HDA - Living in Darkness Trilogy - Pt 2 - The Search

The door swung open and Byron stood there, something dark draped across one arm. "I would imagine you're hungry. I brought you something to change into."

Vanessa looked down at her jeans and sweater. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" She glanced at the tray which held a glass of tea, a plate of cookies and a single rose. She hadn't touched the food, although she was quite hungry and thirsty. "I'll make do with that."

Byron studied her for a moment and then walked further into the room. He placed the thing he held on the bed and Vanessa saw it was a dark blue dress. It glittered like a sapphire in the overhead light. He turned to her. "Please, all I ask is that you sit and talk with me. I value your thoughts."

Vanessa forced herself to look directly at him. "Sit? And talk with you? Nothing more?"

Byron gave her a gentle smile and took the rose from it's small vase. "I offer you this rose...my heart...my soul....my love."

Vanessa stared at the blood-red rose and then slowly raised her eyes to his. "Love?"

Byron glanced away. "It will come in time, Vanessa, it will. Please, dress and join me for dinner."

Vanessa reached down, ran a hand along one sleeve of the dress. It was silk and sparkled with sequins. She gathered it up and looked it over for a long moment and then threw the dress to the floor. "I do nothing for your pleasure!"

Byron spun around, knocking the tray off the small table. Tea spilled and the cookies scattered across the carpet as the tray clattered to the floor. After a moment, he took a breath and turned back to her. "As you wish. It is enough that we are together--just the two of us--alone."

Vanessa took a hasty step back. "Don't touch me."

Byron gave her an impersonal look and walked to the door. "You will join me for dinner. That is not a request." He pulled open the door and slammed it on his way out.

Vanessa sank to the floor as tears welled up in her eyes. What was she going to do?

***

Frank sat down in the chair that faced the loveseat. He noticed absently that Kathleen was still esconced in her spot, studying. She gave him a brief glance and focused her attention on her book. He looked at Casi and Mack. "I really don't see how this will help."

"To be perfectly honest, neither do I," said Mack, only the faintest of smirks on his face. He abruptly stood up and bowed to Callie. "You can have the loveseat, I think I'll stand."

Callie, not sure whether to humor him or what, merely shook her head. "I'm fine," she said, seated in another chair.

Casi grabbed his shirt sleeve and yanked him back down to sit on the loveseat. "You could behave, you know."

"I am always on my best behavior in public."

Casi snorted and turned to Frank. "All right, you said that Forsythe was James's butler. So would he bring Joe to the estate?"

"He did last time. Joe said that Byron had ordered Forsythe to kill him."

Casi frowned. "All this was done to separate Vanessa from Joe, so..." Her voice trailed off and she went pale. "Damn it."

"Don't go there," snapped Mack, anger evident in his tone. "Just...don't."

Frank cleared his throat. "One of these days, you two might have to tell your story."

Mack rolled his shoulders. "Bad memories. An old acquaintence of mine came back to haunt us."

Casi sighed and looked at Frank. "It was when he was younger, he and his brothers went hunting with their father. Their father was shot."

"Simon Pratchett swore he thought Dad was a deer. I knew better but Pratchett had money on his side. I raised enough of a stink to get it to the courts but his father paid good money to see his son stay out of jail." Mack shuddered. "Earlier this year, Pratchett decided it was payback time."

Callie leaned forward. "What happened?"

"Pratchett lured...Mack away from me and then kidnapped me." At Frank's raised eyebrow, Casi managed a laugh. "Don't even go there. Anyway, Pratchett tried to use me to get to him. It didn't work."

"Only because you flew over there and browbeat me into not giving up."

"I didn't browbeat you. Never touched a hair on your head." Casi shook her head. "Now's not the time for our life story. If you think Forsythe took Joe to the estate, we'll have to get in somehow."

Someone clearing their throat made everyone look toward the other couch. Frank saw Kathleen watching them. "Yes?"

"Look, it would be stupid for him to take the blond guy back to the estate. Blond guy goes missing, Forsythe's name is known, that's the first place to look. He's gonna take him somewhere and dump him."

Casi arched an eyebrow. "And you are?"

"Kathleen Hayden, psychology major, Bayport College."

"Which do you prefer," asked Casi. "Jung or Freud?"

"I prefer Jung. The whole archetype idea works better for me." Kathleen looked mildly surprised. "You into psychology?"

Casi nodded. "Just a passing interest."

"Yeah, last week, it was--" Mack broke off and jumped to his feet. "Hey, coffee shop--" He gestured to Callie and Frank, gave Casi a big grin. "Friends. How about I buy a round for us?"

At Frank and Callie's startled expressions, Casi just sighed. "You get used to him...eventually."

Mack darted off toward the counter and then came right back. "I started to order for you but then realized you might not go for low-fat mocha lattes."

"You don't go for low-fat mocha lattes," said Casi. "You like your coffee black."

Mack sighed and rejoined her on the sofa. "Truth is, I was afraid Casi would kick me for that last remark."

"Well, at least you're honest," said Casi. "But they're going to think you have bruises--never mind." She turned to Frank and Callie. "I'm sorry, we got off track. Do you have any idea where Forsythe might take Joe?"

Frank sighed. "No. And no offense but we're wasting time."

"If you don't know where to look, you'd be wasting more time," countered Mack, his expression serious. "Look, I have two brothers. Granted Jody didn't get into these kind of situations but when he was kidnapped on his wedding day, well..." Mack cleared his throat. "If you're right," he continued, giving Kathleen a nod, "Then I would think that Forsythe would take him as far away from the rich side of town as possible."

Frank sat up straighter. "I have an idea. Come on,Callie."

"Where Kay has her dojo, right?" Callie turned to Casi and Mack. "It's not a good side of town. A couple of years ago, a gang even camped out there."

Frank stood up. "We'll start looking there." He and Callie headed for the door as Casi and Mack got to their feet.

Casi sighed. "I've never had to worry about Cat, she was never the one to jump into things."

"Lucky you. Unlucky her," said Mack, his smirk back.

Casi arched an eyebrow at him. "Just keep it up, I'll get you when you least expect it."

"Oh goody, last year's Prank Wars weren't nearly so much fun."

Casi heaved a sigh. "Only because Marcus wasn't there until Christmas Day." She glanced out the door and did a double take. "I'll be a monkey's uncle." She darted around the chair and headed for the door.

Mack frowned. "That you're definitely not. What--Oh." He hurried after her as she yanked open the door,startling the two people standing outside.

Casi stared at them. "How'd you get back here? Your brother just left."

Joe Hardy grunted. "So I see. Where'd he go?"

"Callie mentioned a dojo."

"Shit," muttered Joe. "We just got away from there."

Mack patted his pockets. "Cell phone." He pulled out a small flipstyle phone and handed it to Joe. "Call him."

"His voicemail came on last time."

"Might be because his phone was left in the van?" asked Casi. She glanced at Mack. "I'm guessing, nothing more."

Joe dialed his brother's cell phone number and let out a whoop. "Frank! Whew, I'm okay. Melanie and I are back at the Cafe Java...I'll explain when you get back here." Joe ended the call and handed the cell phone back to Mack. "Thanks."

"Well, come on back inside," said Casi. She nodded to Mack. "Might as well order some cappucinos or something."

Mack nodded, looked at his phone for a minute and then handed it back to Joe. "Call your parents. I think they're a tad worried."

Joe nodded and took the phone back. He walked off, leaving Casi and Mack with Melanie. Melanie looked everywhere but at them and kept wringing her hands. She let out an explosive breath and headed for the back of the shop. "Ladies' room," she said, sounding like she was about to cry.

Mack and Casi shared a look but wasn't sure if they should stop her. Mack sighed. "Peppermint mocha cappucino for you, coffee for me."

"Make it decaf or you won't sleep tonight."

There was a screech of tires and a few moments later, Frank came back in. He spotted Joe and rushed over to him. Callie stood there for a moment, sighed and joined Casi and Mack. Mack nodded to her. "Preference? Cappucino, latte, decaf coffee?"

"Low fat double mocha latte."

Frank and Joe came back over to them and Joe handed the phone back to Mack. He frowned. "Where's Melanie?"

"Ladies room," answered Casi. "Mack's getting drinks, what do you want?"

Joe shrugged. "A soda's fine."

Frank nodded. "Me too."

Mack headed off to the counter as they sat back down. Frank looked at Joe. "Who's Melanie?"

"That would be me," came a soft whisper.

Frank looked up, feeling again a sense of deja vu. She really did look like Iola. "Who are you?"

Before she could answer, Joe turned to Callie. "Wasn't Vanessa with you earlier?"

"She left. I tried her on her cell phone but only got her voicemail. She may have left it in her car."

Mack came back with a tray and set it on the low coffee table. He nodded to Melanie. "Hello, want anything?"

Melanie shook her head, looking like she wanted to run away. "No."

Joe's gaze shifted to the door. "Did you try her at home?"

Mack whipped out his cell phone again. "Here."

Frank arched an eyebrow. "Where's yours?"

Joe shrugged. "At home." He dialed the number and swallowed hard. "Oh, hey, Mrs. Bender, Vanessa there?...Oh, okay, I'll catch up with them there then." Joe hit the 'end' button and handed the phone back. "She's not home."

"He p-probably has her," stammered Melanie.

Joe shot to his feet. "That son of a--"

"We're in a public place," said Casi firmly. She looked at her husband. "I think it's time we paid a visit to the James' estate."

"No. This is my problem." Joe started for the door.

Frank grabbed his arm. "Joe, no. There's safety in numbers."

Joe turned around. "Damn it," he said in a low voice. "Vanessa is there, alone. I have to get her out of there."

"And we want to help," said Casi. She shot a long look at Mack and sighed. "Let us help."

Joe looked like he wanted to say no. He glanced at Frank and gave a jerky nod. Beverages forgotten, the six of them left the coffee shop.

"We'll go, like tourists, fascinated or whatever," said Mack. "You--never mind. I'm sure you know exactly what to do. Casi, let's go."

Frank got in the driver's seat as Joe got in the passenger side and Callie and Melanie got in back. He looked at Joe. "Calm down."

"I'm calm. I'm meditating on how many ways I'm going to kill that guy," snapped Joe, clenching his hands into fists.

"I-I'm s-sorry," managed Melanie in a small voice.

Joe glanced over his shoulder at her, shuddered and turned to face forward again. Frank spared another glance at his brother and frowned. "Joe--"

"Drive, Frank, we have to get Vanessa out of there."

Frank nodded, spared a brief glance for Callie and Melanie and roared out of the parking lot, the rented Mustang right behind them.

Callie glanced at the girl beside her and felt a jolt of pure anger. "Why?" she asked in a choked voice. "Why?"

Melanie shook her head and tried to move away from Callie.

"Leave it, Callie," said Joe, staring out the front windshield.

Callie tore her gaze from Melanie to look at Joe. "Why? Iola was my friend too. We shared secrets, went shopping..we--"

"I-I'm sorry," whispered Melanie. "I didn't know."

Callie swallowed hard. "You upended a lot of lives--lives that had to go on even though Iola's gone. You think an apology will make everything better?"

Frank glanced in the rearview mirror. "Callie--"

"She had no right."

Joe shifted in his seat to look at Callie, his face pale, his blue eyes full of unshed tears. "We'll string her up by her thumbs later. Vanessa is more important right now."

Callie looked like she wanted to argue but sighed instead. "Fine."

Frank drove as fast as he dared, reaching the exit to the James' estate. He steered by the huge mansion slowly. "What now?"

"Mack and Casi are supposed to provide a distraction," said Joe, hoarsely. "We go around back."

"Well, at least you're not wearing that jacket," muttered Frank.

Joe snorted, motioned to Frank to go. "Move it."

Frank pulled the van as far off the road as he could and shut off the ignition. "Callie, you stay here with Melanie and--"

"No."

Frank shifted to look directly at her. "Callie, please. If I have to worry about you too--"

"You don't have to worry about me," said Callie, her arms folded belligerently across her chest. "I can take care of myself."

"We need someone to keep an eye on her," said Joe. "So she doesn't run away."

"I w-won't go anywhere," said Melanie in a faint voice.

"I refuse to stay in the same vehicle with her," said Callie.

Frank gave Callie a hard look. "Callie."

Callie let out an explosive sigh. "Fine."

Frank spared one last look at his girlfriend and then he and Joe got out of the van. The brothers hurried to the wrought iron fence and Joe looked up at the top edge, trying to see if there were wires but the dark night made it impossible to spot anything. "You think it's wired?"

"Hell of a time to think of that now," muttered Frank. He grabbed a long tree branch and using the ledge formed by the brick section of the fence as a step up, he ran the branch over the top edge. "Nothing there."

"Then he's probably got more dogs." Joe stepped up on to the ledge. "You go first."

"Why?"

"You're the oldest."

Frank rolled his brown eyes. "No, you just want the dogs to chase me this time. I have a novel idea--we'll go together."

Joe sighed and they climbed over the fence. He let out a soft grunt as his feet hit the ground. He scanned the yard, dimly lit by security lights. "No dogs."

Frank landed a second later, flexing his knees to absorb the impact. "Not yet." He motioned to the back door. "Let's go." They ran to the back door. Frank reached out to try the knob and was startled to find it unlocked. He glanced uneasily over his shoulder at Joe. Something wasn't right here.

The door swung open and Damien Forsythe stood there, a 9mm Browning automatic in one hand.. Frank noticed the gun and the purple bruise on the man's jaw nearly in the same instant.

Damien gestured for them to come in, his eyes hard. "It was quite nice of you to make it so easy for me."

Joe groaned. "I thought I knocked you out for good," he muttered.

Damien aimed the gun at Joe's head. "I do believe I owe you one," he said in a low, angry voice. "Both of you, come in, now."

Frank frowned as he and Joe complied. This didn't look good...

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Disclaimer

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The authors have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.