There was relief on the Coronation Street cobbles as Joseph Brown was returned to his dad Chesney Brown.
The 10-year-old had Chesney and his partner Gemma Winter worried sick when he went missing last week after being bullied at school because they can't afford to buy him things.
But while Chesney and Gemma Winter made a public appeal for the youngster's safe return, and an appeal raised £30,000 reward money, his cousin Hope Stape was hiding him in her loft.
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Later as Joseph and Hope slipped out of the house, after Hope's mum Fiz brought in a valuer to look at the property, Bernie Winter's mate Clint Stubbins spotted the two children.
With the £30,000 reward in his sights he gave them both £100 and sent Hope home.
He then chaperoned Joseph back to his anguished family and was promised the cash was coming his way.
However, in Monday's double bill there was a twist when Chesney was quizzed by police about how Joseph came to be found by Clint.
"I can imagine he's pretty made up as well with that reward," said the officer.
"He knew your son and he's a friend of the family and there's a big reward."
And Chesney was fuming that they appeared to be insinuating that he was involved.
"Are you actually saying I had something to do with this as well?" he asked.
"You're trying to make out that because we're skint and my son was bullied for it that we somehow made all this up just to get our hands on that money."
Corrie fans took to Twitter to say it reminded them of the real-life case of Shannon Matthews.
In 2008 Karen Matthews was jailed in 2008 for faking the kidnap of her nine-year-old daughter in Dewsbury in a bid to claim a £50,000 reward for her safe return.
She sparked one of the nation's biggest manhunts before Shannon was found after 24 days hidden under a bed in Donovan’s flat.
Matthews and Donovan were both sentenced to eight years in prison and released in 2012 after serving half their terms.
@a___w89 tweeted: "It’s like Shannon Matthews all over again."
@CavoloChe predicted: "This Joseph / Hope storyline is going to end in disaster I think. Dare I say...too much like Shannon Matthews."
@JamieNews81 commented: "Copper accusing them of a Shannon Matthews scam."
And @Rozzy67 said: "So Chesney is gonna be accused of pulling a 'Shannon Matthews' fake missing kid scam for the reward money."
Next week the police swoop after Bernie stresses to Joseph that he has to keep quiet and not spend his £100 or they will all get into trouble.
Bernie slips Joseph a video game he wanted, making him promise not to show his mum and dad.
When Evelyn Plummer finds it she's convinced he must have nicked it, prompting Bernie to lie that she bought it with a pay rise from boss Dev Alahan.
Dev buys Bernie’s story about making up the pay rise to stop Chesney feeling bad, but Evelyn is not convinced and calls the police. Bernie breaks down and tells them everything and both Bernie and Chesney are hauled in for questioning.
