Summary: There's always someone who's loyal. And loyalty can get you killed. Loyalty can save a life. But there are always consequences.

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Chapter Three

Several days passed without incident, but Joe was jumpy, cautious about everyone who was behind him or front of him. He looked behind him once and awhile with scared blue eyes. Frank watched him hoping to protect him as much as he could. He had told his little brother to meet him at Joe's locker after school.

"Hey, Joe," Joe was reading a piece of paper that he gripped in his hands till his knuckles turned white. He looked up and crumpled the paper into a ball. "Hey, what's wrong? Was that a test or something?"

"No," Joe shook his head quickly. "It's just a clue."

"A clue?" Frank repeated curiously. "What kind of clue? Do we have a new case?"

"Nah, it's probably a hoax."

"Oh, okay. Can I read it?"

"No way, it's just a bunch of garbage." Red flags appeared Frank's mind. He's hiding something from me. He thought worriedly. What could he be hiding about?

"Is it a threat?" Joe's face drained from all color and shook his head again.

"No, of course not." He mumbled. "So what do you wanted to talk me about?" He leaned against his closed locker door and stared at him.

"Joe, you've been really cautious lately."

"So?"

"Overly cautious,"

"Well, duh, we are sons of a famous private detective," Joe rolled his eyes as he spoke.

"Look, Joe, if something is bothering you, you can tell me anything." Joe stopped smirking at Frank and had a sober face on. It was as if someone turned on the lights and then shut them down again.

"I know," Joe softly answered. He handed the piece of crumpled paper to Frank who took it and began to un-crinkle it when Callie and Iola were suddenly standing right there.

"Hi Frank! Hi Joe." Callie and Iola greeted with bright white smiles. Joe mumbled a hello and began to holster his backpack on his shoulders more comfortably.

"I better get going."

"What do you mean?" Frank asked as he put the paper in his jeans pocket. "I thought we were going with Iola and Callie to-"

"Yeah, you can, but I'm feeling kinda sick so I'm gonna go home."

"By yourself?"

"Yes, by myself." Joe glared at him and pushed past Frank towards the entrance of the school. Frank sighed watching his little brother leave him with the two confused girls.

"Hey, wait up, Joe!"

Joe kept walking, his heart beat pounding in his ears as he put his iPod earbuds in his ears to listen to music. He needed to relax, Frank was beginning to notice how cautious he was. He couldn't even sleep at night without the windows shut and curtains pulled over them. He breathed in as he relaxed when the music began. Suddenly a hand touched his shoulder, Joe instantly reacted by whirling around and getting into a stance to fight his enemy.

"Whoa, Joe, it's me." Joe pulled out his earbuds, glaring at his brother.

"Don't do that," He snapped angrily. He could have seriously injured Frank.

"Sorry for scaring you...I don't want you to leave alone, Joe."

"I don't need your help, Frank,"

"Just let me go with you..."

"Read the paper, Frank...Okay?" A frown appeared on Frank's face.

"Why?"

"Just READ it. I'll use my bike to get home."

"Promise you won't talk to strangers?" Anger flared a little in Joe's chest but he tamped it down since he didn't want Frank to get any more worried about him.

"I won't," Joe promised.

"Don't listen to music while you're riding!" Frank reminded as Joe started to walk away again to the outside of the school building. He sighed, waving at a few of his classmates. He unlocked his bike and started to get on it but a hand stopped him.

"Hello, Joe," Joe sighed looking up to see his teacher. At least it wasn't that guy from Rareland Inc.

"Hi, Mr. Sholtz."

"How is everything?"

"It's good."

"Do you need a ride home? The road is slippery since it rained..." Joe shook his head, warning flags in his mind.

"I gotta get home."

"Don't forget there's a test coming up!"

"Thanks, Mr. Sholtz. Have a good day." Joe did feel sick at the moment...really sick. He groaned as he ran over to the bushes and threw up.

"Joe! You okay?" Mr. Sholtz handed him a hankie to wipe his mouth.

"I think s-so...It's just nerves."

"All right, are you sure you don't want a ride home?" His head ached but he knew he needed to get out of there... fast.

"No, I'm okay." As Joe started to ride away, he didn't hear Mr. Sholtz mutter under his breath,

"Mr. Rareland won't be happy that I didn't get him now.. Should I get him now or what?"

"Frank? What's wrong with you? You look sick." Frank gulped as he looked down at the crinkled paper he held.

"I got to talk to Joe,"

"Why? What's going on?" Callie asked worriedly. "Is he okay?"

"This paper... oh my word... This paper is a printed email message...oh poor Joe." He looked at the details he had gotten it three days ago but printed it this morning...extremely early... 1 AM?

"You don't make sense! Baby, tell me what's going on?"

"I'll tell you later, okay?" Frank kissed her on the cheek and ran out where Joe usually put his bike at. His little brother's bicycle was gone.

"Are you looking for Joe?" Frank turned around to see Joe's history teacher standing a few feet away. He had never liked Mr. Sholtz as a history teacher but it didn't really matter anymore.

"Oh, yeah, I am. Did you see him?"

"He went home."

"Oh, okay, thanks."

"I believe he is sick though."

"Oh no... Thanks Mr. Sholtz." Frank groaned remembering that he was supposed to catch a ride with Tony and Chet. They had already left.

"You need a ride home?" Mr. Sholtz had been friends with Aunt Gertrude for a couple of years now so it would be okay... She and him were kind of like boyfriend and girlfriend.

"Sure, yeah. That would be nice thanks."

TO BE CONTINUED...

Wrong move, Frank! Hey lovely readers, I hope you liked it! Please review! :) ~VRT