"Daphne came in last night crying," Martin said to his oldest son.
"Yes Dad, thank you for that bit of information. And had it not been so obvious when she came through the door in an uncontrollable outburst in the middle of my party, you're little announcement might have a bit more value behind it."
"Well, what are you going to do?"
"I've already tried to talk to her twice last night and once this morning. She's not willing to diverge any information at this time. We are going to have to wait until she's ready to talk about it."
"What about your brother?"
"I've called him several times last night and then again this morning. He's not answering his phone."
"Well, I don't like this at all."
"Now Dad, let's not get ahead of ourselves. We don't know the severity of this until one of them opens up to us."
"Fras, you know something about this, don't you?"
"Yes-well, Niles confided in me last night that he had made up stories about Joe and told those stories to Daphne so she wouldn't go out with him. I called Daphne over for Niles to undo his tangled web of lies."
"Oh Jeez."
Frasier took the defense. "Well Dad, it wasn't right for Niles to tell those outlandish lies and be so selfish…"
"Not you Frasier. I'm just surprised that Niles would make up stories about Joe like that."
"Well, we don't know how far Niles and Daphne's conversation went. For all we know this could just be about…"
"Hey, there she is." Martin's voice was at a new and fresh upbeat.
It was mid-morning when Daphne came out of her room in her robe and slippers. Her hair wasn't combed and her eyes were swollen from the amount of tears she shed last night and probably this morning, by the looks of it. "Morning," she mumbled. "I'll make you some breakfast."
"Oh Daphne." Frasier went over and hugged her. "I have no idea what you're going through, but I am always here to listen. You know that."
"Thank you Doctor Crane. But I'll be alright," she said in a voice that was almost a falsetto.
"How about we make you breakfast this morning?" Martin offered.
"Oh? Well… alright." With that, she turned and headed back to her room.
"No, I didn't mean…" Martin said, but she had disappeared to her room before he had time to finish, "…breakfast in bed." He turned to look at his son who only offered a shoulder shrug as a response. "Listen, you get Niles on the phone and find out what the hell's going on. I'll be in the kitchen making breakfast."
"Right Dad." He whipped out his cell phone and dialed Niles' home.
On the third ring, someone picked up. "Jell-o?"
"Marta, is that you?"
"Si'."
"This is Frasier, Niles' brother."
"I am sorry, Docktar Crane's brother not here."
"No Marta, I would like to speak to Niles Crane."
"Oh, she not here either."
Damn her and her misuse of pronouns, he thought. "When was the last time you saw senor Niles?"
"Oh, last night. She leave last night."
"Do you know where he went?"
She started to sob. Marta was actually crying. He had difficulty understanding her, but now it was impossible.
"Marta, I'm coming right over." Frasier went into the kitchen where his father was flipping French toast.
"Did you get ahold of Niles?"
"No Dad, I didn't." He didn't want to alarm his father with details of incomplete stories. He had to piece more together first. "I'm going to go over to Niles' place. I'll be back."
"Alright. Call if you find anything out."
"I will Dad."