Chapter 25
Hannah admired the meatloaf she'd made. It was seasoned and shaped to perfection. She carried the heavy pan to the oven and slid it in. It would take an hour and a half to cook and by that time Nancy and the Hardys should be home. If not, sliced meatloaf was easy to warm up in the microwave. Hannah was not an advocate of microwaves, but over the years had come to value them for reheating meals.
Many a night Nancy or Carson Drew had come home late, way too late for dinner. Hannah's homecooked meals saved the day. They were ready and waiting in the fridge. All Nancy or Carson had to do was heat one up. Hannah figured the food was still fresh and healthy even if it did come from a microwave.
Speaking of fresh and healthy, a nice salad and oven fries would go perfect with the meatloaf. Hannah gathered up potatoes and a large cutting board. As she reached for the butcher's knife she heard the front door open.
Nancy and the Hardys had returned. The weary detectives hung their jackets on the coatrack beside he front door and headed to the kitchen.
Nancy was hot and sticky and depressed. The French braid she had artfully weaved that morning was loose. Copper-blonde curls fell around her face.
Nancy nodded a greeting to Hannah and slumped onto a chair at the kitchen table. Frank and Joe did the same.
Hannah looked at the tired, worn faces and wondered if she dared ask how their day went. Their sad, exhausted expressions said, it had not gone well.
Hannah summoned her courage, steeled her nerves, and said, "Bad news?"
Nancy answered for the group, "The missing girl was found murdered."
That was indeed bad news. Hannah joined the trio at the table. "I'd so hoped you would find her alive."
"We all did," Frank said. "There is some good news. We have a suspect, Ray Gordon. A forensic team searched his apartment this afternoon. I'm sure they found fingerprints and DNA evidence. I'm confident it'll match the evidence in the other missing women cases."
Nancy pushed errant strands of hair behind her ears. "We believe Gordon's on the run. His mugshot and the make and model of his car is being broadcast on TV and radio stations."
"Roadblocks are being set up, too," Frank added. "The noose around Ray Gordon is tightening."
"I'm happy to hear that." Hannah rose and went to the refrigerator. She took out a tall pitcher of fresh lemonade and set it on the table. "You all look like you could use a cold drink."
Over glasses of lemonade the detectives shared the events of their day with Hannah. She offered words of encouragement and pointed out that thanks to their efforts the police now had a name and a face for the killer.
Hannah pushed back her chair. "I have potatoes to slice and a salad to make. Dinner will be ready in about an hour."
"Need help?" Nancy asked.
"No thanks, dear. You look tired. You folks rest a little before dinner. Oh, your father is having dinner with Bert Walters so, it's just the four of us."
Nancy, Frank, and Joe headed to the living room. Nancy and Frank took a seat on the sofa. Joe flopped into an easy chair. He hadn't said more than two words in the kitchen.
Given Joe's pensive mood, Frank decided to give a peep talk.
Frank cleared his throat and reminded everyone that negative thinking wouldn't get them anywhere. It certainly wouldn't help them catch the killer. "We need to stay positive," he said, "I'm upset about Trish and the fact we didn't save her. We all blame ourselves for that, but realistically speaking, what could we have done? She made the decision to follow a stranger. We all know it wasn't a wise decision. Trish and what happened is out of our hands. Let's move on. We need to figure out what Gordon's next move will be. What would you do if you were in his shoes?"
"I'd hole up somewhere," Joe said offhandedly.
"I would, too," Frank agreed. "But where?"
"Not a hotel or motel," Nancy said. "Too risky. His face is all over TV. Someone would recognize him."
Joe nodded at Nancy. "He's probably found an abandoned warehouse or building."
"Probably," Nancy said rather feebly.
The trio fell silent. Each pondered Ray Gordon and his whereabouts.
Joe stifled a yawn. He stood and stretched and yawned again. He covered his mouth with his hand. "Sorry, it's been a long day."
Frank said, "And you didn't get their usual ten hours of sleep last night."
"Not to mention my jet-lag," Joe countered. "I can't think of anything else to add to this discussion, so if you'll excuse me, I'm heading upstairs for a little shut-eye before dinner."
Frank and Nancy watched Joe retreat up the stairs. Frank turned on the TV. He wanted to catch one of those late-breaking news reports. He switched from channel to channel with no luck.
Nancy sat quietly and contemplated Ray Gordon. Who was he? Why did he kill? What drove people to do such things? Nancy's thoughts turned to her mother. Why had Gordon killed her? Had he asked her for a ride that day twenty years ago? When had he decided to kill her, before the ride or during it?
Nancy wanted answers to those questions. Anger flashed through her. She wanted Ray Gordon behind bars. Actually, she wanted more than that. Much more, but she shook the awful thought away. She would never kill. She could never take a life. To take a life meant she was no better than Ray Gordon.
Frank leaned over and his shoulder touched Nancy's. A tingle slid down her back and she jerked.
Frank pulled away. "Sorry, Nan. Didn't mean to startle you."
Nancy sucked in air. The warmth of Frank's brief touch lingered and she wished he hadn't pulled away.
"It's okay. I was thinking about … about Ray Gordon." The name was acrid in her mouth and she swallowed hard to rid herself of the taste.
Frank's dark brow knotted. Ray Gordon, a monster in human form. What could Frank say to comfort Nancy? Were there any special words? If there were he couldn't think of them. A glance at the TV saved him. A special report was on. He touched Nancy's thigh and pointed at the TV.
The sat up and listened to the middle-aged reporter standing outside the River Heights Police Station. The reporter announced the discovery of another victim. A young woman found strangled in her car. The police had a suspect, the reporter said. The police were asking the public for assistance.
Ray's mugshot filled the screen. It was ten years old and viewers were warned of this. Ray's name and current age scrolled across the bottom of the screen. The reporter said Ray Gordon was on the run and considered armed and dangerous. Citizens were advised to use extreme caution around him. Next, a picture of a brown Ford Tempo filled the screen. Citizens should be on the watch for such a vehicle.
The reporter read from a script, "Police Chief Logan has asked that anyone with information on Ray Gordon, his whereabouts, or his vehicle, please contact the police immediately."
"This is good," Frank said. "Gordon won't get far now."
"I don't know," Nancy said. "He has a head start. He might've slipped town early this morning and be miles away."
"These broadcasts are being shown across the state of Illinois and in neighboring states," Frank reminded her.
"What if he's changed his appearance? He'll be harder to spot."
Frank's gaze locked on Nancy's. Her eyes were a deep midnight blue and very beautiful. For a second Frank forgot what he was going to say. Then it came to him. "Sooner or later someone's bound to spot him even if he has changed his appearance."
"I prefer sooner."
"So do I."
Nancy pulled the hairband from her French braid and shook her head. A gesture born of frustration. Her hair fell in messy waves around her shoulders. A titillating fact that Frank did not miss.
Nancy made a fist and hit her thigh with it. "I wish we knew where he was. I hate thinking he's slipped through our hands. We were so close. I felt it. We almost had him."
Frank tried to give her hope. "He's going to be hard pressed to get very far. Chief Logan and the neighboring towns have dragnets and road blocks set up. Police officers are stationed at bus terminals and the airport."
"Your're right," Nancy sighed.
Frank slid a hand over to Nancy's and their fingers slowly, tentatively entwined. Frank's voice was low and rough, "We're going to catch him. I promise you that."
Nancy felt Frank's sincerity. It was like an electrical current. It traveled from his hand to hers. From his heart to hers. But Nancy was reluctant to accept his promise.
"Frank," she paused and her gaze dropped to their hands folded together. She wanted to say, 'don't make promises you can't keep.' But she had made the same promise to her father only a day ago and now doubted her ability to keep it. She would not voice those fears to Frank. He was making the same promise for much the same reasons as she had.
She lifted her head and looked into Frank's coffee colored eyes. "Thanks," she whispered and gently squeezed his hand.
The hint of a smile and a token of relief softened Frank's features. He leaned closer and his lips parted to speak.
Hannah abruptly appeared in the doorway. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude. I . I just wanted to say dinner'll be ready in twenty minutes."
"You're not intruding," Nancy said quickly, perhaps too quickly. Her rosy cheeks indicated the truth was otherwise. "We're ready for a break. Can I help with something?"
"Well, it would be nice if you set the table while I get the meatloaf and potatoes out of the oven."
"I'll be right there." Nancy reluctantly slid her hand out of Frank's and rose. "I have to go. Maybe we can talk later."
Frank pushed off the sofa and stood beside Nancy. He was suddenly awkward and shy. "Um, yeah. Later. I'll get Joe. It'll probably take twenty minutes to wake him."
Nancy laughed as Frank headed to the stairs. She wondered what he'd been about to say. If only Hannah had not appeared. Maybe later, she and Frank could talk. All alone. She wanted to be all alone with him. Then he could tell her what was on his mind. She had a few thoughts she wouldn't mind sharing either.
Hannah hurried back to the kitchen chiding herself the whole way. Oh, she wished she had not interrupted Nancy and Frank. It had looked as though things were rather intimate. Hannah should have looked first, not just barged in. Well, lesson learned.
# # # #
After dinner the three young detectives were restless. They tried watching TV, but every time the special news report aired it reminded them of Trish and their failure to save her.
Joe pounded the arm of the easy chair with a fist. "There's gotta be something we can do." He sprang to his feet and went to the window. He hated sitting around especially in this case. Lives were at stake.
"What do you suggest we do?" Frank asked from the sofa.
Joe peered through the blinds and into the darkness. Not a creature was stirring. He turned to Nancy and Frank. "Maybe we can drive around and look for his car. It's not much but it beats sitting around."
Nancy got to her feet. "I like the idea. I'm tired of sitting around, too."
"I'm game," Frank said.
They donned their jackets and informed Hannah of their plans. Hannah was not as enthusiastic as the three young PIs, but in the spirit of adventure she bade them good-night and good hunting.
As the trio stepped into the cool night air Nancy's cell phone chirped.
Nancy beamed at Frank and Joe when she ended the phone call. "That was Gloria Trainer, the manager of the Golden Heights Apartment Complex. Mr. Cohen showed up and told her Ray Gordon works as a night custodian for Altman's Insurance."
Frank's brow furrowed with inner perplexity. "How does Mr. Cohen know where Ray Gordon works?"
"He followed him one day." An amused smile lit Nancy face. "Mr. Cohen wanted to know if Gordon had a job. Mr. Cohen was upset with Gordon. His leaky car had ruined a pair of Mr. Cohen's shoes. Cohen figured that if Gordon had a job, he could pay for a new pair of shoes."
"Makes perfect sense," Joe said with a hint of sarcasm.
"It does when you're eighty," Nancy said lightheartedly.
Frank opened the driver's door of the rental car. "So, we check out this Altman's Insurance?"
"Sounds good to me." Joe opened the passenger's door.
"It's a good starting point," Nancy said.
The three PIs slid into the rental car and all three car doors slammed shut. Frank backed the vehicle out of the driveway and Nancy gave him directions to Altman's Insurance Company.