Joe stared at the brown package, his stomach tightening. His hands shook slightly as he accepted, and slowly opened it. Inside was what he had expected, a VHS tape marked "Hide and Seek." Joe's face went pale, and his body numb. It was if the object in his hand was a grenade instead of a VHS.

"Joe, what is it?" Chet asked, concern seeping into his voice. He had been startled to see Joe go so pale so fast; it was unnatural for the cocky, hardheaded Joe to be so scared.

"Thank you Roger, Helen, I really appreciate your help. But I think we have to get back home now," Joe said shakily.

Frank lay still in his tomb. His mind was awake, but refused to let him open his eyes. It was afraid to see what was out there; as if by keeping unaware it could pretend it was all a bad dream. His breathing was ragged; mucus or maybe blood had started to drip into his throat causing him to cough every so often. His back was sore and his limbs stiff from remaining in the same position for so long. His head still hurt, only it was a dull pound now. His hand had gone numb, 'probably a bad sign,' he told himself, 'but at least it doesn't hurt.'

He didn't know how long he'd been there. He searched his mind, trying to remember what had happened, how he had ended up here. He remembered joking with Joe before Vanessa came and got him. Then taking Callie out for dinner. She had to be home early though; she was leaving the next morning for…. He couldn't remember; it was something important to her because she couldn't stop talking about it, but it was just out of reach.

Frank groaned and rolled his head from side to side. His head was starting to pound again, and he took a deep breath, trying to ease the pain, but only ended up making himself cough, a coppery taste entering his mouth. Pain rippled through his chest and stomach.

"Great, just fucking great," Frank said with a bitter laugh, "This damn box won't have to suffocate me, I'm going to drown in my own blood." Frank started to cough again.

Ring. Ring. "Hello, Hardy residence, Fenton speaking."

"Oh, Fenton, Fenton, Fenton. Why must you make it so easy?"

"Who is this?"

"You make it so easy, giving us clear access to both your boys? It's so easy that it takes all the fun out of the game."

Click.

Biff casted worried glance at Joe who was seated in the passenger seat of the SUV. He had been silent since they started the drive back, staring blankly at the VHS in his hand. Chet and Phil were also watching Joe, worry eating away at them.

"Joe, what's on your mind?" Biff asked as they turned onto Joe's street.

Joe looked up, the blank faced look fading slightly. "Nothing," Joe said, but the others were unconvinced.

"Joe, you've been staring at that tape forever now, and you're too quiet." Phil said gently from behind him.

"I just can't help but shake the feeling that I know what's on this tape, and I don't want to see it…"

They fell into silence as they pulled into the Hardy's drive, and Biff cut the engine. As everyone was unbuckling themselves from the seats, Joe spoke up, "Why don't you guys head home. I mean, thank you for your help, but I don't think that you should be here…"

"Damn it Joe! What the fuck do you know? Huh?" Biff said angrily. "You think you're the only one freaked out, the only one who's worried about Frank? You're not! We're his friends, and yours! So get your head out of your ass, stop moping and let us help you solve this damn case!"

Joe was stunned at first by Biff's words, anger flaring inside of him. One look at Biff's face, though, told him that Biff lashed out from concern rather then anger. After a moment of tense silence Joe spoke again, "You're right, I'm sorry."

"Yeah, well, lets go see what's on that tape," Biff said.

Mike pulled up to the farmhouse, where Jimmy was waiting on the front porch. As soon as he got out Jimmy asked, "Do you have it?"

"Yeah, the Doc was waiting. He said it's all there."

"Good, I want you to take it down in the cellar. Make sure the man down there knows what it is."

"Yes sir, right away sir. Want me to polish the silver too?" Mike mumbled as he pulled a box marked 'test material' out of the backseat of his car.

The four boys all went up to Fenton's office, where they could hear several people inside, talking. Joe instantly picked up his father, Collin, Con, Jesse, and Reynolds. They seemed to be arguing about something.

"I told you that you shouldn't have let him go!" Bellowed Collin from behind the door.

"He was with his friends. I thought that he'd be safe!" Joe cringed at the defeat he heard in his father's voice.

"Fenton, it wasn't your fault, none of us knew that the lead would pan out." That was Jesse, trying to comfort.

"I just wanted him to be doing something, feel like he was helping," Fenton said, tired.

"I know Fenton. I just…I'm sorry." Collin sounded like all the fight had gone out of him.

"Well, we shouldn't be dwelling on what happened," Con said.

"Yeah, whose fault it is doesn't matter. Right now what matters is trying to find Frank and Joe," Reynolds said.

That was all Joe needed to hear. He didn't bother knocking; he just entered the office. Everyone turned to see who the intruder was. Collin turned to give whomever a sharp reprimand, but it died on his lips as relief flooded across his face.

Fenton was motionless, only for a moment though, before he rushed over to Joe and pulled him into a bear hug. It was a long minute before Fenton released Joe, and then sternly scolded him, "I thought I told you to call!"

"I'm sorry dad, I…"

"We lost track of time Mr. Hardy, see we got a lead," Chet said stepping up to Joe's defense. The four boys quickly explained what they had discovered.

"The package was addressed to me, and this was inside." Joe held up the VHS as he finished their story.

Fenton took it from him, "Shall we see what's on it?" He walked over to a TV and VCR unit he had on his desk, and turned the unit so it faced the door of the room. Everyone did their best to gather around the screen, as Fenton inserted the tape and nervously pressed play.

What they saw would haunt them for many years. The video showed Frank, after he had just woken up the first time.

He tried to sit up, but just hit his head. "Ah," he groaned and laid back down. His hand reached out and touched thethe spot his head hit.

"Shit. Shit, no. Shit, God no. Please, God no…" His breathing began to increase and he frantically banged on the wood that trapped him.

He yelled in frustration and fear. He tried to kick, use his shoulder, but there was so little room to move. He stopped banging on the cover, now breathing hard, as sobsraked his body.

"Very good Hardy, you've figured out the first clue. As you can see, Frank's really well hidden," a disguised voice said. It sent shivers down Joe's spine. "And now, since you know what has happened to him, we'll give you a clue as to where he is hidden. Just remember, it takes a lot of space to bury someone.

He was buried at about ten A.M., this morning, and right now it's eleven, so you've got about fourteen hours, give or take."

There was horrified silence as the tape ran out.