Chapter 28

Joe finished his walk and trudged into the alley, head down watching his feet go through the motion of carrying him home. He was tired, emotionally drained. Lunch with Vanessa hadn't turned out the way he'd hoped. Not in the least. Their emotional exchange had left him disheartened.

She had been married. That had caught him by surprise. Thrown him for a loop. He hadn't hidden his surprise well.

Had he screwed things up with her? Pissed her off? Damaged any chance of a relationship?

Damn, he couldn't concentrate on Vanessa – her past – his past – any of it. Not at the moment anyway. He was way too spent, beyond exhausted. A cold beer and a long nap was all he could think about.

His head came up and he saw the back door of the office standing open.

Something was wrong with this picture.

He went on full alert. Adrenaline rushed through his body and supercharged his senses. His skin tingled. The fatigue was gone, forgotten, replaced by hyper-awareness.

He took cover behind a car and peered around the fender.

He saw the men. Saw one of them push a hooded and handcuffed Frank into the Town Car.

He watched the car exit the alley and turn right. He ran into the office. Got to his room and scooped his backpack off the floor where he'd tossed it the night before. Grabbed his rifle and ammo and was on his way out of the office. He snatched the keys for the Rent-a-Wreck truck off of Frank's desk and flew out the back door.

His gear landed on the front passenger's seat as he slid into the truck. He fired up the engine, heard it cough and choke and finally start. He cursed the vehicle and wheeled out of the parking slot with a shriek of tires and spray of loose gravel.

He hung a right out of the alley. The tires whined in protest. He searched the traffic, looked for the Town Car. Thought he saw it at the second light.


Nancy wandered the liquor aisle of the grocery store checking the wine selection. She found a bottle of Pinot Grigio and picked it up. Read the label. A crisp, refreshing wine with bright aromas. The perfect compliment with poultry, seafood, pasta, and pizza.

That sealed the deal. Wine and pizza for dinner. Her treat. Just her and Frank. They'd guard the office together tonight.

She paid for the wine and headed to her car. As she opened the door her phone buzzed.

Joe, his voice strained, the words rapid-fire, "Nancy, they got Frank."

Her heart lurched and a chill zipped up her spine. The ground seemed to tilt beneath her feet. She grabbed the car door to steady herself and dropped the bottle of wine on the driver's seat.

Joe again. "I'm tailing them. I need your help. I can't stay on their tail forever, they'll make me. We need to take turns."

Yes, yes, she could do that. Deep breaths, deep breaths. She and Joe would get Frank back. All was not lost.


Nancy tailed the Town Car when it got on the highway. Joe tracked it through the ritzy neighborhood. Mansions, country homes, and estates lined the road. Joe passed a wooded area then a long stone wall rose on the right. Some security conscious person or a drug dealer lives behind this wall, he thought.

The car pulled up to a wrought iron gate embedded in the wall. The driver pressed a key pad and the gate slide open. Joe kept a safe distance behind and watched the Town Car drive through the gate and disappear from view. Seconds later, Joe, in the old truck, rumbled past the entrance. He caught a glimpse of a curved driveway and a manicured lawn.

He and Nancy met up at a nearby gas station. The old truck stood out like a black eye. It drew nervous glances from the well-dressed, well-heeled patrons. Joe told Nancy they couldn't stay long, they didn't need the attention. Nancy agreed. They regrouped at a diner several miles away. Joe threw his gear, and rifle, into the trunk of Nancy's car before they entered the diner.

They ordered coffee and sipped, subdued and anxious, neither tasting the dark brown liquid. Outside it started to rain, a light drizzle that hastened customers' steps. Customers entered the diner laughing, shaking off their damp clothes.

Nancy watched the scenes unfold. The laughter struck a wrong note. It seemed out of place. How could people laugh? Frank was gone. Taken.

Her eyes hunted Joe's. "Should we phone Detective Burkhart? Tell him about Frank? Maybe he can help."

Joe heard the tremor in Nancy's voice. He looked for signs of weakness. She was holding it together pretty well. No tears, no outward display of nerves. A little skittish perhaps, hyped and full of energy. That was good, Joe could work with that.

"No. No police." He set down his coffee and leaned forward. Held her in a steady gaze. Needed her to understand his reasoning. "More help would be nice, but Burkhart would have to play it by the book. Call in the FBI. Set up negotiations. All that takes time and time's the one thing we don't have."

He lowered his head, stared at his clenched fist, unclenched it and wiggled his fingers. "No, we're not playing this by the book. Police intervention would most likely get Frank killed."

"They took him alive," Nancy said, rational, logical. "They want him alive."

Joe shook his head woefully. "You and I both know he's expendable. As long as they can use him, he lives. The minute they get what they want, he's dead."

Joe pushed his cup to the edge of the table. "No matter how we play this, it's risky."

Nancy sat silent for a long moment. Finally, she nodded. "You're right. I trust your instincts, Joe. We'll play this however you say. I just want Frank back .. in one piece."

"So do I." Joe reached over and squeezed Nancy's hand. "We'll get him back."

They made a plan and went over it twice. It was a bare-bones outline. No time for details. The basic idea was to get in, find Frank, and get him out.

They paid for the coffee and left. Ran through the fat raindrops pelting the pavement and jumped in Nancy's car. The truck was left behind. They would come back for it later.


A/N: Yup, this was a short chapter. My husband gave me quite a scare and we wound up in the ER. The hubby is fine now, but he needs some extra attention and care from me. He's worth it so I don't mind. The next chapter will be longer and I'll get it posted as soon as possible.

Thanks for the reviews. They're always a good incentive to post faster.