Chapter 6:
Frank and Joe pulled into the parking lot at Jameson's. Their father had taken the red eye to Denver that morning and if everything went according to plan he would be home this evening. Frank had the lone photo of Ian McClaggen and was prepared to start asking questions, having gotten enough information on line about him. He had gone to school at the College of Notre Dame and had a degree business management. He was previously engaged to Lorraine Douglas...she lived in Denver Colorado. He had called his father with that information and provided him with her address. He was so worried about Luke and every minute counted. Luke had been missing for ten days. Fenton Hardy had been to the bar previously right after Frank had found the lead on McClaggin's. He did not have much luck. Frank and Joe after following numerous leads decided to give it another go.
They both casually walked up to the bar and each took a seat. The bartender came over. "What's your pleasure boys?"
Frank was looking over the menu. Joe placed his order. "Jack and Coke."
Frank rolled his eyes. Joe always got Jack and Coke. "I'll have a white Russian and can we have an order of onion rings and two burgers?"
"Sure boys. You new in the neighbourhood?"
Frank shook his head. "No just passing through."
The bartender handed them their drinks and sent their food order back to the kitchen. Frank took a sip of his drink and took in the atmosphere. It was a pretty nice bar actually. The theme was Irish and of course everyone that worked there seemed to be Irish as well. Another person sat at the bar and the bartender walked over to him. It was then that Frank noticed the tattoo on his neck. "Joe we need to be very careful."
"Aren't we always?"
"No I am...you tend to get...reckless."
The bartender came over with their burgers and onion rings. Frank smiled at him. "Hey thanks man...I didn't get your name?"
"Seamus."
"Nice to meet you. Listen perhaps you can help me? I'm looking for an old college buddy of mine? He said in his e-mail he comes here all the time. His name is Ian McClaggen. We went to Notre Dame together."
"Really? What did you study?"
"I studied law but he was in Business. We were members of the same Fraternity. Have you seen him around lately?"
The bartender put down the Jack bottle a bit too hard on the bar. But he answered evenly. "Not lately. I haven't seen him since August? He was going to Denver for a couple months"
Frank pretended to be disappointed. "Oh man? What luck! I finally get to come to New York from Chicago and I miss him."
The bartender shrugged. "Sorry pal...here's your tab."
Frank took the ticket and pulled out two twenties. Joe decided to take another approach. He saw the pretty red haired waitress. She was speaking to one of the other customers. Joe picked up his drink and walked towards them pretending to go to the Juke Box. He stumbled and fell right beside the waitress. The waitress gasped and asked. "Hey you alright Blondie?"
Joe rubbed his head. "Man I'm such a klutz. That's what happens when I mix Jack and Coke together. One lousy drink and I'm a goner."
The girl laughed. "Don't worry...I see it all the time. I'm Anna."
"Joe..." He didn't offer his last name. "So...how long have you been working here Anna?"
"Four months."
"Listen...do you know this guy? He went to college with my brother and he wanted to catch up with him?" Joe pulled out the picture. Anna looked at it. She eyed the bartender warily. "Look...uh...Joe...If I were you...I'd warn your brother that losing contact with that guy isn't a bad thing. He's a monster."
"Really my brother seemed to like him?"
"I don't see how. Look...it's rumoured that he is high up there with the McDougall syndicate. AKA the Irish Mob. Take my advice stay away from them."
"You've never seen him with any kids have you?"
"No...but I have seen his girlfriend with them. She was in here just last week with a cute little boy...said he was her nephew was going to take him to Wisconsin."
Joe slipped a quarter out of his pocket and put it in the Juke Box. Then non chalantly he showed the waitress Luke's picture.
"Yeah that was him. How did you get a picture? Do you know Shelia?"
"Shelia?"
"Shelia McDougall his girlfriend?"
"Yeah we went to school together. Listen...it's best no one knows we talked."
Anna sighed. "No kidding."
"Was the boy okay? Did he seem alright to you?"
"He was a bit fussy...but he eventually fell asleep when I put on a slow song on the Juke Box."
Joe looked at the song selections. He saw the one that he was looking for and it was the only one that would have made sense. It was a song by...Jim Brickman and was sung by Martina McBride. Anna saw the selection. "That is what I played him and he calmed right down. Sheila said that she was going to find a copy of that song if it killed her."
Joe nodded and turned away quickly to hide his tears. The song began to play.
HBHBHBHBHBHBHBHBHBHBHBHB
Frank saw Joe talking with the waitress and smiled. Joe could charm candy out of a baby's mouth if he wanted to. He turned back to the bar and sipped his drink again. He kept up a pleasant banter with the bartender. Then Frank heard music.
If there were
no words,
No way to speak,
I would still hear you.
If there
were no tears,
No way to feel inside,
I'd still feel for
you.
And even if the sun refused to shine,
Even if romance
ran out of rhyme;
You would still have my heart until the end of
time,
You're all I need, my love, my Valentine.
All of my
life,
I have been waiting for,
All you give to me.
You've
opened my eyes,
And shown me how to love unselfishly.
I've
dreamed of this a thousand times before,
In my dreams I couldn't
love you more.
I will give you my heart,
until the end of
time,
You're all I need, my love, my Valentine.
And even if
the sun refused to shine,
Even if romance ran out of rhyme.
You
would still have my heart until the end of time,
'Cause all I need
is you, my Valentine.
You're all I need, my love, my Valentine.
Frank couldn't help the tear that trickled down his face. That was the song that Callie sang to him at their wedding. It was also the song that she sang to Luke every night before putting him to bed. He knew his brother had played the song and couldn't fathom why. Joe walked over and put an arm around Frank's shoulders. Frank looked at his brother miserably.
"Are you trying to torture me?"
Joe pulled Frank to his feet and waved good bye to the bartender. "No Frank...we need to get to the car."
