"Hey, that woman? Elise Davids? The wife of the Reaper's last victim. She lives over near Callie, can you believe it?"
Frank glanced at his younger brother in the passenger seat of their van. Since Joe's run-in at the police station, the brothers had been working round the clock to try to aid their father catch the man with the name Joe had come up with; but the Reaper was tricky, and no matter how hard they searched they came up with nothing. So it was back to the papers, which the two of them poured over non-stop.
"Over near Callie?"
"Yup. She's what, 316? 318?"
"317."
"Close enough. Anyway, Elise Davids is 408, right down the street. She moved back home after her husband's murder.""
"408?"
"Yup."
Frank frowned and stared intently at the road.
"Something wrong?"
"Yeah, I don't like her being so close to Callie. That is, if the Reaper's still around."
"But he wont' hurt her, right? Didn't he go after her husband?"
"Yeah, but remember; his next victim will come from this town."
Joe stretched and yawned; the hours of hunching over paperwork were taking their toll.
"What are you thinking?" he asked Frank, recognizing the thoughtful look on his brother's face.
"Nothing," Frank lied, turning their van toward home.
"Do you want to stake her place out? We could keep an eye our for trouble…"
"Joe, you remember what Dad said."
"Sitting in the van watching some lady's house is hardly too much involvement!"
"Who'd we be watching for? All we have is a name, and that's even shaky."
Joe glared at him. "Just because you didn't find it doesn't mean…"
"That's not what I meant…"
"Oh yes it is. Anytime I do anything without your permission you automatically classify it as a screw-up…"
"Joe! That isn't what I meant. Relax. Don't argue with me when there's nothing to argue about."
Joe rubbed his eyes and sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm just really worn out."
Frank smiled warmly. "I know all this paperwork is killing you."
"Yeah. I want to do something. Anything! Frank, this guy is on the loose, in Bayport, our Bayport and we're sitting around reading lists of new citizens and ancient case files!"
"We promised Dad we'd stay out of it. Don't worry. He's on it, round the clock. So is Chief Collig and Con Riley and half the police department."
"And yet they can't find him. Meanwhile he's stalking around, maybe choosing his victim, maybe choosing someone we care about…" he clamped his mouth shut, too angry to go on."
Frank took a hand off the wheel and rested it on Joe's shoulder. "Come on, Joe. Don't think like that. I mean, really, what are the odds of him selecting someone we know? We just have to sit tight and trust that things are going to work out. Because they are, Joe. They always do."
The younger Hardy sighed and leaned against the passenger side window. "I'm sorry, Frank. I'm just worried. And sick of all this."
Frank nodded, squeezed his brother's shoulder, and turned back to the road. "You look tired."
"I am."
"Why don't I drop you off at home?"
"Drop me off? Where are you going?"
"I'm going to run an errand."
"Going to see Callie?"
Frank didn't smile.
"Close enough."
