Joe was taken to the top floor and tied to a chair in what he assumed was the smallest room in the house. The furniture was meager with only a twin bed; chair; desk and one dresser. There was one window, a small oval shaped one that not even a child would have been able to climb through even had they not been on the third floor.
After being tied to the chair he was left alone. No one had bothered stuffing the bandana back in his mouth so he assumed the house was in a secured area.
He wondered if Frank would have any idea who had kidnapped him or if Matt had disposed of his mom's car in the bay. If that were the case, everyone would think he was dead and his body washed out to sea. But then, once Tippoli called Sorrel and found out he was a nobody to him then he would be dead anyway.
Realizing he was probably on his own, Joe began trying to loosen his bonds. It was almost two hours later before he finally felt the rope begin to give. With that little encouragement he put even more effort into scraping the ropes against the chair, ignoring the pain he felt in his wrists. He quit suddenly, his heart leaping into his throat as something pushed against the door. He held his breath, waiting for the door to open. He let out the breath slowly as the door remained shut. He returned to work on the rope. An hour later the rope around his wrists fell to the floor. He started to rub his right wrist but stopped just shy of touching it. He doubted touching either of his wrists in their current condition was such a good idea.
Joe bent over and untied his feet then stood up. Again, he heard something at the door and froze. 'Maybe I'm just jumpy,' he thought when the door still remained shut.
Taking a deep breath he moved to the door. He paused with his hand on the knob and listened. Hearing nothing, he turned the knob and eased the door open. Something shot past his ankles and he leaned against the doorframe with a hand to his heart when he saw what had been causing the noise at the door.
"Mew," the little feline stated, sitting down and looking up at him briefly before ignoring him completely and licking its front paw.
Almost weak with relief, Joe checked the hallway. No one was about. "Here kitty, kitty," he said softly, motioning for the cat to exit the room with him but after one glance, he was ignored again. Since he couldn't very well leave the critter shut up, he left the door slightly ajar as he departed.
Joe reached the top of the staircase unnoticed. He could hear voices below and doubted he would be able to escape, but perhaps he could find a phone and call home.
He retreated from the stairs and began opening doors. The first door revealed a linen closet but the second one opened into a large bedroom. By the bedside, on an oak nightstand table, sat the object of his search: a telephone. He hurried forward and sat down on the bed. He lifted the receiver cautiously. Assured no phone was currently in use, Joe dialed home putting in the area code first.
'Blast it!' he thought. How could it be busy? They had call waiting. He was missing for crying out loud! Why would they have both lines tied up? Now what? Chet? Biff? No, he decided, observing the time on the clock by the bedside. They would be at football practice. Callie? It was worth a try. Even if she weren't at home then her mother might be.
Joe dialed Callie's number. One ring. Two. "Hello?" Joe breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Callie's voice.
"Callie, it's Joe," he said.
"Joe! Oh, I'm so glad!" Callie enthused and continued without giving Joe a chance to say anything. "Two men grabbed Frank at gunpoint this afternoon! I called your mom and the police but no one has any idea where he was taken!"
"Callie, I..." Joe started only to fall silent as the receiver was yanked from his hand.
The receiver was set back on the hook as Tippoli spoke from behind him. "The nice thing about plush carpet," he said, causing Joe to look at the thick carpet beneath his feet. "It muffles sound nicely," Tippoli finished after his dramatic pause. He looked at the man who had snatched the receiver from Joe. "Kirk, make sure he does not escape again."