Woken again at midnight by Joe's report of the pipe bomb, Frank was exhausted the next morning. However, it was a Saturday and there was work to be done. He quickly prepared himself for the day and went down to breakfast.

"Morning, Frank!" His mother said brightly. She had donned an apron and was mixing something in a bowl.

"Hey Mom," Frank said, grabbing bread from the bread box to make some toast. "What are you making?"

"Banana bread, for Anita Spendlove."

"Danny's Mom?"

"Yes." She affirmed. "That poor woman must be worried sick about Danny. Your father said you and he were going to visit today. Maybe she could use some neighborly cheer."

Frank finished buttering his toast. "Sounds swell, Mom. If anything can soothe a mother's worries, your banana bread can."

Fenton walked into the kitchen then, kissed Laura on the cheek, and began preparing his own toast. He too looked tired. "I just got off the phone with Paul. He said Danny's key is missing, so the boys are going to stay in their own houses or with friends until the locks are changed. Hopefully they can avoid another incident like last night."

A loud slam came from the kitchen. Both Frank and Fenton jumped in their seats. Laura walked to the table with both hands on her hips. "What happened last night?"

Frank and Fenton looked at each other nervously. Fenton cleared his throat. "Well, dear, there was a small incident with an incendiary, but no one was hurt-"

"A bomb!" She cried. "Fenton Hardy, you told me that Joe would be there for reconnaissance only! You said that he wouldn't be in any danger- Sit back down, Frank!"

Frank, who had gotten out of his seat and was edging towards the door to leave, ruefully sat again at the kitchen table. "It's not the first bomb Joe's been around, Ma." Frank was resolutely staring at the floor. "He took care of it right away-"

Laura cut him off, pulled a chair out and sat down, herself, reaching both hands out for Frank and her husband. "Listen," she said, addressing both of them, "I know this is far from Joe' first encounter with danger. But all other times he had you, Frank, to protect him. And you had him. I never worried too much because I knew you were together. This is the first time you've worked a case separately, and I haven't seen Joe for three days-"

Her voice caught and she broke eye contact with both of them. Fenton held her hand in both of his. "Laura, my darling, I promise I am just as worried about Joe. Frank and I have been working around the clock to solve this case so Joe can come home."

Her eyes were wet as she spoke again. "Then why send him in the first place?"

Fenton lifted her hand and kissed it tenderly. "Because, my love, there is a mother out there whose son was not as protected as our Joe. And her son is in the hospital, and she doesn't know when or if he is going to wake. If Joe was in Danny's place, I'd very much want the detective working the case to try his utmost to solve it."

Her tears had stopped, and she sniffed slightly. "Oh, I know, Fenton." She rubbed her eyes. "I just wish the boys were together."

Frank patted his mother's shoulder. "Me and you both, Mom. But we're close to solving this, I can feel it."

It was rather awkward leaving Laura half an hour later when Frank and Fenton got into the car to go to Mrs. Spendlove's house. Frank held a plate with the fresh banana bread.

Fenton asked Frank, "You really think we are close, son?"

Frank shrugged. "It's a gut feeling, but we don't exactly have a long list of suspects."

"Well, it only takes one."

When the car pulled up to the Spendlove residence, Frank noticed it was in stark contrast to the Hardys' home, being much smaller with a scrubby patch of yard and a moldering picket fence. They approached and knocked on the front door.

It opened, and a shabbily dressed woman with deep lines on her face stood on the threshold. Anita Spendlove held vestiges of youth and beauty, but these were marred by the apparent toll of years gone by. "Yes?" She quierried quietly.

They introduced themselves. "We were hoping to ask you some questions about Danny and Paul Alton."

She nodded quickly, and motioned them to come inside.

The inside of the house was cleaner than the outside, but matched it in terms of general shabbiness. She invited them to sit on an old velvet couch, and sat opposite them on a stool. "What do you need to know?"

Fenton met her eyes. "Do you know why Paul takes such good care of Danny?"

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, with her lips pursed in a hard line. "I know Paul's a good man, and I know he didn't attack Danny. I hope that's not what you're suggesting."

Fenton shook his head, smiling. "No, but we are wondering if you know who Paul is- in relation to you and Danny."

Anita shook her head. "I always assumed he never had children of his own and was willing to be a father figure to Danny. I would never complain, because Paul has done so much for Danny. He's happier at that old garage than he has ever been here."

For the first time her eyes dropped to the floor, as if she was ashamed. She spoke even quieter. "Paul has done more for Danny than I ever could. He's taught him and guided him. He's kept him out of trouble. I owe Paul a lot."

Fenton's smile remained, but it was gentler. "Paul feels the same way about you and Danny."

Anita's eye's snapped up to look at the both of them; she was confused. "What does that mean?"

"Danny's father was Paul's nephew. Paul is Danny's last paternal relative."

Anita now looked skeptical. "There's no way for you to know that. Danny never even knew his father." Her lips pursed to an almost invisible line. "And I haven't had contact with him since before Danny was born."

Frank spoke. "Do you think that Alek Haas left you?"

She had shivered when Frank spoke Alek's name, but now she sniffed and folded her arms. "Well, yes." She sighed. "I met Alek in high school. We dated for about a year and I was head over heels in love with him. I worshiped the ground he walked on, and I thought he felt the same way. When I found out I was pregnant, I was nervous to tell my parents, but I knew it was okay, because Alek would stand by me. They were furious, and locked me in my room. I waited for Alek to come like a storybook prince, to climb to my window and spirit me off away from their judgement and hate."

Her jaw quivered, but no tears manifested themselves. "He never did. My parents claimed he never wanted to see me again, and they had me move up to Bayport to be with my aunt, so no one would know their shame. Still I waited. Danny was born, the war passed, but Alek never came for his son or for me."

"I was working to support Danny. I didn't have the resources to try and find Alek. I figured he didn't want to be found. Why would he want to be tied down to a 17 year old mother with no skills and no money?"

This last question was rhetorical and stated bitterly. "My parents and I grew more and more apart. I didn't go to their funerals just as they never came to see their grandson. I don't mention family around Danny. What would be the point? I'm the only family he has left."

"Almost." Fenton said. He told the story as they had heard it from Paul, regarding his relationship with his brother, why Alek was put up for adoption, and finally, his fate in the Pacific.

Anita listened closely, and clapped a hand to her mouth when she heard that Alek had died. "You mean," she asked hoarsely, "He may not have left me by choice?"

Frank and Fenton nodded. Frank added, "All Paul wants to do is to make up for his mistakes, and he sees you and Danny as the last family he has."

Her eyes filled with tears for the first time. She stood up and began pacing the room. "You mean, all those times Paul helped Danny- or when that check was left on the stoop so we could pay rent- or when Paul found a 'discount' car for Danny- he was just…"

Frank said, "Paul is trying to be the father-in-law you never had, and the grandfather Danny never had."

She sat down hard on the wooden stool and burst into tears, holding her face in her hands.

Frank found himself patting a weeping woman's shoulder for the second time that day, and was severely uncomfortable.

Once she collected herself, she seemed to be at peace, and the difference in her countenance was like a ray of sunlight. The phone rang, and she blew her nose into her handkerchief and hurried to go get it.

Frank remarked to his father. "There's been a lot of weeping today. I don't know how much more I can take."

Fenton clapped his son on the back. "There will be a lot more weeping if you keep up with this line of work. Detective work isn't for the faint of heart. You get used to it."

Anita ran back into the sitting room, once again weeping, but this time with delectation. "Danny's awake!" She cried happily.