Hello, I'm back with a new chapter—sorry for the wait. I want to thank everyone for their wonderful reviews, follows, favorites, or just for reading. Special thanks to my beta reader for their help with my story; you're all amazing.

Please bear with me; life has been busy, but I dedicate time to my story whenever I can. If I go quiet, it doesn't mean I've given up on the story. I'll share the next part as soon as possible. I must caution you that this story will address intense topics like sexual abuse, and I'll provide warnings on chapters that cover these issues. I wanted to inform readers in advance. Here's chapter 2—let me know your thoughts. Thanks, ErinJordan :)

FJFJFJFJ

The fourth installment of the Hardy Boys Pressure series

Second Chances Chapter 2

Nestled in the woods of Maine, Cedar Lake Cottage, Sam Radley's family home, offered a tranquil retreat for its guests. The air, scented with pine, and the sound of the gentle waters, soothed the soul and calmed the senses. The Hardy's had arranged to meet Ethel Meyers, Sam's friend and next-door neighbor, around noon in order to get the keys to the cottage. As they approached, Frank admired the picturesque view from his father's car.

Sam Radley had been a long-time friend and colleague of Frank's father, Fenton Hardy. He had no immediate family left; he had lost both parents to cancer within two years when he was young and he had been raised by his widowed grandmother who had passed away shortly after his high school graduation. After his grandmother's death and right after his eighteenth birthday, Sam had enlisted in the army and then later transitioned into law enforcement where he had met Fenton and eventually the two of them joined forces and became private investigators. From the first time that they had met the Hardy family had embraced Sam as one of their own. Frank and Joe had loved Sam, and had adopted him as their uncle. Joe had been only five years old when he began calling him Uncle Sam.

Sitting in the backseat as they pulled up to the house Frank was amazed by the view of the cottage and wondered why Sam had never mentioned it to them before as the area was beautiful. The house was situated on a wide lot and the rear of the property went up to the lake. The house itself was a two-story ranch-style beauty that sprawled along the road. Its low roof guarded it from inclement weather. The house was long, narrow and faced the road that curved to its entrance. The property had a stretch of sandy beach and a dock that went into the lake which glittered and kissed the land. Frank could imagine he and Joe dipping their feet in the cool water or going for a paddle in a canoe from the dock. A large deck with comfortable chairs stretched behind the house, where you could watch the sunsets that painted the sky with orange and purple hues. This was a place where you could chat with your loved ones and make memories with your family.

As the Hardy's pulled into the driveway, a middle-aged woman with bright red hair and soft grey eyes emerged from the cottage. Clad in a pink and blue plaid shirt and jeans, she greeted the Hardy's with a warm smile as they exited the car.

"Welcome! You must be the Hardy's," she exclaimed. "I'm Sam's next-door neighbor. He asked me to get the house ready for your visit."

"Hello. I'm Laura, and this is my husband, Fenton, along with our eldest son, Frank," Laura said as she introduced her family. "You must be Ethel Meyers. Sam told us that you were going to meet us here."

"Indeed, I am. It's a pleasure to meet you all. From what Sam has told me it feels like I know you already." Ethel responded, as she greeted Laura.

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well Ethel," Fenton remarked, shaking her hand and smiling. "Sam mentioned that you were close friends and neighbors, but not much else." He pondered why Sam had remained silent about Ethel, who appeared to be nothing but agreeable thus far.

"Ah, Sam Radley. A man of few words but of great character. I consider him a close and cherished friend. I keep an eye on the place when he's not here," Ethel explained. "He informed me why you are staying here at the moment when he asked me to open up the house. My prayers are with you and your son and I hope that he has a swift recovery."

"Thank you, Ethel. Your thoughtfulness is deeply appreciated." Laura said, expressing her gratitude with a heartfelt smile.

"We're thankful for your generosity, Ms. Meyers," Fenton added.

Frank also extended his thanks forcing a courteous smile, and concealing his worry for Joe. "Thank you for opening the house for us to stay ma'am."

"It's my pleasure, Frank, and please, all of you, call me Ethel," she replied with a grin.

"Very well, Ethel. Thank you."

Ethel nodded. "Let's head inside; I'll give you the grand tour before lunch, which is just something that I threw together."

As Ethel gave them the tour, Frank admired Sam's house, which was stunning both inside and out. The living room, dining area, and kitchen shared an open space. The hardwood floors gleamed in the sunlight that streamed through the large windows. A rustic fireplace and wood stove sat in the corner and added charm to the area. The second floor was connected by a carved staircase that led upstairs to the bedrooms and bathrooms. It was a cozy place to live with wonderful views no matter which room you were in.

Ethel showed them the way to the upper deck, where a staircase was connected to the dock system that stretched into the lake. The water looked clear and inviting, and Frank could see himself diving in and enjoying the sun's warmth. Ethel had informed them that the winters in Maine were harsh but beautiful and that the house was cozy and warm thanks to the furnace and wood stove. Frank could imagine snuggling with Callie by the fireplace, watching the soothing flames on cold winter nights, the smell of burning logs and fresh coffee and cocoa filling the air. A smile briefly flitted across his face as he thought of Joe telling scary ghost stories by the fireplace, how he missed his brother.

After the tour, they sat down to the lunch that Ethel had prepared. As they ate they talked and got to know each other a bit better. Afterward, they all tidied up the dishes and settled down to enjoy coffee and apple pie for dessert.

"This place is lovely," Laura said, taking a sip of her coffee.

"It is a lovely home, perhaps not as grand as some around here, but beautiful nonetheless," Ethel said as she took a bite of her apple pie. Setting her fork down, she smiled and continued, "I grew up in this town. My father was a lobster fisherman who owned and worked on the Sea Spray, a vessel that faced the many Atlantic storms in the late '70s and early '80s. He and his crew would haul lobster traps from the sea. Lobstering isn't just a job; it's a way of life here. Later on, he transitioned into shipping and logistics, a crucial sector of the seafood industry. He was responsible for loading the fresh seafood onto trucks and orchestrating deliveries to ensure a seamless and fresh supply chain. Before retiring, he sold the boat and the business, and a few years later, he passed away. He taught me how to fish on his boat. As I'm sure that you already know, Maine is known for its seafood industry. My mother used to teach history at the local high school. She wanted me to study history in college and become a teacher, but I ended up working as a librarian instead. I just adore books and enjoy helping people find what they're looking for." Ethel paused and added, "That's how I met Sam, you know. It was about ten years ago, now. He came into the library and was looking for a book on the Civil War, and I helped him to find it."

"Is the Sea Spray still in business today?" Frank asked.

"Oh yes, but I can't tell you who owns the boat or the company. I don't even remember who my father sold it to and it could have changed hands since then as many often do."

"That's intriguing; I've heard of the Sea Spray but I didn't know much about it, and I can't remember in what context I heard about it." Fenton remarked, his interest piqued. He wracked his brain trying to think about why there was a familiarity with that name, yet for some elusive reason, he couldn't recall what it was. He was confident it would come to him eventually; however, for the moment, he couldn't remember so he set it aside. He posed another question, "How long have you been Sam's neighbor?"

Sam was more than a friend to Fenton; he was like a brother. They had shared many years of trust and loyalty, and Fenton valued him above anyone else other than his immediate family. Sam was a brave and noble man who always put others before himself. He had earned the respect of his peers and his community. Fenton saw how Sam cared for Laura like a sister, and how they supported each other. He also saw how Sam had bonded with Frank and Joe, and treated them as his nephews, and how the boys looked up to him as a friend, an uncle, and a mentor in the agency. Fenton knew that Sam would die for his boys if he had to and that he always protected them. He also knew that Sam was very private about his personal life, especially when it came to love and marriage. If anyone asked him, Sam's standard answer was that he was married to his job and that he had no time for romance.

"Sam has been a wonderful neighbor and a good friend to both me and my late husband, Paul. I live alone now since he passed away seven years ago in a fishing accident."

"Oh, I'm sorry for your loss." Laura said.

Smiling warmly Ethel said, "Thank you for that Laura, I appreciate that. It's been a long time since Paul passed, and Sam was such a help to me afterwards to get everything handled afterwards that we became even closer and better friends than when Paul was alive. When Sam is in town we often have lunch together, chat, and enjoy each other's company. He even stopped a burglar from breaking into my house once!"

"Oh my." Laura gasped as she put down her coffee.

"When did that happen?" Fenton asked.

"The attempted break-in was about two years ago in August. I had just closed the library and walked across the street to the diner for a bite to eat. I ran into Sam while I was there and we ended up having dinner together. He had come to town to get some supplies from the tackle shop so he could go fishing the next day. When we were done eating he offered to drive me home, since my car was in the shop. When we pulled into the driveway of my place, the headlights illuminated a boy trying to pry open the front door with a crowbar. The boy froze at first and then bolted when he saw Sam get out of the car. Sam ran after him but couldn't catch him in the woods. It was the strangest thing, though…" Ethel said, pausing for a moment to think.

"What was it?" Frank asked, intrigued.

"Well," Ethel resumed, "I remember Sam saying he chased the boy through the woods along the path. He'd only lost sight of him for a moment when he turned off the path and then it was like the boy simply disappeared right in front of his eyes. The woods were already dark at that point, so Sam stopped looking for the boy. The next morning, he went back to the woods and followed the same path that he had taken to see if he could figure out where the boy disappeared to, but he didn't find a single clue."

Fenton asked, "How old do you think the boy was?"

Ethel thought for a moment and said, "He was young. Probably around fourteen. He had shaggy blond hair and torn jeans. We informed the police of the attempted break in, but they didn't find anything other than the scratches on the front door and they didn't find anyone matching the description of the boy. It was as if he vanished."

Frank raised an eyebrow, responding with a skeptical "Really?" Memories of his peculiar encounter with Jason Dolton at the treatment center surfaced. The teenager was seventeen, and with his look, he fit the description perfectly. Were they the same person? Jason had claimed to be fourteen when his mother had brought him to Second Chances. A wave of curiosity overcame Frank, a mystery beckoning him, yet he knew he couldn't tackle it solo. He needed his brother and partner. Thoughts of Joe brought a pang of sadness and Frank touched his chest, yearning to feel Joe's presence again. The absence of his younger brother was weighing heavily on him and he silently prayed for Joe's swift recovery.

"As I mentioned, that happened a few years ago, and I haven't had any trouble since then," Ethel said, interrupting Frank's thoughts. "But Sam still visits me whenever he's here."

"I'm relieved you didn't get hurt during the break-in. You were fortunate to be in town at the time and to have Sam with you when you got home." Fenton replied. "I'll talk to Sam about it later, maybe there's something that we can do to find out who it was."

"That's so nice of Sam to watch over you," Laura added with a smile. "You two seem to have a lot of love for each other."

"Well, I'm not entirely certain about love, but there is a deep affection between us. I'm happy as well," Ethel remarked, glancing at the wall clock and rising to her feet she continued. "Oh dear, it's nearly two o'clock. I need to head into work. Please make yourselves comfortable. I put my phone number by the phone, so if there's anything you need, just give me a call. Oh, and Frank, I almost forgot to give these to you." She said taking a set of keys from her pocket and handing them to Frank. "There's a Durango in the rear garage. It's in top-notch condition, and Sam wanted you to have it as an early birthday gift."

"Wow, thank you." Frank said looking at the keys in surprise.

"Thank you, Ethel," Laura added as she, Fenton, and Frank got up. "If you are available please join us for lunch tomorrow."

"I would love to," Ethel said. The Hardy's all expressed their gratitude and bid farewell to the friendly woman, waving as she drove away.

After Ethel left Frank quickly went to the garage to check out the Durango. It was an older model, black and with four doors, but it was in pristine condition. It was a sight to behold. Sam was full of surprises and Frank immediately texted him his thanks.

FJFJFJFJ

That evening, Frank and Fenton unwound in Sam's living room, while Laura retreated to the bedroom upstairs. Frank had called Callie earlier, and they had spoken at great length with Frank telling her his impressions of Second Chances and Joe's treatment plan there, he shared his feelings regarding everything to do with Joe and how he longed for her to be with him before bidding her goodnight and hanging up the phone.

"This house is incredible," Frank observed, settling next to his father on the comfortable leather couch. Fenton had leaned back, with his head resting on the sofa, eyes shut; but Frank knew that he wasn't sleeping — he was merely resting, drained from his concern and worry for Joe. "Joe would adore this place. He would have dived into that water, clothing and all, as soon as we would have exited the car."

"Umm," Fenton murmured, opening his eyes and looking towards Frank. "Indeed. It would have been quite the task to get him out of the water. He would have been persuading you to dive in as well. I'm convinced that boy was born with gills."

"You're right, I probably would have joined him," Frank conceded, sinking deeper into the sofa, hands linked behind his head, mirroring his father's posture, deep in thought. It was quiet for a little bit as the two men just sat there relaxing, and then Frank asked. "Does Sam come from money? This place is remarkable. And the Durango, was a complete surprise. From his place in Bayport, I wouldn't have expected all of this."

"The car caught me by surprise as well, he didn't tell me that he was planning on giving you one," Fenton said and then sighed and massaged his tired eyes. "I knew that Sam came from Cedar Lake and that he still owned his grandparents' house where he stayed during his visits here. However, he always implied that this place was merely an old fishing cabin. I had no idea that it was something like this. It's as remarkable as you mentioned."

"Do you know why he never mentioned this house or Ethel?"

"That's a good question." Fenton said, shrugging. "You know Sam's story as well as I do. He lost his parents when he was young and grew up with his grandmother, who passed away right after he finished high school. He enlisted in the army at eighteen and later became a cop. He only started working as a PI when he moved to Bayport thirteen years ago and joined me. What his connection to Ethel Meyers and her late husband is, I have no idea."

"She seemed nice though. And it sounds like she cares about Sam." Frank said. "I wonder if he feels the same way about her?"

"I don't know about that either. You know that Sam is very private about his personal life. He would've told us if he wanted us to know, which is why I've never pressed for any of his history unless he wanted to offer the information."

"True. I guess we can't help being curious as detectives, though." Frank agreed and then exclaimed. "Oh! Dad, I think I saw the kid Ethel described who tried to break into her house!"

"You did? Where?" Fenton became alert immediately and sat up straight and then confirmed that we were talking about the same person. "The kid that Sam chased after?"

Frank nodded and told his father about his odd encounter with Jason Dolton at the rehab center. "He was seventeen, but he matched the description that Ethel gave: messy blond hair and ripped jeans. He told me that his mom dumped him at Second Chances when he was fourteen and never returned. He's apparently still living there and his dad comes to see him every once in a while." Frank continued, "He freaked out and ran off when I mentioned Joe's name. He went from confident and brash to terrified in an instant. He begged me not to tell Mr. Gregory that I had met him. He was smoking so maybe he was worried about getting caught? I don't understand why he was so afraid of Joe's name, though. And now that we know about the break-in, it makes me wonder."

"Me too," Fenton agreed, as he considered his son's tale. He checked his watch and was surprised to see that it was nearly 10 pm. "Well, it's too late to call Sam now, but I'll speak with him in the morning to see what he knows. Maybe he has some leads."

"I have a meeting with Dr. Reese at 9 am tomorrow at Second Chances," Frank said, "Maybe I can search for Jason afterwards or find out more about him while I'm visiting Joe." Frank paused and then continued, his expression despondent, "Dad, I miss Joe. It would have been nice to work on this case together."

"You'll still have an opportunity," Fenton encouraged, draping his arm over his son's shoulders and pulling him into a half hug. "Talk about a case that matters to Joe; it might just capture his interest and bring him back to us. And don't forget to mention the Durango; he'd jump at the chance to drive it first."

"That's a great idea, Dad! He has a passion for sports, cars, and captivating mysteries. This might just be what he needs to make a breakthrough!" Frank exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with hope. "I've claimed the Durango first, but I'll let him have a spin since I owe him one — especially after he sees the massive dent I put in the van. Oh, he's going to be so mad at me for that!" Filled with fresh optimism to see Joe's bright blue eyes again, the father and son made sure that the house was locked up and then went to get ready for bed so that they could rest for the days ahead.

FJFJFJFJ

Tuesday, July 23rd.

Frank glanced at the wall clock as he sat in Dr. Reese's office at Second Chances, awaiting his appointment. The secretary had informed him that Dr. Reese would be arriving shortly. He continued looking around, taking in the abstract art that adorned the walls, seamlessly integrated with the oak paneling. The room was basked in natural light which poured through the large windows, which looked over the lush and vibrant woods. The office exuded a warm, earthy allure, with decor in deep shades of orange, plum, and brown.

Sleep had been elusive for Frank the night before, and his mind was overwhelmed by a deluge of questions and anxieties, so he was already tired. As he waited he took a breath to calm himself and then exhaled slowly. Sitting there he reflected on the tumultuous events that had taken place recently. His thoughts kept turning to Joe who was still unresponsive despite their family's attempts to awaken him. His absence left a profound emptiness in Frank's life, and he longed for Joe's return to awareness.

Then there was Jason, the boy he had met here where Joe was receiving care. And Sam who had held secrets about his family's house and Ethel, his close friend and neighbor. What connected them? Was there a connection or was he grasping at straws? Thinking back, he thought that there was a good chance that the boy who tried to break into Ethel's house and disappeared into the woods could very well have been Jason Dolton, his looks and the timing of his arrival at Second Chances was just to coincidental. And thinking about him, his reaction when Frank had mentioned Joe was alarming; he had shifted from confident and brash to terrified in an instant. Why had he begged Frank to keep their discussion secret from Mr. Gregory? Was it simply fear of being reprimanded for smoking, or was it more sinister?

Arriving early for his appointment that morning Frank had walked around the grounds trying to find Jason but he had had no luck. The staff members of the rehab center point blank refused to give him any information about a patient, citing confidentiality and privacy rules. Frank sighed again, and leaned his head back against the wall. Maybe he should just drop it for now, besides, after his session with Dr. Reese, he was planning to go straight to Joe's room. He couldn't wait to see his brother's face and he hoped that when he told him about the mystery that he was trying to solve, Joe would wake up and join him. I'm here, Joe. I'm here, Frank thought as he rubbed his chest and leaned back in the brown leather chair.

"Good morning, Frank," a soft voice interrupted his contemplation. "I'm sorry that I'm late."

As Frank heard his name, he looked up to find his therapist entering the waiting room, her welcoming smile as warm as ever. Her playful personality was mirrored in her short, brown hair, styled in a bob and she was wearing a bright floral print blouse which she had paired with stylish tan dress pants and flats.

"Good morning, Dr. Reese," he greeted as he followed her into her private office. "It's OK, things happen."

She made her way around the desk to take a seat as she asked. "How are you feeling today? You look tired."

"I am," Frank confessed. "The stress of worrying about Joe and adapting to a new environment is a bit overwhelming. We had to drop everything to relocate here within days to remain close to Joe. As a result, it's sometimes difficult to get my brain to shut down so that I can sleep well."

"That's completely understandable. Adapting to new environments can be exhausting," Dr. Reese replied sympathetically, leaning forward and resting her arms on the desk. "I do have a couple of more comfortable chairs if you would prefer." she suggested, nodding towards the sitting area by the window.

"No, thank you, these are fine," Frank said, as he leaned back in his chair. "I'm eager to get done so that I can visit Joe. Did you manage to see him this morning? Was there any change?"

"Certainly," Dr. Reese responded and then regretfully continued. "And yes, I did see Joe, and I'm sorry, Frank, but there's been no change, yet."

"Is there any other kind of treatment that could be administered?" Frank asked.

"There are some options we might consider soon. If there continues to be no improvement in Joe's condition by tomorrow or the next day then I'll discuss with your family the possible treatments that we could do. Just know that we are doing everything that we can at this point and a lot of it rests on Joe." the doctor reassured him.

Frank nodded as a profound sadness settled over him, his eyes filled with grief as he turned away and looked out the window, trying to get his emotions back under control.

"Don't lose hope, Frank," Dr. Reese encouraged. "I certainly haven't. I'm confident we'll discover a way to reach Joe and get him back with us soon."

"Oh, I haven't lost faith in my brother. I'm well aware that he's struggling. I just want to join his battle, and help him as much as I can." Frank said, clutching his chest. "It just feels as though there is something that is hindering our connection."

"That may be the case," she paused and then suggested, "It could also be part of the challenge that he needs to overcome on his own. But he's scared, whatever that 'something' is, it provoked this episode."

"Of course, you're aware of the intruder who entered Joe's hospital room in Bayport. He drugged the officer that was guarding Joe," Frank said. "Thankfully, the officer had recovered, but Joe was left with akinetic catatonia from whatever his assailant did." Frank looked at his therapist and then continued, "The symptoms are similar to those when we found Joe in the cabin where Ryan Hayden had held both him and Callie captive. It took a while for him to come out of that state and I was able to help him when he reached out to me. But this time, it's different... this time, he reached out to our father."

"Dr. Reese, we were all there when Joe began calling for Dad. He was in agony and begged him to make it stop. Then he went quiet and he's been silent ever since. The mere thought of what that person may have done to my brother horrifies me... but I can't escape these thoughts and I'm hopeful that being with Dad might encourage Joe to reach out once more."

"Yes, I'm aware of what happened and I share your hope for Joe's recovery," Dr. Reese agreed.

"Last night, Dad and I were discussing a potential mystery — one that would most likely catch Joe's interest. I'm hoping that if he hears me talking about it, that it might rouse him."

"That's a possibility worth exploring," Dr. Reese agreed.

"You may be able to shed some light on the mystery?" Frank mused.

"You can ask, but I don't know if I would be able to help or answer."

"Do you know a Jason Dolton? I believe he resides here at Second Chances." Frank said and then he quickly gave her the description of the boy. "I met him yesterday and was looking forward to speaking with him again."

Dr. Reese thought for a moment before finally replying, "Yes, he is a resident here."

"I understand that doctor-patient confidentiality limits what you can share, but we had a somewhat awkward encounter yesterday, and I think that he's struggling with some issues and could use a friend. If there's anything that you can disclose, I'd like to offer my help and maybe talk with him a bit." As he spoke he decided that it was best not to mention the attempted break-in at Ethel's residence and the possibility that it could have been Jason Dolton. He also omitted telling Dr. Reese about yesterday, when Jason had appeared distressed upon hearing Joe's name, as well as begging him not to tell Mr. Gregory of their meeting.

"That's very altruistic of you, Frank. However, the only information that can be disclosed is that Jason is a deeply troubled young man with an extremely distressing history," Dr. Reese elaborated. "His childhood was fraught with challenges, and he was in the foster care system for a while."

Frank raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. "Do you know what happened to his parents? He told me yesterday that his mother had abandoned him at fourteen and that he hasn't seen her since, while his father visits him sporadically."

"The part about his mother abandoning him is correct. She is a drug addict and as far as we know she hasn't been in contact since she last saw Jason."

"Have you met his father?"

"No. As far as I know, he doesn't have one."

"Then why would Jason tell me that his father visits him sporadically?"

"I'm not certain."

Frank looked at her, perplexed. He couldn't understand the situation. "But Jason is only seventeen, which means he's still a minor. So, who gave parental consent for him to be here? Does Mr. Gregory know about this? I mean, surely he must—he would have to."

"I'm sorry, Frank, but I cannot divulge that information and I've already said too much," Dr. Reese stated. She retrieved a notepad and pen from the top drawer of her desk and then changing the subject she said, "Now, let's focus on you, shall we?"

Frank was a little bit perplexed by her response. He understood that Dr. Reese had to uphold HIPAA, but he felt that she was hiding something or knew more than what she was letting on.

"Alright," Frank agreed, temporarily shelving his inquiries about Jason Dolton.

"Your last session in Bayport marked a significant advancement in your recovery," Dr. Reese observed. "However, today we do need to address some of the issues that came up during that session. I think that the separation anxiety that both you and Joe experience should be our primary focus for this session."

"I don't see that as an issue," Frank replied, shaking his head. "Princeton is on hold for now, but I'm hoping to be on campus by next fall, provided things go well with Joe. Callie and I are still getting married, so in that regard, my life is going well."

"That's good on that part of your life, however, we still need to address the separation anxiety, Frank. I see it as a vital part of your treatment plan, especially since it's inducing stress for the both of you," Dr. Reese said as she jotted notes on her pad. "I'm cognizant of the traumatic events that you've both endured in the past…"

"Joe and I are both experienced detectives and we've handled dangerous tasks and faced threats that few can comprehend." Frank interrupted.

"I'm aware of the hazards that you and Joe regularly face in your line of work," she replied, and then she continued thoughtfully, "But you have to remember Frank, that neither you nor Joe are invulnerable."

"I'm conscious of that. Joe and I are well aware of the dangers that we face when we investigate a mystery. We've both been injured numerous times, and we look out for each other constantly. Whether it's while working on a case or just in life, we will always safeguard one another, regardless of the consequences."

"How did the two of you get along during your childhood? Were you always in harmony?"

"We've had our disagreements, as all siblings do," Frank replied with a casual shrug, "but generally, we've had a great relationship. We've always been close, and done activities together—solving mysteries was just our favorite pastime."

"Alright," she replied, making another note and then she looked up and asked, "What about individual activities? Have you and Joe participated in anything without the other one?"

"Of course! Joe has always been keen on any physical sports, but especially football. While I generally prefer karate, although I do also like football, for sports, and debates or chess, which tend to be more academic pursuits."

"Understood," Dr. Reese responded, continuing to take detailed notes. "What about solo trips? Do you remember a time when you or Joe traveled alone with one of your parents or visited your grandparents by yourself? How did you feel when you went?"

"Yeah, there is this one memory that sticks out." Frank said as he fidgeted in his seat, pausing for a bit before starting to speak again, "I was about five, so Joe must've been about four. There was this one weekend where I got to stay with my grandma and grandpa Larson—that's my mom's parents — over the summer in California. Joe was bummed out because I was off having a blast, and he was left out. So, Aunt Gertrude decided to cheer him up by taking him to her mother's place in Northport New York to visit Gramma."

"Well, that sounds interesting," Dr. Reese replied. "That must have been a special time for you."

"It was, but then Joe was sick in the hospital in New York so the trip was cut short. I had to fly back home with my grandparents."

"Really?" Dr. Reese asked.

"Yes," Frank nodded, recalling the memory. "I remember that both Grandma and Grandpa were frantic. When we finally arrived at the hospital, my mom was with Joe in his room. Come to think of it, I'm not certain where Dad was, but I distinctly remember seeing Joe lying in the bed with bandages on his head and face, and he was crying. They allowed me to give Joe a hug to comfort him and I think that we ended up falling asleep together in the bed."

"Go on," Dr. Reese said, nodding for him to continue as she took more notes.

"I do recall waking up and hearing my parents arguing outside the room, I noticed that Dad..." Frank's voice trailed off, "I pretended to be asleep but had my eyes open just enough to see that there was a haunted look on his face. I had never seen that look before and when he peeked into the room and saw me and Joe on the bed, his eyes lingered on Joe."

"After that everyone, my parents, grandparents, and Aunt Gertrude were all acting super protective and anxious, but I didn't understand why. Ever since then, I've been constantly reminded to watch over Joe. Everywhere that we went, whether it was family outings or working on a case, it was always, 'Keep an eye on your brother.'" Frank looked at his therapist and added, "And I've failed at that job. There have been so many times where I have failed to protect him."

Raising an eyebrow at his comment Dr. Reese asked, "Frank, what exactly do you mean by saying it's your job?"

"There are so many times where I have failed to protect Joe. Things like when Jack Hayden's henchmen abducted him from the Morton farm. Just prior to that Joe and I had an argument over Henry or Jake or whatever he's calling himself now. Joe left to calm down after he got angry, and I shouldn't have let him go alone. That's when they took him. For three days, we feared that Joe was dead... fortunately, he wasn't, except that when we found him he had been shot in the leg. He nearly died from blood loss and the severe infection which had already developed by the time he was found. Before that, I couldn't shield him from Jack Hayden's mistreatment when we were being held captive in that basement," Frank recounted, his mind involuntarily reverting to that harrowing day and he unconsciously rubbed his wrists, flashing back to his wrists being bound to the bedpost as he laid on a grimy mattress, Hayden looming over him with a belt in hand, poised to strike.

"Frank, not only did Jack Hayden mistreat Joe, but he mistreated you as well," Dr. Reese interjected trying to get him to acknowledge that, but Frank continued unabated.

"Had my father and the police not arrived when they did, I would have been complicit in the beating. It was my duty as his brother to intervene. Under no circumstances would I have permitted Hayden to attack Joe with that belt," he said, choking back his angry tears. "Yet, despite my best efforts, Joe still suffered. Hayden tormented him with a knife, the rats, that closet... The terror in Joe's eyes; I was helpless to stop it. There was nothing that I could do and my hands were tied. The only thing that I could do was watch. Then, I failed again two months ago, when I didn't protect him at the hospital and I left Joe alone in order to chase after Ryan Hayden, and then again later when I confronted Ryan on Henry's floor. It was necessary though; Ryan had come out of hiding with the intent to kill Joe. Nevertheless, I lost him during the chase and he disappeared. Fast forward to a few days ago, when Ryan Hayden viciously assaulted Joe with his belt."

"I should have shielded Joe better; so, it's my fault that he was tortured. It's as if I handed the belt to Ryan myself—every strike, the bruises and the welts that he suffered; that's all on me," Frank said as his rage at the injustice done to his brother continued to simmer within him. Frank started rubbing his chest and then abruptly stood up, "Joe is my younger brother. As his older brother, I have to protect him, and I failed!" With that, Frank stormed out of the office and slammed the door behind him before Dr. Reese could offer a single word in response.