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Nancy Drew sighed when her computer binged to let her know she had mail. Searching on the Internet for information on her missing person, John Dunne, had produced an embarrassment of riches. He had apparently been the go-to guy for computer help while he was at Boston University and was name-checked on practically every special interest group's web page. So she had to work her way through endless pages of irrelevant information and email each contact person to see if they could provide her with anything useful.
It was slow, tedious work and it wasn't getting her very far. The people she had contacted weren't able to offer more than platitudes and express their surprise he had gone into criminal law as opposed to IT or patent law.
Rousing herself, she opened the email and smiled with delight when she saw Frank's name.
Nancy,
Happy to help. I'll be in Chicago in the morning. I'll ring you,
Frank
The terse style made her blink but she had grown used to understanding what Frank wasn't saying. Something must have upset him to have him leaving Bayport in such rush. Since he hadn't mentioned his brother coming too, Nancy suspected Joe must be the problem. She wondered what the younger Hardy had done now.
-
Frank was first in line for boarding, anxious to reach the plane and its reclining seats. He had been lucky enough to get a window seat. Whenever possible he chose the window seat for the view and Joe took the aisle seat so he was able stretch his fidgety legs as often as he could manage without annoying the stewardess. It made Frank smile to think how very rarely his brother annoyed a stewardess. One flash of his engaging grin or glimpse of his blue eyes and they were more than happy to have Joe brush past them.
Stashing his carry-on under his seat, he reminded himself that he was mad with Joe. He wasn't yet willing to forgive his brother for frightening him so badly. His heart was still pounding with adrenaline and he could still hear Joe saying,
"You're going to be too late. I've got to stop them."
Joe had utterly ignored his shouted commands to stay hidden. Driving with his mobile glued to ear, Frank had heard only the indistinct sounds of a possible fight and then a long drawn out screech of pain. He'd frozen for a minute before throwing his phone behind him and stepping on the gas. As he pulled up outside the removals warehouse, he saw the flames.
Frank stamped down on his errant thoughts. If he kept this up he'd be jittering all the way to Chicago. Sitting down, he tucked the complimentary blanket around himself and clipped the seat belt in place.
It felt peculiar not sitting next to Joe. Joe was supposed to be beside him, subtly fighting for possession of the arm rest, teasing him about his dislike of flying in a large plane with a pilot he didn't know and, basically, just being there grinning at him.
Frank pulled the scratchy blanket over his head, closed his eyes and sternly told himself to go to sleep.
-
Joe skidded into the airport at a dead run. He was the last through the gate; the stewardess was already packing up. Panting for breath, he stumbled onto the plane. Only as he found his place did he realise he was lucky enough to get an aisle seat. Stuffing his holdall into the overhead locker, he sank gratefully into his seat. Looking at the frowning man beside him he was struck by an intense longing for Frank.
His brother was supposed to sit next to him. How else could he tease him about his dislike of large planes? Who else could he talk to over the flight? Frank was supposed to be there.
Too wound up to sleep, he fidgeted restlessly. He flicked through the safety information, studied a map of O'Hare airport and showed a completely spurious interest in the complimentary magazine. He wanted to be there already. Callie had said she would be safe but with no idea what she was up against, how could he be sure?
The scowl from his increasingly frosty neighbour was almost comforting. The guy glared nearly as good as Frank.
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Callie had dragged the armchair across the room so it blocked the door. At least that way she would have some warning before anyone got inside her room. She knew Frank and Joe had pulled the 'room service' trick on numerous occasions and had no intention of letting anybody do it to her. That door was staying shut until Frank arrived.
Curling up fully dressed in the huge cold bed, she tried to calm down enough to sleep.
-
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Joe was very nearly the first off the plane. Clutching his holdall, he walked through the airport at a fast clip. He wanted to run but knew security would be on him immediately. Thankfully he hadn't checked any baggage, so he was able to move swiftly towards the Sheraton.
-
Frank strolled leisurely through the airport to the baggage claim. He saw no point in hurrying. No matter how long it took you to get there, your bag always arrived half an hour later.
Uncomfortable with himself, he had to admit that right now he wasn't missing Joe at all. His brother would be pacing restlessly and trying to get him to speed up. Frank wasn't sure he currently had the self-control to do deal with an impatient Joe. He decided that a holiday away was just what he needed to recharge his tolerance levels.
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Callie jerked awake at the harsh ringing sound. Her hand fumbled over the bedside table trying to shut off her alarm clock and found the phone. Suddenly wide-awake, she shot up in bed, clutching at the phone.
"Yes. Yes hello?"
"Mrs Hardy, your chauffeur is here."
"May I speak to him please?" Callie wasn't going to make a mistake now, not when she was so close to being safe.
"Sure."
"Hello?" asked Callie cautiously.
"Good morning Mrs Hardy," said a voice brimful of good humour.
For a moment Callie was confused. It wasn't Frank but, "Joe!"
"Present and correct."
"Oh thank god."
"Hey, it's okay. Just come downstairs and I'll get you straight home."
"You're a lifesaver Joe. I'll be right there."
Callie scrambled out of bed. She adjusted her silk scarf and put on the enormous sunglasses she'd bought yesterday in an attempt at a disguise. Patting her hair into place, she decided she would pass. Dragging the armchair away from the door, she left the room with relief.
She was upset that Frank wasn't there to pick her up. If Joe could make time from their cases, why couldn't Frank? However by the time the lift reached the ground floor she was already feeling guilty. No doubt Frank was still benched from injury after the brothers' latest case. Then she felt even more guilty for treating her boyfriend's possible hurts so casually.
"But really, when it happens so often, how am I meant to feel?" Rewinding her speech, Callie stopped, horrified at herself.
"Callista Rebecca, I cannot believe you just said that. You are going to have to be extra nice to Frank when you see him again."
-
Frank had collected his bags. Now he was sitting in a coffee bar, staring at his mobile phone. His temper had cooled to the point he realised sending Nancy an email she had no chance to reply to and then just turning up was actually rather rude.
Finally summoning up his courage, he rang Nancy's number.
"Hello? Nancy speaking."
"Uh, hi Nanc," he said sheepishly.
"Frank," she said happily, her voice growing warm. "How are you? Did you get away without throttling the dreaded little brother?"
"Yes, thankfully," he said, smiling. "I am sorry about my abrupt email."
"Nonsense, I could use some fresh eyes on my case. And it's always pleasure to see you. Do you know this is the first time I'll see you without Joe at your heels?"
"Really? I suppose it is."
"Uh-huh, so we'll have a nice grownup time, without the 'children'."
"Sounds good." Frank thought it sounded very good. A nice peaceful week with Nancy, running an organised investigation would be heaven.
"So you're at the airport now? I'll come and get you."
"Nancy, you don't have to do that."
"Be happy too. We can discuss the case on the way back."
"Done then. I'll keep an eye out for you."
"Excellent. Well, see you soon."
"It will be good to see you again."
"You too Frank, you too."
"I guess you better be going?"
"Guess so. I won't be long."
"Hey, no speeding on my account."
"No, no, emergencies only. If for no other reason than I'd be awfully embarrassed to get a ticket because I was in a rush to see my, my friend."
"Me too. Being embarrassed I mean."
"Exactly. Well I better be off, or I'll never get there."
"Okay then."
"I'm glad you came out."
"I'm glad I came out. Thank you for coming to pick me up."
"My pleasure."
"Bye Nancy, drive safe."
"I will."
"I know."
"Bye Frank."
"Bye Nancy."