Chapter 9 -Uncle Frank
Fifteen minutes later, Joe and Frank hurried into the hotel apartment only to be met by an emotionally distraught Kayley.
Joe held his wife and closed his eyes as fear for his son coursed through his veins in a way he didn't think possible. He remembered the news report about the John Doe murderer and began to pray for his son and his nephew's safety.
Finally, Joe pulled back from Kayley and he tenderly wiped the tears from her face with his fingers, she glanced behind him and noticed a long lost friend. "Frank! Oh, my goodness! Frank!" Joe stepped aside and let his wife embrace his brother. All three of them had tears in their eyes as the two pulled apart.
"Daddy!" Joe turned to see his daughter running to him with her arms outstretched. He bent down and picked her up in his arms.
"Hi Princess, How is my girl?"
"I'm scared, Daddy. I want Liam back" the little girl replied as she snuggled into the safety of her father's chest.
"I know, Sweetheart, I know, I want him back too. We'll find him, I promise," Joe whispered hoarsely into her soft hair as the tears rolled down his face as well.
Little James toddled out from another room to see what all of the commotion was and was happy to find his daddy home. "Dat?" he asked as his chubby little finger pointed upwards towards Frank.
Kayley picked James up and hugged him. "That, James, is your Uncle Frank. Can you say hello to him?"
James turned his head and peeked out from his mother's neck as he wiggled his hand in a toddler's wave. Frank smiled, his eyes bright with tears as he waved back. "Hi, little guy. It's nice to meet you."
Katie scooted down from her father's embrace and turned to face this new family member. She wiped her arm across her face to rid it of some of the moisture gathered there and looked up at Frank. She seemed to be searching him for some sort of reaction. Frank knelt down in front of the little girl and had to speak past the lump in his throat as he said softly to her "Hi Katie. You are even more beautiful than your picture. I am really happy to get to meet you, and I promise, we will find your brother."
Maybe it was the sincerity in those warm brown eyes of his, maybe it was the promise he made of finding Liam, maybe she just instinctively knew she could trust this man…whatever it was, little Katie Hardy did not know, but she flung herself at her uncle and wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him for all she was worth.
Joe stood back and wrapped his arms around Kayley and James. He smiled as he watched the scene play out before him and he thought to himself 'Yeah, Katie, Uncle Frank really is all that.'
Finally Katie stepped back from Frank but even as she did so, she reached up and took his hand. Her innocent eyes looked from him to her parents as she waited to see what was going to happen next.
Joe took a deep breath and exhaled as he looked at Kayley. "I think maybe Liam and Sam's cases are connected to one and other"
"Do you think they'll be OK?" Kayley asked afraid of the answer.
Joe just pulled her close and kissed her forehead. Katie squeezed the hand of her new friend a little tighter.