Getting permission to take Frank something to eat hadn't been as difficult as he had anticipated. Jenkins's had even let him go alone. The condemned building was eerily quiet as he made his way to the cell they'd locked Frank in earlier that morning.

He wanted to talk to Frank without the hindrance of extra ears. He took out the key and unlocked the door. Opening it a crack, he peered upward, spotting the camera that monitored the room. He'd expected at least that much security. His primary concern was discovering if the surveillance was strictly visual. It was impossible to get a clear look at the device without going inside so he slipped into the room. A single light burned dimly in the center of the ceiling.

He put a finger to his lips indicating silence. Frank blinked, nothing more. Reaching through his jacket, he ran searching fingers along the lower part of his pocket. Locating a small disk, he withdrew it from the lining, activating it with a click, securing the magnetic device to the camera's metal base. Satisfied, he picked up the tray he'd left outside the door and placed it on the table near the bed.

"What's that," Frank asked with a glance at the camera.

"Something to add a little static to the equipment so we can talk," Rand replied, hoping the tiny vibrating device would cloak their conversation or at least distort it beyond recognition. He went back to the doorway, where he wouldn't be seen by the camera.

"Don't you think they might notice?"

"It's old equipment," Rand answered. "Hopefully they'll just think it's a routine malfunction. Go ahead and eat while we talk, try not to let it look like you're talking to someone."

Rand took a hard look at the young man, zeroing in on a shadowy bruise on the left side of the boy's face. "When did that happen?" he asked, putting his hand up to his face, to indicate the bruise on Frank's.

The obvious concern made Frank painfully aware of what Rand was risking for him. "Doesn't matter," he said. "What's going on, Rand?"

Rand pulled his gaze back to meet level, calm dark eyes, realizing with ironic humor that he really had grown as protective of the kid as Alan Bates accused him of.

"You're the bait. Your father's the target," he answered with blunt honesty. When Frank's expression remained unchanged, he noted, "You don't look surprised."

"I'm not," Frank admitted. "Others have tried to use the family to get to him."

Rand debated whether to tell Frank the whole story, but decided Frank needed to know it all. "It's not just your dad Villman's after. His son was killed in prison when he was eighteen. Your dad put him there and Villman blames him. Now that you're the same age, he wants to kill you so your dad will feel what he did when he lost his son. I think the original plan was for you to die when you were here over the weekend. Now, he's decided to get your dad here and kill you in front of him."

Frank was quiet for a moment, turning the information over in his mind. Rand decided to change the subject.

"I never got a chance to explain what I was doing at that hotel room," breaking in on Frank's thoughts. "I've been working undercover as a guard here. Villman and a group of guards and prisoners are connected with the assassins. I was trying to find out what the connection is."

"Here? You mean we're at the prison?"

"Yes. This is one of the solitary confinement cells in the old building. Anyway, I heard him and Hanks talking. I heard your name mentioned, so I started listening. Villman said he was tired of waiting for the system to put you here, so he was just going to go ahead and bring you here himself. I decided I needed to keep an eye on Hanks, so I followed him to the hotel. I was watching the room when you went in. When you didn't come out after a few minutes, I went to see what was happening. You know the rest."

"Villman bought that story about you being there to back up Hanks? He must have for you to be here."

"I'm not sure. I think the jury's still out on it. He's assigned me and another guard to get your father here."

Frank asked, "So, what are you going to do?"

"I don't know. I don't see a way of getting you out of here and they're watching me pretty close. I'm surprised they let bring your meal by myself. I just hope I get a chance to talk to your dad before we have to bring him here," Rand answered.

"You know he'll come. But it'll be better if he knows what he's walking into. Actually, I'm surprised he hasn't already been here," Frank stated.

"He has. He and Joe and a New York detective were here first thing this morning. Villman must have put on a good show, 'cause they left right away."

"Don't bet on it. Have you checked to see if they're outside somewhere watching the place?" Frank asked.

"No, but then again, Jenkins, he's Hanks' replacement, hasn't let me out of his sight until now." Rand looked closely at Frank to see how he was coping. All he saw was trust and optimism in the kid's face, despite the situation and the obvious pain he was still in. "Don't worry, I will find a way out of this," Rand promised quietly.

A smile hovered as Frank accepted the simple statement. He nodded, "I know."

"Take those pills and try to get some sleep." He had put two of the pills Alan had given him on the tray. He gestured toward the camera. "After I'm gone a while, take that thing off the camera base and keep it hidden." He closed and locked the door, hating having to leave Frank there.

"You were right," Jenkins told Villman. "Hardy and his kid have been sitting down the road watching for the past hour."

"Yes, I'm sure he suspects me. What's Williams doing right now?" Villman asked.

"He wanted to take the kid some breakfast. I told him okay. He should be back by now."

"Well, get him and be ready to follow Hardy when he leaves. I'm sure he won't keep up the surveillance himself, there'll be someone to relieve him soon."

"You want us to grab him before he leaves?" Jenkins asked.

"No. He's got his other kid with him. I want him alone, and I don't want anyone to know who took him. Just follow him and I'm sure an opportunity will come up to grab him," Villman answered. "And watch Williams. I think he's a little too fond of that kid to be trusted."