Chapter 21

When Frank and Tony got back to the house, Gertrude was almost in hysterics with Natalie trying to calm her down.

"Now what's happened?" Frank asked as he bent down in front of his aunt who had slumped down in the recliner.

"I don't know," Natalie answered, perplexed. "She turned on the TV and I went to fill the Gatorade bottle with juice for Joe and I heard an odd sound. I ran in and she was shaking her head and crying. I made her sit down…"

A knock on the front door interrupted Natalie. Frank went to see who it was.

Chief Ezra Collig and Officer Con Riley stood there with grim faces.

"Hi, Chief…Con. Come in."

The officers made their way inside and walking into the living room saw Ms. Hardy crying.

"Well, I guess you've already heard the news." Con said.

"We're sorry." said Chief Collig.

"Sorry about what? What happened?" Frank asked, confused.

"About your father…" Chief Collig started, and then hesitated.

"He was…um… murdered in prison." Con finished.

"What?" Frank asked, not thinking he heard right, then turned to his aunt. "That's what must have been on the TV." he said as he went over to her. He bent down again in front of her.

"I'm sorry, Aunty."

"Oh, Frank." she shook her head, wiping her eyes with a tissue that Natalie had given her.

Frank, Phil and Tony looked at one another. Frank wanted to comfort his aunt; after all, it was her brother. But he also could not feel sorry that his father was gone, because there had been too many things done for any such remorse.

Chief Collig cleared his throat. "Is there anything we can do for you?"

"Is there any way to bring him home? I want a decent burial for him." Gertrude stated.

Chief Collig and Officer Riley looked at one another.

"I think that can be arranged." Chief Collig said.

"And I'll get some calls made when I get back to the station." Con confirmed.

"Well, we'll be going." said the Chief. "You folks take care."

Collig looked at Frank and nodded toward the door. Frank got up and made his way over to the officers. Once they were outside, Frank wanted to know what was going on.

"I thought my dad was pretty much behind all this. When did he die?"

"Late last night. Pretty much right after he got to the prison." Collig stated.

"How did he die?"

"He was poisoned. Don't know by whom yet. There has to be someone higher up."

"Did you question those guys that were caught here last night?" Frank knew he was being condescending but he had to know that every detail was being taken care of.

Chief Collig frowned but knew that Frank was just being over-protective of Joe and wanted answers.

"Yeah, they don't know anything." Con answered. "Apparently, they were just after a fast buck. But someone had Fenton killed, that much we gathered."

"There's still someone out there watching us."

"Did you get a good look at them?" the Chief asked.

"No. I don't think Tony did either. The car they drove was the same color, make, and model as the one Bonnie and them had."

"We'll check on it. Meantime, watch your backs." The Chief warned. He walked on down to the car, but Con had hesitated and turned to Frank.

"Was that…I thought…Who was that laying on the floor in there?" Con asked.

Frank smiled. "That's Joe."

Con lifted his eyebrows. "Joe?"

"Yeah, he's doing really well." Frank said proudly, and then more seriously, "Con, I'd like you to check out the staff that collaborated with my aunt in telling everyone that he was dead. She may have had her reasons in not telling me he was alive, but I'm pretty sure there were papers documented to the fact that he'd died."

"I'll follow up on that." Con frowned. "Is Joe really going to be okay?"

"He will be. Joe and I and the guys are moving to Montana in a couple of days."

"Wish you didn't have to go. We're going to miss you."

"Thanks Con."

"I'd better go before the Chief has a cow. Good luck."

"See you later."

Con nodded to Frank and left.

Frank and Phil went to Phil's house to use the computer.

"Hey, Dad!" Phil greeted his father. They had went into the family room where the computer had been set up so both of them could have access to it since Dean Cohen's job involved being on the machine also. They immediately saw that Dean was indeed on the computer.

"Hey, son." Dean turned towards the boys and greeted Frank as well. "What brings you boys here?"

"Are you really busy right now with work?" asked Phil.

"I'm working on something rather major, why?"

"Well, I was wondering if we could use it. We have something to look up and I don't think it will take that long."

"I guess that will be okay." Dean said. "I have to go into town anyway and this will be the perfect time. Have fun." He called out as he picked up his keys on the way out the door.

"Great. Now let's see what's on here." Phil said as he took the microchip from Frank and began the process of decoding the device.

After a few minutes of fast typing and hacking around the websites, Phil sat back and watched Frank's reaction to what they had just found with an ashen face. Frank, leaning over his friend's shoulder, couldn't believe what he was seeing. The color drained and he could hear Frank swallow hard.

"My grandfather purposefully invented this?"

Phil turned his attention back to the screen.

"Apparently so."

"I have no idea what to do with this."

"We're going to have to let the police know." Phil suggested.

"What are they going to do? This was invented along time ago and whoever wants this has apparently been looking for it for along time, too. They just didn't know where to look until now."

"But your dad is dead and someone is still after you."

"Yeah, and that takes it to another whole ballgame. No ones going to find this guy or guys unless they make another move. I just as soon not let it be here anywhere around my aunt."

"So we're leaving?"

"We leave as soon as I get the results back from Con." Frank stated.

The next morning saw Officer Riley back at the Hardy's front door. Frank went to answer the door after he had given Joe's bowl of warm cereal to his aunt so she could feed him the rest of his breakfast.

"Oh, hello Con." Frank greeted the officer. "I didn't expect you here so soon, but I'm glad you came."

"We found out who the doctor was that took your aunt's offer. Seems he has not been here that long and although your aunt initially suggested the offer, we had a witness that overheard the doctor pushing the issue. If it had been all your aunt's doing, we'd have no choice but to take her in."

"You mean…arrest her?" Frank asked, stunned. He had not thought of that. He had only been angry with her that she had kept Joe from him. Any illegal activity had never crossed his mind. The implications and the severity of the situation hit him full force and even though his aunt was never the easiest person to get along with, he knew she meant well.

"I'm not going to pussy foot around, Frank. What happened to Joe was very serious."

"What's going to happen to her?"

"Well…" Con paused, not liking what he had to do. "She's going to have to answer some questions down at the station. "I'm afraid she's going to have to come with me."

"She's not going to like this Con." Frank told the officer, dreading even mentioning it to her.

"I understand that Frank."

"You said you found out who the doctor was?"

"Yeah, his name is Richard Kempton. He had been arrested a year ago in another state for the death of an inmate at another prison. He was later acquitted of the crime for non-sufficient evidence."

"And he may have been working on my brother?" Frank asked, feeling his pulse quicken and getting light headed.

"Frank?" Seeing that the young detective was losing some of his composure Con guided Frank in the house and steered him to the couch.

However, at the last minute Frank ducked under Con's hands and headed for the kitchen. He needed to see Joe, but his brother was not there. Panic rose out of nowhere and began to consume him. Where was Joe? He knew he was being ridiculous and his fears were unfounded, but he could not help it. He needed to see Joe no matter how silly it looked.

"Joe?" he called out after he failed to find him in his aunt's bathroom as he thought he would find him there being cleaned up after his breakfast.

"Joe?" Frank ran out of his aunt's bedroom and back out to the living room. "Joe?"

"Frank? What's wrong?" Con asked, startled at the look on the young man's face.

"I can't find Joe."

"Calm down. Let's see if we can locate him. Was there anyone else here besides your aunt?"

"Yes. Tony and Natalie."

"Who's Natalie?"

"A girl Tony asked to join us for a visit. She works at the clinic were we found Joe."

"Frank?" Gertrude's voice called out to him.

"Aunty? Where's Joe?" Frank asked as he ran towards the kitchen.

"We were outside. It was such a nice day, what with the sun shining and all, I thought Joe would like …" she hesitated as she saw the look of complete relief wash over Frank as he closed his eyes.

"You were outside all this time?" Con asked.

"Oh, hello Con. Yes. After breakfast when Frank didn't come back, I had Tony help me take Joe out there."

Frank had pushed passed his aunt as she finished talking to Con. He spotted Tony and Natalie sitting on the two swings that used to be the boys' old play set.

Joe was reaching over the tray table jabbering at something he saw on the ground. As Frank got closer he saw it was a chipmunk and the nearer he got, the little animal ran off.

Joe began to pout. Frank smiled and gently brushed a few strands of blond locks from his brother's forehead.

"Hey, Joey." Frank greeted as he bent down to Joe's eye level and grinned. "I take it you wanted that chipmunk."

"No, no." Joe said, still trying to see around the person standing in his way.

Frank looked intently at his brother. He knew that when Joe meant no that he also shook his head, but this time he did not, so he asked, "You mean yes?"

"Yep." Joe smiled.

"Hey, that's pretty good." Tony said, as he and Natalie came up behind Frank. "Think he knows the difference?"

"I'm guessing so. I've been working on it with him." Frank answered. He then looked around at the nearby yards and streets.

"What's the matter?" Tony asked.

"Just trying to see if that sedan is around anywhere."

"Is that why you looked so distressed when you came out here?" asked Natalie.

"Uhuh…But I don't see anything now. I had no idea where everyone had gone."

"You mean Joe?" Tony guessed. "Sorry to worry you."

Frank shook his head as he felt his heart going back to normal as he rubbed his chest with the palm of his hand.

"I thought those goons had gotten him."

"Oh man! I'm sorry! I wasn't thinking!"

"No harm done." Frank smiled. "Just a good old adrenaline rush."

They looked in the direction of the house as they heard the squeak of the back screen door.

"Hey Con." Tony greeted the officer as he came over. Gertrude had chosen to remain inside to clean the breakfast dishes.

"Hello Tony." said Con and turned to the girl who was standing next to the dark haired teen. "And this must be Natalie."

"Yes I am." The girl responded as she went to shake the hand Con held out for her. "Glad to meet you."

"So what do we do now, Con?" Frank asked seriously.

Con was watching Joe with sadness and then slowly building to anger. Frank guessed the anger was focused on their dad for what he had done to Joe.

"Con?" Frank asked, touching the officer's arm lightly.

"Sorry." Con shook his head. "I'm so sorry for what happened."

Frank winced inside. He did not need pity but also knew that Con was trying to be sincere. He just nodded his head.

Con looked at Gertrude the second she came out of the house, then back at Frank. Frank licked his lips and approached his aunt.

"Aunty…uh…Con has to ask you some questions and he'd like you to go downtown with him."

"Why can't he ask me here?" Gertrude suspiciously asked, and somewhat confused. "And what kind of questions?"

Con cleared his throat.

"Ms. Hardy…this is a police matter and the questions have to be formally asked and recorded down at the station."

"I will not go down unless I know the nature of the questions."

"They are about dad." Frank lied. He knew Con wanted to question her about Joe but if she knew that before hand, she would have enough time to think up alibis to all the questions she would be anticipating. As much as Frank did not like doing this, he also wanted the truth. He needed to know exactly what happened in the hours just before he was told his brother had died.