremely uncomfortable.

"Can you not look at me like that?"

"Afraid I'll catch your lie?"

"What lie?" Joe asked, a little worried. He had told them everything he knew, what else did they want from him?

"Joe, you are very sure it was Alexander Kleptous who contacted you? Huge burly man, a tattoo of a naked woman on his lower back, beady eyes...smelly breath, everything. Are you absolutely sure?"

Joe hesitated for a while. "Yah...but I do not know about the tattoo."

Damn, why must I say that? I must have sounded too fake, too suspicious...they will know I'm trying to hide something.

"Oh...is that?" Grey Man commented. He opened up his drawer and took out a file. It had a huge cross on the side of it. Grey Man flipped the file opened and there was a picture of a fierce looking man with a snarl. He threw it over to Joe who saw it and cringed.

"This is the man we are talking about, right?"

"Yah...why do you keep asking me?"

"Joe, see that cross on the front of the file?" Grey Man motioned for Joe to flip to the front, which Joe promptly did and nodded.

"That's our mark on files...files on Assassins who died. He died 3 months ago while we gave chase after spotting him. His car overturned and caught fire...he never had a chance, nothing was left of him, only ashes."

Chapter 25

"What? I...I positive...it was him! Who else can it be!?" Joe jumped out of his seat, almost wailing like a banshee. "You tell me! Who else!?"

"You lying bastard, you could have picked someone alive can't you?" Frank shouted from across the room where he stood, his expression was disbelieving. "You...you are a lot of things but I never knew you were that dumb!"

Even Michel gave Joe a funny stare. Joe looked at all of them and spat angrily. "I knew I should not have come. None of you will help! Even your damn Network agents can't protect Hope effectively!"

"And how would you know? Coz you entered and beat her up for breaking off with you, you lousy piece of..." Frank was moving in close to Joe, his hands clenched into fists. Nancy pushed Frank away and tried to calm him down. Now she and Grey would know why Frank had rushed out yesterday night.

"I did not...I did...I..." The same confusion came to Joe, suddenly he could not breathe, and he was beginning to see some stars.

Pretty things, take me up with you...don't leave me all alone here.

Michel looked down on the floor, his voice was cracking, in anger or disappointment, Joe could not tell. But his words were those of mistrust also. And Joe knew he was finally alone.

"Joe, if you're really lying...you can..."

"I'll not take back what I said! I was not lying! Was not! Was not! I'll recognize that damn swine anywhere! His smell, his voice, heck, even a strand of his hair! The Assassins are smart too! Maybe he did not die!"

"We are positive Joe. Very positive." Grey Man put a stop to all of Joe's questions. Joe slumped back onto his seat, he was having a very bad feeling in his stomach.

"Now level with me. Tell me, who put you up to it?" Grey Man gave Joe a steely look. But he could not intimidate Joe who was already lost in his own turmoil.

Frank talked over to Joe and shook him angrily. "Can you just stop this charade? You could get off easier if you'll just damn cooperate! Tell us!"

Joe looked up at Frank sadly and Frank gave Joe a final shook that sent Joe's chair flying backwards, hitting the wall. In a small voice Joe replied, "I have told you."

"You're not going to say anything else aren't you?"

"No Frank. I'm not going to. It doesn't matter anyway. It never did matter...what I say...that is."

"Hey Frank! It's been so long since you last came home for dinner, Aunt Gertrude kept asking about you." Ben wheeled himself into Frank's office, his voice chirping, he seemed extremely happy about something. Frank groaned inwardly. He had been through a lousy morning, interrogating Joe and Ben was giving him a migraine by being too happy.

"Yah, it's been so long since I saw you in your office. Care to come back and work?"

"Ouch...you hurt my feelings..."

"Ben...you know I can't do this alone..." Frank lamented, facing the huge pile of papers on his desks. He had to go through every single one of them, to sift out the good proposals from the bad ones. Being a control freak of sorts, Frank wanted to know everything.

Especially since the virus fiasco.

"Yes...I know it's hard on you...but...I promise...I'll put in more time in the office.... Come home for dinner tonight. Marjory misses you too."

"She calls me every now and then."

"And you're always busy to talk to her." Ben chided. "I don't get it, I grew up with her but she's hero-worshipping you. It's so unfair. I'm the eldest."

And I'm the stranger.

"Yup, so go tell her that and stop being jealous of my charisma. Tell Aunt I'll be back tonight. I'll go pick up something for Marjory later, make her happy. Is she alright?" Concern flashed across Frank's face. His relationship with his sister had grown considerably since he was the one who arranged everything for her since her rape. He saw her through her crazy moments and saw her through recovery. Now, she was ready to go back into college and he gave her a recommendation into the University for the Arts and Music in Barnett Bay. An uninspired name but a good university nonetheless for aspiring artists. Marjory could sing really well and play the violin pretty good too. She had inherited their mother's musical genes.

Someone else had too.

And Frank could suddenly remember the piano playing, the soft music it made it the night in their house in Bayport. Joe had been extremely shy of his prowess, given that at that time, he was star-quarterback as well and it could cause him to lose face in front of the manly, rough team. Football practice had taken up most of his time but his slender and agile fingers would find their place on the piano at night and Laura Hardy would coach her son patiently. Frank had always been terribly proud of Joe's skills but he never mentioned it, knowing it embarrassed his brother. He would just sit in the kitchen and enjoy the melodious sound, luring him to sweet dreams.

Why do I keep thinking of our past? It's over...damn it. This morning...what happened...nothing can be like before.

"She's fine, having nightmares again but the medicine helped her calm down. She's doing pretty well in school, went for an audition for some concert and actually made it past the second round."

"She's good."

"Yah...and so was mom..." A blanket of sadness covered the two brothers. Ben let out a huge breath and chimed. "So! You going to bring Nan?"

"Nope, we broke up."

"I'm...I'm so sorry..."

"I forgive you."

"Jerk. I...I may be bringing someone home tonight."

"Hmm...who?"

Ben gave a stupid grin. "You'll say I'm real dumb."

"Regina?"

"Yup."

"She's not worth it bro...not worth it at all."

"Nan was worth it in our eyes and you gave her up. Who's to say who's worthy of whose love?"

Frank kept quiet. Once again, Ben, with his philosophical education and extremely philanthropist nature had subtlety hinted to Frank of his tendency to judge people. "I take it back then. She must have something good in her."

"Oh ya...her body's great."

"Now get out of my sight you pervert. Here you are, telling me about worthy of love and this and that, making me guilty...when it's actually lust huh?"

A dreamy look came into Ben's eyes. "She is special...trust me. Hah...using that deadbeat to spite me..."

"How did you two get back together?" Frank was really curious, he had this flaw; his interest in cases had spread over to personal life. Not exactly a gossiper or anything, Frank just needed to know for the sake of knowing.

"Long story...suffice to say...we realize we are actually in love with each other and not because I'm so rich or she's so...hot...which she is of course...but that's not the case."

Frank nodded. He knew when information was not forthcoming and was happy for Ben who had been pining for Regina for quite some time. Yet, there was this nagging feeling he had about this girl, maybe it was because she had given Frank a bad impression on their first meeting in the soup kitchen.

She can have anyone she wants, why Ben?

Biting his tongue, he willed himself not to see his brother as a crippled, a semi paralyzed guy who could not possibly hope to seem attractive to a gorgeous girl. Ben was good-looking, it ran in the family with Joe once having the lion share of it but obviously wasting it away. He had the same flaxen hair as Laura and Joe and the brown eyes of Fenton Hardy. While not exactly gorgeous, he should be cute in most girls' eyes.

But there's this problem of his legs. Is Regina really alright with it? Of course his money would more than make up for it...

He bit his tongue again. He could not ruin Ben's joy. And he might be wrong too, but Frank trusted his judgment. One day, after the case, he would sound that Regina girl out and maybe protect his brother from yet another heartbreak.

I feel like the eldest when I'm not. Ben...you are...get up and stand will you? Please? Take over what you should be doing...I'm too drained. It's hard enough having to put up a façade that nothing is wrong when something is...

Who do I turn to? Dad? Nay...far away in Israel or Africa, no one knows. I have no one to turn to.

Wait...I'm wrong...I've got Hope. I've got Hope now.

"I may bring someone along too."

"Who? So fast? I got it...you Don Juan..."

"May...not will. She has to agree first."

"Uh huh. So see you tonight. Remember, don't be late."

Ben wheeled himself out. Because of his injuries and to make things easier for him, Frank had the whole office renovated to further suit the handicapped people and had all the doors fixed with a second set of handles, one that was lower. It looked weird but Frank did not care, he would do anything to get all his family members up on their feet again. Also, he had been pushing Ben to go for physiotherapy which at one point, Ben had totally given up on. As long as there was a chance, Frank would push his family to go for it.

We can't let what happened beat us. We are Hardys.

He made his way down to the basement. The cordons were off but Frank was not interested in that floor. He made his way down to the lowest floor where the most sensitive chemical formulas were kept. That floor had been highly secured, with its system surveyed by Frank himself everyday and Network agents infiltrating as laboratory helpers as well to make sure nothing gets stolen. But Frank suspected that the Assassins had already made off with what they wanted.

Thanks to you Joe.

He stepped in and the smell of various chemicals hit him, making him cringe. Walking up to a shelf where they kept their prototype formulas, Frank simply opened it and took out the truth serum he was looking for. The scientists were deep in research and did not notice him. He replaced the colorless serum with a tube of water and walk away. He did not think anyone would suspect it was gone as since the serum was already completely tested and researched, all it needed was a confirmation note from the test department to certify that it worked and that they could then sell it at exorbitant prices to the military, the FBI and the CIA. The certificate was slow in the making because plenty of other new products were also awaiting that confirmation they needed.

He left the laboratory pretty un-noticed. He was always amused by the scientists who, deep in their thoughts and research, would not notice anything weird happening around them at all. Keeping the serum in his pocket, he went back to his office.

Thoughts then went through his mind. Something needed to be done. He made his way down to the security department which morale had taken a beating from the burglary. They had successfully stopped many break-in attempts but it looked like they were not doing enough. Frank entrance into their little room had made them even more nervous.

The head of that department, Clark Kensington immediately rushed forward to greet Frank. "Mr Hardy, I hope you received our email, saying how sorry we are. Let me show you the latest plans we have to step up security and..."

"That's not necessary Clark. I'm not in the mood to put the blame on anyone. Who's the fellow in charge of overseeing security that day?"

"That would be Harry, he just came back to work after resting..."

"He's one of the guards?"

"Yes, we thought it would be better if we had one of our own stationed to make sure all equipments were running smoothly."

Looked like it did not work. Should I fire you?

"Send him to my office later. I need to get something from your side. I'll like the name list of all your subordinates."

Clark seemed extremely flustered now. Frank could not tell if it was fear of being discovered or fear of losing his job. But he told himself an Assassin would be smart enough not to let his emotions show.

Or maybe show his emotions, to prove he's not an Assassin...arghh...my head's all messed up.

"Why would that be sir?" his voice was still pretty composed but his hands were shaking.

"Oh nothing...just to see who to fire this time round for incompetence." Frank waved him away frivolously. "Just give me the file in half an hour's time or you'll go. And have Harry up at the same time too."

Frank did not like threatening but he wanted to put on the front of an angry boss so that suspicions of him actually investigating into the matter would be mellowed somewhat. He did not want to let that someone knew he was on to him or her.

"No...no...problem...I'll try my best...it's...it's a big thing after all but...but this is a first...time..."

"So I am to wait until the second time before I weed up the field?"

"No..No of course not! I'll have the file sent up but please...I hope that you understand everyone is trying their best to rectify the problem..."

Then bow down my lowly servant and call me your highness.

Frank let out a laugh. Clark eyes widened in extreme fear now. His pay was very high and Frank knew that if he was to fire Clark, there was no where else who would take him in for the same price and he knew Clark had a large family. He felt extremely guilty having to play with his mind like that but still, he would continue the charade.

"I'll spare you...you made me laugh..." Frank turned around and sauntered back to his office. He could imagine Clark running around, asking for the employees' records and stuff and howling for Harry to get his ass up to Frank's office. It was almost hilarious enough to make his day and keep his mind off the case for a while.

Twenty minutes later, Harry came up with a report in his hands. Greeting Frank profusely, he set the file down and nervously fidgeted in his chair, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. Frank's office was meant to impress as well as to intimidate and this time round, the latter was working extremely well indeed.

"Cool it. I don't bite. I just need you to answer a few questions."

"I swear Sir, we did not sense anything wrong...the cameras all showed empty rooms...and we were guarding the laboratory, like you told us to."

"Ok. Point taken. Just answer me. Did anyone approach your team that day? Anyone out of the blue?"

"Nope."

"How could the metal door be unlocked? Any of you confessed to not locking it up?"

"Nope. I made sure we locked it."

"Positive?"

"Positive"

Frank shook his head. It did not make any sense. Harry's answer was implicating him as the sole suspect but he seemed to dumb to be an Assassin...or maybe he was threatened...like Joe. If Joe's really threatened.

"How can it be unlocked then via the controls on the door itself?"

"It can't sir, the control panel is a booby trap, any attempt to punch in numbers or slide in any card would set off an alarm. You knew it sir, you designed it yourself."

"Oh..so I had."

"The booby trap would be deactivated once the door is unlocked, which can only be done via central mechanism. Clark would enter the building first via the front door with the code that only you and him know from the hidden security panel that only you and him knows where. And then, he would deactivate the central mechanism and the backdoor would be unlocked for the day. And when the office close, he would activate the mechanism again to lock the backdoor and we check that he had done it because a red light would show on the computer screen to depict that the door was lock."

"Who was supposed to be in the security room that night?"

Harry thought for a while. Frank had been a little surprised by what he had said. Frank had not known he had given so much security powers to Clark.

Of course, he was the head and I had him checked out from every angle by the military, the FBI and the CIA. It was either that or be extra early myself to unlock the door.

"It was Mike but around 10:00p.m, he had a bad case of diarrhea and I thought...I thought I'll let him go."

"And no one was stationed in the room?"

"Nope. We assume it would be safe."

You assumed. I thought. Who to confirm?

"Is Mike around?"

"Nope. He's taken leave."

Warning bells rang in Frank's head. He should have checked it out sooner. But he knew where Mike stayed; he would pay that guy a visit after tomorrow.

"Thank you, you may take your leave."

"Sir, before I go...I need to tell you...I need this job. My new kid's coming on the way and..."

"Congratulations."

"Sir..."

Frank relented and broke into a smile. "I'm not that evil. Some things I understand are beyond our control but...I have to go through these. Usual procedure when something like that happened. You are safe though, I can assure you of that."

"Thank you sir."

"Please... call me Mr Hardy. We're not in the military. And when I said you're safe, you're safe until something else happened. Better pull up your socks and one last thing..."

Harry was visibly more relieved. "Yes Si..Mr Hardy?"

"Never ever assume again."