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

Leslie blinked again as she realized something. "That's why I thought she looked familiar Not because she was Chad's girlfriend." She smacked her forehead with her palm. "How could I have forgotten that?"

Kendall glanced from his wife to his daughter. "What?"

Leslie looked at her mother, chagrined. "Uh-oh."

Kendall frowned. "Uh-oh what?"

Leslie cleared her throat. "Well..there was a little incident..."

"Leslie Calliope Laughlin," said Kendall, exasperated.

"Okay, okay. I snuck into the Great Pyramid with Cassandra, her sister Catherine and Melia Curtis." She tossed her French braid behind her shoulder. "And it's Logan, Dad."

"I don't care what you call yourself, you're still my daughter. You broke into the Great Pyramid?"

"Well..."

Calandra rolled her eyes. "Might as well tell all, Leslie."

"Okay. Dad, remember seven years ago, antiquities were showing up in places they weren't supposed to?"

"Obvious she's yours, Kendall," said Calandra drily. "Has quite the way with words."

Kendall rolled his eyes at his wife, then looked at his daughter. "Yes. It's usually called smuggling."

"Yeah, well, Cassandra figured there was somplace where they disappeared here to show up elsewhere."

"The Great Pyramid?" asked Kendall.

"The King's chamber. She figured that the smugglers were actually people working on the show. They'd pass off the real stuff for the souvenirs and no one would be the wiser."

Kendall was stunned. "What on earth made her think that?"

"The souvenir necklace she bought had real rubies."

Calandra hadn't heard the entire story. "What made her think to check them out?"

"Catherine, her sister, said Cassandra reads up on everything. Seemed also they'd just done a project on gems at their school. Cassandra had noticed the rubies had a high refraction quotient unlike plastic or glass."

Kendall glanced at Calandra. "I'll be damned. She was here last night."

"For what?"

"Sheldon Reeves found some strange artifacts in Karnak. No one can pinpoint their origin."

"But why was she here? Cassandra MacFairlaigne writes science-fiction novels."

Kendall started laughing. "Well, damn, it's starting to make sense."

Leslie frowned. "What's so funny?"

Calandra smiled. "Well, it started with a simple little debate about Atlantis..."

***

22 May 2003

Cairo, Egypt

12:56 pm

It was mid-afternoon when the plane touched down at the Cairo International Airport. Joe grabbed his one bag and headed out of the terminal into dry desert heat. He thought of Marrkech, then wished he hadn't. He hailed a taxi and told the driver his destination. Joe watched out the window as the car veered south. Catching a glimpse of the Pyramid of Cheops, he shook his head. He flashed once again to that fateful night he'd spent in jail. Funny, Joe mused, all that had happened here--that was his first recollection. The day after had been crazy too...

"Did you insult a waitress? Was there a bar brawl? Aren't you going to tell me why the hell you got arrested?"

Joe glared at his brother as they left police headquarters. "Ran into someone," he muttered.

Jonathon stared at him. "With what? A liquor cart? Damn it, ten minutes in there and you get arrested!"

"Leave me alone."

The brothers turned a corner and nearly ran into a pair of auburn-haired girls busy arguing: "...right. What if he was telling the truth?"

"He couldn't tell the truth if his life depended on--" The girl glanced over at them. "Shit. Speak of the devil. What are you doing out?"

Joe glared at her. "I'm free and clear. I didn't appreciate the gesture either."

Jon blinked. "Casi MacFairlaigne?"

She looked at him. "Joe called you all the way from Cape Cod to bail him out?"

"Actually, I was already here. MacKenseys travel in pairs."

"So I noticed," muttered Casi.

Joe grunted. "Apparently, so do MacFairlaignes."

Jon looked from Casi to Joe and got the most curious expression on his face. Slowly, he smiled and looked at Casi. "You had him arrested? Oh, that's rich." He grinned at Joe. "Never told her, hunh."

"Shut up, brother, while you still can."

"Told me what?"

"About him having a close encounter with a ruthless tree."

Casi rolled her eyes. "Of course he did."

Jon's grin widened. "But did he every say why?"

"Shut up, Jonathon," growled Joe.

"You tell me," snapped Casi.

Catherine hid a smile. "I think I can guess."

"Well, sister dear, don't leave me in the dark."

"He was too busy watching your rear," said Catherine, giggling.

Jonathon's grin widened. "Literally. And there wasn't a bit of altruism in it at all."

"I swear I'll kill you, Jonathon."

Jonathon laughed. "Then you'd have to go to jail. Again."

Joe couldn't help the smile that surfaced as the taxi stopped at the hotel. At the time, he'd been seething. He got out and paid the driver. Now it was funny. He strode into the lobby and veered toward the check-in desk. A solid-built black man with close cropped hair and a goatee stepped forward, tapping a ledger with one finger. "Welcome to Shepheard's. I am the concierge, Alan Hawkins."

"Thank you." Joe quickly checked in. "Maybe you can help me."

"I will do my best, sir."

"I'm looking for Nicholas Quinn."

Hawkins shook his head. "He's not in right now. May I give him a message."

Joe wondered if the man wa merely being polite or if he couldn't divulge personal information. "Do you know when he'll return?"

"I don't know, sir."

Joe thought a moment, then nodded. "Yes, I'll leave a message." He cleared his throat. "This may sound crazy but tell him this: Memory lost, memory found."

Hawkins merely arched an eyebrow and wrote it down. "I will deliver it to him as soon as he returns."

"Thank you." Joe hefted the duffle bag's strap on his shoulder and picked up his key. He started for the elevators, passing two women and a man were standing there, apparently arguing.

"Surely, you do not expect me to travel home by train like a peon," stated a petite woman clad in a dark blue skirt and halter blouse. Her gold-streaked brown hair hung straight to her waist.

The other woman snorted. "You are hardly royalty." With a swipe at her shoulder, she tossed the French braid over her shoulder. "Robert, explain it to her."

Robert sighed. "Melia, only archeologists are going with Sheldon and only ones who can contribute. The barge is not an alternate travel choice for a bored author."

Joe was surprised to see the woman--Melia--actually stamp her foot. "Ramses, you're going. Jasmine is going. You're both historians. Even Radcliffe is going."

The other woman threw her hands up in the air. "Damn it, Melia, stop that. We're not kids anymore. I swear if you call me Leesie one more time--"

As the bell dinged and the elevator doors parted in front of him, Joe decided it would be best to hurry away from the quarrelers before they thought he was eavesdropping. Just as he stepped across the threshold of the elevator car, a small hand snaked around his arm. "Well," came that cultured voice. "If that is the way you insist on, I'll make my own way to Luxor."

Startled, Joe turned to see Melia smile at him and noticed her eyes were gold-brown. "Hello, gorgeous," she said, stepping into the elevator with him.

Joe carefully disengaged his arm. "Hello."

"Pardon my forwardness." She glared at the two people in the corridor for the second or two before the elevator doors slid shut. Her smile faded. "I'm sorry. Lessie and Ramses were on my last nerve."

Suddenly, Joe knew. "Brother and sister?"

Melia laughed. "Yes. How'd you know?"

"I have two brothers."

"Poor you."

"Sometimes I think so." He checked the number on his key card and pressed the button for the third floor, then he held out a hand. "Joe MacKensey."

"Melia Curtis," she told him, shaking his hand. She waved a hand in the direction of the elevator doors. "Those two are Felicity and Robert Curtis, often pains in the derraire."

Joe chuckled. "Most siblings are." His humor faded as he remembered what she'd said. "But I can't help you get to Luxor. I'm looking for someone."

Melia studied him for a moment. "Who?"

Joe thought for a moment, then sighed as the elevator moved upward. "Her name is Cassandra MacFairlaigne. She's about your height, has auburn hair past her shoulders--"

"Damn it, I knew it."

Joe blinked, startled by her tone. "What?"

Melia didn't answer at first. She sighed. "I thought it was just one of those strange things--you know, a doppleganger or something. I mean she said her name was Ariel Hathaway." She blinked and looked at him. "Casi is a distant cousin."

Joe's eyes widened. "You're kidding."

The elevator stopped and the doors parted. Melia followed him to his room. "No. We met seven years ago. Casi's paternal grandmother and my paternal grandfather are twins. Apparently, Casi's father wanted to meet my side of the family and luckily we were all here--Sasha, Pete, Aaron, Vicki, Jamie, M.J., Leesie, Ramses and me."

Joe absently unlocked the door to his room and walked in, tossing the duffle bag on the bed. He turned to see Melia had followed him into the room, a distracted look on her face.

"We had quite the adventure," continued Melia. "Casi liked to investigate things and a mystery was exploding right here in Cairo." She sighed and looked embarrassed. "First time I ever sneaked into the Great Pyramid." Her expression turned sad. "She told me she'd never forget me."

Joe cleared his throat. "She has amnesia."

Melia's eyes searched his face. "Oh. I see."

Joe suddenly realized just how close he was to finding her. "Where is she?"

Melia shook her head. "Right now, I don't know, but she's staying here at Shepheard's."

An errant thought crossed Joe's mind. Melia had Casi's eyes. His stomach growled just then, loud enough to echo in the room. Melia grinned. "I know a wonderful little coffee house. Come, let's eat."

Joe saw no reason not to go. If Casi was staying here, it would only be a matter of time. "All right."

Melia took his arm and steered him to the door. "So...how do you know Casi?" she asked curiously. Suddenly, she stopped and stared at him. "What did you say your name was?"

"Joe MacKensey."

She gave him a once-over, then giggled. "Never mind. I remember what she told me. Met in Kenya, right."

Joe found he was embarrassed. "Right."

"How delightful. She'll be glad to see you.....well, when she remembers. Who knows--you may just be the perfect person to kick-start her memory."

For the first time, Joe felt reluctant to come face to face with Casi. He remembered her words when he'd walked away in Marrekech. Dear God, would she--could she ever forgive him? And did he even deserve her forgiveness after all he'd done? Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.

***

22 May 2003

Paris, France

10:15 am

Ethan Ashworth stared out of the floor-to-ceiling plate glass, watching another jet plane take off. He trusted his partner but he had his doubts right now since it concerned Casi. He knew Joe well enough to know the man went ballistic when anything involved Casi. Yet Joe wasn't an idiot, he knew. Ethan heaved a sigh. He hated debates with himself--he never won.

"Ethan?"

He turned to see Alannah walking toward him. "I wanted to catch you before you left." She handed him a white box, it's lid a gold color. "Little knick-knacks, trinkets she's left at the chateau over the years. Thought I'd send them to her."

Ethan hefted the box, thought about being nosy and seeing what was inside and decided against it. Alannah could have mailed the box, could've waited until he and Cathy came for a real visit. "And the real reason?"

Alannah frowned, then looked away. "Ethan, I know Joe loves Casi but is it worth trying to make it work? Look at all the heartache she's endured--"

"Isn't that something you should be asking Casi?"

"I'm asking you."

Ethan set the box on a small table covered with magazines. "He loves her more than life itself."

"That's not an answer."

"Damn, Alannah. Doesn't anybody realize why he did it? He doesn't want Casi hurt."

"She is hurt--he hurt her."

"Blind, deaf and dumb," muttered Ethan under his breath. He shook his head. "Before he and Casi got together again, Joe was seeing a girl in Arlington. Her name was Bryce Edwards. She was a doctor at a low-income clinic and she collected stray animals the way some people collect porcelain dolls. They went out one night. Someone shot Joe and killed her. She died in his arms."

Ethan took a deep breath. "He zoned out for awhile, blaming himself, certain Bryce had died because her only crime was knowing him. He loves Casi and he's deathly afraid he'll lose her like he lost Bryce. He thinks the safest place for her is as far away from him as they both can manage."

Alannah sat down, dazed, her eyes filling up with tears. "My God...What could he have done? He can't stop a bullet."

Ethan sat down next to her. "The sniper was someone who'd come after him before."

"And that's why he walked away from Casi? To protect her?"

"Yes."

Softly, Alannah started to cry. "I told Casi she should just forget him. That he wasn't good enough for her."

"Alannah." Ethan awkwardly patted her shoulder. "In the end, it's Casi's decision, right?"

"Yes, but--"

"She's a smart girl. She'll follow her heart."

***

22 May 2003

Cairo, Egypt

1:37 pm

They ended up eating lunch at Mena House, then visiting the Museum of Antiquities, stopping at each display room on each floor like tourists. Ariel pulled off the straw hat as they entered the lobby of Shepheard's. "Oh, Michael, I had a wonderful time."

Michael grabbed her free hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. He led the way to the reception desk. "Hey, Alan, anything for me?"

"Mr. Laughlin called. He wants everyone who's going to Karnak to meet at his house at two p.m."

Michael glanced at his watch and frowned. "We'd better hurry."

Ariel let him lead her back outside. " What's wrong?" she asked, putting the hat back on.

"I don't know." Michael hailed a taxi and gave the driver the address as he and Ariel got in the back seat. "Probably nothing."

The taxi dodged between carts, pedestrians and other vehicles at breakneck speed. Upon arrival at Kendall's unscathed, Michael heaved a sigh of relief. He paid the driver, then he and Ariel walked up to the door. It swung open before Michael could even knock. "There you are. Thought you'd backed out." Sarver shook his head. "Thought I'd have to make good on that bet after all." He winked at Ariel. "Hello."

Michael grunted and led the way to Kendall's den. "What's up?"

Sheldon looked up. "Ah, Michael, you received Kendall's message. It seems word has gotten out about a new, rare treasure--namely our objects. Seems we'll have quite the sendoff if we leave at seven this evening."

Michael sighed. "Tourists? Treasure hunters? Reporters?"

"Yes, yes, and yes," said Sheldon.

"Let's not forget thieves and smugglers," muttered Thane.

Ariel looked at all the somber faces. "So we're leaving early?"

Kendall looked over at her. "Not exactly. The barge will set sail within the hour for Tel al Amarna. We'll take the train tonight at six p.m. to Tel al Amarna and go from there."

"But if we all gang up at the train station, it will alert the very people you wish to avoid," said Ariel.

Michael glanced over at her, a thoughtful look on his face. She talked like someone who worked for a government agency--or the police. Earlier, she'd talked like a detective about that smuggling operation. He noticed Kendall looked curious as well.

"You have a point, Ariel," said Sheldon. "Perhaps a shell game is in order."

Before he could continue, Ariel jumped in. "Some go to the train station, some sneak on board the barge disguised as crew."

Thane looked at her and grinned. "Not bad. I like it."

"I as well," said Sheldon. "We must decide who goes where."

"We can draw straws," said Ariel.

Kendall shrugged. "Works for me. I'll get the straws." He came back a few minutes later, a handful of straws in one hand, cut in two different lengths. "Long ones go to the train, short ones the barge."

"Why the long ones get to go on the train," began Michael.

"Or vice versa," said Kendall quickly.

Sheldon rolled his eyes and took a straw, everyone else following suit. Thane, Ariel and Sheldon ended up with short straws; Cristina, Michael and Jasmine got long ones. Michael stared at his four-inch piece of straw, then looked at Thane's shorter one. "Wanna trade?"

Ariel fingered her small two-inch straw piece. "What about who's not here? Felicity, Robert, Melia."

"I doubt Melia will go," said Sheldon. "She's not an archeologist."

"Neither am I," said Ariel, slightly defensive.

Thane patted her arm. "Melia is a writer; has a series of books set back in the late 19th, early 20th centuries."

Ariel flashed on a computer who's rim was dotted with colorful Post-It notes with scraps of information on them. There was a sensation of height, then a loud car horn blowing. "Oh."

"I talked to Robert," said Kendall. "He and Felicity will take the train."

Ariel nodded. "Okay."

"So--we go to the barge," asked Thane.

Kendall nodded. "Yes." He glanced at Ariel. "I'm not sure how you'll manage with that red hair--"

"Baseball caps work wonders," she said automatically, then blinked. "Um--I'll need some loose fitting work clothes."

"A hundred yeras ago, a djellaba would work for anybody," commented Sheldon.

Ariel saw a black djellaba vividly, as if she were staring in a mirror. "I hate those things."

Thane gave her a startled look. "Don't much like 'em either. They're hot and stuffy."

Sheldon cleared his throat. "We'll find something." He turned to Michael. "Wouldn't hurt if you three didn't announce to the world who you are. Hats, sunglasses, whatever might fool them. Don't sit together."

Michael nodded. "All right."

Kendall sighed. "I think this will work."

Sheldon started for the door. "We'd better get busy then."

***

22 May 2003

Cairo, Egypt

2:02 pm

"So you live in Luxor."

Melia flashed him a smile. "You make it sound unheard of."

"I'm sorry. I've always thought of Egypt as a place to visit---"

"But not to live." They'd eaten salads and sandwiches at the coffee shop and were walking back to Shepheard's. Melia shrugged. "I was born and raised in Luxor. It's my home."

Joe sighed. "I am such an idiot. I'm sure people thought it strange I lived in a seasonal resort town. I'm sorry."

"It's all right." She gestured to the hotel looming ahead of them. "In the nineteenth century, it wasn't unheard of, of people living there for months, years at a time. Egypt is still a seasonal country."

Joe pulled open the door of the hotel for her. "It is?"

Melia nodded. "Over a hundred years ago, it was born of necessity. Winter in Egypt is not nearly as hot as Summer, thus many archeologists came here during Autumn and Winter, often having the holidays here."

Joe looked around at the view then gestured to the pale almost white sand. "It'd put a new spin on 'White Christmas' for sure."

Melia laughed. "I can see why Casi likes you."

Joe's smile faded. "I wouldn't be so sure."

Melia frowned. "What's wrong?"

"It's a long sordid story where I'm the villain." Joe shook his head. "I enjoyed lunch. Thanks," he added, heading for the elevators.

"Wait." Melia touched his arm. "Don't go."

Joe stood there for a moment, then sighed. "Why?"

"Tell me."

"So you can know how much of a bas--jerk I really am?"

Melia studied his face, then shook her head. "I seriously doubt you're a jerk, Joe. Please tell me. I will not judge you if that's what concerns you." When he didn't immediately say anything, she added, "Although it seems you've judged yourself harshly enough."

Joe gave a start, then shuddered. "You must be Casi's kin. You even sound like her."

"Melia."

She and Joe turned to see her tall, black-haired brother walking towards them. Melia tossed her head. "What do you want?"

"Felicity and I are riding the train. So you don't have to impose on anyone." He came closer and nodded to Joe. "Hello."

Joe shook the man's outstretched hand. "Hello."

Melia heaved a sigh. "Joe, this is my brother...Robert." She shot her brother a haughty look. "Robert, this is Joe."

"Don't be so huffy, Melia. You have to admit Leesie sounds like something you'd call a toddler, not your thirty-something sister." Robert smiled at Joe. "Have any siblings?"

"Two brothers. I think sometimes they're worse."

Robert laughed. "You'll understand if I don't agree or disagree. A certain female would never let me hear the end of it."

Melia stuck her tongue out at her brother. "Hush. So why the change?"

"Ah, don't you just love the local rumor mill..." Robert sighed. "Cairo has always had an efficient grapevine." He glanced at Joe. "We're going to Karnak on an archeological expedition. Rumors are already flying about fantastic treasure."

Melia frowned. "Treasure, bah." Her expression turned thoughtful. "Where's Ariel?"

Robert shrugged. "I don't know. The barge is leaving in an hour, so she's either going on the barge or the train later." He studied her a moment. "Why?"

Melia turned to Joe. "I can take you to the barge." She started for the door only to notice neither man had moved. "Joe..."

"Melia, what's going on?" asked Robert.

"Ariel is Casi MacFairlaigne," snapped Melia, as if exasperated she had to spell it out. She looked at Joe. "You came here--to find her, right?"

"Casi?" Robert was startled as he tried to process the information. "As in....cousin?"

Joe took a deep breath. "Maybe this was a mistake."

Melia grabbed his arm. "You care for her, don't you?"

Joe pulled free, feeling suddenly oddly cornered. "I need to go."

"Melia, leave him alone."

"He came all this way just to give up now," said Melia, apparently talking to her brother but she was still focused on Joe.

Joe stopped, realizing she was right. He spun around. "Take me to the barge."

Melia grinned. "Come on, then."

"I'm going, too," said Robert. He shot his sister a look. "And maybe you can explain on the way."

***

22 May 2003

Boston, MA

8:35 am

The shrill ringing of the telephone finally penetrated his sleep and he reached out blindly for the phone. He fumbled the receiver twice before bringing it to his ear. "Hello...Hello?" He pulled the receiver from his ear, realized it was upside down and flipped it around. "Hello?....Do you realize what time it is? How dare you call this--" Marc opened his eyes and saw sunlight spilling into the room. He groaned and glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand.

"Donovan, what do you want?........Whoopee. Good bye.....Can't blame her really. You've been such an ass about it all. I'd want to forget you too.....Well, then everything's fine and dandy. Goodbye...Excuse me? You want to do what?" Marcus MacFairlaigne sat up in bed, noticed absently that Kari's side was empty. Then he caught a whiff of fresh-brewed coffee.

"No, no, no, no.....No, I don't know his phone number. No, I don't know his address. No, I don't know how to reach him in any other way and no, I don't know who you are anymore.....Oh, like you know what's best for her. Shit, Donovan, Cat told me you hired someone to go to Morocco to bring Casi back. If she ever finds out, you're dead meat. How more seriously dead do you want to be?"

The bedroom door opened and Kari, clad in a silk robe, was carrying two coffee mugs. She set one down on the nightstand next to Marc, then put hers on the other nightstand and crawled back into bed. "Who is it?" she whispered.

"My dear demented brother who wants to call Chad to tell him to go rescue Casi," Marc told her, then focused on the voice on the phone. "Well, that's it in a nutshell....And what if you're wrong. What if Chad's the worst possible person for her. How would you know anyway?....Never judge a book by its cover or a man by his business."

Kari bit back a grin and shook her head. She leaned back against the pillows and sipped her coffee. Marc grunted rudely. "Shit, Donovan, don't mess with something you have no control over.....I said no, didn't I?...What else do you want?" A second later, Marc hung up the phone. "I swear..."

"No loud voices first thing this morning. Everyone else is still asleep."

Marc grunted. "Sometimes I wonder what he is. An alien in disguise? A guardian angel gone mad with power?" Marc took his first long sip of coffee. "Hmm, good."

"What did he want to do?"

"Call Chad. Seems Joe and Ethan found out that Casi has amnesia. That's why when she got away from the kidnapper, she didn't go to Mom and Dad."

"Amnesia. Oh my God." Kari shook her head. "That's horrible."

"I think most times it's not permanent. Any minute now she'll call Mom and Dad and we'll all feel silly about worrying. After all, this is Casi."

"What if it is permanent," said Kari, worriedly.

Marc frowned. "I'd rather not think about that. Come on, let's go back to bed."

Kari searched his face for a moment. "Marc, it's okay to be worried. You don't go overboard like Donovan does."

Marc stared into his coffee mug, then sighed and set it down on the nightstand. "When she was younger, Cat was always with her, you know. When she pulled that stupid stunt trying to help Dee and later Sara, Cat was right there. Then when those thieves ruined that Christmas party, it was her and Joe. And it's been like that ever since. Either she's with Joe or with Cat. She's never been completely on her own before."

Kari set her own coffee mug down and touched his arm. "Marc, she's resourceful. I'm sure she's okay."

"What if someone found her who's not so nice, Kari. What if she's in with some gang who make new initiates kill someone to join. What if--"

"Marcus, stop. Stop torturing yourself with what ifs--" A noise in the hallway distracted them and they distinctly heard a male voice curse a blue streak. Kari bit back a grin, recognizing Ian's voice. "Look, Marc--"

"Oh, hey, you're up." Ian stood in the doorway, massaging his bare toes. "Who the hell left the rollerblades out in the hallway where someone could kill themselves walking around in the dark."

Marc glanced at the sunlight streaming through the windows. "It's not dark."

"It was until I opened my eyes." He pointed to the coffee mug. "Is that what I think it is?"

"It's fresh brewed, Ian, go help yourself."

"He usually does."

"What the hell is all the noise," came another voice. "Can't a body get some rest around here?" Erick appeared in the doorway, his black hair spiked in all different directions. He rubbed his face with both hands and yawned. "Is that coffee?" Before anyone could answer him, he veered for the stairs and the kitchen below, with Ian following close behind.

Another man appeared in the doorway, looking around rather confused. He blinked and glanced in at Kari and Marc. "What's up? Is there a fire or something? Isn't it too early to be up?"

"You can always go back to bed, Adrian," came Ian's voice from the direction of the stairs. "Next time put your blades up. I nearly cut off my toes tripping over them."

"Those aren't mine. I thought Van rollerbladed."

"My God, she does. Erick..." began Ian.

"Leave me out of this until I get my coffee," retorted Erick, his voice echoing right up the stairs.

Marc shook his head and picked up his coffee. "So much for bed."

Adrian squinted at him, bleary-eyed. "Didn't you just get up?"

"Never mind," sighed Marc.

"Have you seen Ian?" asked Penny, clad in a silk robe, her hair tousled. "He bolted out of bed like he was shot when we heard the phone ring. Is everything okay?"

"It was Donovan." Marc muttered, refusing to go into details.

"Oh."

"Does he have any news on Casi?" asked Savannah, already clad in biker shorts and an oversized T-shirt. She joined Penny in the doorway.

Kari got out of bed, made certain her robe was secure and nodded. "Joe and Ethan found out she has amnesia."

Penny's eyes widened. "Oh my. So they found her?"

All eyes turned to Marc. He sighed and shook his head. "From what Donovan said, they haven't. But it's just a matter of time. Paris is big but not that big."

"I think you're being way too optimistic," said Erick as he came back upstairs. He handed his girlfriend a mug of coffee. When he saw Penny, he shrugged. "Ian may be getting it for you. Then again he may fallen asleep at the counter. He had his eyes closed."

Penny shrugged. "I'll go get it myself. It's been seven years and he's never figured I prefer my coffee black."

Marc got out bed as well and sighed. "Thanks for bursting whatever bubble I might have had."

"Just trying to help," said Erick, with a shrug.

"Next time don't."

Erick grunted. "You're in a rotten mood."

"He usually is when his brother calls. Last time he chased me around the studio." Ian walked up, looking fairly alert.

Erick gave him a sideways glance. "Thought you were asleep."

"It's morning. Sun's up, see? Why would I be asleep?"

Kari shook her head. "Well, since we are all up, might as well have breakfast. Who's up for pancakes?"

"That's a stupid question. We're all up," muttered Adrian. When everyone turned to look at him, he shrugged. "What'd I say?"

"Never mind, Adrian, just never mind."

Let the author know what you think of this story

Home Library Authors Rogue's Gallery Vehicles Chums Message Board Rap Sheet Links Contact

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.