At that moment, the door opened quickly. Frank turned on the bed. He saw a man come in. The man stood by the open door. He had a rifle in his hand. The man was older and his clothes were tattered. He had long gray hair and a gray beard.

The man said, “I’m glad you’re awake.”

Frank had a feeling this man was responsible for bringing him to Nancy. He watched him carefully. “Why did you knock me out?”

“I knew someone would come for her.”

“How?”

The man closed the door and leaned his rifle against the wall. He moved toward them. He reached the table beside the bed and picked up the black bag off the table. He reached into the bag and pulled out a small photo album. He opened the album and pulled out a picture. He handed the picture to Frank.

Frank took the picture and looked at it. It was of Nancy and him. He recalled when the picture had been taken. It had been when they’d gone skiing and Nancy had told him of her engagement to Ned.

The man‘s voice broke into his thoughts. “I’ve been looking for you.”

Frank flipped the picture over. On the back in capital letters were the words “BEST FRIENDS.”

“Why didn’t you contact the authorities?” Frank asked, looking at the man.

“I don’t have a phone.”

“Why didn’t you go for help?”

“As I said, I knew someone would come looking for her,” he said looking down at Nancy. “She was seriously hurt in the accident. She needs to rest.”

“How do you know what Nancy needs?”

“I was a doctor.”

Frank looked at him. “Why did you have to hit me? If you would have told me you had Nancy, I would have come without a fight.”

“I wasn’t sure I could trust you, but I needed to get you here. I like to keep my home hidden from others. I am sorry about it.”

Frank looked at the man and felt he was being genuine. He wasn’t going to hold it against the man since he helped him to find Nancy. “It’s all right.” Frank’s gaze rested on Nancy once again. “We should get her to a hospital.”

“Do you have a vehicle?”

“No.”

Nancy moaned at that moment. They both watched her and were rewarded a few minutes later when her eyes opened. Frank asked, “How are you feeling?”

“Sore.” Nancy focused on Frank. “How did you find me?”

Frank looked at the man. Then he looked back at Nancy. “It was luck. I’m glad I’m here though.”

“Ned needs to know I’m all right,” Nancy mumbled.

Frank could see Nancy was struggling to stay away. “He’ll know as soon as you’re stronger.”

“Ned must be worried.”

“Don’t worry about that right now. Just rest.”

“All right,” Nancy said, nodding her head slightly as her eyes slid shut again.

Frank and the man remained quiet as Nancy fell asleep. They watched her chest rise and fall. When Frank was sure she was asleep once again, he turned and looked at the man. “Did you get Nancy out of the car?”

“I did.” The man moved over to the table and sat down in one of the chairs. “I was in my boat fishing. I saw her car go into the water. I could see her. She needed help. I pulled her out of the car and put her in my boat. I saw her arm was broken and took care when I moved her. I brought her to this side of the river. I set her arm and applied a splint. Then I bundled her up when she started to tremble. I waited for the searchers to come, but no one did. When no one came, I brought her to this shed. I knew she was in shock and I did everything I possibly could for her.”

Frank looked at Nancy, then back at the man. “I’m glad you took care of her.”

“It sure is a shame she was in the accident.”

“It sure was. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“It’s getting late and you won’t be able to maneuver through these woods at night. Get some rest and I will stay up with her.”

“Are you sure?” Frank asked. “I can stay up with her.”

“You are going to need the strength to get her out of here tomorrow. Go ahead and rest.”

Frank looked down at Nancy as he got to his feet. He knew the man was right. He moved over to the floor and stretched out, ready to get some sleep. He was out within minutes.

* * * * *

“Detective, I promise, everything we told you is true,” Joe said.

They had just spent the last half-hour telling the detective what they had seen.

“I don’t know,” Detective Allen said, skeptically.

“But it’s true,” Callie said. “We wouldn’t make something like this up.”

“We all saw the marks,” Vanessa said.

Detective Allen looked at Ned. He asked, “Ned, what do you think?”

Ned was quiet for a moment, then finally said, “I wasn’t sure at first.” He looked at the detective. “But it’s possible. It is a long shot. But it may lead up to Nancy.”

Joe watched as Detective Allen looked at all of them. Joe knew it was a long shot, but it was the only clue they had to lead them to Nancy.

“All right,” Detective Allen finally said. “For some reason, I believe all of you. I’ll get some officers together and we’ll go there tomorrow morning.”

“What time?” Joe asked. “I want to be part of the search.”

“I want to help too,” Callie said.

“Same here,” Vanessa said as Ned nodded his head.

“We’ll start looking at dawn.”

“We’ll see you at dawn,” Joe said as the others nodded.

They left the police station. Once they were outside, Joe looked at Ned. He asked, “Do you think we should tell Carson?”

Ned shook his head. “Not until we have proof. I don’t want to get Carson’s hopes up.”

“Good idea.”

“I’ll drop you at the hotel,” Ned said.