Sleight of Hand
Chapter 21
Joe stood in the open doorway and saw Frank stretched out on the bed, one arm thrown over his eyes. "Frank?" he said tentatively, unsure if his brother were awake or asleep.
Frank immediately lifted his head and looked at Joe in response.
"Gray's here." Joe took a few steps into the room.
Frank sat up and nodded. Swinging his legs off the bed, he reached down to pick up his shoes off the floor.
Joe shifted nervously as he waited. He and Vanessa were still on a major high, intoxicated by the results of her final blood test. Since getting the good news, Joe had taken every opportunity to celebrate, shutting out everyone around him and making Vanessa the center of his world, showering her with affection.
When Frank had ended the phone call with Arthur Gray, Joe had swept Vanessa up in his arms for a quick congratulatory kiss. A kiss that had rapidly taken on a life of its own. When they finally separated, Frank was conspicuously absent. Joe had mentally kicked himself, and uttered more than a few choice words when he realized how hard it had to be for Frank to watch them for even a few seconds. They had been blissfully happy together, while Frank was alone, fearing for his wife's safety. While he couldn't take back his actions, Joe could at least let Frank know he regretted his thoughtlessness.
"Frank, I… uh… I want to apologize... for earlier," Joe said contrite, but not quite able to find the right words.
"Earlier?" Frank repeated puzzled, his eyes focused on tying his sneakers.
"Yeah. I mean when I realized Vanessa had really outsmarted Gray, I was beside myself I was so proud of her," Joe explained. "But I shouldn't have been quite so enthusiastic about showing her how I felt. I should have thought about your feelings, what with Callie missing and all. I didn't, and that was really inconsiderate. I'm sorry."
Frank stood and stared at his younger brother for a moment. "Apology not accepted," he said, his voice low.
Surprised, Joe took a step back, feeling about two inches tall. His exuberant show of affection and disregard for Frank's situation had apparently hurt Frank much more than he'd originally thought. "Oh. Uh…okay," Joe mumbled, turning away.
A strong hand pulled him to a stop and spun him around, forcing Joe to meet his brother's eyes. "Do not apologize for being happy and in love and not afraid to show it," Frank said seriously, before breaking into a smile. "It's about time you and Vanessa had something good happen in your lives. I've been waiting over a year to see you two this deliriously happy again." Frank had to stop, apparently amused at the rapidly changing expressions on Joe's face. "You weren't inconsiderate or thoughtless. You were just showing Vanessa how you felt about her and that's something you should never apologize for."
While Joe was still fidgeting, it was now out of embarrassment at Frank's little speech rather than nervousness. Unable to come up with an adequate reply, Joe simply grinned at his brother and nodded in appreciation.
Frank turned Joe towards the door and threw an arm across his shoulders. "Let's go find my wife."
The boys returned to the living room to find Arthur Gray and Vanessa silently staring at each other in some kind of standoff.
"What's going on?" Frank asked, narrowing his eyes. "Why aren't you working on the program, Van?"
"Because he won't give it to me," Vanessa replied, still glaring at the Gray Man. "He says he'll only turn it over to you. So I'm standing here, wasting time, waiting for him to give you the drive so you can turn around and give it to me. Time I could be using to create the fake program," she finished, happy to see the Network agent was looking more than a little embarrassed.
Frank muttered something under his breath as he stalked over to Gray. "I am not in the mood for your games! Give her the damn drive!" he snarled, then walked to the desk and booted up his laptop.
Joe watched in amusement as Gray slowly removed the small stick from his pocket and very reluctantly offered it to Vanessa. Snatching it out of his hand, Vanessa gave him a final glare and spun on her heel to join Frank at the computer.
"You're treading on thin ice," Joe grinned, warning Gray that Vanessa's patience with him was wearing thin. "And if you think I've got a temper, you ain't seen nothin' yet."
Gray gave Joe a withering look as he silently brushed past the younger Hardy and took a seat on the couch. Joe followed and sat down right next to him, knowing it would annoy Gray to no end. Joe smiled as Gray moved a few inches. He waited a few seconds and then moved a few inches closer to Gray. Joe continued moving closer each time Gray attempted to put some distance between them, taking great pleasure in the frustration the admittedly childish game was causing the Network agent. However, as soon as Frank joined the pair, the little game stopped - Joe was all business.
Taking a seat, Frank noted Gray's look of annoyance and Joe's telltale smirk. He had only a moment to wonder what Joe had come up with to irritate Gray this time, before the older man began to speak.
"I've been in contact with the local authorities and alerted them to the situation. While it's strictly a Federal government operation, they've agreed to loan us three of their undercover officers. They're on stand-by, waiting to hear from us. I have also ordered a few agents from the nearest Network office to meet at the lodge and wait for me there."
"Are they experienced?" Frank asked. He knew he needed Gray's help, but he didn't want some rookie agent who was gung ho to make his first capture and impress Gray, putting Callie's life in any more danger than it already was.
"Some of the best," Gray reassured him. "Don't worry. If the exchange is in a public place, they'll blend right in with the crowd. If it's isolated, no one will ever know they are there."
"Good," Frank nodded, his fears somewhat alleviated. As he listened to Joe ask exactly who the agents were, Frank watched his younger brother shift position and wince at the movement. Joe's hand immediately went to his bruised and obviously sore midsection. The instinctive, subconscious action made Frank realize that neither he nor Joe were at one hundred percent after the previous day's encounter. He made a mental note to thank Arthur Gray for his assistance, once he had Callie back in his arms.
'Callie…'
While still listening to Gray, Frank couldn't help but be distracted by thoughts of his wife and what she might be going through. Callie had said she was fine when they spoke, but that was hours ago. Were her captors leaving her alone, as promised? Or were they bored, with nothing to do but keep an eye on her? What would they do to keep themselves amused? Still worse, would they take out their anger at Frank, for having gotten the better of them, on Callie? Out of nowhere, he was assaulted by the memory of the phone call he'd received from his father one year ago…
"Collig just called me. Vanessa's been raped.They can't find Joe to tell him…"
Vanessa had been raped for the sole purpose of hurting Joe. Frank knew it was within the realm of possibility that Callie could suffer a similar fate to get back at him.
'NO!' Frank screamed silently. 'They're professionals. They don't want to get back at me. They just want the flashdrive. They need her alive and unhurt or they know I won't go through with this,' Frank reminded himself. 'They won't hurt her… they won't…'
Frank repeated those words over and over to himself, hoping to find some comfort in them when Joe's voice suddenly grabbed his attention. He didn't catch Joe's words but the hostility in them was lethal.
"No," Gray was shaking his head adamantly at whatever Joe had said. "Absolutely not. I will not allow it."
Frank saw Joe's anger quickly bubbling to the surface and knew an explosion was imminent. 'What did I miss?'he wondered, hoping to figure it out before Joe completely lost his cool. Frank remained silent, listening, his eyes darting from Joe to Gray and back again.
"You won't allow it?" Joe repeated contemptuously.
"That's right," Gray asserted. "Other than creating that fake program, your fiancée is not a part of this operation. She will remain here until the mission is completed. Under no circumstances is she to accompany you. I can't believe you even suggested such a thing."
'Joe wants Vanessa right by his side until this is over,' Frank quickly figured out. 'And Gray is dead set against it.'
Normally, Frank would agree with Gray completely, but this time there were extenuating circumstances – ones he wasn't sure Arthur Gray was aware of. While Frank never wanted the girls to be within a hundred miles of anything that could be even remotely dangerous, he completely understood Joe's insistence that Vanessa accompany him. He knew Joe did not want Vanessa out of his sight until these men were in custody. Frank also understood that being left alone in the cabin to wait for their return, would serve no purpose other than unleashing some very painful images from Vanessa's not quite recovered psyche.
"Vanessa stays with Joe at all times," Frank cut in, his voice commanding immediate attention and compliance. "That is not open for discussion."
Gray shifted his attention to Frank, fully prepared to continue the argument, only to be stopped short by the look in Frank's eyes. Frank stared back at him, his eyes almost black in color. He never blinked and never looked away, daring Gray to challenge him.
While Arthur Gray's expression didn't change, inside he flinched, knowing he'd already lost this battle. He was seeing yet another new side of Frank Hardy – one he instinctively thought it best not to cross. While his wounded pride rallied for him to argue the point, Gray reminded himself his instincts had saved his life more than once and wisely chose to listen to them. "Fine," he said stonily. "But I want it known that I think it's a very bad idea."
"Duly noted," Frank said, his tone making it clear he didn't particularly care what Arthur Gray thought. The subject was closed and he was ready to move on.
Joe simply sat there, momentarily in awe of his older brother. Awe that rapidly gave way to admiration and gratitude. By all rights, Frank should be completely obsessed with finding Callie to the exclusion of all else. Yet he immediately understood the emotional toll being left alone would take on Vanessa – and Joe. Despite knowing his actions might anger the Gray Man to the point where he'd choose to turn his back on their rescue effort, leaving them with nothing to trade and no back up at all, Frank never hesitated. He stepped in right away, making it clear to Arthur Gray that he had no say in this decision – and that he had better not ask for explanations.
Feeling the animosity between Gray and Joe growing by the second, Frank was relieved to hear Vanessa's voice break the tension.
"Done," she announced, beckoning the three men to join her.
Frank stood, wisely positioning himself between his brother and Arthur Gray as they walked to the small desk where Vanessa was working.
"Here's one of them," she said, waiting as Gray studied the screen intently. After he gave a slight nod, she maximized a second window. "And here's the other one."
Frank watched as Gray scrutinized this one just as thoroughly. He saw the Network agent reach out and return to the first screen, frowning as he did so. He then clicked back to the second screen. This went on for several minutes making Frank wonder what exactly Gray was looking for. They looked identical to Frank – he couldn't tell which was the original and which was the fake.
'And neither can he!' It suddenly dawned on Frank, that Arthur Gray also had no idea which was the original file and which was the fake. 'Wonder how long it'll take for him to admit it,' Frank thought sardonically.
Vanessa suddenly stood up, and winked at Frank. 'She realizes it, too.' Frank couldn't help but smile at the predicament Gray found himself in.
"When you're done, you can close both files and give Frank the copy," Vanessa said, a hint of mischief in her voice.
"No, no," Gray replied a little too quickly. "You can do that," he said trying to back away.
"Oh, but I insist," Vanessa said sweetly, crossing her arms over her chest. "After all it is government property. I'd rather not have it in my possession any longer than necessary. Go ahead," she made a sweeping gesture towards the computer. "Give Frank the copy."
Frank bit his lip to stifle a laugh, although he was thoroughly enjoying the situation. 'Serves him right, the way he's always so condescending to Joe – and Vanessa by association.'
The Gray Man wavered for just a moment and then finally threw up his hands in defeat, much to Frank's delight.
"Look, we both know I can't tell the difference," Gray said grudgingly. "Just give me the original and Frank the copy."
"Well, since you asked so nicely," Vanessa replied sarcastically, taking a seat at the desk once again.
"She's good, isn't she?" Joe boasted proudly, elbowing Gray in the ribs. "Isn't she?"
"Yes, she's good," Gray muttered as he accepted a drive from Vanessa. "You're sure this is the original?" He eyed the identical drive she was giving to Frank.
"Of course she is!" Joe exclaimed as he grabbed Vanessa and kissed her, which she returned with enthusiasm.
Frank smiled as Gray stared at Joe and Vanessa for a moment. "Are they always like this?" he asked, turning towards Frank.
"Mm-hmm," Frank replied as he walked back to the couch, the drive securely in his hand.
Gray followed, glancing back at the young couple more than once as he did so. "Have they ever passed out from lack of oxygen?" he wondered aloud.
Frank chuckled at the thought. "Not yet, but there's always a first time."
The tension that had been momentarily lifted, descended once again as everyone's attention was captured by the ringing of the phone.