Chapter 6

Frank was sitting in the van with his head on the steering wheel. He was exhausted. But they had split up and Nancy was with him. The door to the van opened at that moment.

"Well that was a total waste of time. Frank...I think we are barking up the wrong tree."

He looked at her. "What do you mean?"

"There's more then one way to get a tattoo."

"You have to be licensed to tattoo someone."

Nancy smiled...he must really be tired. "Frank...not everyone gets a tattoo legally. Teens can get instructions for a tattoo gun online...plus prisoners become tattoo artists."

Frank's eyes widened. "Duh...I'm surprised dad didn't think of that." He picked up his phone and pressed a number.

"Dad...its Frank."

Fenton was at his office when the phone rang. "Hello Frank. Any luck with the parlours yet?"

Fenton listened and smiled. 'That makes sense'...He then spoke..."That is something we should have thought to check. But let's see if we can determine what kind of tattoo gun was used. If it was done by someone licensed it would have been a genuine tattoo gun. If not it would have been made with a bic pen, guitar string, and a motor.

"We have to talk to Callie." Fenton said softly. "She is the only one that can shed any light on this."

Fenton listened to Frank's response. His heart broke for his son. He really did love her. "She trusts you son..." Sensing his son's reluctance he continued after his response. "Don't ask her about anything else. Let her tell what she will in time. But based on what she told me last night. She wants this bastard to be caught."

He smiled at the response Frank gave him. "Okay son...I promise...be safe...and I love you."

He hung up the phone and opened a different program. He wanted to see what convicted rapists had gotten out of jail recently. He also knew that Frank was going to have a hard time asking Callie about the specifics. An image of Callie's bloody naked body on the floor of her room was engraved in his brain forever.

Nancy watched Frank as he talked to his father. He winced and acknowledged him. "Dad I know but will she...I mean...she's been through so much."

She could see the worry etched in his face. "I know...but will that be enough." Frank glanced at her. She took the opportunity to smile at him reassuringly.

She watched as Frank's face went from one with doubt to one of fierce determination. "Oh I'll figure out who it is...and when I catch him...he'll wish he'd never been born. Just you be careful. Love you."

Nancy watched him worriedly. "Are you going to the hospital?"

Frank glanced over at her. "No...We are."

Hannah was sitting beside Callie's bed. Emma had gone to get some lunch for the three of them. Callie was sleeping on her side. Hannah's heart ached at the pain she was going through. She had a very bad night. She woke up screaming. She smoothed her hair. She didn't even realize that the door opened.

"Hannah..."

Hannah nearly jumped out of her skin. "Nancy...Frank...how is the investigating?"

Nancy planted a kiss on Hannah's cheek. "It's going alright. We have a lead but in order to capitalize on it we need some..." she paused, thinking about what she needed to say. "Clarification."

Frank had taken the empty seat on the other side of Callie's bed. He took her hand. He heard everything that Nancy said to Hannah. Callie opened her eyes slowly and Frank could tell by the look in her eyes that she had heard what Nancy said as well. Frank wanted to comfort her...'you can take all the time you need.' Was at the tip of his tongue. But Callie spoke before he did.

"What do you need Nancy..."

Nancy and Hannah wheeled around. Nancy, for the first time, could see Callie Shaw. She was beautiful...and she could tell at once that Frank loved her completely. She was so stunned that Callie knew her name.

Callie apparently read Nancy's mind. "Aunt Hannah told me a lot about you...and I realized that Frank had told me a lot about you too. You have solved many cases together and I'm glad you're helping him and Joe."

Nancy smiled...this was going to make this so much easier. The trust in Callie's voice was evident. She knew that there was nothing between her and Frank. Ned had some doubts at first but realized that she was devoted to him completely. Callie was exactly the same way.

"Callie...I am a friend of Frank's and your Aunt. And of course I am going to help."

Callie's lip trembled. "I didn't see his face...I..."

Frank squeezed her hand. "It's okay baby...we knew that you hadn't."

Apparently the encounter was coming back to her vividly. She was squeezing Frank's hand so tightly that his fingers were tingling.

"His voice he always whispered...it was harsh sounding...I...could see the shoes he was wearing. Black and white high tops..." She sobbed. "I couldn't see him...but I felt everything...I could...smell him."

Frank had to grip the arm rest of his chair with his free hand to keep from shaking. 'Damn him...I hope I don't find him right now… because I'll kill him."

Callie continued. "He tied me up and he put me on my bed. I was too scared to move but I glanced at him. I could see he had several tattoo's on his arms...he went to my desk and got a pen and he grabbed my guitar and took off the strings. Then he got my walkman off my desk and took it apart too. He also grabbed my toothbrush. His back was to me. I couldn't see anything else. He saw that I was watching him. He told me to turn around. The next thing I knew I heard the sound of a lighter, then the smell of a cigarette. He'd smoked then he'd..." She started crying hysterically. "I can't Frank...I'm sorry."

He kissed her forehead. "It's alright baby...believe it or not. You gave us exactly what we needed."

Nancy nodded. "I'll go call Joe...take all the time you need." Nancy could see that Frank didn't hear her. He was completely focused on Callie trying to reassure her.