"I have been trying to get a divorce." Said Rene, holding the cup of coffee Monica gave her. "It turned out that he (Frank understood it meant Neil, her husband) could not handle it. Do you understand the situation without my having to tell you all, Frank?"
Frank nodded, slightly frowning. He truly understood. The wife obviously earned more money than her husband, although Neil was a brilliant fellow - at least in a classroom - and a lawyer, as Frank was told. The domestic financial issues definitely did not help on the relationship.
"Thank you, I knew you could."
Frank barely raised the corners of his mouth, symbolizing a smile. He thought about the case. A father abducting his own daughter to preserve a marriage - how ridiculous! Yet how tragic! From what he gathered, Neil would not hesitate killing the young girl either because he knows that the daughter is not his or he has cheated himself into believing it.
The news about Neil's demented behavior surprised Frank. Neil, a smart guy who loved to play basketball and was assistant captain to Frank. Neil, the intellectual who adored Rene and helped her on differential equations and computer programming. Neil, the happy bridegroom, anxious and nervous.
And now, he has kidnapped a 2-year-old girl, Iris Amis. He has called Rene to inform her that much and that he would call her later.
There was no evidence where he and Iris were.
He looked pensively at Rene. The woman was very beautiful, and looked 27 when she was actually 31. She obviously loved Iris to death; their fate seemed to link, and hearts attach. Despite her controlled manner, she was stressed out.
Rene's cell phone rang. Frank delivered a look to Cody, who came in with Jake to hear the story. Cody understood and went immediately to his computer. Jeez, he thought, what has the world come to?
Rene picked up her phone anxiously. "Rene here."
"Hello, my dear." Neil's voice came through.
"Neil, what have you done with Iris?" Rene demanded.
"Still so authoritative! I was hoping that you thought about me. But oh no, you were thinking about Iris, that little illegitimate."
"Stop this, Neil. There is no hope for our marriage. Why don't you just give up?"
"No hope, eh? Tired of me after five years. Whose arms are you in now? Frank Donovan?"
"This is between you and me, Neil."
"I see. Can you swear on your little girl's life that you are alone in the house? Or are you with Donovan?"
"Neil -" Rene clenched her teeth.
"You can't swear, can you, my dear? Don't want to curse Iris. Don't worry, I understand. After all, Donovan is the top notch in everything, was, and still is, although I bet I earn as much as he does without so much risk."
"You're absurd!" Rene shouted, losing patience.
"Absurd?" Neil laughed on the other side. "After Iris, no suspicion is absurd. Besides, Donovan is very handsome and strong and capable, isn't he? I've done my homework. I always do, my dear."
"Neil, where is Iris?"
"Woo, impatient, are we? You don't control the board, my dear. Right now I want to discuss Donovan, and I will."
Rene was furious, but remained silence.
"So Donovan is there, with you. Perhaps holding you in his lap? Wiping away your tears of fear? What a romantic picture I have in my mind! You have driven me quite mad, quite. I would have preferred for you to call the cops, the FBI, the private detectives hungry for your money. But you have called Donovan, of all people! You know what, tell your Donovan that I am in the empty warehouse where the elevator is defective. It used to be a dating ground. I am sure that you know. Also, tell him to come alone. Don't you dare come with him! I am a very jealous man, Rene, like the God who created us."
Frank was putting his black jacket when Rene closed the cell phone. He approached and said quickly, "I assume that you know exactly where he is. Now tell me."
Frank nodded, slightly frowning. He truly understood. The wife obviously earned more money than her husband, although Neil was a brilliant fellow - at least in a classroom - and a lawyer, as Frank was told. The domestic financial issues definitely did not help on the relationship.
"Thank you, I knew you could."
Frank barely raised the corners of his mouth, symbolizing a smile. He thought about the case. A father abducting his own daughter to preserve a marriage - how ridiculous! Yet how tragic! From what he gathered, Neil would not hesitate killing the young girl either because he knows that the daughter is not his or he has cheated himself into believing it.
The news about Neil's demented behavior surprised Frank. Neil, a smart guy who loved to play basketball and was assistant captain to Frank. Neil, the intellectual who adored Rene and helped her on differential equations and computer programming. Neil, the happy bridegroom, anxious and nervous.
And now, he has kidnapped a 2-year-old girl, Iris Amis. He has called Rene to inform her that much and that he would call her later.
There was no evidence where he and Iris were.
He looked pensively at Rene. The woman was very beautiful, and looked 27 when she was actually 31. She obviously loved Iris to death; their fate seemed to link, and hearts attach. Despite her controlled manner, she was stressed out.
Rene's cell phone rang. Frank delivered a look to Cody, who came in with Jake to hear the story. Cody understood and went immediately to his computer. Jeez, he thought, what has the world come to?
Rene picked up her phone anxiously. "Rene here."
"Hello, my dear." Neil's voice came through.
"Neil, what have you done with Iris?" Rene demanded.
"Still so authoritative! I was hoping that you thought about me. But oh no, you were thinking about Iris, that little illegitimate."
"Stop this, Neil. There is no hope for our marriage. Why don't you just give up?"
"No hope, eh? Tired of me after five years. Whose arms are you in now? Frank Donovan?"
"This is between you and me, Neil."
"I see. Can you swear on your little girl's life that you are alone in the house? Or are you with Donovan?"
"Neil -" Rene clenched her teeth.
"You can't swear, can you, my dear? Don't want to curse Iris. Don't worry, I understand. After all, Donovan is the top notch in everything, was, and still is, although I bet I earn as much as he does without so much risk."
"You're absurd!" Rene shouted, losing patience.
"Absurd?" Neil laughed on the other side. "After Iris, no suspicion is absurd. Besides, Donovan is very handsome and strong and capable, isn't he? I've done my homework. I always do, my dear."
"Neil, where is Iris?"
"Woo, impatient, are we? You don't control the board, my dear. Right now I want to discuss Donovan, and I will."
Rene was furious, but remained silence.
"So Donovan is there, with you. Perhaps holding you in his lap? Wiping away your tears of fear? What a romantic picture I have in my mind! You have driven me quite mad, quite. I would have preferred for you to call the cops, the FBI, the private detectives hungry for your money. But you have called Donovan, of all people! You know what, tell your Donovan that I am in the empty warehouse where the elevator is defective. It used to be a dating ground. I am sure that you know. Also, tell him to come alone. Don't you dare come with him! I am a very jealous man, Rene, like the God who created us."
Frank was putting his black jacket when Rene closed the cell phone. He approached and said quickly, "I assume that you know exactly where he is. Now tell me."