The next morning, the alarm awoke Frank with a start. He reached over
and turned off the offending shrill sound. He snuggled closer to Nancy who
had momentarily stirred at the sound of the alarm. 'Just five more
minutes,' he thought to himself, before drifting back off to sleep.
An hour later, Frank was rudely awakened once more. This time he realized that it wasn't the alarm clock, but someone beating persistently on the door. He glanced over at the clock, which informed him that he had fallen back asleep not for five more minutes, but for sixty. Groaning, he untangled himself from Nancy's arms and sleepily padded towards the door. He peered out the peephole and saw his brother impatiently waiting to be let in.
Frank unchained and unlocked the door and greeted his brother with a grunt.
"Good morning to you too, sunshine," Joe teased as he stepped inside the still dark room.
"Too early, Joe," Frank retorted. He glanced over at Nancy who was curled up underneath the covers, oblivious to her surroundings. Looking back at his brother he motioned Joe back out into the hallway. "Go find us some coffee. We'll be ready to go by the time you get back."
Joe laughed at his brother who's hair was sticking up wildly. "Fine - just don't go back to sleep."
"I won't," Frank promised. "Coffee. Now," he demanded, pushing Joe back into the hallway.
"And you say I'm not the morning person," Joe snickered, as he walked away.
Shutting the door, Frank turned back towards the bed. 'What I wouldn't give to spend the day resting,' he thought. Wiping the sleep out of his eyes, he quietly padded back across the room and sat gingerly down on the bed next to Nancy. For a moment, he studied her relaxed form. He shook his head in disgust, when he noticed the awful purple bruise, marring her otherwise beautiful face.
Frank gently shook her shoulder to rouse her from sleep. "Nan, honey. Wake up."
Nancy's eyes flickered open and she glanced up at Frank. "What time is it?" she asked with a yawn.
"Eight o'clock," Frank replied.
Recognition dawned on Nancy's face. "We're supposed to be meeting Joe right now," she said sitting up.
"He's already been here," Frank answered her. "I sent him back downstairs for coffee."
Nancy swung her feet off the bed, and walked over to retrieve some clothes from her suitcase. "Coffee sounds really good, right about now," she said, retreating into the bathroom to change and freshen up.
Frank powered on his laptop and then quickly donned a pair of jeans and a charcoal gray sweater. He was putting on his shoes when Nancy emerged from the bathroom, in a pair of jeans and a soft white turtleneck. She walked over to the window and pulled the curtains open. The early morning light filtered in through the room, instantly making her more awake. As she stared out across the city, she felt Frank's arms wrap around her waist.
"Good morning," he said casually.
"Morning," she replied, turning her face towards his for a quick kiss.
Frank cupped her face in his hands and studied it carefully. She had artfully applied her makeup so that no trace of the offending bruise was found. "You hid the bruise well," he commented.
Nancy smiled slightly and retorted, "Well, I couldn't go out in public and have everyone think you were my abusive boyfriend, now could I?" Turning back to look out the window, Nancy's mood turned somber once again. "He's out there somewhere, Frank."
"And we're going to find him," Frank promised her. "As soon as Joe gets back, we'll start compiling a list of possible places that he might be hiding out."
As if on cue, a knock sounded at the door. "Everyone decent in there?" Joe called out.
Frank and Nancy laughed lightly, and Frank made his way to the door to let his younger brother in. "Always the comedian," Frank commented dryly, opening the door.
"Don't make fun of me," Joe protested, as he handed Frank and Nancy their steaming cups of coffee. "I come bearing coffee and donuts," he said, holding up the brown bag for emphasis.
Frank grabbed the bag out of his younger brother's hands and pointed at the computer. "Ready to get to work?"
Joe cracked his knuckles dramatically as he sat down in front of the laptop. Waiting for the pc to connect to the internet, he turned to the other two and asked, "So, I'm looking up any property information I can find on Paul Wheeler and his brother - what was his name again?"
"Gerry," Nancy informed him. Turning to Frank, she said, "While you guys get started, I'm going to step out in the hall and call my boss and let him know what's going on."
Frank nodded and replied, "Why don't you try giving Ned and Amy a call, too? Maybe they know something that the database won't be able to tell us."
"Sure thing," Nancy answered, and then stepped out into the hallway.
"Anything yet?" Frank asked, looking over his brother's shoulder at the computer screen.
"Just got connected to the system," Joe answered. A few keystrokes later, and the screen began to flash 'Searching Database'. Within moments, the computer had compiled a list of over 500 properties belonging to one Paul Wheeler.
Frank groaned at the search results. "Can you narrow the search down to Illinois?"
Joe turned in his chair and grinned at his brother. "Sorry." Joe repeated the search once more, this time using more narrow parameters. Twelve results appeared on the screen this time.
"Can you plot them on a map of the state so we can narrow them down even more?" Frank inquired.
"Sure thing," Joe countered. A few seconds later the screen displayed a map of the state of Illinois with red push pins indicating the towns where the properties were located.
Frank stared at the map displayed on the screen intently. "Looks like there are only three properties in about a fifty mile radius of Chicago. I'm guessing those are the ones that we need to concentrate on."
"I think you're right," Joe countered. "The other nine are too far away. Write down these addresses, and then I'll run a search on his brother."
Frank grabbed a sheet a paper and began writing down all the information that the system had displayed. Once he was done, Joe typed in Gerry Wheeler in Illinois and came up with only two properties. Both were located in Chicago.
"Bingo," Joe grinned when the information appeared. He turned to his brother and said, "Ten bucks says he's hiding out at his brother's place."
"If his brother's smart, he won't let him. Embezzlement is one thing, still illegal of course, but attempted murder and attempted kidnapping is a whole different ball game," Frank returned.
"You wouldn't hide me out if I needed it?" Joe asked, feigning dismay.
Before Frank could respond to Joe's hypothetical and idiotic question, Nancy returned to the room. "How much time off did you get?" he asked.
"As long as I need," Nancy responded, sitting on the edge of the bed. "But technically, since I had to promise a lengthy piece on fraudulent insurance practices at Alliance when this is wrapped up, I'm still working."
"Glad we could help further your career," Joe laughed.
"The Tribune's profit, is more like it," Nancy grinned back. Turning serious she asked, "So, what did you guys find?"
"We've got addresses of three properties in and around Chicago for Paul, and two for Gerry," Frank informed her. He sat down on the edge of the bed next to her, and showed her the list of addresses. "Were Amy and Ned any help?"
"Ned told me about Paul's new condo on Lake Michigan, but that's all he knew about. I never got a hold of Amy. Apparently, Ned hasn't seen her since yesterday morning. He didn't even know that she had been hurt," Nancy answered.
"Do what?" Frank queried. "She was transported to St. Joe's, right?"
Nancy nodded affirmatively. "I know, it sounds pretty weird to me, too. So, I called the hospital and they said she was released late last night."
Joe piped in, "Nancy, are you sure about this girl?"
Nancy sighed. "I thought I was, but I don't like the feeling I'm getting on this one, guys. I mean, it is possible that she was just tired and wanted to do nothing but go home last night, but still - you think she would've at least popped in and said hey to him before she left."
"You would think," Frank agreed. He paused and let the information sink in. "Nan," he began slowly. "Did you ask her to go last night, or did she offer to let you in the office?"
Nancy looked at Frank curiously. "I wanted to go this morning, but she said she could get me in last night. That way we wouldn't have to take the chance of getting in and out before Paul got to work this morning."
Joe shared a pointed look with his brother, and then glanced at Nancy. "Do you think it's possible that she tipped Paul off?" he offered.
"I've thought about that," Nancy admitted, as she stood up and began pacing across the room. "But, he attacked her, too," she pointed out.
"True," agreed Frank. "However, her injuries weren't serious if she wasn't even kept overnight. I mean, think about it Nancy. How else would Paul have known exactly what time to show up at his office to catch you guys? On a Sunday evening, nonetheless?"
Nancy paused mid-stride and looked at him. "You're right. I didn't even think of that."
Joe stood up and glanced at both his brother and Nancy and then announced. "I think we have our accomplice."
An hour later, Frank was rudely awakened once more. This time he realized that it wasn't the alarm clock, but someone beating persistently on the door. He glanced over at the clock, which informed him that he had fallen back asleep not for five more minutes, but for sixty. Groaning, he untangled himself from Nancy's arms and sleepily padded towards the door. He peered out the peephole and saw his brother impatiently waiting to be let in.
Frank unchained and unlocked the door and greeted his brother with a grunt.
"Good morning to you too, sunshine," Joe teased as he stepped inside the still dark room.
"Too early, Joe," Frank retorted. He glanced over at Nancy who was curled up underneath the covers, oblivious to her surroundings. Looking back at his brother he motioned Joe back out into the hallway. "Go find us some coffee. We'll be ready to go by the time you get back."
Joe laughed at his brother who's hair was sticking up wildly. "Fine - just don't go back to sleep."
"I won't," Frank promised. "Coffee. Now," he demanded, pushing Joe back into the hallway.
"And you say I'm not the morning person," Joe snickered, as he walked away.
Shutting the door, Frank turned back towards the bed. 'What I wouldn't give to spend the day resting,' he thought. Wiping the sleep out of his eyes, he quietly padded back across the room and sat gingerly down on the bed next to Nancy. For a moment, he studied her relaxed form. He shook his head in disgust, when he noticed the awful purple bruise, marring her otherwise beautiful face.
Frank gently shook her shoulder to rouse her from sleep. "Nan, honey. Wake up."
Nancy's eyes flickered open and she glanced up at Frank. "What time is it?" she asked with a yawn.
"Eight o'clock," Frank replied.
Recognition dawned on Nancy's face. "We're supposed to be meeting Joe right now," she said sitting up.
"He's already been here," Frank answered her. "I sent him back downstairs for coffee."
Nancy swung her feet off the bed, and walked over to retrieve some clothes from her suitcase. "Coffee sounds really good, right about now," she said, retreating into the bathroom to change and freshen up.
Frank powered on his laptop and then quickly donned a pair of jeans and a charcoal gray sweater. He was putting on his shoes when Nancy emerged from the bathroom, in a pair of jeans and a soft white turtleneck. She walked over to the window and pulled the curtains open. The early morning light filtered in through the room, instantly making her more awake. As she stared out across the city, she felt Frank's arms wrap around her waist.
"Good morning," he said casually.
"Morning," she replied, turning her face towards his for a quick kiss.
Frank cupped her face in his hands and studied it carefully. She had artfully applied her makeup so that no trace of the offending bruise was found. "You hid the bruise well," he commented.
Nancy smiled slightly and retorted, "Well, I couldn't go out in public and have everyone think you were my abusive boyfriend, now could I?" Turning back to look out the window, Nancy's mood turned somber once again. "He's out there somewhere, Frank."
"And we're going to find him," Frank promised her. "As soon as Joe gets back, we'll start compiling a list of possible places that he might be hiding out."
As if on cue, a knock sounded at the door. "Everyone decent in there?" Joe called out.
Frank and Nancy laughed lightly, and Frank made his way to the door to let his younger brother in. "Always the comedian," Frank commented dryly, opening the door.
"Don't make fun of me," Joe protested, as he handed Frank and Nancy their steaming cups of coffee. "I come bearing coffee and donuts," he said, holding up the brown bag for emphasis.
Frank grabbed the bag out of his younger brother's hands and pointed at the computer. "Ready to get to work?"
Joe cracked his knuckles dramatically as he sat down in front of the laptop. Waiting for the pc to connect to the internet, he turned to the other two and asked, "So, I'm looking up any property information I can find on Paul Wheeler and his brother - what was his name again?"
"Gerry," Nancy informed him. Turning to Frank, she said, "While you guys get started, I'm going to step out in the hall and call my boss and let him know what's going on."
Frank nodded and replied, "Why don't you try giving Ned and Amy a call, too? Maybe they know something that the database won't be able to tell us."
"Sure thing," Nancy answered, and then stepped out into the hallway.
"Anything yet?" Frank asked, looking over his brother's shoulder at the computer screen.
"Just got connected to the system," Joe answered. A few keystrokes later, and the screen began to flash 'Searching Database'. Within moments, the computer had compiled a list of over 500 properties belonging to one Paul Wheeler.
Frank groaned at the search results. "Can you narrow the search down to Illinois?"
Joe turned in his chair and grinned at his brother. "Sorry." Joe repeated the search once more, this time using more narrow parameters. Twelve results appeared on the screen this time.
"Can you plot them on a map of the state so we can narrow them down even more?" Frank inquired.
"Sure thing," Joe countered. A few seconds later the screen displayed a map of the state of Illinois with red push pins indicating the towns where the properties were located.
Frank stared at the map displayed on the screen intently. "Looks like there are only three properties in about a fifty mile radius of Chicago. I'm guessing those are the ones that we need to concentrate on."
"I think you're right," Joe countered. "The other nine are too far away. Write down these addresses, and then I'll run a search on his brother."
Frank grabbed a sheet a paper and began writing down all the information that the system had displayed. Once he was done, Joe typed in Gerry Wheeler in Illinois and came up with only two properties. Both were located in Chicago.
"Bingo," Joe grinned when the information appeared. He turned to his brother and said, "Ten bucks says he's hiding out at his brother's place."
"If his brother's smart, he won't let him. Embezzlement is one thing, still illegal of course, but attempted murder and attempted kidnapping is a whole different ball game," Frank returned.
"You wouldn't hide me out if I needed it?" Joe asked, feigning dismay.
Before Frank could respond to Joe's hypothetical and idiotic question, Nancy returned to the room. "How much time off did you get?" he asked.
"As long as I need," Nancy responded, sitting on the edge of the bed. "But technically, since I had to promise a lengthy piece on fraudulent insurance practices at Alliance when this is wrapped up, I'm still working."
"Glad we could help further your career," Joe laughed.
"The Tribune's profit, is more like it," Nancy grinned back. Turning serious she asked, "So, what did you guys find?"
"We've got addresses of three properties in and around Chicago for Paul, and two for Gerry," Frank informed her. He sat down on the edge of the bed next to her, and showed her the list of addresses. "Were Amy and Ned any help?"
"Ned told me about Paul's new condo on Lake Michigan, but that's all he knew about. I never got a hold of Amy. Apparently, Ned hasn't seen her since yesterday morning. He didn't even know that she had been hurt," Nancy answered.
"Do what?" Frank queried. "She was transported to St. Joe's, right?"
Nancy nodded affirmatively. "I know, it sounds pretty weird to me, too. So, I called the hospital and they said she was released late last night."
Joe piped in, "Nancy, are you sure about this girl?"
Nancy sighed. "I thought I was, but I don't like the feeling I'm getting on this one, guys. I mean, it is possible that she was just tired and wanted to do nothing but go home last night, but still - you think she would've at least popped in and said hey to him before she left."
"You would think," Frank agreed. He paused and let the information sink in. "Nan," he began slowly. "Did you ask her to go last night, or did she offer to let you in the office?"
Nancy looked at Frank curiously. "I wanted to go this morning, but she said she could get me in last night. That way we wouldn't have to take the chance of getting in and out before Paul got to work this morning."
Joe shared a pointed look with his brother, and then glanced at Nancy. "Do you think it's possible that she tipped Paul off?" he offered.
"I've thought about that," Nancy admitted, as she stood up and began pacing across the room. "But, he attacked her, too," she pointed out.
"True," agreed Frank. "However, her injuries weren't serious if she wasn't even kept overnight. I mean, think about it Nancy. How else would Paul have known exactly what time to show up at his office to catch you guys? On a Sunday evening, nonetheless?"
Nancy paused mid-stride and looked at him. "You're right. I didn't even think of that."
Joe stood up and glanced at both his brother and Nancy and then announced. "I think we have our accomplice."