Chapter 20:

Joe Hardy stared at the list of names on the printed sheets of paper his father gave him, trying to look for a familiar name. The list contained the names and details of people who had crossed paths with the former President, as well as people who had crossed the Hardys. "See if you find anyone suspicious who might be in Bayport now," his father had told him.

The telephone rang. Joe, who was still studying the papers, grabbed the handset immediately. "Hardy Residence." he said, listening intently to what's on the other end.

Nothing was being said on the other end. Joe frowned. All he could hear was a girl crying over the phone. "Katie?" he asked cautiously. "Kate, is that you?" He couldn't make out who the caller was, but she appeared to be badly shaken. With a quick assumption that the caller was Katie, he tried again, a little gentler. "Kate? That you? Is Frank there?" His voice was laden with worry now. The sobs grew louder. Then there was a click, and then silence.

Callie was sobbing profusely as she replaced the handset. She was feeling utterly confused. And trapped. She knew she had messed up. In that one weak moment, she had let jealousy overrule her head, and she was now suffering the consequences. But was it completely her fault? While Shane did once express the notion about abducting Katie, he had never said anything about kidnapping Frank. He had claimed that Katie was an ex-girlfriend, who had not only cheated on him, but took his money as well. It was just a personal matter between him and Katie, Shane had claimed, and all he wanted was to teach her a lesson. Before she did the same to another guy…

Perhaps she shouldn't have believed him, but hell, what was she supposed to think? After all, Katie did cause heads to turn – what with those gorgeous blue eyes and charming smile. And Shane's story had sounded logical, not to mention that the idea suited her, somehow. Especially if they could get Katie away from Frank. She was already deeply upset over Frank's new friendship with Katie, and the thought that the girl would one day cheat on him only made it all the more revolting. But even then, she had never imagined that Shane would really follow it through. She had been surprised to overhear Steve's phone conversation that night, and shocked when Vanessa reported that Frank was missing as well, Only then did she realize that something didn't quite add up. And when she actually found Frank in that room, she had a strange suspicion that she was being lied to…

Still – she couldn't believe that Steve was involved in this. Perhaps Steve was being deceived too…

Callie did not have the courage to call the police as Frank had instructed, so she had called Joe instead. Her hand was trembling. But the moment she heard Joe's anxious voice on the other end, she just couldn't bring herself to speak to him. She knew Joe would be furious when he heard what she had to say.

Perhaps they might let them go after a day or two, she whispered hopefully. But deep down inside, she felt dreadful. No, she had to tell them about Shane. Frank would hate her all the more if she didn't…

Wiping her tears, she gathered her courage and reached for the telephone once more. She dialed Vanessa's cell number this time.

"What?" Vanessa's voice was filled with disbelief at what Callie had told her. "Why didn't you tell us about this earlier?" she demanded. "No, Callie, you should talk to Joe. He'd want to hear this." Flabbergasted, she shook her head and passed her cell phone to her boyfriend, who took it with a questioning frown.

When Callie repeated her story to Joe, the younger Hardy almost exploded. "Callie!" he bellowed into the phone. "I called you to ask if any of you had seen Frank! And you said no!" His words were answered by a few sobs at the other end and he lost his patience.

"Look, stop crying and tell me where they are," he demanded. The sobs grew louder. Joe sighed impatiently.

"Alright. Stay where you are," he snapped. "I'll come over right now, and you show me the way there." He ended the call, and headed for the door with Vanessa.

-xx-

"Stay here," Joe instructed Vanessa as he parked the car is a secluded spot, half-hidden by wild undergrowth among the huge oak trees. They were at the manor where Frank and Katie were taken. Set on the edge of the woods just outside Bayport, it was part of the long-forgotten, old Miller estate.

"Be careful," Vanessa whispered back, glancing nervously up at the house. A shiver ran down her spine. The building looked cold and desolate, and she found it rather sinister now that they had come so close. Two blackbirds flew up with a loud cry, making her jump in alarm. Joe reached for Vanessa's hand and gave her a squeeze.

"We'll be fine. We're just going in and get them out of there," he assured her. He handed his girlfriend back the car keys. It was Vanessa's car that they had been driving. "Drive off if there's any danger. Don't wait."

Vanessa nodded. "We?"

"Me and Callie," he answered. "Yes. You're coming in with me," he addressed Callie in a steely voice, without turning to look at her.

"And uh, Vanessa," he continued. "Ring the police if I don't get back in twenty minutes." At that, Callie shot him a pleading look, but Joe ignored it. "Come on, let's not waste any more time."

Silently, Joe made his way towards the dark, dreary mansion, with Callie close behind him. The building was humongous. He decided not to use the main door. Finding an open window near the back, he peered in for any signs of movement. When he was sure that there was no one about, he motioned for Callie and they climbed in. The house was eerie and silent. They crept noiselessly about the house, keeping to the darker shadows. It was not too difficult a thing to do, for there was no lighting. And seeing how unused the place was, they doubted there was even any electricity.