Joe was lifting weights in the basement when he heard a scream followed by a thump. He quickly re-racked the bar and sprinted upstairs. Joe burst into the kitchen to find his mother deathly pale, staring off into space. Aunt Gertrude was passed out on the floor.
"What's going on," Joe asked, frantically looking around for intruders.
"Joe," Laura Hardy voice tremulously began before dissolving into quiet sobs.
Joe took a step towards her. "Mom, what's going on?"
Laura composed herself. "Your father just called. Frank's plane crashed. There were no survivors."
The room spun around Joe as his mother seemed to recede into the distance. A shrill ringing filled his ears. He put an arm out to steady himself on the counter but missed and fell against it.
"That's not possible," Joe managed to choke out. "How would Dad even know?"
Laura took a deep breath. "Frank texted to let us know he and Vanessa were bumped to a later flight. Fenton was working late at Ducroy when the office started going crazy. The pilot called in a mayday and then went silent. It hasn't hit the news yet."
Aunt Gertrude stirred. Joe checked to make sure she had no visible injuries and helped her to a chair before he took a seat next to his mother at the counter.
"I don't believe it. Frank could have survived. Maybe he and Vanessa weren't even on the flight."
Laura shook her head. "Your father confirmed they were. The first responders are saying no one could have survived."
The Hardys sat in shock for what seemed like an eternity.
Joe managed to stumble to his feet. "I should call Mrs. Bender; she needs to know before the media show up on her front lawn."
The room was suddenly filled with loud wails as Aunt Gertrude regained her senses and began shrieking.
Laura stood up. "Come on Trudy," she said softly, "let's get you upstairs so you can lie down."
Joe walked into the family room and dialed Andrea Bender before hanging up. This needed to be done in person. Joe drove to the Bender's two-story farmhouse and wiped the tears from his face before ringing the doorbell. Andrea answered. Joe was struck by how much she looked like Vanessa. It didn't make this any easier.
"Hello, can I come in?"
Andrea squinted at Joe. "What exactly happened between Vanessa and you before she left? She was extremely upset."
Joe clenched his jaw to steady himself. "That's not important right now."
Andrea stepped aside to let Joe in.
"Mrs. Bender," Joe began, "I don't know how to tell you this, but Frank and Vanessa's plane went down. There were no survivors."
Andrea clapped a hand over her mouth and stared at Joe in horror. Joe spent the next fifteen minutes with her before extricating himself. He sat in the car staring at the passenger seat.
He started the car and began driving home before changing his mind and detouring to Callie's house. Joe psyched himself up and knocked on the front door.
"What do you want?" Callie demanded.
Joe pushed past her and sat on the couch, gathering his thoughts.
"My parents aren't home, and I'd like you to leave," Callie said.
"He's gone," Joe whispered.
"What?" Callie asked.
"Frank's gone," Joe choked out. "The plane he and Vanessa were on crashed."
"No," Callie snapped. "You're lying. No. No."
Joe broke down and started crying. Callie did as well. She sat next to Joe on the sofa, and they held each other and wept.
"Do you want pork and beans or beans and pork?" Frank asked, holding up identical cans.
"It's lucky I'm stranded in the middle of nowhere with a gourmet chef," Vanessa smiled. "Pork and beans, please. You can't beat a classic."
"Order up," Frank replied as he dumped the can's contents into a pot and hung it on one of two hooks in front of the fire. The other hook held a pot containing melted snow.
"I've been thinking," Frank said. "I think our best bet is to wait here for a while. It gives the bad guys, if they're out there, a chance to clear out. If we're lucky, someone will find us. When our food gets low, then we need to start thinking about trying to hike out of here."
"Should we put a message outside so people flying overhead can see it?" Vanessa asked.
Frank rubbed his chin. "Good idea. Let's try that after a couple of days."
"So, what do we do for now?"
"Sit tight. Do you know any jokes?"
Callie picked up the phone. "Joe, what's going on?"
"They found out the plane didn't crash. It exploded. There was a bomb on board." Joe's voice was low and angry.
Callie gasped.
"I don't think it's a coincidence it happened right after my dad started an investigation into the airline. I'm flying out to help him, whether he wants me to or not. I know I've been hard on you in the past, but I think you might be able to help. Are you in?"