Chapter 5:

Frank, Joe, Vanessa, Nancy, and Ned went to Mr. Pizza. Joe slid into one of the booths. He looked over at the counter and saw Tony Prito. Tony saw them and walked over.

"Frank...Joe..."

Joe smiled...the word must have gotten around. "Phil called me this morning. Please tell me you are working on catching that scumbag."

Joe nodded. "It's personal now...dad is also working on it. Hey Tony...let me introduce you two a couple friends of ours, Ned Nickerson and Nancy Drew."

Tony shook their hands. "The Nancy Drew from River Heights?"

Nancy blushed. "Yes...how did you know?"

Tony beamed. "My Aunt lives in River Heights."

Ned inquired. "Pearl Prito?"

"You know her?" Tony asked.

Ned laughed. "I do actually...she is my next door neighbours."

Tony took out a pad of paper. "So what can I get everyone?"

Fenton Hardy was just getting out of the shower when his sister knocked on the door of the bathroom. "Fenton..."

"Yes Trudy."

"Sarah Shaw is on the line...she wants to talk to you."

Fenton wrapped a towel around his waist and exited the bathroom. He went to the phone beside the bed and answered. "Sarah..."

"Fenton! I just got a message to call Laura she said it was urgent."

He took a deep breath. "Sarah can you put it on speaker or something?"

She didn't reply but then Callie's father spoke. "What is it Fenton? Has something happened?"

"George...Sarah...you'd both better sit down."

"Just tell us Fenton...what's wrong?" Sarah's voice was high pitched and worried.

"Callie is in the hospital...she was raped and stabbed...I'm so sorry."

Fenton felt helpless as they both cried out in anguish. "We'll get home as soon as possible." George said. "Tell her we are on the way home and that we love her."

"FENTON! Call my sister in LA or my Aunt Hannah in River Heights. They can get there before we can. I don't want her to be alone."

"Joe called Emma yesterday and both Emma and Hannah are here. Frank is also with her at the hospital."

"Thank you Fenton...and normally I wouldn't ask but..."

Fenton interrupted him. "I'm already looking into it. So are Frank and Joe."

George chuckled. "God help the bastard if Frank finds him first."

"I agree..."

Frank, Joe, Nancy, and Vanessa went to the Hardy residence after lunch. They walked through the door. "Mom! Aunt Gertrude?"

"Hello boys...Hello Vanessa...and..." Laura looked at the other young woman for several minutes. Red hair...blue eyes. "Nancy Drew?"

"Yes mame..."

Laura smiled. "I've heard a lot about you from the boys and through other sources. Did you need some lunch boys?"

"No...We came to see dad." Joe said.

"He's in his study...he just spoke with Callie's parents. They are going to be here the day after tomorrow."

Frank turned and went towards the office. He knocked. "Come in."

He looked up. "Frank you look exhausted."

"I'm fine."

Then Fenton saw who was with him. "Nancy Drew? He stood up and gave her a small hug. "This is quite a surprise."

"Hello Mr. Hardy...I found a pattern by looking in the newspapers. But we came to ask if you know what the trademark is for the rapist?"

Fenton frowned. "What do you mean?"

Joe continued. "One of the papers quoted a trademark...but didn't give any details."

Fenton sighed. "Well damn...that piece of information was supposed to be kept from the press."

"What?" Frank asked.

Fenton took a deep breath. "Frank...the rapist tattoo's the victims. He restrains them and after the initial rape...he puts a tattoo on their lower back in the center at waist level."

Frank was stunned at this. "That is so...Oh god."

Fenton pulled out a photograph. He showed it to them. The picture was of a woman's lower back directly in the center. Nancy was looking at it and was sick at the thought. The tattoo was a circle in another circle and four flames were coming out of it. "If that is where he is putting the tattoos, it is a very painful area. If you go over bone it makes it even more painful."

Frank stormed out of the room. Nancy looked at Joe worriedly.

"He isn't taking this very well."

Vanessa looked at them miserably. "We have to find him Joe...for Callie...for..."

Joe went over to her and pulled her into his arms. "We will find him...this symbol gives us a lead."

Vanessa looked up at him through her tears. "How?"

Nancy smiled. "Tattoo artists have to be licensed and they are usually unique. We can start canvassing them and see what we can find."

Fenton handed them a report. "Already ahead of you. I ran all the tattoo parlours in the area and did background check on the owners. I have the highlighted the most suspicious ones."

Nancy took the list and Joe looked over her shoulder. Vanessa slipped out the door and went towards Frank's bedroom.

Frank sat down on his bed and took several deep breaths. Callie didn't deserve that. She didn't deserve any of this. Damn it. He wanted to hit something...preferably the one responsible for this. If I get a hold of him, this creep will wish he'd never been born. His emotions began to come to the surface. The ache in his heart was painful so painful. The tears that came to his eyes finally fell.

"Callie..." He punched the wall. "I promise I will find this guy. You and all those other women will have justice. I'll make sure of it."

A small knock was heard.

"Come in."

Vanessa walked in. She gave Frank a look over.

"You know...you probably need to get some real sleep." She looked at his hand. "What happened to your hand?"

Frank looked down at his bleeding knuckles. "Oh that...it's..."

Vanessa didn't say anything. Pulled him by the hand and pulled him towards the bathroom. She sat him on the toilet and grabbed the peroxide. She cleaned the lacerations on his them.

"There...that way they won't be infected."

"Thanks Van...Joe's lucky to have you."

She kissed his forehead. "Thanks...and by the way...It's alright to be angry. We all are...but I have to admit I'm also scared."

Frank squeezed her hand. "I know and don't worry. I'm sure Joe isn't going to want to let you out of his sight."

Vanessa laughed. "I know...now come on. I think I am going to get a tattoo." She pulled him out the door.