TAKING TO TASK

CHAPTER 11

"Pieces of the Pie"

"I never realized just how many pies Ras-Alman has his hands into," Frank peered down at the computer screen in front of him, reading a financial report he pulled up from a semi-private website. Frank spent most of the morning ferreting out possible aliases his former father-in-law used and using those names to trace the businesses he owned. While the names he found were not conclusively Ras-Alman's aliases, the style of business was his to a T.

Nancy sat nearby, monitoring the cell phone, stopping occasionally to read over Frank's shoulder or just to nuzzle with him. Frank enjoyed having her close; their love was both old and new and something to be explored again for both of them. He knew if things worked out differently they would both have happily married their childhood loves – Ned and Callie – but they hadn't.

They were free to be together.

"Why do you think Ned called?" Nancy asked suddenly as she leaned back on the bed. "That's bugging me."

"Especially so soon after getting the phones, you mean?" Frank asked, slightly distracted from his perusal. He printed out several pages from the website and carefully highlighted the important details – the ones that earmarked Ras-Alman's business style – and finally looked over at his girlfriend again. "It doesn't have to be suspicious, Nan. Sometimes things are just coincidental."

"Maybe," Nancy sprang up from the bed and came over to take the reports that Frank sat to one side. "And maybe there's something else going on with him. It's driving me crazy."

"So call your dad," Frank suggested. "Maybe that's how Ned got the number. My dad said your dad was given the new number for your cell phone."

Nancy shook her head. "I don't think my dad would have given him the number without asking me first. He's pretty good about that."

Frank shrugged and ran another search on Google. While he did like the action side of detective work, he knew he was wholly suited to the more subdued side as well. Hunting and searching, finding a bad guy through paper trails was almost as satisfying as taking one out physically. Either way, as long as the bad guy in question went down, it didn't matter how it happened. Well, as long as it was legal anyway.

"Here," Nancy said to her boyfriend. She sat a cup of coffee in front of him. "I'm wondering if one of us should have went with Joe."

Frank shook his head. "Hard enough to hide one person much less two – and Ras-Alman would recognize both of us too easily. Going on his own was the best alternative – so long as he keeps up with his check-ins. When's his next one?"

Nancy checked her watch. "Ten minutes," she said. "Or sooner if he has to go somewhere again."

"Okay then," Frank nodded as he turned in his seat. He thought for a moment. "You know this could take us months, don't you?"

Nancy nodded. "I know," she said. "But it'll be worth it in the end."

Frank frowned as he got up and stretched. "It will, sure," he agreed. "But… I keep wondering if we really can hold him at bay for however long it takes to find enough evidence to bring him down for good. Irrefutable evidence."

"Well, we can already get him for kidnapping," Nancy commented. "He kidnapped you, after all."

"For some reason that's not enough for the F.B.I.," Frank declared. "They obviously want him on more than a measly kidnapping charge. I suppose I don't blame them for that."

"What about killing Miriam?" Nancy said. "They could get him for that. There's three witnesses, you know."

"I know," Frank shrugged. "Believe me, if I thought I had the time, I'd try to figure out how the F.B.I. operates. Obviously, again, they're after something more. I just don't know what that is."

"To catch him in the act?" Nancy asked softly. "Since he is reputed to be a terrorist… maybe they want to catch him…"

Frank stared into his girlfriend's blue eyes. "Maybe you're right. Just how many people do they want him to kill, though, before they stop him?"

"Evidence," Nancy breathed. "They need evidence that he's been involved in terrorist acts in the past – or that he intends to commit a terrorist act in the future. That's what they're waiting for. If they merely lock him away for murder or kidnapping, well, the very act itself could move to another person, another organization. IF they catch him about to commit the act, they can hopefully stop it!"

"Riiight," Frank agreed. "But what, where and why?"

"THAT is what we have to figure out," Nancy exclaimed. "That's it, Frank."

"What's it?" Frank asked curiously.

"We have to somehow figure out possible targets – maybe Joe can get something on his end… and we have to get evidence. Anything that can be used as explosives that Ras-Alman – or one of his companies – purchased."

"Yes!" Frank exclaimed in agreement. "That's perfect."

Nancy grinned and kissed Frank enthusiastically. They held the kiss for many moments, losing themselves momentarily in themselves. Finally they parted and Nancy gently stroked Frank's cheek.

Nancy looked back at her watch and frowned.

"Joe should have checked in by now," Nancy looked up at Frank. "Let's give him a call."

Nancy dialed the number for Joe's cell phone, trusting that he had it set on vibrate so it wouldn't be heard outside of the car. Maybe Joe fell asleep; it seemed unlikely but possible.

But the phone rang several times before it switched into voice mail and Nancy disconnected, looking up at Frank with large, scared, eyes.

"He's not answering," she said. "Something's happened!"