"They haven't gotten back yet," she told him. Seeing the worried look on his face she demanded to know what was wrong. Before Frank could explain, the phone rang. Frank raced over and picked it up before it had time to ring again.
"Is Joe Hardy there?" asked the voice on the phone.
"No," Frank answered. "I'm his brother, Frank. Can I take a message?"
"This is Officer Higgins with the Southport Police Department. I spoke with Joe earlier about the clerk at the convenience store."
"Joe told me about the attack," Frank informed the officer. "Has the clerk regained consciousness?"
"Yes," was the terse reply. "It seems your brother's friend attacked the clerk and then faked the attack on herself. I have alerted the Bayport Police Department and asked for an all-points-bulletin to be placed on her."
"Good," Frank said. "She and Joe left early this morning and haven't returned yet."
"You sound worried," Officer Higgins observed.
"Wouldn't you be?" Frank demanded angrily.
"She obviously staged the attack to get his attention," the officer said soothingly.
"She's also responsible for trying to poison Iola Morton and trying to blow up Callie Shaw," Frank informed him.
"Do you think they may have returned to Southport?" asked Officer Higgins.
"It's possible," Frank replied. "They are in my mother's car," he added and gave him a description and the tag number. "I'll call our police department and give them the tag number," he added before saying goodbye and hanging up.
After Frank talked to Con at police headquarters, he hung up and turned to his mother. She looked worried, having heard his part of both conversations.
"Angelic's father died some time ago," Frank explained. "She's been lying to us all along."
"Why would she do those horrible things?" Mrs. Hardy asked her son.
"Dr. Philips said she was complex," Frank told his mother. "He wasn't kidding." He sat down at the table and put his head on his hands. "Joe was right," he said. "He knew from the start Angelic was responsible."
"Wait a minute," Mrs. Hardy interrupted before Frank could say anymore. "Why did Joe change his mind about her?"
"Because we were nearly killed on the boat that blew up," Frank answered. "She said she was going to bed early but she really sneaked out the bedroom window and rigged the boat to blow up." He looked straight at his mother. "She saw me on the dock but didn't see Joe because he had gone the other way to llok for the boat. She didn't know Joe was there. He was supposed to have stayed home to keep an eye on her."
"Then there wasn't an intruder. The alarm sounded when she crept back into the house," Mrs. Hardy deduced. "But she seemed so upset."
"Was she upset when the alarm went off or after she found out Joe was gone?" Frank asked her.
"After," Mrs. Hardy replied thinking about it.
"Will you call Callie and the rest of the gang and ask them if they have seen Joe today?" he asked her. "I'm going to the hospital. Maybe someone saw which way they were going when they left."
"You can take your van," Mrs. Hardy said. "Gerry drove it over a few hours ago," she told him.
"Great!" Frank said, giving his mom a quick hug. "Tell anyone who knows anything to call me on the van's phone," he added before he left.
Frank arrived at the hospital and went to the nurse's station on the ground floor. "I'm looking for my brother," he told the nurse and started to give a description.
The nurse interrupted him. "I know Joe well," she told him. "He's practically been haunting this place recently," she added.
"Do you know where he went when he left here?" Frank asked her.
"He may have gone to Charlie Bickers," she answered. "Joe wanted to talk to him, but it's his day off. Joe did say he would see him tomorrow, though."
"Do you know Mr. Bicker's address?" Frank asked.
"I can't give that to you," she told him with a frown. "You'll have to find out on your own like Joe."
"Please," he begged. "Joe hasn't been home all day and I'm sure he's in trouble."
"Okay," the nurse relented, punching in Bickers name on the computer keyboard. Five minutes later, Frank left the hospital with Bickers address in his right hand.
On his way to Bickers', Frank called home. "Any word on Joe?" he asked.
"Not yet," Mrs. Hardy replied worriedly.
"I'm following a lead," he told her. "Don't worry," he added consolingly. "I'll find him." He only hoped he was telling the truth.
"Be careful," Mrs. Hardy cautioned her son.
"I will," Frank promised before hanging up. He pulled into the driveway at the address he had been given. Before Frank could climb out of the van the front door opened and a young man in old jeans and a tee shirt came out.
Frank got out of the van and walked over to him. "Are you Charlie Bickers?" he asked. At the man's nod, Frank continued, "I would like to ask you a few questions."
"I really haven't time right now," Bickers replied. "I'm on my way to a game."
"Please," Frank pleaded. "It's very important." The young man stared at Frank for a few seconds and then gave a brief nod.
"My brother was looking for you earlier today at the hospital," Frank told him. "Has he been here?" he asked, giving a brief description of Joe.
"No, but I have seen him," Bickers stated.
"When?" asked Frank.
"At the hospital with a young lady," was the reply.
Frank described Angelic, "That's her," agreed Bickers.
"Had you seen her before?" was Frank's next question.
"Sure," he answered. "She was having trouble getting the hood of her car up so I gave her a helping hand."
"What kind of car?" Frank asked. After he had described Callie's car, Frank said, "That wasn't her car. She rigged the engine to blow up when the car was started." At Bickers look of shock, Frank added, "You need to go to the police station and talk to Sergeant Con Riley."
"I'll do that now," Bickers told him. He then looked Frank in the eyes and observed, "You're worried about your brother."
Frank nodded but didn't elaborate. He thanked the young man and left. He headed for the pizzeria. Finding a parking place in front, he jumped out and went inside. He saw a group of his friends and went over.
"Any news on Joe?" Chet asked, after swallowing a bite of pizza. Mrs. Hardy had called the pizzeria and asked if anyone had seen Joe earlier.
"None," Frank said despondantly. "Help me find him?" he asked the group.
"Sure," Tony Prito replied. "Where do we start?"
"The amusement park," Jill Fraun, Tony's date, said with a glance at Iola. "He was there with a brunette."
"Angelic," Iola said, her face hard. "What if she's hurt him?" she asked, upset. "He didn't trust her but we made him change his mind," she added, fighting for self-control as tears threatened her eyes. Mrs. Hardy had told them about Angelic when she called.
"Relax," Callie said soothingly. "She was trying to get rid of us because we were so close to him. She wouldn't hurt him, would she?" she asked, looking at Frank.
"She didn't know Joe was on the boat when she rigged it to blow," Frank said, evading a direct answer.
"Let's go," Chet said, not even finishing his pizza.
"I'll ride with Frank," Callie said, looking at him with concern. Frank gave her a small smile.
"We'll meet at the amusement park," Frank said. "Remember, they are in mom's car, so if you see it, give me a call," he added. All in agreement, they left the pizzeria.
At the gate of the amusement park, Frank asked the attendant about Joe. "Sure, I remember him," he told Frank. "He and his girlfriend got me to stamp their hands when they were leaving. They said they were going to Barney's Burgers for lunch but would be back."
"What time did they get back?" Callie asked.
"They must have changed their minds," was the reply. "They never came back."
"Thanks for your help," Frank told the man. "Callie, you wait for the others. I'll go to Barney's Burgers and see if I can find out where they went."
"Welcome to Barney's Burgers," greeted the employee behind the register. "Would you like to try our super combo?"
"Actually, I'm looking for my brother," Frank said. He described Joe and Angelic. "Have you seen either of them today?"
"Sure," the girl told Frank. "The girl bought their meals and took a seat. Your brother joined her but about half way through, the girl got up and threw their food away."
"Why?" Frank aksed.
"I guess because your brother got sick," she said. "When he stood up he nearly fell but she helped him outside and into a blue car."
"Did you see which way they went?" Frank asked, alarmed.
"South."
"You're terrific!" Frank exclaimed in thanks as he left the restaurant.
Outside, he quickly returned to the amusement park where the others were waiting. Frank told them what he had found out. "Let's split up," he ordered. "Tony, you and Jill cover the area of town by the waterfront. Chet, you and Iola take the area around the mall and those new apartment complexes. Callie and I will check out the other places between here and Southport." Shortly, they were all on their way.
"Oh," Joe groaned, opening his eyes. He was in a motel room and his wrists were tied to the headboard with two scarves while his feet had been tied together with his own belt. He looked around and saw Angelic sitting in a chair watching him.
"Why?" he asked her.
"I love you," she told him, coming over and sitting beside him on the bed. "We belong together," she continued, pushing his hair off his forehead. "You just can't see it."
"Angelic, why don't you untie me and we'll talk?" Joe asked, slowly, trying to think of a way out of this mess.
"We are talking," she told him with a giggle. "You're so cute when you're frustrated," she added, looking at the face he made. "Don't worry," she told him. "After you're used to the idea of us being together, I'll let you loose."
"What about your father?" Joe asked. "He'll be worried when we're not there."
At this, she broke out in hysterical laughter. "Oh, honey," she cooed. "Daddy won't be there."
"You never called him," Joe guessed in resignation.
"I couldn't," Angelic said. "He's dead," she added, shocking Joe.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Joe said. "I'm sure you two were very close."
"We were," she admitted, her voice steady. "Until mommie dearest found a way to get all of his attention," she added sarcastically.
"What?" he asked in disbelief.
"She had that stupid stroke," Angelic declared angrily. "Daddy stopped doing things with me. He said he wanted to spend more time with her so I had to stop him."
"How did you stop him?" Joe asked, dreading her answer.
"I played with the engine on his airplane," she told him with glee. "Now he's mine forever. No one else will ever take him away from me again." She looked at Joe and a gleam came into her eyes. "And no one will ever take you away either," she added in a softer tone.
