19Hello everyone, I'm back with the latest chapter sorry for the delay real life has been busy. Thank you to everyone for leaving me wonderful reviews, following, favorites, or just reading. And thank you to my beta for your help with my story. Again, just a heads up there is talk of sexual content mentioned in this chapter. Here's the new chapter let me know your thoughts.
The fourth installment of the Hardy Boys Pressure Series: Second Chances
Chapter 4
At his mother's request, Frank returned home after his therapy session with Dr. Reese was finished. He was still upset by the morning's events and disappointed that he couldn't continue to visit his brother at the rehab center. He felt reassured knowing that his mother had stayed with Joe during his checkup and that she wouldn't let anything happen to him. Frank just wanted to be the reliable brother that Joe could depend on and he was determined to support his brother no matter what. He rubbed the spot on his chest where he always felt Joe's presence, trying to let Joe know that he was there for him. As Frank entered the house he saw his father arranging hamburger patties in the kitchen on a large platter and he headed towards him.
"Hello son," Fenton said as Frank sat down at the island.
"Hey, Dad."
"How was your session with Dr. Reese?"
"Eventful," Frank replied, drumming his hands on the countertop. "For starters, I nearly got kicked out of Second Chances because I got into an argument with Joe's doctor. Luckily, Mom came in and calmed me down and Mr. Gregory understood our concerns."
"Oh, what was the problem?" Fenton asked, his worry evident in his tone.
"Let's just say that the nurse assisting him brought back a lot of bad memories." Frank began, and then quickly recounted his disagreement with Dr. Stephens. "I'm sorry, Dad. It's just that when I saw the nurse, I lost my cool. I mean, I know in my head that she isn't the deranged nurse who hurt Joe, but everything that happened to him is still fresh and it's difficult to trust others with his care, especially people who look so much like the ones that hurt him."
"I understand Frank. All of our emotions are heightened right now," Fenton replied. "There's so much that we don't know simply because we haven't heard Joe's perspective yet. When he awakens, and Frank, he will wake up, not only will he have to deal with the physical repercussions of being in this state, but he'll have to confront and come to terms with the entire Hayden episode again. And that's not even considering the incident with the man who broke into his hospital room and whatever he did which caused Joe to retreat into his mind."
"I know, I'm just glad that Mom talked some sense into me. I don't want to do anything that would prevent me from seeing Joe." Frank said, exhaling sharply and shaking his head. "After my appointment with Dr. Reese, Mom wanted me to come home to rest and to collect my thoughts. I'm grateful that she's staying with Joe for his checkup, after what happened in Bayport he shouldn't be alone. Speaking of rest, I thought you were supposed to be resting too? At least that's what Mom said." Frank pointed out.
"I tried, but my mind was too busy," Fenton admitted, as he placed the last patty on the plate. After washing his hands, he approached Frank. "I decided to distract myself by preparing lunch. Since Ethel cooked yesterday, I thought that I'd grill some burgers for us to enjoy out on the deck," he said with a smile. Frank, noticing the dark circles under his father's eyes, appreciated his attempt to find some relief from the stress.
"Dad, are you okay? Mom mentioned that you're worried about visiting Joe tomorrow."
Fenton took a deep breath. "She's right. It seems silly to worry about visiting my son, but I'm afraid to do anything that might cause a worse reaction from Joe."
"I realize the burden and stress that we've placed on you, and I apologize for anything that I've done to contribute to it. But Dad, it's not silly to want to repair your relationship with Joe and supporting him through his rehab is a positive step," Frank said. "We're confident that you'll do your best and give it your all, and that's all that can be asked of any one of us, especially with everything that's been happening."
"Thanks son. I'll do my best. It's just that hearing Joe's voice or even seeing him move voluntarily would be a blessing at this point." Fenton replied, leaning across the island and squeezing Frank's shoulder. "With everything that happened this morning did you at least have a chance to visit your brother?"
"I did get to see Joe for a little bit," said Frank, his voice tinged with sadness. "But there's been no change. He just lies there, staring at the wall. I even mentioned the Durango and the new mystery to him, but he didn't react at all."
"It's going to take time," Fenton murmured, then sighing he continued. "I think that we just need to wait for him to work out whatever is keeping him in this condition. We have to trust that he will come back to us when he is ready."
"That's what everyone keeps saying—you, Mom, Dr. Reese. I've even said it to Joe, trying to convince myself that he'll wake up when he's ready. But the waiting is difficult. At least Mom's there with him right now; that's a small comfort. She's promised to let us know what happened during Joe's check-up. Hopefully, there will be some good news." As he spoke, Frank rubbed his chest, looking for a sign, any hint from his brother, and longing for that recognizable pang. A surge of sorrow overwhelmed him as he still sensed nothing.
"I hope so too," Fenton replied. Noticing his eldest son's disappointment, he walked around the island and sat next to him, placing a comforting arm around his shoulders and drawing him into a half hug.
Wanting to change the subject Frank said, "I tried to locate Jason this morning but wasn't successful. The rehab center staff refused to disclose any patient information, citing confidentiality and privacy regulations."
"I thought as much," Fenton remarked, understanding his son's need to shift the conversation.
Frank went on, "I talked with Dr. Reese about him as well. She is bound by the same restrictions as the rest of the staff, but since he isn't her patient she just talked about general information. However, she did verify how long Jason's been at Second Chances and the fact that his mother, who apparently struggled with drug addiction, had left him there. As far as she knows they don't have any current information on her, or if she's even still alive. She said that he had been in and out of foster care for a while. Then something odd happened…" Frank's voice trailed off.
"What?" asked Fenton.
"When I asked about Jason's father, Dr. Reese mentioned that she had never encountered him. She implied he was practically non-existent, which contradicts Jason's statements that his father occasionally visits. Given that Jason is only seventeen and is still a minor, it also begs the question: who is his legal guardian? Mr. Gregory must know about this situation; he has to for the legal implications alone. Dr. Reese didn't confirm it but I think she was concealing something. She appeared like she wanted to say more but was constrained by her professional responsibilities and the need for confidentiality."
"That is very strange," Fenton agreed. "Although I understand Dr. Reese's situation, maybe another person might have the information that we're looking for."
"Mr. Gregory?" Frank suggested.
Fenton nodded.
"Are you going to talk to him?"
"Yes, that's my plan. First, I want to thank him for managing the situation with Dr. Stephens and for permitting your mother to be present during Joe's examination. It would have unsettled and panicked Joe if he woke up while it was happening, so I want to make sure that he knows that we want one of us present whenever possible during those exams. Second, I want to delve deeper into Jason's case and figure out why the mention of Joe's name seemed to trouble him," Fenton stated.
"I want to know that as well," Frank added.
"I spoke with Sam, who confirmed what Ethel said of the attempted break in and the boy disappearing into the woods behind her house following the confrontation. I've provided him with Jason's name, and he's starting to do some digging into his background. Hopefully, Sam will discover something soon." Fenton said.
"I hope so," Frank replied before asking, "What else did Sam say?"
Fenton recounted the information that Sam had given him about the Sea Spray. How Ethel's late husband, Paul, used to work for the company and he worked with Ethel's father, handling maritime shipping and loading seafood onto the trucks and even driving for him.
"Ethel never told us that her husband worked for the Sea Spray," Frank said in surprise.
"I know," Fenton said. "When I mentioned Ethel's account of Paul's accident, Sam confirmed that it happened on the Sea Spray. According to Sam, it was reported that there was an accident on the boat and as a result Paul fell overboard and his body was never found. After seven years, he was legally declared dead. Sam was somewhat vague about the details and it seems there were things that he didn't want to discuss regarding Paul."
"Hmm, I wonder what that's about?" Frank said, then he asked, "Did Sam provide any updates on the maintenance worker who was in Joe's room?" Seeing his father's face pale, a horrible feeling started in the pit of Frank's stomach. "Dad, what's wrong? What did they find?"
"Have you checked the news this morning or looked at social media by any chance?" Fenton asked as his stomach churned, not wanting to break the news to Frank.
"Not really," Frank admitted slowly. "I've been with Joe so I haven't paid attention to anything else. Why? What did they find out?"
"I'm somewhat relieved you haven't seen the news because I'd rather that you hear it from me. There is news, and it's not good," Fenton said.
"Okay," Frank said, as he looked expectantly at his father and braced himself for what he was about to hear.
"The maintenance worker who broke into Joe's room at the hospital was a man by the name of Kirk Shepherd. Frank, Shepherd is a registered sex offender from Las Vegas. He was supposed to be serving a 10-year sentence for sexual acts with a minor and child pornography however he escaped from the Nevada State Prison a few weeks ago in a laundry truck and boarded a white single-engine plane. His current whereabouts are unknown."
"Let me guess," Frank said, his eyes narrowing. "Shepherd conveniently managed to slip into Bayport and find his way to Joe's hospital room. Why do I think that there is more to that than what we know."
"It's certainly a possibility," Fenton replied as he nodded thoughtfully. "The plane he boarded was privately owned, which suggests that he knew the pilot. However, their identity and where the plane currently is remains a mystery. The search for Shepherd is still ongoing, and everyone is committed to finding him."
"Could Shepherd be the one that caused Joe's catatonic state?" Frank asked, anger coloring his tone. "After the incident with that deranged nurse, and now this! When will his suffering end? It feels like someone is targeting Joe and trying to dismantle him piece by piece. If this continues he might not be able to pull himself out of this. Dad, we have to find Shepherd! I won't stand by and watch Joe get hurt anymore. If Shepherd lays a finger on him, it won't end with threats—I'll act."
"Mind what you say Frank. Sam's handling it." Fenton advised, sounding as composed as possible. "He's on Shepherd's trail and will update us as he gets any information. I promise you that we will keep Joe safe. For now, we need to remain calm; Joe's recovery has to be our main concern. Your mother is right; we have to conserve our energy and focus our determination. We'll discuss this later when we won't be interrupted. Now, Ethel will be here shortly for lunch. You've got a little bit of time to rest, maybe take a shower and change. Your mother should be back soon and she'll update us about Joe's exam," Fenton said reassuringly as he patted Frank's shoulder. "So, please, go ahead."
"Okay, but there is something that I need to talk to you about later, so don't let me forget." Frank nodded, his mind still spinning from the shock. Following his father's suggestion, he got up and went upstairs to shower and rest.
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After he had showered and changed his clothes, Frank lay on the bed, taking in the spacious room. It was twice the size of his room in Bayport and was decorated with oak trim, a matching warm hardwood floor, inviting colors, and pristine white linens. Along the one wall, there was the closet, a bookshelf, and a comfortable chair situated on a woven rug. On the other side of the wall, was an identical room for his brother, whenever he was able to come home. Frank missed Joe deeply, but he was determined to protect him no matter the cost. Restless, Frank couldn't sleep as his mind was spinning. After getting up and staring out the window for a sense of calm, he gave up trying to nap and turned on the computer that Phil had left them, the HC Cyber logo appearing on the screen as it booted up. Navigating to a search engine he typed in Kirk Shepherd's name and found several news articles about him and read through them, feeling disgusted by the details. The words in the articles that stood out to him were sexual acts with a minor and child pornography. He couldn't believe that the man who broke into Joe's hospital room in Bayport was capable of such heinous acts and he just hoped that Shepherd hadn't done anything like that to Joe.
He paused for a moment, trying to make sense of everything that had happened. How did Shepherd know Joe's exact location? It was too convenient to believe that Shepherd had managed to escape from prison, find a plane with a pilot that he knew, and make his way to Bayport, where he disguised himself as a maintenance worker and located Joe in the hospital. Not to mention taking out the police officer outside Joe's room, sneaking in, and doing something that had caused Joe to go into shock.
The question remained, had Joe been the intended target, or was there more to it? He had a nagging feeling that something was not right. As Frank sat there thinking another thought came to mind, this was the third mystery that had surfaced, the second being about the mysterious boy, Jason Dolton, from the rehab center. Of course, the first is to find the person who was causing Joe to hide himself in his mind. Frank was certain that his father held the key to that part of the mystery. The more that he thought about it the more that Joe seemed to be an integral part of all three mysteries. The question was, why?
Frank was lost in his thoughts when his cell phone abruptly rang, startling him. Looking at his phone he saw Callie's name appeared on the caller ID for a video chat, and a smile lit up his face. Answering it he saw Callie's face fill his screen.
"Hey there, beautiful," Frank greeted Callie.
"Hey yourself, handsome," Callie replied, her smile radiating through the phone.
Seeing a window adorned with white lacy curtains behind Callie, Frank asked, "Are you at your apartment?"
"Yes, I'm here. My classes at Bayport University don't start until the fall," replied Callie. "I'm just finishing decorating my bedroom, Vanessa has been helping me. We went shopping and together we selected my new bedroom set. That being said, I'm looking forward to it becoming 'our' place when you return from Princeton if you're still on board with the idea of moving in together."
"Is your computer nearby?" Frank asked.
"Yep,"
"Great. Let's switch to a video chat on our computers," suggested Frank.
"Sure, that sounds good to me," agreed Callie, and they ended the phone call to start a FaceTime conversation on their computers.
"Much better," Frank commented as he saw Callie's face on the screen. Continuing the conversation, he said, "I haven't forgotten about our plans to live together. They've just been postponed until next fall, like Princeton."
"Okay, now onto an important question. With everything that happened do you still want to marry me?" Callie asked softly, displaying her engagement ring. "I would understand if you changed your mind, or if you wanted to wait longer before making a decision."
Frank reassured Callie of his love and commitment to building a future together, yet stressed that neither of them was ready for marriage. He underscored the importance of an ideal wedding that would fulfill both of their dreams and include their loved ones, especially his brother. Callie agreed that they would wait to marry until they had at least graduated from college. She wanted to concentrate on her studies and her own personal development before making that commitment. Callie was certain that when the time came, they would have a magnificent wedding surrounded by family and friends, with Joe there to support his brother. She professed her love for Frank and her willingness to wait until they were both completely ready to take their vows.
"Good. Now that we've cleared that up," Frank said, chuckling. "Let's switch topics."
Callie giggled and said, "I just wanted to make sure that we're both on the same page. What's on your mind?"
"You said that Vanessa helped you to decorate the apartment?"
"Yes, she's been a huge help. She has a great eye for design and helped me to arrange the whole apartment. She'll be staying with me over the summer since her mom's been working long hours at Mr. Cohen's New York office, and the commute from Bayport is tough, so she'll mostly be staying in New York. Vanessa prefers Bayport, so I invited her to stay with me so that way she wouldn't be alone in her house and her mom agreed. Last night, we spent time talking, and getting to know each other. We ended up ordering take-out and watching movies."
"It sounds like you're becoming good friends," Frank said, smiling.
"Yeah, I've missed having a girlfriend to shop with, talk about girl stuff, and just be girls," Callie replied, giving him a small smile. "I used to do that with Iola, but after..."
"I know, you miss Iola," Frank interjected softly. "I do too, but Vanessa's been a good friend to me, and I'm sure she'll be one to you too. I like her and I'm comfortable with her dating my brother. I trust her with him, especially after she defended us from Jake with that bat."
"I'm grateful for what she did. For a moment, I thought that Jake would shoot you and I can't imagine what I'd do if you..." Her voice trailed off.
"Where's Vanessa now?" Frank quickly asked, changing the subject.
Relieved Callie replied, "She's gone home to get some things. We're planning on having lunch when she gets back." Pausing, she added, "We've been talking about you and Joe, and we miss you both. We're thinking about visiting this Saturday for your birthday."
"You're coming this Saturday?" Frank asked, startled.
"Yes, and your aunt will be driving up with us as well. Your father called this morning to invite us. Vanessa and I had thought about making it a surprise, but considering everything going on with Joe, we decided that it would be best to let you know about it in advance. Biff and Chet are eager to come too. Prito's is busy with the summer crowd, and Tony is trying to get some time off from the restaurant; so, if he can't come on Saturday, he plans to be there on Sunday. What do you think?"
"I miss you too, and I'm sure that Joe misses Vanessa as well," Frank replied. "I think it's great that you all want to visit. I know you're eager to see Joe, but you might not all be able to get to see him, as Second Chances have strict policies in place. We'll need Mom and Dad to arrange it with Mr. Gregory."
"We understand that, Frank," said Callie. "How is Joe doing? Has there been any change?"
"No change. He's just lying in his bed and staring at the wall. I brought up the Durango and the new mystery but got no reaction. I almost got thrown out of Second Chances this morning though. Thankfully, Mom was there to calm me down, and Mr. Gregory was sympathetic to our worries."
Callie replied, "I'm relieved that Mr. Gregory was understanding about your concerns for Joe. It would have been terrible if you couldn't see him, especially since I know that you're one of the first people that he would want to see."
Frank continued talking about Joe's upcoming challenges after a tough time with Dr. Stephens and his nurse. He was thankful for his mother's support and hopeful about his father's upcoming visit with Joe.
"I hope so, Frank. I really do hope that Joe wakes up soon." Callie said.
"Dad's nervous. He's afraid Joe will have a bad reaction when he sees him. I'm trying my best to encourage Dad to stay positive." He said then he inquired. "How is everything in Bayport?"
"The whole town is on edge because of the nationwide manhunt going on." Callie said, frowning. "A convict escaped from a Nevada prison a few days ago and he was apparently seen in Bayport. The guy's name is Kirk Shepherd, and, according to the news, he's a registered sex offender who committed terrible acts against a child. The police chief and the mayor have issued a curfew and are enforcing it. No one's allowed outside after 10 PM until this man is caught or been sighted elsewhere."
Frank closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and remembered his father's words about Shepherd. "Yeah, I heard. They think that he might be the maintenance worker who entered Joe's room," he said.
Callie gasped. "Oh no, Frank. Do you think he's the one who caused Joe to go catatonic?"
"It's possible," Frank replied.
"Poor Joe, that's horrible," Callie said shaking her head.
As Frank was about to respond something caught his eye. Looking out the window and across the lake to see what it was he saw movement in the wooded area. Wanting to investigate further he turned back to Callie. "Callie, I have to go. Can I call you later tonight?"
"Is everything okay?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.
"Yes, I just need to check something outside. I'll call you tonight. I promise."
"Okay. Be careful, and I love you."
"Love you too."
Frank quickly ended the call and shut down his computer. Moving back to the window he peered across the lake, noticing a shaggy blond figure moving among the trees. He watched as the figure paused by a large oak tree, glanced around nervously, and then secreted something within a hollow in the tree before hurrying away. The figure was too far away to identify but they did bear a striking resemblance to Jason Dolton, but that seemed impossible as he was currently supposed to be at Second Chances. Could it be him? Driven by a sense of urgency, Frank dashed from his room, ran down the stairs and through the kitchen, and burst out the door, ignoring his father's concerned calls.
As he ran along the lake's edge toward the woods, Frank paused to survey the area and catch his breath. Seeing the tree where he had seen the figure he hurried over to the spot, but when he got there, there was no sign of anyone. Looking around once more, he assessed the area and spotted a trail of broken branches and twigs leading towards footprints, indicating that someone had hastily passed through the area.
Wanting to see where they lead Frank, followed the footprints along the path and over a hill towards the lake, where they abruptly ended. Frank was puzzled as to where the person had gone. It seemed impossible that the person could have walked into the lake without him currently seeing any sight of them. As he observed the area he noticed the boats sailing in the distance, but they were to far for anyone to have hitched a ride so quickly. He walked back to the tree where he had spotted the person hiding something in it. Looking over the tree he saw something white in the hollow which caught his eye. Reaching in, he pulled out a small, folded piece of paper. Unfolding it he saw a scribbled name, "Allen Rogers."
"Allen Rogers?" Frank murmured. "That's the name of the man that Sam said was the current owner of the Sea Spray. What does this mean? Who hid the note in the tree? If that was indeed Jason, was he looking for me? If so, how did he know where to find me and that I would see him hiding the note? And why leave it?" He realized this was yet another piece of the puzzle involving Jason, and again somehow Joe was connected too. He couldn't fathom how his little brother was involved. How he wished that Joe would awaken so he could hopefully provide some answers to all of these questions that they had. "But maybe the clue is right here in my hands," Frank thought, as he stared at the name on the paper.
He quickly returned to the house to tell his father what he had seen and found. Frank gave the note to Fenton as he detailed the path of snapped branches and footprints that had led to the lake which ended abruptly. Fenton, puzzled by the connection to Jason Dolton and his youngest son's catatonic state at Second Chances, agreed that they should further investigate the owner of the Sea Spray. If the person who hid the note was indeed Jason Dolton, they needed to know what in the world it had to do with Joe.
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Laura arrived home just before lunch and updated Frank and Fenton on Joe's current condition. Her voice grave she said, "He's still catatonic. However, his back injuries are healing well. Dr. Stephens believes that the scarring should be minimal, and that the swelling in his leg has gone down a great deal. However, the longer that Joe remains catatonic and not moving, the more his muscles will atrophy. The doctor have scheduled him to begin physical therapy tomorrow to try to ward off some of the muscle atrophy. The therapist is expected in the morning at 9, so you'll have the chance to meet him, Fenton.'
"That is promising. Hopefully, the regular activity will help to rouse him. We all know that Joe is not one for inactivity, even as a baby he was always on the move." Fenton replied.
"That's exactly what I'm hoping for," Laura said.
"Mom, how was Dr. Stephens after I left?" Frank asked.
"He was very professional and quite respectful and attentive to Joe," Laura answered.
"There's something about Dr. Stephens that really worries me," Frank said.
"What do you mean?" Fenton asked. "What about him is bothering you?"
"It's how he interacted with both Mom and I. He got defensive when I requested a different nurse for Joe and he didn't recognize Mom initially until she introduced herself again. Then, everything changed when Mr. Gregory came. Dr. Stephens was arguing with him until Mr. Gregory silenced him with just a single look. It was fleeting, but I swear that the doctor went pale, and I think he was trembling.' Frank explained.
"Interesting," Fenton mused.
"Mom, who was the nurse who replaced Marla and how did that go?" Frank asked.
"Joe's new nurse, Sarah, took exceptional care of him. I watched as she bathed him and dressed him in clean clothes."
"Joe didn't react to that at all?" Frank said, continuing to rub his chest in the hope of sensing Joe.
"No, he didn't respond at all, even though I spoke to him the whole time," Laura said sadly shaking her head and then changing the subject. "Now that I've updated you both, what's left that needs to be done before we have company?"
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At noon, Ethel joined the Hardy's on their deck for a meal. They enjoyed the food that had been prepared and when they were finished Ethel thanked them for their hospitality. Fenton and Laura responded with appreciation for Ethel's previous kindness and ongoing help and support to Laura. As they were sitting around talking Laura noticed Frank's troubled look and asked if his meal had been all right as he hadn't eaten much.
"Huh, oh, sorry, Mom," Frank mumbled, looking up from his plate, aware of the concerned looks from Ethel and his parents. He dismissed his worries and cleared his throat, "I guess I'm just not that hungry."
"Is it about your brother?" Ethel asked gently.
"Yes, I miss him," he confessed, rubbing at his chest, longing for his brother's company again.
Concerned at Frank's actions, Ethel asked, "Frank, are you in pain?"
"No," Frank responded, shaking his head. "I'm just trying to connect with Joe."
Fenton and Laura shared a look of understanding.
"What do you mean, 'attempting to connect with Joe'?" Ethel asked perplexed.
"The boys share a deep connection and as a result, they are able to communicate emotionally," Laura clarified.
"Is it something like telepathy?" Ethel asked. "I've read about theories that twins will often have telepathic abilities. Are you and Joe twins?"
"It's similar to that. The bond that I share with Joe feels distant right now. I think that it's the recent issues involving Joe and his attempts to communicate with Dad," Frank elaborated. "And no, we're not twins; there's about a year's difference between us."
"I'm still confused," Ethel admitted.
"We might not understand the connection, but that's not necessary. We have seen proof of it time and again, so we just trust in what the boys say," Fenton added.
"We'd do anything to help to restore their connection," Laura affirmed.
"Then let's hope for its return," Ethel said, and seeing that the conversation was getting the Hardy's down she changed the topic and asked. "Have you had a chance to visit the town yet?"
"No, we've been so preoccupied with Joe's situation and getting him settled that we haven't had the chance," Laura replied.
"I have the day off from the library tomorrow. If you'd like, we can go to town and I can show you around, introduce you to some people, and take you to the shops," Ethel suggested. "If you would like to have lunch there's a popular restaurant called the Fisherman's Catch that serves the best seafood around."
"Thank you, Ethel, that's very kind of you," Fenton said. "Unfortunately, I won't be able to go as tomorrow is my turn to visit Joe, however, I'm sure that Laura would enjoy going."
"Oh yes, that would be lovely, I've been wanting to go and see the town," Laura replied. "Thank you, Ethel."
Turning to Frank, Ethel asked, "How about you, Frank? Would you like to join us?"
"Thank you, Ethel, but I'd..." Frank started to decline the invitation, but then he paused and thought that this could be a good opportunity to do some investigating, and to get to know the town and learn more about Allen Rogers and the Sea Spray, "I'd love to."
"Wonderful," Ethel beamed. Then her smile tightened as she added, "I heard about a nationwide manhunt on the news this morning. Apparently, a convict escaped from a Nevada prison and is now on the loose. I heard that he was last seen only a few hours away from here, so I hope that he's apprehended soon."
The Hardys exchanged knowing glances, and Fenton replied with a sigh, "We all do."
"Ethel, do you know Allen Rogers?" Frank asked abruptly changing the subject.
"Allen Rogers?" Ethel asked, taking a moment to reflect. "The name does ring a bell. How do you know him?"
"Sam mentioned to Dad that Allen Rogers is the owner of the Sea Spray," Frank blurted out, "He said that the company employed your husband Paul. There were reports of an accident on the boat; Paul went overboard and was never recovered. I..."
"Frank, that's enough!" Fenton said cutting Frank off as his mother laid a hand on his arm to silence him.
Tears were visible in Ethel's eyes as she turned toward the lake and Frank regretted his lack of tact. He knew that he couldn't let his depression show and take over; his main focus had to be on regaining his composure and solving the mystery at hand.
"Ethel, I'm truly sorry. I didn't mean to upset you," Frank said regretfully. "That was inconsiderate of me. I know how hard it is to talk about losing someone close."
"It's okay, Frank," Ethel responded, wiping away a tear before looking at him. "Today marks seven years since I lost Paul. The last time that I saw him we argued before he left on the Sea Spray. We were both angry and much to my regret that was the last time I ever saw him."
"If I may ask," Fenton interjected, "what happened that day?"
"I don't mind sharing, though I never found out the full details," Ethel answered, pausing momentarily. "I remember getting a call that there was a mishap on the boat during the storm that raged that day. The captain said that Paul was lost overboard, and they couldn't find his body so they presumed that the sea claimed him."
As she spoke she stared at the lake, reflecting on that day, and then taking a deep breath she regained her poise and faced Frank again.
"I apologize, Frank, the name Allen Rogers does indeed ring a bell; he was partly why Paul and I argued that day..." Her voice trailed off and then she stood up suddenly, "Oh, I've just remembered, I have an errand that I need to run. I must go. Thank you, Fenton, for the lovely lunch, and my gratitude to all for the invitation."
"You're welcome, Ethel," Fenton responded as he, Laura, and Frank got up, confusion at her abrupt departure evident on their faces.
"Laura, Frank, would 10 a.m. be suitable for our excursion into town?" Ethel asked.
"Yes, that's perfect," Laura answered, and Frank nodded his agreement.
"Excellent, it's decided then. I'll see you both tomorrow at 10. Now, I must be off," Ethel declared.
After bidding farewell to the Hardy's, Ethel quickly left. The family remained sitting on the deck, pondering the sudden turn of events.
"What do you make of that?" Laura asked, turning toward the direction Ethel had left.
"I'm not sure," Fenton replied, "But I think it's apparent that we need to find out who this Allen Rogers is."
"I'm on it, Dad," Frank said.
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That evening, Frank called Callie back to tell her about the rest of his day and why he had suddenly signed off. Callie was puzzled by the connection between Jason Dolton and Joe's condition and when Frank said that they were investigating the owner of the Sea Spray, Callie wished him luck, urged caution, and expressed her confidence that he would solve the mystery for Joe's sake. They exchanged 'I love you's' and 'goodnights' before ending the call and going to bed.
FJFJFJFJFJ
That same evening, a shadowy presence loomed by Joe's bedside, his gaze fixed on his frosty blue eyes. "It won't be long, my pet," the presence whispered, "and you'll be with me again." The figure's voice dripped with anticipation. "It's remarkable what a delicious creature that you've grown into over the years. The thought of immersing myself inside you is intoxicating." The room seemed to close in around them as the figure leaned closer. "However, we must wait for just the right time, my pet." His red-jeweled finger traced Joe's hairline. "When that time comes, we'll finish what we started, for you will forever be my special boy." With a final smile, the figure melted into the shadows and vanished.