"I know," Collig sighed. "And you are our third suspect."
"Third?" Fenton latched onto the number. "Who is second?"
"Biff," Collig replied.
"Why Biff?" Frank demanded, confusion written all over his face. If anyone had wanted to protect Joe enough to kill Johnson, it had to have been him, not Biff.
"You had better ask Biff or Joe," Collig replied. "We don't have any evidence to hold anyone, so Joe can go home. But both of you stay around town," he added with a warning glance at Frank.
"You don't really believe the boys killed him, do you?" Mrs. Hardy asked the chief as Frank stomped off to contemplate the problem alone.
"No, I don't," Collig replied honestly. "But I do think they do."
"What?" Mr. Hardy asked.
"Joe keeps trying to take the blame but won't admit to anything. I think he is trying to protect Frank. And you heard Frank, he wants to be considered a suspect. He may think Joe did do it and is trying to protect him by being willing to take the blame."
"And Biff?" asked Mrs. Hardy. "Why is Biff a suspect in this? Because he rescued Joe last night?"
Chief Collig looked down at his feet. "You had better..."
"Don't you dare tell me I have to find out from Joe or Biff," she interrupted him angrily. "You know we won't find out anything from them at the present."
"Biff is in love with Joe," Collig replied softly. "He said he would do anything for Joe. And I believe him."
"What?" Mrs. Hardy asked in shock.
"Easy," Collig said as Mr. Hardy led her to a chair and helped her to sit down. "Biff admitted that he had never forced the issue because he knows Joe is straight. But he also said, that he would never allow anyone else to force the issue either."
"Which is why Biff makes an excellent suspect," Mr. Hardy said, unsure whether to be glad he was Joe's friend or not.
"This is only the beginning of the investigation," Collig told them. "There may be others who had something against Johnson."
Frank returned to the group in time to hear this last statement. "Of course," Frank said, slapping his forehead. "We have been too upset to realize it. But he may have tried what he did with Joe with another student, or maybe even more than one."
"My thoughts exactly," Sergeant Talbolt said from the doorway of Collig's office. He came out, followed by Joe. "Principal Dylan told me he had asked for your help on this case," he continued. "I am going to get a list of all Johnson's students and transcripts of their grades. After I compile a suspect list, I want you and Joe to go over it and see if you can spot anyone who might have killed Johnson," he said to Frank.
"You don't think we did it?" Frank asked.
"You have to remain suspects, but," he added, with a sigh, "no. I don't think either of you are capable of cold-blooded murder, no matter what the circumstances. If you two would stop by here on your way to school tomorrow, I would appreciate it."
"I can't," Joe said. "I'm grounded."
"Yes, you can," Mr. Hardy said. "This involves you and you have every right to clear yourself." He looked at Talbolt. "How can I help?" he asked.
"Right now, I don't think you can," he admitted. "I'm going to check Johnson's background," he added. "Someone from his past may have put in an appearance."
"It seems a shame," Frank commented.
"What does?" asked his mother.
"That we have to put whoever killed him behind bars. Johnson deserved to die," Frank pointed out.
Later that evening, the Hardys sat at the dinner table. Joe pushed a meatball around his plate with his fork, not talking or looking at his family. Frank had set his fork down and was staring at Joe and their parents had eaten part of their dinner then also given up.
Fenton cleared his throat and everyone looked at him. "There isn't anything either of you can do until morning," he said. "Why don't you two go to bed early and get some rest?"
"Good idea," Frank said, standing up. He reached over to take Joe's arm but Joe backed out of reach and stood up, not seeing the wounded look in Frank's eyes as he turned and headed for the stairs.
"Give him time," Laura said, placing a comforting hand on Frank's arm. "This has been hard on him."
Frank nodded and moved to go up stairs when the phone rang. Frank picked it up on the first ring and Joe must have as well because he heard Joe answer from the extension upstairs.
"Hello," Joe greeted the caller.
"Hey, how you feeling?" Biff's voice came through the line.
"The same," Joe intoned.
"Want to grab a pizza and talk?" Biff asked.
"I doubt they'd let me go," Joe answered.
"Ask them," Biff urged. "You really do need to talk this out."
"I know," Joe agreed. "I just wish..."
"I know," Biff said, when Joe broke off. "You wish you felt like talking to Frank. He does love you, you know."
Frank smiled when he heard that. "I used to think so," Joe said, causing Frank's smile to vanish. "But I just don't know what to think anymore," Joe continued. "All we seem to have had in common lately are the cases we have worked on."
"You could tell him about your plans for after high school," Biff suggested. "Just talk to him."
"I don't want to," Joe admitted. "I," he paused and gave a heavy sigh. "I just don't feel as close to him as I used to."
"Because he let you down," Biff said.
"Yeah," Joe agreed. "I always thought I could count on him no matter what, now I'm not sure."
"Have your feelings changed about him?" Biff asked.
"NO!" Joe denied vehemently. "I still love him more than life itself. It's just..."
"It's just you aren't sure how he feels," Biff said understandingly. "Want me to talk to him?"
"I don't think that's such a good idea right now," Joe said.
"At least you're still talking to me," Biff said.
"I admit, I was shocked with what you said in Chief Collig's office," Joe said. "But you have always been a very good friend and you have never tried to get me to, well, you know," he ended uncomfortably.
"I know you will never love me," Biff said. "I can handle that. You're straight. And I would rather keep you as a friend than try to force the issue and lose any connection with you whatsoever."
"I appreciate that," Joe told him.
"In spite of that, or because of it, I won't let anyone else push you into that position either," Biff continued.
"You're a good friend," Joe told him. "And I really want you to stay my friend."
"Even though I want your bod?" Biff quipped, trying to get Joe to perk up.
"Yeah," Joe admitted with a small laugh. "Just as friends, okay?"
"I'm down with that," Biff said. "Want to ask your folks if you can grab a pizza?"
"Nah," Joe replied with a little smile. "I'm feeling better all ready. Thanks."
"Anytime," Biff said. "Bye."
"Bye," Joe replied, lowering the phone and not hearing the second click.
"Frank, what's the matter?" Mr. Hardy asked, seeing Frank's white face.
"I just found out why Chief Collig thinks Biff makes a better suspect than me," he croaked.
"Oh," Mr. Hardy replied softly, taking a sudden interest in his shoes.
Frank looked at him and then at his mother who had become busy removing the plates from the table. "You two knew?" he demanded. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"We thought it would be better if Joe told you," his father answered.
"How long have you know?" Frank asked harsly, staring at his parents in disbelief.
"Chief Collig told us this afternoon," Mrs. Hardy admitted. "I made him."
"I don't believe you two!" Frank shouted. "How could you not tell me?" With those words, he ran up the stairs and into Joe's room not bothering to knock.
"Go away," Joe said wearily from his bed, his arm flung over his eyes to close out the early evening rays of light which still shown through his bedroom window.
"Not until we work this out," Frank insisted. "I answered the phone when you did," he admitted, causing Joe to move his arm and look at Frank. "We have to talk."