Callie was pleased to see Angelic but surprised to see Joe accompanying her. Her amazement grew when Joe sat down on the sofa beside Angelic.
"What happened?" Callie asked, perplexed.

"We patched up our differences," Angelic told her, smiling at Joe who grinned back and nodded agreement at Callie. "Joe even invited me over to his house for dinner tonight," Angelic added happily.

"Why?" Callie asked, still suspicious of Joe's intentions.

"To help e with my biography," Angelic replied. "I've decided to do it on Mr. Hardy. Joe's been a great help," she went on. "He's answered every question I asked him. I can even tell you what kind of toothpaste Mr. Hardy uses."

They chatted for a time, then Joe decided it was time for them to leave. "All this girl talk is kind of weird," he said with a grimace. Laughing, Callie got up to walk them to the door. As Callie reached out to open the door, there came a knock. She opened the door to reveal a bedraggled Frank.

"What happened?" Joe asked with concern, rushing over to his brother and helping him into the living room.

Seeing the cuts and bruises, Callie went to get the first aid kit. She was back in a minute and began patching him up. "What happened to you?" she asked, applying a bandage to his upper arm.

"I was following about a mile behind you two and was just getting ready to take the exit when I got sideswiped," Frank told them. "I guess whoever is after Angelic spotted me tailing you."

"You were following us?"Angelic asked angrily.

"I thought I could catch a glimpse of whoever was waging these attacks on you," he explained defensively.

"Did you?" Joe asked.

Frank shook his head. "I didn't even see the car that got me. One of the witnesses said it was a green coupe, but he didn't fet a tag number or see who was driving." He looked over at Angelic who seemed to be in shock. "I don't think it's wise for you to be alone until we find out who is after you."

"You can stay with me,"Callie told Angelic, putting an arm around the girl's shoulders.

"No!" Joe shouted, only to have everyone stare at him. "They all ready tried to kill Angelic twice," Joe said, quickly explaining his outburst. "If she stays here, you'll both be targets," he added to Callie.

"She can't stay alone," Callie argued. "So unless you are expecting her to stay at your house, she stays here."

"Good idea," Frank broke in. "We have a great alarm system She would be safer at our house." Joe looked at him with disbelief. He hadn't wanted Angelic to stay with Callie because he still didn't trust her and now it looked like she would be staying with his own family!

"If you're sure?" Angelic asked. Then quickly continued before Frank could change his mind, "I would feel so much better. Dad's meetings have kept him away from the hotel for most of our stay and I am usually by myself at night. I'm sure he wouldn't mind," she added.

"That's settled then," Frank said. "If you're ready, we'll run by your hotel and you can move your stuff to our place and check out. After you get your father's permission, of course."

"Be sure and tell him Frank and I would like to talk to him," Joe added.

"I will," she promised, rising from the sofa, with joe and Frank following suit. "Bye Callie," she said, walking to the door.

"Bye," Callie said. "Take care of her," she cautioned Frank with a glance at Joe.

"We will," Frank assured her. Joe and Angelic walked out to the van and Frank followed a couple of minutes later.

When they arrived at the Bayport Inn, Angelic told the boys, "It may be awhile before I can get in touch with my father. It will take at least an hour to pack," she added. "And I'm sure I'll be safe in my room. So if you two have something you need to do until then, feel free."

"You sure you'll be okay?" Joe asked her before Frank could object. At her nod, he added, "Stay inside and keep the door locked." He then took Frank's arm and hustled him downstairs and out into the van.

After closing his door, he turned on Frank. "How could you invite her to stay with us?" Joe demanded furiously. "Have you lost your mind?"

"Calm down," ordered Frank. "Someone tried to kill me today and it wasn't Angelic. When are you going to accept the that she's the victim?"

"Today could have been an accident," Joe argued.

"The car left the scene," Frank said, disagreeing.

"You never heard of a hit and run?" Joe persisted.

"What is with you?" Frank asked, ignoring Joe's question. "You two have been acting like best buds and you still suspect her?"

"We've called a truce," Joe replied. "But I've yet to see any proof she's innocent."

"That's not how it works little brother," Frank said quietly. "You have to prove they're guilty."

"We better let mom and dad know we're having a guest," Frank said when Joe never spoke. Frank picked up the phone and called home. "Mom said to bring her on over," he told Joe after he had hung up. "Dad had to leave town on a case so he won't be there. Sam called," he added. "He hasn't had time to find out anything on Mr. Deveraux yet, but he said he would have something for us by the day after tomorrow at the latest."

"I guess he's busy with a case of his own," commented Joe. "Let's go back to Angelic," he added, surprising his brother.

"Why?" Frank asked suspiciously.

"You're right," Joe admitted, a little ashamed of himself. "I guess I could be wrong about her and if so I wouldn't want anything to happen to her because of my pig-headedness." Smiling, Frank climbed out of the van and went inside the hotel with Joe.

Angelic opened the door on the fifth knock. "Hey," Joe said with a frown. "We were starting to get worried."

"You were?" she asked with a slight smile. "I was in the restroom and didn't hear you knocking," she explained.

"Have you gotten in touch with your dad yet?" Frank asked.

"Yes," she told him. "He said he was relieved I had such good friends. Oh," she added as an afterthought, "he also said he would like to speak with you as well but he would be tied up with a meeting for most of the day. He wondered if ten o'clock would be too late for you to meet with him?"

"That's fine," Frank said. "Joe can keep you company while I go and see him," he said, thinking out loud. "That way, you'll still hae a bodyguard."

"It wouldn't be a good idea for you to be out at night," Joe explained. "It would be easier to arrange an attack."

Angelic nodded in understanding. "Dad asked for you to meet him at Pier Eight. He should be back by then."

"Back?" Frank asked with a frown.

"His meeting is on the Santa Clara," she told him with a little laugh, as she packed. "Dad was looking forward to this meeting because he loves boating." An hour later she had finished packing and was ready to leave. "Why don't you carry these to the van while I check out?" she suggested as they exited the elevator. A few minutes later, she joined them outside.

"Mom," Frank said, walking into his house a few minutes later. "This is Angelic Deveraux."

"I'm so glad you'll be staying with us," Mrs. Hardy said, smiling at the young girl.

"I don't want to be any trouble," Angelic said in a small voice.

"No trouble," mrs. Hardy assured her. She turned to Joe. "Take her cases to your room. I've put you in with Frank." Joe did as he was told because he knew better than to argue with his mother.

After dinner, Angelic told Mrs. hardy and Frank about the biography she was doing. After a little while she began to get sleepy. "I'm sorry," she apologized after attempting to smother another yawn.

"Nonsense," said Mrs. Hardy. "I'm sure you've had a long day. Why don't you go on to bed?"

"If you don't mind?" she asked. "I am very tired." Saying good night to everyone, she retired to Joe's room for the evening.

"Since she's safe in bed, why don't I go with you to meet her dad?" Joe suggested a little bit later.

Frank nodded his assent. "Mom, would you turn the alarm system on after we leave?" he asked.

"Of course," she agreed. "When you get back, call me on your car phone and I'll switch it off for you." As they started to leave she said, "Go upstairs and get a jacket. It's getting chilly."

Upstairs, Joe stepped to his bedroom door and listened. "She must really have been tired," he said as Frank came up to him and handed him a jacket from his closet.

They arrived at the pier twenty minutes early. "Let's find where the Santa Clara berth is," Joe suggested.

"Okay," Frank agreed. "You check left, I'll check right. We'll meet back here in ten minutes." A few minutes later Frank located the ship. He called out but no one answered. he went back and found Joe waiting.

"I found it," Frank told his brother. "But I don't think anyone's on board," he added with a worried frown.

"Maybe by the time we get back to it, someone will be," Joe said. "It's almost ten."

Reaching the boat, they saw a lone figure walk behind the cabin. Frank called out but the figure never reappeared.

"Let's check it out," Joe said, jumping from the dock to the boat with Frank at his heels. While Frank looked around above deck, Joe looked below.

Frank saw something lying by the mast and was going over for a closer look when Joe came running up from below, grabbed him and dived overboard still holding on to him. They hadn't touched the water when the night exploded with a thunderous roar and a dazzling display of light lit up the sky.