Someone close to the Hardy's suffers a crippling loss. Instead of family support she is betrayed. Can the Hardy's support her and become her new family? Read to find out. Yes I'm back. I had to take another writing hiatus this time for moving. I want to finish my other series which has one more story outlined. But THIS story has been bugging me to write it for a while. I am looking for a beta so if anyone is interested let me know. Otherwise I am editing myself and I'm NOT the best editor in the world.

Chapter 1

Laura Hardy was in the kitchen preparing dinner. It was a crisp November evening. Her blond hair was pulled back in a clip, her blue eyes didn't miss a single detail. She pulled the roast out of the oven. "It smells good sweetheart."

Laura smiled at her husband Fenton Hardy. "Did you close your case?"

He kissed her softly. "I did, I'm all clear for the holidays."

"Good. I'm looking forward to having you home for Thanksgiving and Christmas for once. I managed to be off from the hospital Christmas day."

"You work harder than I do and that is pure truth." His wife was a labor and delivery nurse at the local hospital. He was about to kiss her again but the door opening stopped him. His oldest son Frank, a mirror image of him came in with an arm around his petite girlfriend Callie Shaw.

His eyes scanned the room. "Smells good mom. Dad did you wrap everything up?"

Fenton smiled. "Yes."

Laura turned to Callie. "Did you want to stay for dinner dear."

Callie ran her fingers through her long blond hair. "I don't want to intrude Mrs. Hardy."

"It's not an intrusion dear. How are your parents?"

"Dad won his re-election to the House of Representatives so he's thrilled. Mom went to visit Aunt Emma and is coming back tonight."

Frank pulled two sodas out of the fridge. He tossed one to her. "Your Aunt is a nice woman. I remember meeting her in LA."

"They've always been close." Callie took a sip of her drink.

Frank sipped his drink watching his girlfriend closely. She had been very subdued tonight and it wasn't like her. He was about to ask her if anything was wrong but the doorbell rang. His brother Joe hollered from the front of the house. "I'll get it."

Joe went to the door and opened it. It was Con Riley, a police officer for the Bayport Police Department. He took off his watch cap. "Joe is Callie Shaw here?"

Joe raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. She's with Frank and they're in the kitchen. Is everything okay?"

"I need to speak to her."

Alarmed Joe gestured inside. He took Con back to the kitchen where Frank and Callie were standing at the counter. Fenton saw them first. "Con you can smell a pot roast from ten miles away."

Con nodded. "I wish that's why I was here."

Frank noticed the look of sadness in his friends eyes. "What is it Con?"

"Miss. Shaw I went by your house the butler said you were here and your dad in Washington."

"Dad won't be back in town for another week."

Con cleared his throat. "Callie, a woman was found in the parking garage of the airport. She had been shot twice in the chest. We think it is your mother."

Callie swayed. Frank, seeing her clear distress grasped her arms and guided her into a chair.

Callie shaking sobbed in Frank's arms. Fenton Hardy asked grimly. "Are we sure?"

"We need her to do a formal ID of the body. Mr. Shaw can't come until Tuesday."

Frank snapped. "I'm going with her."

Fenton clipped. "WE are going with her son."

Fenton told Con they would follow in the car. He refused to let Callie ride in the police car. Frank sat with her in the back. He glanced back at them occasionally in the rear view mirror. Callie sat rigid straight, tears falling down her face, and squeezing Frank's right hand. Frank had his left arm around her shoulders. He didn't say anything to her. That was best. His presence alone was enough. Telling her 'it's going to be alright,' would just antagonize her. They pulled up to the hospital where the Medical Examiner was located. Fenton opened the back door and helped a trembling Callie out of the back seat. Frank was a second behind her and kept her upright.

They followed Con down a hallway. Frank had never been to this part of the hospital before. Why would he ever need to? Con opened a door and they were in a reception area. "Dr. Hayes is about to begin. He'd like her ID'd before that."

Con Riley nodded. "That's why she's here. This is Callie Shaw."

"Is she old enough?"

"I'm seventeen."

The woman smiled sympathetically. The girl looked like she was about to collapse. It wouldn't be the first time. "Alright. Through this door down the hall and go through the double doors at the end of the hall."

Con opened the door the receptionist had pointed to. Frank noticed that the walls were white. There were doorways in the corridor. Toward the end of the hall was a row of chairs but the double doors loomed. Callie hesitated sobbing. Frank soothed her. "I'm right here. You're not alone."

Con watched the exchange sadly but also proudly. Fenton had raised this boy well. Fenton gently nudged the teens forward.

When they got to the double doors Callie took a deep breath just before going through them. There were two individuals standing beside the covered gurney. One was a tall older black man in a white lab coat, the other was a white man with red hair in his mid forties or early fifties. He was wearing a gray suit. They both nodded. The suited man spoke. Miss. Shaw thank you for coming. I'm Detective Hayes Bayport PD this is Doctor Adams the medical examiner. Con who is with her? The Representative…"

Con interrupted. "She was at Fenton Hardy's house. Callie is dating his son Frank." He gestured to both men as he spoke.

Fenton smirked. His name was well known in the law enforcement community and any argument the detective was about to make was defused. As if they'd let Callie do this alone.

Frank vocalized what he thought. "Did you think we'd let Callie go through this alone? Are you out of your mind?"

The detective nodded. "This is the hardest thing of course, just Mr. Shaw wanted to keep things private."

Fenton for the first time let his anger show. "My son and I are hardly going to blab to anyone. We are here to support Callie. Let's stop beating around the bush."

"Fine. Miss. Shaw could you come here please." The detective asked.

Callie swallowed and somehow managed to put one foot in front of the other. Frank was glued to her side and she was grateful. Fenton she felt was a couple steps behind them.

The medical examiner nodded. His voice soothing. "I'm going to move the sheet back to expose her head and neck. I'm glad you brought friends with you. When you are ready, nod."

Callie, her eyes swimming with tears took several deep breaths. She wasn't ready! She didn't want to see who was under that sheet! How could this be her mother? This had to be a mistake!

The detective looked at his watch impatiently and was about to ask this young lady to hurry up but Fenton Hardy's voice sliced through the air. "When she is ready, Detective."

Callie sobbed and with every once of courage she could muster nodded her head. The sheet was removed and when she saw the face of the woman underneath it. There was no doubt it was her mother. She couldn't breathe and cried out. "MOM!" Her legs wouldn't hold her and she started to fall to the floor. Frank and Fenton both kept her upright.

Fenton nodded. "That is Ellen Shaw."

Frank lifted Callie into his arms and carried her out of the room and to the chairs just outside. He sat with her in his lap.