Rand sat contemplating the conversation he'd just heard. Well, at least now he had an idea of what their plans were. But what was Villman's grudge against the Hardys, and why target Frank? What had been the original plan? He knew Frank had not been meant to leave the prison alive and he figured Frank had probably come to the same conclusion sometime during the night. How would he react?

They still didn't have enough evidence to even indict, much less convict any of the group. What they needed was to catch them in the act, but it sounded as if they were shutting down their operation. If only they could catch Villman and Hanks helping the others escape, but that would mean letting the riot happen and taking the chance innocent people would be hurt.

He needed to report to the Gray Man and see what he thought, but he also needed to keep an eye on Hanks and Villman. He had a dilemma, Villman had made it clear he would postpone his plans until he had Frank, and the Network couldn't do anything until Villman made his move. Well, he'd try to come up with something that would force Villman to move without the Hardys.

He didn't have long to contemplate the problem. He saw Hanks and another guard coming out the gate. He watched as they got into Hanks car, but didn't move until Hanks had pulled out onto the road. Then he quickly started his car and followed.

Laura Hardy fussed over Frank when they got home. "Are you all right, dear?" she asked, taking in his exhausted, disheveled look.

"Of course he's all right. A night in jail probably did him some good. Maybe now he won't go off getting himself in trouble anymore," Aunt Gertrude harumphed, although secretly pleased to see Frank home safe.

"Gertrude!" Laura said, slightly admonishing. "Let Frank be. He doesn't look like he got a bit of sleep last night. Did you, honey?"

"Not really," Frank replied. "It was too..." He hesitated, searching for the right word. He couldn't use the true one--terrifying. "...strange. I slept a little just before dawn. Right now all I want is a hot shower."

"Go on, dear," Laura told him, pushing him towards the stairs. "I'll have breakfast ready when you come down."

"Thanks, Mom," Frank answered as he headed to his room.

Laura turned to her husband. "Is he really okay? He seems a bit distant."

"Yes, dear," Fenton answered, giving his wife a hug. "He's just tired. He slept most of the way home."

Joe followed Frank up to his room, determined to find out what really happened.

"Uh, I can get a shower by myself if you don't mind," Frank answered as Joe followed him.

"I want to know what really happened last night," Joe said.

"What do you mean? Nothing," Frank answered.

"Dad didn't see it, but I saw that look you had when you were telling dad about hearing something. It was more than just hearing something that made you suspicious. What was it?" Joe demanded. When Frank didn't answer right away, he continued. "I see the same look now. Something scared the hell out of you."

"Nothing happened," Frank insisted, trying to turn away before Joe saw his reaction.

Joe suddenly paled as he read his brother's face. 'No, it couldn't be that,' thinking of what he had heard about what goes on behind prison bars. "Frank, they didn't..." he started to ask quietly.

"No!" Frank said emphatically, thankful that he could answer truthfully and that Joe would never have to know how close it had really been.

"Frank?..."

"Joe, I'm just tired. You're right, I was scared. It was not a pleasant place and I'd heard all the rumors too. I just didn't get any sleep. I'm fine. Go on, I'll be down in a while."

After their late breakfast, Fenton, Joe, and Frank sequestered themselves in Fenton's office. "Okay, Frank, tell me what was said. Why do you think someone at the prison is responsible for all this?" Fenton asked.

Frank had used his time in the shower to work out what he would tell his father and brother he had heard. He would take Hanks reply when Frank had said he wouldn't be there that long and embellish on it. And then there had been the looks some of the inmates had given him, like they knew something was going to happen to him. They knew all right, it just wasn't the same thing he was going to let his father and brother believe it was.

"It was more of an impression than the actual words," Frank replied. "The head guard, Hanks, made several snide comments about people never leaving once there were in and once he said something like 'at least not alive'. Then when I said I wouldn't be there very long, he said told me don't count on it."

"Could it have just been his general attitude? He could say that to all the new inmates," Fenton asked.

"Well, partly, but I think some of it was directed at me specifically. Then there were a couple of inmates that kept watching me, as if they knew something." It had been long into the night, after the initial terror of the other three men had lessened, that Frank had remembered the two at dinner who had barely taken their eyes off him. As he analyzed their looks now, he realized they had not been looking at him like the other three had. They had been studying him, planning--they had to have been planning how to kill him! His eyes widened at the thought. "They were planning to kill me..." he said slowly as realization hit.

"Did you recognize either of them? Were they someone you've tangled with before?" Fenton asked, alarmed at Frank's words, but keeping it hidden.

"No. They have to be working for someone else."

"Could it be another inmate there?" Joe asked. "Someone we put away that would want to get back at us."

"Possibly," Fenton answered. "We have to get into the prison records to find out. Con can help us there, I think. We'll have to get a complete list of the inmates and see if anyone we've sent to prison is there."

"Dad," Frank interrupted. "There's also the warden there. He knew you...he had a strange look when he mentioned your name. I would almost say it was hatred, but I could be wrong. I don't know why a prison warden would feel that way."

"What was his name?" Fenton asked.

"Villman. That's all I know. I never heard his first name," Frank replied.

"The name doesn't ring any bells. I'll check on him," Fenton said. "Joe, you get hold of Con. He'll be able to get you access to the prison records down at the station. Frank, your mother insists you rest this afternoon."

"But..."

"No buts. You're exhausted. Get a couple hours sleep, then you can join Joe down at the station. I have a friend on the state prison board. I'll see if he'll let me see Villman's employment file."

"Frank, Joe," Laura interrupted. "Chet's on the phone. Do you want to speak to him now or shall I tell him you'll call back later?"

"I'll take it, Mom," Frank replied, reaching for the phone on his father's desk, pushing the button for his and Joe's separate line. "Hi, Chet. What's up?"

"I wanted to see if you got home okay. I was over there last night and stayed with your mother until Joe got home. Have you seen this morning's paper?" Chet asked.

"Yea, Mom tried to keep it from me, but I saw it."

"Liz called and asked me to tell you she's sorry. She tried to get her father to tone it down some, but he wouldn't listen. You're getting arrested with the loot is big news," Chet said. Liz Webling was his girlfriend.

"It's okay. Most people in town won't believe it. Mom says she's been getting calls all morning from friends offering their support. Don't worry, we'll find out what's behind it," Frank asserted. "Pass the word around to the rest of the gang that I'm fine and back home. We'll be out, so they probably won't be able to reach us."

"Okay, will we see you in school tomorrow?"

"Yea, I don't think my dad will accept this as an excuse to miss school," Frank said, catching the nod of agreement from his father. "We'll fill you all in tomorrow. Bye."

"Okay, bye," Chet replied.

Once Frank had hung up, Fenton turned to Joe. "Joe, call Con and have him meet you at the station. He said he'd stay home this morning until he heard from us. It's nice to have police cooperation for once. Tell him everything we've discussed this morning."

"What are you going to do, Dad?" Frank asked.

"I'll make a few phone calls, but I'm probably going to have to fly over to the state capitol to see those files. I just hope my friend can get me in there on a Sunday. Meanwhile, you," Fenton said, pointing at Frank, "upstairs and get some sleep. I'll tell your mother to wake you around 3:00 if you aren't already up. I know you're anxious to get busy too."