Note: As always, we are very appreciative for the reviews! Thank you to "Guest", ErinJordan, Max2013, merryW, Paulina Ann, and TinDog. We always look forward to what you have to say. Thanks to everyone reviewing, following, and reading. :)

Choices of the Heart

Chapter 10

Frank Hardy felt the sunlight on his face as it shone through the open window later that morning. With a small groan, he covered his eyes. He didn't yet feel like waking up. By instinct, he reached for Callie, and was surprised when his arm fell limply on the covers next to him. Slowly, he opened his eyes, blocking out the sunlight, and sat up.

"Callie?" he said into the air, stretching. "Hey, Callie!" he called a little louder than before. There was no answer.

Frank got up and yawned. "She must be in the bathroom," he said softly to himself, stretching out again. "Geez, what time is it?" He glanced back to the clock that sat on top of the dresser next to the bed. "Wow!" Frank said with a low whistle. "It's almost noon!"

With a small groan, he realized that Joe would probably kill him. They were supposed to meet for their day together more than two hours ago.

Realizing that he had better hurry up, Frank knocked on the bathroom door. "Cal?" he asked. "Can I come in?" Not hearing an answer, he went on. "I hope you're decent in there!" he joked. "'Cause I'm coming in!" With that, he pushed open the door.

"Hmmm," he muttered to himself, not seeing Callie. "That's weird." He looked around the small bathroom. It looked as though Callie had been there. Her clothes from the night before were neatly folded and ready to be placed in the hamper.

Frank was about to go looking for her when he realized that he was still dressed in the same clothes from the night before, and that he was already uncharacteristically late as it was. He wanted to ask Callie why she had fallen asleep, fully clothed with the lights on, and what had happened to her hand. Still, he couldn't do that if he couldn't find her. With a sigh, Frank decided to take a quick shower first, and then go see Joe.

A half hour later, Frank was feeling more refreshed, having taken a shower and changed. He half expected Callie to be outside waiting for him, but she still wasn't back. Taking one last glance around the room, Frank grabbed the keys and his wallet, and headed to Joe's room.

After several knocks, Vanessa answered the door with a smile. "Hey! What are you doing here?" she asked, brightly. "I thought you left with Joe hours ago to do your—guy stuff."

"You mean Joe isn't here?" Frank asked, perplexed. "I was supposed to meet him almost three hours ago!"

"Hmmm," Vanessa murmured, then shrugged. "Maybe he decided that since you were so late, he'd ditch you! You know how Joe feels about lateness…" she teased.

Frank had to chuckle at that. Joe was never on time for anything. Frank used to joke with him that he'd be late for his own funeral, to which he'd always reply, "I wouldn't mind missing my own funeral." He smiled at the thought.

"Maybe…" Frank said, and his voice trailed off. "Hey, listen, Van. Have you seen Callie? She wasn't there when I woke up this morning."

Vanessa gave a sheepish grin, as she motioned for Frank to follow her into the room. He tried to ignore the … stuff… all over the place, and was amazed again at how different he and Callie were from Joe and Vanessa. Still, that had always worked for him.

"Um, Frank? I actually only woke up an hour ago, to tell you the truth. Joe and I didn't get in until really late last night. So, no- I haven't seen her, or Joe, to be honest with you."

"Oh."

Vanessa laughed as she offered Frank a cup of coffee she had just made in the room. "Thanks," he said gratefully to her. "I needed caffeine to wake me up this morning."

"I hope it works, because it's almost 1:00 on the afternoon now," she teased him.

"So- um… maybe we should go look for them after the coffee?" Frank said, more of a statement than a question.

"Scoot," she said to him, nudging him over, and she sat down next to him.

"Come on, Frank. You can't possibly be worried already! We both just woke up."

"I guess," Frank said hesitantly.

Vanessa giggled. "MAYBE," she joked, her eyes growing wide in mock horror, "Joe and Callie are on a secret rendezvous, and they're two timing us! That's it! I can't believe I didn't see it earlier!" She got up, and playfully twirled in the room after putting down her coffee, raising a hand to her forehead as if she was going to faint. "Thank the lord you discovered it before it was too late!"

Frank put down his coffee and tossed a pillow at Vanessa, laughing. "Be quiet Vanessa! You're just like my brother, do you know that?!"

"Nah, I'm the great one! He just follows my lead."

"All the way to your shared modesty," Frank added with a smile.

Vanessa winked at him, and then sat on the floor, looking up at him. He was again struck by how good Vanessa was for Joe. They complimented each other perfectly.

"Are you really worried, Frank? I know it's getting a little late, but you know Joe. Maybe something caught his eye, or maybe he and Callie are hanging out. Who knows? Callie may have finally had it with him and threw him in the pool or something!" Vanessa's eyes sparkled as she spoke. "But, if you're worried, let's check it out. They could be by the pool. Besides, Joe did mention that your catapult thingy was at 2:00, so he should be back soon."

Frank rolled his eyes. "Of course; the catapult 'thingy.' Vanessa, only Joe would be able to talk me into that."

"Don't I know it!" she replied, and stood up. "Let's go check it out. They can't have gone too far. Come on, buddy!" She stood up, and reached for his arm, which Frank extended to her, and she linked her arm through his.

Over the next forty minutes, Frank and Vanessa checked everywhere they could think of, but there was no sign of either Joe or Callie. By now, Frank was getting very nervous. Be calm. Be rational, he told himself repeatedly. Callie and Joe are probably together. They'll be back soon. Despite his attempt at positive affirmations, however, Frank couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Joe's car was gone from the garage, and it was almost 2:00. Joe would never miss an opportunity for adventure, especially one he wanted to drag Frank into. And Callie… Frank fought back the uncertainty in his stomach when he thought of her. She never went anywhere when they were together without leaving him a note. There wasn't one this time.

"Okay," Vanessa said at last, when they had arrived outside their rooms.

"I'm a little concerned now." Vanessa trusted Joe completely; if he said he'd be somewhere at a certain time, he usually was. He might be a few minutes late, but nothing like this. This was totally unlike him.

"Why don't I see if Callie took the key?" Frank asked, grasping at straws.

"Okay. Good idea," replied Vanessa. At least it was a place to start.

She followed Frank into his room, and asked, "Can I use your phone? I'll call Joe's cell."

Frank nodded. "Try Callie's, too," he added.

Five minutes later, Frank and Vanessa were trying to be calm, ignoring the sinking feeling they were both getting. Callie had taken the key, but when Vanessa had tried Joe's cell phone, she just got his familiar voicemail message. Callie's cell phone had rung in the room; she hadn't taken it with her.

"Maybe," Vanessa began, trying to remain calm, "We should check the news to see if there were any accidents or anything we should be aware of." She choked out the word, unable to even fathom it, and began to get upset.

Frank went over and put a comforting arm around Vanessa. "Don't be worried," he said, gently, ignoring his own growing concern. "I'm sure they're okay. Maybe they're caught in traffic or something."

"I guess that's possible," Vanessa said, wanting to believe it, but not quite doing so.

Frank gave her a quick squeeze, and then sat down beside her on the bed. "Van," he began, slowly, "Let me tell you why I was worried in the first place." With that, he recounted Callie's story about the pictures, and then also about Callie's strange appearance when he had come in last night.

Interested, Vanessa listened. She said, in reply, when he had finished, "That IS odd. I'm telling you, though, Frank. There really was nothing when we went back to the place, and Callie got her article published with no problem. She hasn't mentioned anything about it since; she's been so excited about the engagement." Vanessa gave Frank a small smile at that.

"Good," Frank replied, touched. "But I still… don't like it, that's all." He glanced at the clock. It was after 3:00.

By 4:00, Frank and Vanessa had checked every news station to see if there was any news of an accident.

By 5:00, they had called all the local hospitals.

By 6:00, they had rechecked the hotel, itself, at least three times.

By 7:00, they had gone out in Frank's car themselves looking for Joe and Callie.

By 8:00, back in the hotel, they were desperate.

"I know they'll be okay," Vanessa said to Frank and she sat down on his bed. "They… have to be." Her voice broke, and all the fear she had been feeling began to manifest itself as she tried with all her strength to hold it together. Still, she started to cry. Frank held back his own emotions as awful as they were. He went over and held Vanessa, allowing her to cry in his arms.

"It's okay, don't worry," he said gently, as he stroked her hair. "Joe's okay, and he'll take care of Callie." Frank struggled to remain cool, wishing with all his might that he could believe his own words. They came out sounding hollow. He closed his eyes. Where are my brother and my fiancée? He asked himself repeatedly. Please let them be all right.

After a few moments, Vanessa pulled away from Frank. "Okay," she said, her voice shaky, "Thanks." She reached for Frank's hand, and squeezed it tightly. "I can't cry now," she said, resolved. "We have to do something to find them!"

"Agreed," Frank said, barely managing to get the word out.

Vanessa stood up, and rubbed her temples. "Okay. Maybe …. maybe Callie or Joe left something behind to let us know where they are. I'll check my room. Be right back!" She ran out quickly.

Frank exhaled once Vanessa left the room, and was hit by a thousand worries at once. He felt overwhelmed. "No," he whispered, fighting himself. "Not now. This is not the time for panic."

He decided to take Vanessa's lead. He checked the dressers, the floor underneath the bed, the bathroom, and finally the closet. It was then that he saw a broken frame in the corner.

"What the…?" Frank muttered as he reached into the back corner and pulled it out. What he saw first made him gasp. The gift he had given Callie, her own newspaper article framed, was now simply a frame without glass. A few stray shards remained. Frank immediately presumed that was how Callie had gotten injured.

It was what he saw second that turned his stomach. He noticed a little sheet of paper on the back of the frame, and when he took it out, he didn't realize that it was the very same threat that Callie had read by herself just the night before.

His hands started shaking. "Oh my God!" he managed to get out. "Callie."

Vanessa entered at that moment, and saw the stricken look on Frank's face. "What? What is it?" she asked, and kneeled down immediately beside Frank. She took the note from his hand.

"Oh, no," she breathed, as she felt the color drain from her face. "Callie's in trouble!"

Frank, fighting back the lump in his throat, choked out, "And Joe probably went to help her!"

Vanessa and Frank's eyes met. She reached out and touched his cheek.

"We'll find them," she said, with determination.

"Yes, we will," Frank said, resolved. "We have to," he added more softly.

"I know."

Slowly, fighting fear and worry, they began to plan their course of action.