"Listen to me," Mr. Hardy said, taking Joe's chin and lifting his face so he would have to look him in the eyes. "This wasn't your fault. You have done nothing wrong."
"But I did," Joe insisted. "I went. I was going to let him."
"It still wasn't your fault. I had no right not to listen to you. You came to me for help and I wouldn't even listen. I thought I was a better father than that. I'm sorry, baby," he said again, pulling Joe tight. "I love you so very much and so does your brother and mother. You know that?" he asked, desperate to hear a positive answer.
"I know," Joe sniffed. "I was just so confused, I wasn't thinking straight. Biff was right, I should have made you listen to me."
"You shouldn't have to make me listen," Mr. Hardy said. "It is my responsibility to do so regardless of how upset I get with you."
"You really aren't mad at me?" Joe inquired.
"You have to understand that when your mother and I punish you, we are doing it so you will learn from your mistake and make you a better person. We love you so much, it hurts us when we have to punish you."
"Not as much as it hurts me," Joe said.
"In a different way, probably more," his dad said. "But no matter what gets said, you have to remember that we do love you and nothing you can say or do, and nothing anyone else could say or do, will ever change that."
Frank jumped to his feet as Chief Collig exited his office. "Frank will you come over here, please?" Collig asked, moving over to a desk, which was presently vacant.
Frank walked over and took a seat beside the desk as the chief sat down behind it. "At the beginning, please?" Collig requested, looking Frank in the eyes.
"I'm not sure about that," Frank admitted, but began telling him about his and Joe's altercation and his finding out about Johnson earlier. "I want to tell you I'm sorry he's dead, but I couldn't be happier," Frank ended.
"And Biff and Callie are the only other two who knew about this?" Collig inquired. Frank gave a nod. "Would you please ask Callie to come over here with her parents?" Collig requested as Frank stood to return to the others. Frank nodded his agreement and returned to his mother.
A couple of minutes later, the door to Collig's office opened up and Joe walked out followed by his father. Fenton strode over to where Biff sat. "Thank you," he told Biff in a strained voice.
Biff looked uncomfortable with the attention but gave a brief nod of acknowledgement. He stood up to go and check on Joe, but Fenton grabbed Biff and gave him a quick hug.
"I'd do anything for Joe," Biff told him, then walked over to Joe. "How are you doing?" he asked softly, so no one else could hear.
Joe shrugged. "Relieved," he said. "Scared," he admitted a second later, his troubled blue eyes seeking out Biff's.
Biff put an arm around Joe's shoulders. "Don't be," he said. "Everything is going to be okay now, you'll see."
Frank looked over at Joe and Biff and felt left out. Until yesterday, Joe had always turned to him. But because of his jealousy over Joe's popularity with girls, things may never again be the same between them.
"Biff," Callie said, coming over to them. "Chief Collig wants to see you and your parents now."
"But we'll go into my office," Chief Collig said, noticing Joe and his dad had finished. "Joe, you can come too." Frank stood up again but Collig shook his head. "Just Joe."
Fuming, Frank sat back down. "I've got to go now," Callie told Frank as the Shaws remained standing. She leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Don't worry," she pleaded with him. "Joe's safe now and I know neither of you killed Johnson. Everything's going to be okay."
Frank smiled gratefully up at her, wishing he could believe her. "Thanks," he said, and watched her leave.
"What's going on?" Mrs. Hardy demanded, looking at the wounded expressions on her son's and husband's faces. While Mr. Hardy told Laura about Johnson's blackmail of Joe, Frank leaned back in his chair and stared at Chief Collig's door, wishing more than anything he were on the other side.
Almost half an hour later, the Hoopers exited the office. Again, Frank jumped up. Biff shook his head. "He said he would let you know when he was ready for you," Biff told Frank and his parents. "See you at school tomorrow," he added as he left with his parents.
Sergeant Talbolt arrived a couple of minutes later and went into Chief Collig's office. Collig walked out and left the sergeant to speak with Joe.
All the Hardys stood as Chief Collig came forward. "Well?" Frank demanded. "How is he?"
"I'm sorry," Collig told them. "But, from what I've heard, Joe has become our number one suspect in the murder of Bradley Johnson."