Author Note: Thank you to everyone! :) Can't believe I have been updating so FAST (new record for me)!

Chapter Three: He's back

Fenton Hardy rubbed his forehead trying to figure out what and who Joe had seen. Xavier Stevenson's limo. The famous detective was sitting in his private office in the house looking at his laptop. He had found some of the old articles where the headlines had: "Xavier Stevenson's wife dead" or "Millionaire's son still missing"... and that was three years ago.

"I have to call Ezra," He said taking a deep breath in when the door opened. He turned in his chair to see his wife, Laura walking in the office.

"Hey, honey," He greeted about to close the laptop shut.

"Wait, what's that?" Laura asked as Fenton wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Just another case," Her face bloomed red just like a rose.

"But that says Xavier Stevenson," She whispered. Fenton sighed and looked away. "I thought we had gotten rid of him."

Oh, I wish we had, I wish we had... Fenton thought. I wish I could tell Joe the truth but I can't. It would ruin our family. No, it would devastate everything... and probably our sons' relationship with us for lying, cheating...

"I thought we had too...Joe saw his limo's license on the road, Laura,"

"Outside?" She echoed as Fenton's stomach tightened.

"Yeah, and he said that he saw someone climb out of his window...the guy ran to the limo and they drove off." Fenton explained rubbing his forehead.

"Didn't Xavier try to sue you?"

"Yes,"

"And I found out who is, I mean, was his close partner too, Laura, and trust me its not good."

"Who?" Laura looked down at him before taking his hand and squeezing it gently. "Tell me."

"Caine. Nate Caine. He was a business partner with Xavier but he died during one of my cases that I had in NYC." Fenton said softly and looked up at her then back at the laptop's screen.

"Oh no...do you think Xavier is out for revenge for his friend?" Fenton shrugged.

"Hopefully not...since he has money to get thugs if he wanted to."

"Where are the boys?"

"In their bedrooms. Do you think we should tell them to be careful?" Laura nodded slowly before leaning down and giving him a kiss on the forehead.

"...Just to be safe, that's all..."

...So Joe and Frank don't figure it out... They exchanged a look and nodded again both hoping the talk would never come up about their past.

"I'm not doing this junk or whatever you call it," Joe crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Frank defiantly. His older brother blinked and stared at him not saying a word before bursting out laughing. The two brothers were sitting in Frank's bedroom hanging out like usual. Joe was slouching in the desk chair while Frank was on his bed reading a mystery novel.

"That's funny, Joe, real funny."

"No, I'm serious," Joe glared.

"You have to do your homework, Joe or you'll never get to solve a mystery again."

"Hey, why are you reading a novel when we could be GOING out there and solving one right now?"

"Because I want a normal teen life," Frank shot back.

"Well, do you think we have a normal teen life? C'mon, we're amateur detectives, hello?" Joe said shaking his head. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Joe sat up quickly.

"Come in," Frank called. The door opened and their parents walked in. Mom was wringing her hands nervously. Joe studied their faces trying to read them as best as he could but unfortunately they were good at masking their feelings. That's what comes with a parent who's a detective for a living. Everybody learns to mask their fears and feelings.

"What's wrong?" Frank asked knowing that something was bothering the two adults that stood before them.

"Nothing's wrong, Frank," Mom said quickly before exchanging a look with Dad who sighed and looked up from the carpet.

"I believe there might be someone trying to avenge a person's death..." Joe's heart quickened at the thought of someone doing something terrible to Dad. "He might use one of you to get to me so this is why you two need to stick close together which means no one-on-one dates for now." Joe suddenly realized that he had a school trip to the Bayport factory this week and he had already paid for it and everything.

"Dad, what about the school trip this week? I can't just miss it!" Frank put a reassuring hand on Joe's arm.

"I know, baby, but please try to understand..." Mom began but Joe jumped to his feet remembering what Auntie Gert had asked him and Frank to do in the garden.

"Oh, darn it! I forgot to help Aunt Gert with the weeding! I got to go." He grabbed his jacket that was laying on the floor near Frank's bed and tore out of the bedroom like it was on fire. Frank and his parents stared after him. They looked at each other, surprised of his actions.

"What's with him?" Frank and Dad both said at the same time.

"Is it on?" Xavier asked the detective.

"Yes," He nodded and clicked the speaker on.

"Ezra?" It was Fenton's voice. Anyone could recognize it. It sounded a little hoarse like he had been crying or something...or maybe it was stress. Xavier stiffened.

"Who's he calling?" He whispered to Caine.

"The police chief."

"Hey Fenton, what can I do for you?"

"Do you remember Nate Caine?" Xavier bit back a gasp. Nate had been his business partner in New York City when he had found out that he had a son.

"Yeah, I remember you mentioning him,"

"Well, I think he's brother is back,"

"He had a brother?"

"Yeah, and his name was Evan." Xavier gasped and stared at the detective beside him who shrugged.

"And you want me to do a background check on him?"

"Yeah, fingerprints...anything.." Xavier couldn't believe that Evan Caine was the brother of his business partner.

"Okay, thanks." Evan flipped the 'on' switch off and turned in his chair to stare at the millionaire.

"I should have told you but I didn't want to get my brother mixed up in this,"

"He was my friend, a very dear friend,"

"And business partner,"

"It was a sad way to die," Xavier commented rubbing his neck before sipping some water.

"So its okay that I'm still your private detective,"

"Yes, it is. Now I would like to rest now, please." Xavier said, still shocked that his partner's brother was the person helping him to claim his boy.

"Sure, Mr. Stevenson,"

"You do not have to call me that anymore. Your brother was family to me, so you're family also,"

"Thank you, Xavier." Xavier leaned back on the bedpost and closed his eyes briefly resting...

"Is the plan all set?" The man was smiling as he stood in the dark room.

"Of course it is, boss,"

"I want Hardy upset,"

"Yeah, once we take the kid and give him to the millionaire...what else do we do?"

"We know that Joe is the real son, don't we?"

"Yes sir,"

"Then Fenton can't claim the boy and that means..."

"Revenge!" The goons shouted together.

"Tomorrow," The man's evil grin widened further. "Revenge Day..."

TO BE CONTINUED...

Thank you for reading and please review! :) ~VRT