Purple Gal: Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying the story.

Daisymall: I'd be happy to swap weather with you! I'll take plain old cold as opposed to what we have now – cold with three to four feet of snow that doesn't look as if it has melted at ALL! So glad you liked the scene with Frank; that was fun to write.

Whashaza: Joe reveals that piece of evidence at the end of this chapter. I liked angry Frank, too. As a friend and fellow writer says, it's fun to 'poke him with a stick.' :p

KittyKat06: LOL! I usually suck at solving mysteries too so I'm thrilled when I can actually write one that keeps people guessing even for just a few chapters. Thank you so much for reading my stories. I'm so glad you're enjoying it. And there are a few more stories to go after this one. ;-)

Lexifisher: Well yeah, I do like my cliffhangers. Really glad that you found Frank's meltdown hysterical. That's exactly what I was going for. Dang, I wish I had thought of him popping Joe in the head! That would have been perfect! :p

SurrealEpiphany: LOL! Frank and Joe both appreciate your support!

Helen: Still snowbound here for the most part. Streets are clear (mostly – a few side streets are still an 'adventure' to drive through) but there are piles of snow five and six feet high, mostly in parking lots. I fear we'll still be making snowmen in the middle of July!

Vee22: Thanks so much for your comments! I was trying to bring out how hard it is to be in the middle between two family members that you love equally. And what can happen when they take that mediator for granted. Glad you liked Mrs. Gresham. She's not a frequent character in my stories but I do like her.

Stophittingme: Thanks! I'm so glad you enjoyed that chapter.

Polaris: LOL! Joe said he'll share his epiphany at the end of this chapter. Biased as I am, I agree with you – Joe is the best knight in shining armor ever! And Frank says thanks for the standing ovation.

KennaC: Aw, thank you! I know exactly what you mean about story and character preferences. I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum from you as I rarely read stories that include Nancy, yours being one of the rare exceptions. Anyone who hasn't checked out Kenna's story Exploring Fraud and Friendship, it's on this site and it's GREAT. Wonderful dialogue, brilliant humor, a hysterically funny OC and best of all her characterizations of the Hardys are dead on! So you should all go read it – after you've read my chapter, of course! :p

Miss Fenway: Hey, we're neighbors! So, have you dug out yet? And do you think this snow will be melted by say… Fourth of July?? I have my doubts. :-/ I'm glad you liked it when Frank finally snapped. It was supposed to be funny so the fact that you were laughing is a good thing!

MissMe113: Love the cheerleading uniform! Thanks for the enthusiasm and I'm so glad you like Kara and Tony. :-)

natedawg: LOL! Sorry to disappoint you about Kara! :p Glad you're still enjoying the story in spite of her. ;-)

Love and Loyalty

Chapter 13

Joe looked at the clock and decided to take a chance despite the hour. Picking up the phone, he dialed. "Hi, is Chief Peterson in?" Joe mentally crossed his fingers. "Yes, Joe Hardy," he answered when the officer asked who was calling.

Joe waited, the surge of adrenaline reawakening the butterflies in his stomach. Staring at the page once more, he wondered why no one else had noticed it. 'Hey, it took you three days to see it and you were looking for something!'

"Chief, hi!" Joe said excitedly, when Sam Peterson came on the line.

"Hello, Joe." Sam sounded amused at the enthusiasm evident in Joe's voice. "So have you found something to put my department to shame?"

"Not sure yet, but I have a few questions if you've got a minute."

"Fire away."

"Did anyone at BRG besides Brad Galloway and Kara's supervisor know about the investigation?"

"One person. Hold on…"

Joe heard the clicking of fingers on a keyboard as Sam apparently searched for the name in the computer files.

"…Justin Hahn. He works in Tech Services."

Joe wrinkled his brow. "Why was he involved?"

"We needed someone who could get onto Kara's computer, find the transactions in question and copy them onto a disc without raising her suspicions. Security is pretty tight there; no one would ever ask to use another employee's computer.

"When Hahn asked her to log him on to her computer so he could check for a virus and install a patch, she didn't bat an eye. He got on, copied all the information we needed onto a disc and got off. He told Kara to change her password and she was none the wiser," Sam finished.

Joe took down quick notes, his mind spinning with the new information. "Why this guy Hahn as opposed to someone else? Any special reason he was picked to do the job?"

"Funny you should mention that. Justin Hahn is Brad Galloway's son-in-law. He's the only person in Tech Services that Galloway trusted not to spill the beans."

'Son-in-law?' Joe frowned. "So the only people at BRG who knew about the theft and subsequent investigation were Galloway, Kara's supervisor Peter Jessup and Hahn," Joe reiterated for confirmation.

"Right."

"Thanks, Chief!" Joe exclaimed, anxious to get off the phone.

"Joe, I can tell by your voice you're onto something. Since it'll be my officers who are eventually brow-beaten for whatever it is they missed, can you give me a hint?" Sam asked. Joe could almost hear the smile in his voice.

"Right now it's just a hunch. I need to check out a few more things to see if it pans out or falls through," Joe answered, the promise he made to his father in the front of his mind.

Sam laughed. "Just let me know how it turns out, okay?"

"You bet. Thanks, Chief."

Hanging up the phone, Joe made a list of everyone who knew about, or was actively involved in the investigation. Crossing off the names of those who were the least likely to have stolen the money, he was left with two names – Peter Jessup, Kara's supervisor and Justin Hahn, Galloway's son-in-law. Over the next few hours, Joe did some digging on the two with one quickly emerging as a suspect.

In the past two-and-a-half years, Justin Hahn had purchased a brand new SUV, a new boat, a 100th anniversary limited edition Harley Davidson motorcycle and a summer beach house. What Joe found interesting was despite being only a few years older than Kara, Justin had paid cash for all his new acquisitions. A little more investigating showed no other source of income other than what he earned at BRG Investments. A nice amount to be sure, but not nearly enough to pay cash for all his new toys. Now more than ever, Joe was sure his discovery proved Kara really had been framed, and he was almost certain who the real thief was.

Hearing the front door open, Joe quickly gathered up his notes. Despite the breakthrough, everything he had was still circumstantial. On the off chance he was wrong, Joe wasn't ready to tell Kara just yet. Shoving everything into the file, Joe stashed it in the bedroom and went out to greet Kara and Vanessa.

"Hey, Baby." Joe pulled Vanessa into his arms and kissed her. "Have a good time?" he asked about their evening out, including Kara in his query.

"Very good." Vanessa threw a mischievous grin at her friend.

"Ah, you went to Prito's again," Joe guessed seeing Kara blush a bright crimson.

"Dinner was very good," Kara said noncommittally. "And on that note I'll leave you two alone. Goodnight."

"Night," Joe and Vanessa chorused as Kara went into the bedroom and closed the door.

"C'mere." Joe eagerly pulled Vanessa down the hall towards their bedroom, wanting to share his discovery with her.

"My, my, aren't we frisky," Vanessa teased with a smile.

"That's not what I want." Joe stopped abruptly and turned to her with a wink. "Well, not right this second anyway." Tugging on Vanessa's hand, he pulled her into the room and shut the door. He began rifling through the file, impatiently. "Remember that first day I talked to Kara?" Joe asked excitedly, not waiting for an answer. "She said she had no idea the money was even missing, let alone that she was a suspect until the second she was arrested." Finding what he wanted, Joe waved the paper at Vanessa animatedly. "So how do they explain this?!" He thrust his finger at the date of the last transfer almost four months earlier.

Vanessa looked at him in confusion. "Um, I don't know… How do they explain what?"

"This!" Joe repeated agitated, shaking the paper. "Kara was just arrested a few days ago but the transfers mysteriously stopped four months ago! Coincidentally, right after the secret, hush-hush investigation officially began."

Vanessa nodded but obviously still had no idea what Joe was getting at. "Right. That was when Brad Galloway first realized the money was missing."

"Exactly!" Joe said triumphantly, waving his hands. "That proves it wasn't Kara who stole it!"

Vanessa frowned again, settling down on the edge of the bed. "I don't follow you."

"Okay," Joe began patiently. "Just say Kara really was stealing the money all along. She has no idea she's been found out until the day the feds slap the handcuffs on her three days ago. Now, if she had no idea she'd been caught, why would she suddenly stop stealing money four months beforehand?"

"She wouldn't," Vanessa replied, still confused.

"Right!" Joe cried out enthusiastically.

"Oh!" Vanessa jumped up as it all finally clicked. "Oh my God! She wouldn't stop! Which means she never stole it to begin with!"

"Right again! Whoever really stole the money – and framed Kara for it – got scared as soon as the investigation started. They were afraid they'd be found out so they stopped all the unauthorized transfers immediately. And that was their only mistake! It narrowed down the suspect list to TWO!" Joe grinned and held up two fingers for emphasis.

"How do you figure that?"

"The real thief had to know about the investigation right from the start. The transfers stopped almost immediately after Galloway realized the money had been stolen! It had to be someone who helped gather the evidence against Kara."

"But that still doesn't tell you who really stole the money." Vanessa looked deflated.

Joe simply stared at her, his grin growing even wider.

"You do know!" Vanessa jumped up and threw herself on Joe. "I knew you could do it! I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!" She smothered Joe with kisses between each exclamation.

Joe laughed, enjoying Vanessa's demonstrative show of thanks. "Well, I still have to get some hard evidence. Right now everything I have is circumstantial."

Vanessa headed for the door. "I can't wait to tell Kara!"

Joe pulled her to a stop. "No!"

"Why not? She'll be thrilled!"

"Because I don't have anything that will hold up in court. Right now I don't even have enough to convince Chief Peterson to reopen the investigation. I don't want to get Kara's hopes up for nothing." Joe pulled Vanessa close to him. "Tomorrow I'm gonna see if I can talk to the guy. If I can trip him up and get something I can take back to Dad, maybe we can get Chief Peterson and the Feds to investigate further."

Vanessa frowned. "I don't see why we can't at least tell Kara you've found a discrepancy that casts doubt on whether or not she's guilty. Who is this guy anyway?"

"His name is Justin Hahn," Joe answered. "He works in Tech Support at BRG and he knew about the investigation pretty much from the get go."

"Why?"

"He's the one who got onto Kara's computer and copied all the information relating to the unauthorized transfers onto a disc for Chief Peterson." Joe stretched out on the bed and pulled Vanessa down next to him. He continued speaking, absently twirling a lock of her hair. "I did a little digging on him. In the past two-and-a-half-years he bought a car, a boat, a limited edition Harley and a beach house… and he paid cash for everything.

"He doesn't make nearly enough at BRG to do that. He doesn't come from money, hasn't inherited any from some suddenly deceased rich relative and hasn't hit the lottery. So how was he able to afford all that?" Joe mused.

"Simple, he stole the money and set up Kara to take the fall, if and when it was discovered," Vanessa spat out disgustedly.

"That's what it looks like. But that's not enough to take to the Chief – or even Dad. I need more. And to get it, I need to talk to him face-to-face."

"Do you think he'll agree to see you?" Vanessa nestled her head on Joe's shoulder.

"Hopefully. I'm gonna try and make him think I'm looking for more evidence against Kara. With any luck he'll say something to implicate himself – if not I'll give him a little push. Let him know I know everything isn't exactly how it appears," Joe answered. "I need hard evidence before I can tell anyone about this – Justin Hahn is Brad Galloway's son-in-law."

"What?!" Vanessa cried out, lifting her head.

"That was my initial reaction too, but there's nothing else I can do until tomorrow." Joe shifted to face Vanessa. "Okay," he grinned, a wicked gleam in his eyes. "Now I'm frisky."

As Joe leaned in and kissed her neck, Vanessa's throaty laugh filled his ears and his heart, making Joe more certain than ever that this would indeed be their year.