Chapter 11

After continuing to search a while longer, the group decided to gather up the clues they did find and head back to the Hardy home where Fenton and Timothy Blake were most likely going crazy by now awaiting news from the kidnappers. Frank now however felt atleast a little more enthusiastic requarding the piece of paper they found, a receipt actually and the info they had collected earlier. They also took the copy of the surveilence tape with them. Frank knew that Collig might not be too happy at the thought that they had practically ignored his warning to aid in the case, but then again he should not only expect it by now but learn to appreciate the help. Which Frank suspected would be the case. Frank never really admitted just how much he admired the Chief. While Joe and Collig's relationship seemed to have begun just a bit on the shaky side, given both their stubborn personalities, Frank's more reasonable and mature personality immediatly impressed the big man and helped to get both the boys out some sticky situations, especially on quite a few occasions where the Chief could have easily thrown their butts in the county jail for obstruction. What Frank wasn't aware of was the fact t although, Ezra knew great things were in the future for the elder Hardy boy, It was Joe whom the Chief suspected would turn to a life as one of Bayports Finest, perhaps even land the Job as Chief someday. Had either of the boys realized that this man who often greeted them with an air of total annoyance , held them in such high requard then they would probably be tickled pink. They pulled back into the Hardy driveway, relieved to find that the police actually did their job and managed to clear the area of all media. Atleast they hoped,especially since they were all physically and emtionally wiped out.  

Laura Hardy opened the door the moment she heard the sound of cars pulling up the long driveway. Frank saw the hopeful look on hid mothers pretty face, his heart ached to give her what she most wanted at the moment. Frank fell into her tiny frame and held his mother tightly yet with a gentleness which caused a lump to form in more then one throat. The others felt for these two sad people and suddenly ached for their own parents as well. Phil held his hand out to reach for Velma who gratefully accepted it and returned the gesture with a gentle squeeze and a warm smile. Phil Cohen blushed again and led his new girlfriend into the Hardy home. There was still work to be done and they all needed to recoup their strength for Daphne and Joe's sake.  

"Hi Mom" Frank said softly as he was engulfed in his mother's arms.  

"Hi honey, I am so glad you are home. I missed you so much Franky" She whispered back to her oldest child. Laura held onto Frank for as long as possible, afraid to let him go in fear that he too might be lost to her . The others quietly passed by the pair unwilling to interrupt such a tender moment.  

"Laura Honey, I thought I heard a car drive up who....." Fenton Hardy began as he entered the room, then stopped abruptly as he took

in the scene. His heart both warmed and broke at the sight of his beloved wife holding on to their son so tightly. Fenton felt a surge of

guilt because he was not able to prevent this or as of yet stop it and he was not able to provide the same kind of comfort that his wife could only get from Frank. Only Joe's safe return could provide all of them with the comfort and peace of mind they needed. Laura must have realized that she was holding on a bit too long because she heard Frank groan, Fenton stepped up to his family and gently

tapped her on the shoulder. Laura finally released her son with an exausted apologetic look.  

"Laura, come on darling let's go sit down on the couch a bit so Frank can catch us up to date shall we?" Her husband suggested, the arm on her shoulder lovingly guiding his wife to the living room. She turned back to Frank for a second. 

"I'm sorry dear if I.." 

"Shh..it's ok mom no harm done. It was needed and appreciated"  

"Thanks, I am so proud of you, I just don't know what I would do with out you..without both of..." She turned her head trying to push the torrent of tears which once again threatend to spill. Instead she buried her tired golden haired head into her husbands chest. Fenton gave his wife a gentle squeeze and reached out to grasp his son's hand.  

"Please Frank, tell us you've come up with something, I've been trying all afternoon but between Collig breathing down my kneck and

having to play host to the Blake family, I haven't exactly been able to put my own skills to use. " His father said apologeticlly. Frank and Laura both knew that this must be driving him crazy. Especially the fact that he is probably one of the few people who probably

could find Joe and Daphne faster than the police. It was at this point when Mr. and Mrs. Blake came into the room, they too needed to hear what Frank had to say and soon the whole group had gathered, except for Phil and Velma who chose to stay seated at the Dining room table with the lap top. They wanted to check the info on the receipt.

"I hope so dad" Frank told them about the receipt they found, the fact that it was in the back alley at the scene of the crime, was one thing, but it was also dated minutes before it happened. Frank had remembered the time clearly as being 3:40 P.M. because Joe had just started his shift at 3: 00 and their own food receipt had been dated just before that because they always paid before they got their food at Mr. Pizza. Fred had already compared it to their own receipt which was timed moments before the one in question.  

"So the kidnappers were in Mr. Pizza?" Laura Hardy asked. Freddie held up the video tape and handed it to Fenton. Plus the file they had printed out from the internet. Fenton skimmed the file, his face draining of all color.  

"What is it Mr. Hardy?" Maria Blake asked, the look on the man's face made her shake with an even deeper fear for her little girls safety. 

"Timothy, do you recall having a business relationship with a Victoria Butler?" Fenton asked after looking to his son, Frank nodded for him to continue. Timothy Blake turned pale as well.  

"Fenton, may I please see that file!?" Fenton handed the man the file, Timothy proceeded to look it over and then abruptly shut it, His hands were shaking by now, Numbly he tried to conceal this from his wife and the worried onlookers in the Hardy household. His wife's

hand was in his in an instant. He suddenly started gasping for air. Laura jumped up to fetch a glass of cool water while Mrs. Blake put a

reassuring but questioning arm around her husband.  

"Timmy? Dear what is it, your frightening me. What is on that paper and don't you dare try to hide it from me , because if it concerns my baby than..." She began until the man after taking a long sip of the water and nodding gratefully to Laura, gathered his wife into his arms and held her.  

"Shh..it is alright sweetheart, I was just bombarded with a rather unpleasant memory from my past..." 

"You don't mean she's back again! Oh, my god Timmy what do we do, if that monster has those poor kids than.." He shushed her gently once again, noting how the group became aware of everything they just said.  

"Mr. and Mrs. Blake I really don't mean to pry however, from what we all just heard, there appears to be quite a bit more to your story than a simple kidnapping for ransom. Perhaps we should return to my office where we can discuss it in private.  

The Blake's looked at one another than Maria nodded her head, tears began spiling from her eyes as she heard her husband begin to unravel a story or scandal rather which had been thought buried and forgotten or was it forgiven in time.  

Chapter 12

Special note: Ok, hi guys. So I had to re-read my story in order to update it and I have to apologize for the rather sloppy way I edited it so far. Most of my writing sessions took place late at night (like now lol) and I was probably suffering from blurry vision. Ok that is my story and I am sticking to it like crazy glue! But I also think it has real potential, and by the way, I finally finished my second story: "Painful Deceptions" and hope that you will check it out, especially since I kinda linked it to this one, which is now technically book 3. SO there!! Have fun and please feel free to let me know if you are enjoying my work and again sorry for the wait and the typos! Love and "SCOOBY DOOBY DOO!!" from the wacky but cute me...Christine duh!!

Timothy Blake finally stopped shaking as he began re-accounting a long thought dead story. It was the story of the Blake family's first fatefull encounter with Victoria "the Viper" Butler and her second husband Al Rousassa,also thought long deceased by many in the room,all of which fervently hoped the self appointed co-leader of the international group known as the Assassins", had remained so. The Blake's problem began about twenty years ago before Daphne was even born. When the younger Timothy was a business partner to Victoria and her second husband Al. It was just after the unfortunate and somewhat mysterious demise of her first husband Samuel Butler, an admirable man who served for many years as Detective Inspector for the city of New York, until Rousassa and his assassins killed the man and stole his identity and eventually ended up in Bayport,Mass where he proceeded to destroy a whole lot of lives especially the Hardy and Morton family's who have yet, if ever to fully recover.

"We were basically just starting out and needed to find some investers for our new security business. I had just opened my New York branch and had of course already heard of the famous Sam Butler yet had not met the man in person. So when the woman came into my office claiming to not only represent the man but infact was his wife,I was immediatly intrigued. " Timothy began with a heavy sigh of regret.

Mr. Blake went on to explain that he was very impressed with the woman's business sense and the wad of bills she waved under his nose was pretty impressive as well. But he had no intention of having anything to do with anything illegal nor for that matter any connection in any capacity to the Assassin's guild. Timothy also added that the decision to enter into any kind of business arrangement with that evil bitch and her demon lover,was the one thing he would always regret. His child's life was now at stake all because he tried to stand his ground and do what he thought was the best for his family. Everyone in the room felt for the guilt ridden man. It was obvious he loved his family very much. Finally after a way too awkward moment of silence in the room, Fenton Hardy came up to the man and placed an arm on the other man's limp shoulders.

"Tim, there is nothing to feel guilty for, We have all made choices which we believe were for the good of our love ones. I know I have made way too many mistakes in that regard. What I also know is that we can't regret every decision which later turned out to be the wrong one. However we must learn to live with our choices and above all forgive ourselves for only being human. " Fenton said in a quiet voice, his family and friends looked on, both proud and in awe of these two men who have had to make incredible sacrifices for the welfare of their loved ones.

"Timmy dear, I don't blame you at all for something that happend over 2 decades ago, and certainly not for a decision you made to protect myself or our child. I am very proud of you darling and I know Daphne adores you and has alway's been so proud of her daddy."

The proud man stood in the middle of the room, his shoulders slumped. He looked tiny,lost in the crowd, but on his face he wore a grateful yet small smile, tears glistening in his eye's. Finally Chief Collig's own voice cut through as he cleared his throat and addressed the man before him.

" Mr. Blake, I am sorry to have to ask this but is there more to this story?" Ezra asked. Timothy glared at the man.

"Are you inferring something Chief? I am not sure what you mean." Timothy replied,his demeanor had now changed to reflect the flash of anger.

Fenton held a hand up to calm the rapidly growing tension between the two. "Ok gentlemen, let's try to keep this civil. Tim, Ezra here is only trying to do his job. " Fenton gently advised. This seemed to be effective for the Timothy sighed and finally shook his head.

"Yes, I am sorry Chief Collig I understand that time and honesty is essential to get our children back, I am trying to explain." Timothy replied. His wife came over to him and looked directly into his eye's.

"Honey, Would you like me to take over for a while?" She said soothingly. Her husband shot her a loving glance and patted her cheek. but shook his head . "No dear, thanks for the support but I think I should continue." She replied with a concerned smile and a nod. Once again Timothy Blake began his story. The group gathered around with a quiet awe as the shaken man spoke to them of a time when He and his young wife welcomed a beautifull new baby girl into their lives and how everything seemed to be going along slmost too perfectly. That all changed as the little family became entangled with Victoria and her own dysfunctional domestic situation. Apparently the birth of little Daphne had effected Victoria much more than was normal for it was just after the woman had suffered a miscarriage of her own and had formed an unusual bond to Baby Daphne who an adorable,green eyed and already adorned with a shock of bright red hair. The whole situation turned deadly when Victoria finally made her move and tried to have the Blakes assassinated. This ofcourse failed due mainly in part from the efforts of the Grey Man and the Network including the late Nathan. When Timothy Blake finished his story everyone in the room wore a shocked look on their faces and now fully understood just how crucial it was to get to Both Joe and Daphne in time. It was then that the front door bell rang.

Back at Victoria's Mansion:

Joe and Daphne were "treated" to a gormet meal,yet neither one was too eager to try any of it. They were far too aware of the fact that no matter how hungry they were, they would rather starve than eat food that was no doubt drugged or worse yet poisoned. Finally victoria had to order her people to hold them down and force feed them. She was in no way going to allow her favorite pets to starve. As the two feared the food was indeed tainted and soon after "eating" , the two began to feel that now all too familiar sensation of dizziness and light headedness which soon gave way to the swirling blackness of oblivian.