Once Brad and Dr. Scott managed to get Frank loaded into the van's cargo area, they headed back toward town, with Dr. Scott driving more than a bit faster than was advisable or legal.
Brad turned his head at the sound of stirring coming from behind. "You'd better hurry and get him…wherever it is we're going…before he regains full consciousness. Where are we taking him?
Dr. Scott answered, "A friend of mine, who is aware of the work I do, is the administrator of a convalescent home not far from my office. I can bring him there. That way there will be equipment available to monitor his vital signs, and deal with any medical emergency that may arise. We'll put an armed guard outside his room to prevent his escape."
An expression of concern crossed Brad's face, as the rustling sounds from the back seemed to increase in both frequency and volume. "I hope this place isn't far. Why do you think he's coming around, after having been unconscious for days?"
Dr. Scott shrugged. "I can only assume he was in a state resembling hibernation due to the cold temperatures, and the warmth of the van is acting as a stimulus to awaken him. The Bureau has long suspected that the physiology of the Transylvanian race is more advanced than our own, and if my assumption is correct, it would certainly support that hypothesis."
Brad sighed and closed his eyes. After what Brad had gone through at the castle, the mere thought of Frank being alive was devastating; the reality of it was almost more than he could bear. He opened his eyes and looked unhappily over at Dr. Scott.
"Will you do me a favor?"
Dr. Scott nodded. "Certainly, Brad. What is it?"
Brad sighed again. "Whatever you do, please don't tell Janet that Frank is alive. She's been acting…well, kind of weird ever since that night at the castle. She's so cold and distant. I don't know if she's angry with me for not protecting her, or if she's upset over what she did – or…" Brad paused a moment… "if she's upset over what happened to Frank and Rocky. I'm not sure what her reaction would be if she knew about Frank, and to be honest, I'd rather not find out. The only way I'll be able to get her back is if she can manage to let go of what happened."
Dr. Scott said, "There is no need to worry, Brad. I have no intention of telling Janet that Frank somehow survived. He may be alive now, but in order for me to conduct my physiological research…let me just say he will not be alive for long. I want to see if I can manage to persuade him to give me any information about Transylvania – which is doubtful – but after that, he will be of much more use to me dead than alive."
Brad sat in silence as he considered Dr. Scott's words. Brad had always prided himself on his gentle and forgiving nature; ordinarily he would have been appalled at what Dr. Scott was planning. He was, therefore, shocked at the sense of vengeful pleasure he felt upon learning that Frank had not triumphed over death after all. However, the more he thought, the less shocked he became. He would never be able to forgive Frank for what Frank had done to him in that strange bedroom. Perhaps more to the point, he'd never forgive Frank for so easily taking from Janet what she had been so unwilling to give Brad during all the years they'd been together. He hadn't been quite honest with Dr. Scott; he had a pretty good idea of the reason for Janet's attitude toward him. One of the few things she had deigned to say to him since their return from the castle still stung with the sharpness of a lash from Frank's whip: "Maybe if your kisses were more exciting than a spoonful of tapioca, I would have wanted to sleep with you."
The sooner Frank was dead…permanently…the better.