The brothers waited until they got home that afternoon to start investigating. Although it was barely four o'clock, it was already getting dark. The lumpy clouds above looked even thicker and Frank suspected that it would snow by nightfall. He switched on his computer and connected to the Internet the minute he got home. Joe had veered instead for the kitchen, so Frank knew his brother would be awhile.

"Got anything?"

Frank turned to see his brother standing in his doorway, a pile of cookies on a plate in one hand and a glass of milk in the other. Joe sighed. "It was all I could find. I thought Mom fixed a cake last night."

"You finished it off last night, remember?"

"Oh." He gestured to the computer, careful not to spill any milk. "Well?"

"There's a website for MSI but nothing's personal. It all pertains to business." Frank shrugged. "When Dad calls later, I'll have to ask him."

"There's bound to be some way of finding out. That other website, she got any siblings or whatever?"

"Didn't say."

Joe munched on a cookie and sighed. "Maybe one of us should go to that town on the Cape. Did it mention which town?"

"No. The whole thing is very vague--" said Frank thoughtfully.

"Like she wanted to avoid scrutiny," finished Joe.

"Maybe she just liked her privacy. I don't know, Joe, you'd think in this day and age, I'd be able to find out everything about her, down to her music preferences but no."

A knock sounded downstairs. Frank didn't move to get it but Joe stood up. "Mom left a note on the fridge, she went to town for a shopping spree. I'll get it." He darted out of the room and headed downstairs.

Frank shrugged and decided to tackle the other website to see if he could get anymore from it. After awhile, he glanced at the clock. Odd, why hadn't Joe come back? Who had been at the door? Frank felt a moment's panic. God, how could he have forgotten what happened only last Monday? He kicked back his chair, shot to his feet and raced down the stairs.

In the foyer, he skidded to a halt to find his brother seated in their dad's favorite chair, elbows on knees, looking excited. Their visitor was clad in ripped jeans, a cable-knit sweater and cowboy boots. Then Frank noticed the riot of gold curls spilling to the shoulders. It wasn't a woman, but a guy. A single gold hoop was in his left ear. Apparently sensing someone was watching him, he turned his head. He smiled. "Hey, man, you must be older brother. Totally weird, dude, you look like an older brother."

The odd comment made Frank forget what he'd raced down the stairs for. "Um, who are you?"

The man laughed. "Sorry, dude. You look like Donovan, not much but a little. I'm Marc. Marc MacFairlaigne."

Frank stared at him. "What?"

"His sister was actually coming here for his concert and just staying with the Slades since they invited her," said Joe, nearly bouncing with excitement.

"Concert?" Frank shook his head, gathered his thoughts together and then it hit him "That concert?" He looked at Marc. "No way."

Marc laughed again. "Man, I love meeting fans this way." He sobered slightly. "Case was supposed to drop by yesterday, let me know she was here. When she didn't I figured she was busy telling her friends hello. I waited, but no dice. This morning I called Arch and he told me. He also said he'd hired a detective and gave me the name. So I came here."

Frank walked into the living room. "You think something happened?"

"God, I hope not. But Case--well, who knows with her? Probably rescued a squirrel from an irate passer-by. Or maybe rushed into a burning building to rescue a baby--oh, wait--that was Peter Parker. Never mind."

Joe stared at him. "Excuse me?"

Marc just laughed. "And when she gets a load of you, whew. I want to see that."

Joe shared a puzzled look with his brother. Frank cleared his throat. "I'm not sure I understand."

Marc sighed. "My sister likes to solve things. Even fancied herself a detective growing up." He frowned and studied the brothers for a moment. "Oh boy--deja vu. Although she was younger when she started scaring everyone. Hanging off a catwalk is dangerous, you know." When the brothers just stared at him, he sighed again. "You know the whole falling thing. Not good for the body, the bones, you know."

Frank slowly sat down on the love seat as he got his mind around what the man was saying. "Tangled with the law numerous times," he muttered.

"Yep, that would be Treadway--and the chief too. Malcolm tries to keep her out of stuff, but my sister doesn't do well with orders." Marc shook his head. "Just recently, she and her husband and her sister and her husband went to Hawaii. Supposed to be an SF convention, instead, murder, mayhem, mystery and God knows what else. Then we all just got back from Scotland."

Joe arched an eyebrow. "More murder, mayhem and mystery?"

"Well, the murder was a few centuries old but yeah."

"But she writes fantasy books," said Frank, still puzzled.

"Yeah, well, she's nothing if not a multi-tasker." Marc shrugged. "I've gotten used to it. Big brother on the other hand freaks anytime the word danger is mentioned. Or mystery. He has a phobia about Case getting into serious trouble. Not that I blame him. Hell, with her track record, it's wonder we're all not old and gray before our time."

Frank couldn't resist as he looked over at his younger brother. "Kind of sounds like you."

"Ha, ha," retorted Joe sarcastically.

Marc laughed. "I can't say I'm surprised. Case's husband--no, I'm keeping that to myself for awhile. Don't want to spoil the surprise." He shook his head. "So, is there anyway I can help?"

Joe leaned forward. "She owns an Aston-Martin?"

"Oh yeah. I think that's one reason her husband married her." Marc laughed again. "Case carries a phone with her wherever she goes. Her and Cat both. So if it were car trouble, I'd already know."

"You think she was kidnapped?" asked Frank.

"Hell, happened before. Why not again?"

"Because she is kin to the software company owner?" asked Frank.

Marc grunted. "That's how it went down in Paris. Some dude decided to bilk Dad out of five million. But the dude's dead. So unless someone had a stake in what happened last year, then I don't think this one's the same."

Frank cleared his throat. "You have a very interesting sister."

Marc sighed. "You don't know the half of it." He shrugged, and then glanced at his watch. "I gotta go. We're rehearsing in an hour. If you need anything else, come by the civic auditorium. I'll tell everyone you're allowed access."

Joe got that excited look again, case forgotten. "You mean we'll get to meet the rest of the group?"

"Sure, why not? It's a free country. I'll tell C.D. to put you on the family list so you can come backstage tomorrow night." Marc got to his feet with a grin.

"That would be so awesome," said Joe, standing up as well.

"Cool, see you dudes later. And much luck to finding my sister." Marc MacFairlaigne sketched a wave and left.

Frank stared after him. "Whoa."

"Yeah. Concert tomorrow night. You know that thing was sold out weeks ago?"

Frank turned to see his brother doing his victory dance all over the living room floor. "Joe, we have a case here."

"Piece of cake. We'll have it figured out by tomorrow night." Joe started for the kitchen. "I'm hungry."

"You're always hungry."

"Cheer up, Frank, or I'll tell Callie what you got her for her birthday."

Frank stared after his brother, and then took off after him. "Joe--!"