It was her.  The older woman he had seen two nights ago. Now that she was up close, she looked much taller and sturdy, reaching past his chin.  Her grey hair was cropped short in an almost boyish cut and framed an angular face.  She still seemed so familiar to him, but Frank couldn't think of where he might have seen her.   

"You know where he is?'' Frank tried not to build his hopes up or trust the woman too soon.   

"No, I don't know where he is, but I know what's happened to him."  The woman regarded him with warm brown eyes.  "It's not too late. We can still get him back, but here is not a good place to talk about this."  Reaching up, she brushed a wrinkled hand against his cheek and smiled gently.  "I know that this going to be hard for you to do, but right now what you need most is some sleep and something to eat.  You're going to have a very rough night.  You're going to need every ounce of strength that you have."  

"Just like that?"  Frank backed away from her.  "I just do what you ask. Take a nap and have a what—a leisurely lunch at the lovely Castle Rock Kitchen?  If you know what's happened to Joe then you have to tell me."  

"I can't explain it all to you now. You have to trust me."  She saw his eyes harden.  "Oh, I know that you've been lied to by everyone in this town. I know what it is you've been going through."  Taking his hand, she drew them closer again.  "Everything you're thinking is right. Your brother's disappearance does involve Meyers and the rest of them. The Elderbridges, too.  I promise that I'll explain it all to you in a few hours.  It all started with an accident out on the side road, didn't it?"  

"Yes, it did," Frank replied quietly.  Maybe she wasn't lying to him?  "How…how do you know that?"  

"It's a very long story that you will hear when you've had some rest and nourishment."  She gave his hand, which was still wrapped in hers, a firm squeeze. "I can't offer you a place to stay. There's a boarding house at the end of this street. You should be able to get a room there for a few hours.  From what I understand, they're decent people.  You might even be able to get a meal from them, too.  I know that I'm asking a lot of you, but believe me when I say that I know what you've been going through. My brother…"  

"Your brother?"  

She took a deep breath and looked down at their intertwined hands. "Can you meet me at the Elderbridges’ farm around five o'clock ?  No later.  Leave your car parked at the far end of the driveway and pointing towards the road."  

Frank tensed.  "You mean Joe's still there? I have to go back." He started to berate himself for not searching the farm again.   

"He's not there. Not yet, but he will be."  She dropped Frank's hand.  "Trust me. Do as I say. Please.  And if you see Meyers again tell him that you're going to be leaving town as soon as you've had some rest. Will you promise me that you'll do as I've asked?" She smiled at his nod.  "We can do this. We'll get your brother back, Frank.  You have to believe that."  She turned to leave. "I'll see you in a few hours, then."  

"Frank?"   

Startled by the deep voice, Frank spun around to find Doctor Weaver standing behind him.  "Are you all right?  You seemed a mite out of it, standing there."  

"I was just talking to…" His voice trailed off as he turned back to the woman.  She had disappeared.  Swallowing hard, he returned his gaze to the doctor.  "I was just talking to myself. Trying to decide what to do next, but I'm so tired I can't think straight."  He got into the car.  "Maybe that's my problem."  

"Well, maybe it is," Weaver agreed, smiling kindly.  "Get some rest before you decide to go back out onto the road."  

"I'll do that."  Frank closed the door on the doctor and the conversation.  Trembling, he started the car.  Had he really been talking to that woman? Weaver hadn't made any indication that she had been there.  No greeting or acknowledgement. And she had disappeared so quickly again.  But he could still feel the warmth of her grasp.  He could feel where her fingers had pressed against the back of his hand.  He could hear the echo of her voice.  She had called him Frank.  He had just realized that. She had been there. He had to believe that and everything she had told him. For some reason he couldn't fathom, he did believe her.

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