Disclaimer : Own them I don't.

Chapter 2 : To Remember and Recall

"Hello?"

"Hi, Frank."

"Callie?"

"Yeah, it's me."

"What's up?"

"Well, I was just wondering if you had nothing to do, so we could…"

"Say no more, Cal, it's a date."

"Where to?"

"It's up to you."

"Hmm…the new pizza place?"

"Yeah, sure. Need a lift?"

"Nope, it's okay. See you there."

"Yup, see you. Bye."

"Bye."

Frank walked into the pizza place and glanced around. No, she wasn't there yet. Ah, Callie… He had not seen her for almost a month, since he went to New York with Joe and Phil Cohen to solve another case. He had been thinking of her and sending her postcards every three days while he was there. He took a booth by the glass window facing the main street. The café was rather empty at the moment as it was past lunch hour. Hmm…pleasant place. As the door of the café swung open, he whipped his head around. He saw Callie enter, a picture of joy.

"Frank!"

Hugs and kisses.

"Mmm…missed you so much."

"Me too."

"How was New York?"

"Great! But it could have been better if you were there."
"Frank, dear, I really need your help…"

"What's the matter?"

"Oh, it's like this…"

………………………………………………

"Cal, I really need your help here. Could you get down here immediately?"

"I'm sorry dear, but my aunt just came back from China."

…………………………………………………

"Frank, I'm having a little bit of trouble down here."
"Where are you, Cal?"

"I…I'm in Washington D.C."

"What's the matter?"

"Oh, I really can't say it over the phone. Please come…"

………………………………………………

"Cal, I need you to get my dad and Joe now."

"Hold on a second, Frank, the girls are over at my house for a sleepover." Covered mouthpiece. "Strawberry would be wonderful! Wait a second, okay? Frank's on the line."

"Please, Cal."

"I'm real sorry, Frank, I can't desert the girls. After all, I'm the host for this sleepover."

"Cal!"

…………………………………………………

"Doctor, please tell me what's wrong with my father?"

"I'm sorry to tell you, but he is suffering from a respiratory disease that cannot be cured."

"But, he has never been exposed to any dangerous gases or substances."

"He has been infected by this disease since he was a child, through long-term exposure."

"Long-term exposure?"

"Yes. Where did he live when he was a child?"

"I have no idea. But his father worked at a coal mine."

"He must have lived near the mine."

"But, sir, isn't there any way to heal him?"

"I'm afraid there isn't. He is beyond repair."

Silence.

"Thank you, doctor."

………………………………………………

"What? I got the job?"

"Yes, miss, you heard me."

"Thank you!"

Race home.

"Ojciec! ("father" in Polish) Ojciec! I got the job!"

"Really?"

"Yes."

"That is wonderful!" cough. "Come here, my corka. (daughter)"

……………………………………………

"It's good you got the job, Daniele."

"Thanks, Jacek." (Daniele's brother)

"When do you start?"

"Tomorrow."

"You work so hard. Just like how Matka (mother) did when she was alive."

"Matka…her death left Ojciec broken."

"I never realized how much I miss Matka until now."

"Matka, brakuje mi ciebie." (Mother, I miss you)

"I'm sure she knows, Dani, I'm sure she knows."

……………………………………………

"Frank?"

"Uh…who's on the line?"

"Gosh, silly, it's me Callie."

"Cal, it's 2 in the morning."

"I know. I need your help."

"What could it be?" (annoyed)

"I need you here at Port Avenue. My car broke down."

"Uh…okay…I'll be there."

"Hurry, it's very dark."

……………………………………………

"Cal? What!"

Callie in the car with another guy, kissing.

"What! Callie, what is the meaning of this?"

Scramble out of car.

"You called me out here in the middle of the night just to make me see this? You planned this all! Fakers!"

"I wanted to tell you this for a long time, Frank."

""I wanted to tell you this for a long time"? Oh, for heavens sake!"

"Stop this shouting, Frank! Let me explain."

"There's nothing to explain. I've seen everything! You, dating him? Will Harvest! And you said you hated him for his arrogance. So, it was just a cover-up, huh?"

"Hey, stop picking on Callie like that!"

"Stay out of this, Will."

"Hey…"

"Will dear, stay out…"

"You pulled me along all the time. Using me when you needed me. All for your convenience, while you could not even help me in a minor situation!"

"You think you are, oh, so great just because you are Frank Hardy a.k.a. P.I.? Well, think again!"

"Stop it! Just stop being selfish for one second!"

"Selfish? Selfish! Look who's calling who selfish! I love Will and we will be together!"

"I've heard enough! Goodnight and have a great time together. By the way, Callie, thanks for waking me up at 2 a.m. and good luck with her, Will!"

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