Chapter 31

Frank's morning did not go well. Clark Kensington had not reported to work and thus he would have to find him at his house. But Hope presented him with another huge stack of new research and proposals for him to look through and some were marked urgent and he knew they were urgent. Yet he had not the mind to go through his work. He only wanted to seek out the guy who had the audacity to threaten his girlfriend's and her daughter's life. He could not tell Hope but he was worried like hell.

"Hope, I'm going off for a while."

Hope looked at him disapprovingly. He had not been concentrating on his position these few days. With Bob retired and Ben still MIA all the time, the workload was piling up and there were quite a lot of projects that needed Frank's approval to be able to start on time.

"Frank, you need to sit down in the office and at least finish up half the pile."

"Hope, this is important and...don't nag at me...I know what I'm doing. Just wait for me to come back before going off ok? I will fetch you home." Frank was already walking away when he heard Hope clucked her tongue in disapproval. He often wondered if his attraction to Hope was also partly because she had a maternal instinct.

"You better come back...I've got something important for you!" Hope shouted after him. Frank turned around and blew a kiss.

"Sure thing babe."

He had no idea what that important thing was but when he rushed down, he was again greeted by over enthusiastic staffs who hoped to etch themselves into his memory.

"Mr. Hardy! Happy Birthday to you." The receptionist in the company lobby chimed as he passed by her on his way to the entrance. So, it was his birthday today, he had forgotten, with all that was going on. He gave her a quick smile in acknowledgement, barely noticing her crestfallen face that he had not stayed on to chat. He was used to being chatted up by women from his office as well as outside. But it was no secret in the company that one of the most eligible bachelors in the world was already smitten with his gorgeous PA.

He sped off into his Porsche, hoping he was not too late in case Clark Kensington had plans to hop the country. Clark's address in his employee records led Frank to a posh apartment building, more so than that of Frank's own. It rang warning bells in Frank's head. Clark, though highly paid, would not have the means to pay for an apartment here without paying through his nose and he had seen Clark with a sporty BMW and coming to work all the time in stylish clothing that could compete with Frank's, and maybe even upstage him.

Should have noticed this earlier...but here goes...don't let me too late.

He asked the security guard for access to the lift. After giving his name and his relationship to Carl, the security guard was more than happy to let Frank in. "Sorry Mr. Hardy...did not recognize you earlier."

He knocked on Clark's door for quite some time but there was no response. His immediate fear was that Clark had already skipped. Anger at himself for being so late boiled inside of him. When, acting on a hunch, he tried the door knob.

It turned. Clark had not even bothered to lock it.

What he saw when he entered made his stomach churn and he had to rush out of the apartment to retch. Unused to seeing these scenes for quite some time, Frank had almost forgotten how horrific the scene of a murder could be. Composing himself, he stepped inside to do some investigation. The blood on Carl's shirt was fresh, he was just killed. His tongue was ripped off and stuck to it was a piece of paper. Frank read the paper in anger and a little fear.

Dead man tells no tales.

Ripping off the paper from the tongue, he crushed the bloody piece and put it in his pocket. Rushing down, he passed by the security.

"Call the police. Something happened to Mr. Kensington."

The security guard was puzzled. "What happened?"

"Just call the police and did anyone besides me come to find Mr. Kensington?"

"No...only you...there were other visitors for other residents...but you're the only one I've led in who wanted to see him. Is something wrong?"

Frank paused for a while and took out his cheque book. "I need to look at your log and take it with me. Can you do that?"

The security guard who had been so impressed with Frank Hardy of Maximillian Enterprise earlier on seemed extremely tempted. Frank did not like to belittle people by offering bribes but sometimes, it helped.

"No problem...I don't earn much..." His eyes peered over and saw Frank writing a cheque for $5000. His eyes gleamed. Frank passed the cheque to him. "Make me a copy of your log now and then you can call the police. Don't mention anything to them though, about me wanting your log."

Frank waited for a while and a copy of what he wanted was soon passed into his hands. He thanked the guard and sped off back to the office, hoping he was not too late.

Joe awoke and was unable to make out where he was. Light shone in his eyes and he had to shut them immediately. After a long trip to darkness, light, rather than welcoming, was irritating, glaring and very blinding. Letting himself get used to being awake, he opened his eyes again, though slowly, and saw that he was in a room, on a bed. Frank had taught him before that taking in his surroundings could help ease some fear; at least he knew what kind of physical situation he was in. Joe tried sit up to have a closer look around but he found that he could not. His waist was strapped to the bed and so were his hands to either side of the bed post. He closed his eyes and tried to remember what got him there in the first place.

Kleptous...I heard his voice...why would he come to me? He got what he wanted...

Almost on cue, the muscular terrorist entered the room, wearing a sneer on his face. In his hand was the watch that Joe had bought for Frank's birthday. Kleptous pretended to fling the watch on the floor and then, seeing Joe's eyes widened with worry, he laughed cruelly.

Joe wanted then to say something but when he tried to move his lips, he could not. Something was stuck on it, a tape. He made muffled protests and unsuccessfully struggled with his bonds.

"Joey Joey...you could have just left me alone and...not betray me...but..." Kleptous shook his head. "You have to betray me."

"Mmmfmmmf." In a funny way, Joe was more anxious at that moment for the watch than for whatever ordeal Kleptous could think of for him.

"You see...the vial...it's only water. Our scientist came down, was delayed though, and when he was so bursting with enthusiasm to start working on it, he found that it was water! Can you imagine how sad he felt? Now now...you don't want to make people sad do you?"

"And me...my heart was broken. After all we had been through, I thought I kept my bargain and set you free...but you ran to the Network! Joe...they don't treat you as nice as I do...I bet you told them I was about to make you commit theft...and so they did a swop didn't they?"

Kleptous walked over to Joe and traced his cheeks with a sharp fingernail, drawing some blood. The scratch was only a surface scratch but it stung nonetheless. Joe struggled with his hands forcefully, hoping against all hope to break the bonds somehow.

"It's useless baby. Your precious Hope is already on her way here...to join you, together with someone totally unexpected...we could not get to Caramel yet, blasted Network bodyguards... but soon. And your brother...your bro..." he chuckled, turning the watch behind to read the inscription. "will have a horrible birthday today. He is smart...but we are smarter. Mark my words...he will totally turn against you. You still want to give him the watch?"

And he kissed Joe's lips through the tape. A light one, a soft one. "Would you be a good boy if I take off the tape?"

Joe looked at him, his eyes tearing with anger and dread at what was to come. It always happened...always. There was no end, no end to the endless cycle of breaking away and getting vacuumed back into the hellhole. He remembered the first time when he was in the showers, defenseless. The first time to a never ending spiral of defilement. He remembered nodding with burning tears in his eyes at Kleptous' offer of protection that turned out to be an even worse nightmare to the attacks. He remembered knowing that he would never ever be clean again and he remembered falling. He was still falling, not touching the ground yet. And Kleptous would see to that of course. Kleptous had seen very well to that.

No, I will not scream. I will not give you that pleasure. Never.

"If you are a good boy...I won't lay a hand on Hope...of course you have to trust me on that...and if you make me happy...I'll return you your watch too. Good bargain?"

Joe closed his eyes, wishing that what Kleptous said was not true, that he did not have Hope, wishing that all was not happening at all. He could feel hands where they were not supposed to be, defiling him again but he did not care, he could maybe still seek solace in his mind. He had been besmirched so many times before, body and soul...but damn if he was going to let Kleptous hurt his love.

Kleptous tore off the gag and Joe hawked and spat into Kleptous' face. Wiping away Joe's spit, Kleptous face turned from sinisterly sweet to sinisterly angry. He punched Joe hard on the stomach, knocking the wind out of Joe. And then, he choked Joe, one of his favorite torments while they were in prison. He would hold Joe in a chokehold to see how long Joe could last. Always threatening to kill Joe, but never actually doing it.

Because tormenting people was much more fun than killing them to Kleptous' sick mind.

Joe gasped for air when Kleptous finally released him. He watched Kleptous undressed himself and cringed with the sudden fear. All mustered up courage was gone in that instant. It would be done, just like before, he would be helpless, and he would suffer pain of unimaginable intensity, pain that he, even up to then, could not let himself feel fully because he would go very mad. He wondered if his resolution to not scream would be carried out. He realized then he, no matter how many times it was done, could not go through with it. Each time would be worse than the previous, pushing his sanity further and further behind, causing his very soul to turn against him, if his soul was not already ripped away, torn into shreds by the evilness that he believed he brought upon himself. He tried to let his mind wander away, but Kleptous would not let him. When he felt he was losing Joe, he slapped the young man hard to bring Joe back to reality. Then Joe. He left his body. He stared up at Kleptous face which scrounged in perverted joy with vacant eyes and taught himself to float away.

Joe did not care anymore, even when Kleptous did what he did and left, even when a couple more men entered. Joe kept his eyes vacant. It was just like prison, he would have to suffer through it somehow...he would go far away. The grunts, the pleasure seeking grunts, those were far away, the room seemed silent, laced with the heaviness of self-denunciation.

He did let his head rolled to one side at one time though. And there on the bed side table was the watch, ticking away in all innocence, not knowing it was bearing witness to the torment, the pain, the defilement. Not knowing that it was bearing witness to a complete breakdown of a very fragile soul.

"That was fun boss. Do we get the women next?"

"You got them?"

"Yah! Two...gorgeous beauties...a raven and a blondie..."

"Good. But don't touch them yet. I have more plans in store. Send for Kleptous. I got another job for him."

Chapter 32

"Hey Hope. Is Frank around?" Hope was engrossed in her own work that she did not see Nancy in front her. When she heard her voice, she froze, out of guilt and a little shame.

I have stolen her boyfriend...didn't I? The third party, the bitch.

"He...he dashed off like a mad man earlier on...can I do anything for you?"

Nancy looked at Frank's office doors and shrugged. "Just wanted to pass him a present. He must be extremely stressed, with the break in and everything." She passed a very meticulously wrapped up present to Hope. It was small but from the looks of the wrapping, something exquisite must be inside.

Frank always has an eye for exquisite beauty.

"Maybe you can hand it to him for me."

Hope was suddenly filled with a need to apologize to Nancy, to somehow ask if she was really fine with her and Frank dating. She seemed friendly enough but Hope really hoped that she and Frank would have her blessings, since she had been an angel to Frank when he needed one the most.

"Nancy...I'm very sorry about..." Hope barely began before Nancy smiled and put finger on her own lips. Mimicking a school teacher chastising a student for talking too much, she gave a Hope a friendly look.

"Sh...Don't talk too much! It's not your fault. Frank and I were bound to break it off sooner or later." Hope could tell, as a woman herself, that Nancy was trying her best to keep her spirits up but her voice cracked a little.

"You know what Nan, let's...let's start off on the right foot. How about we grab some coffee and try to be friends? You're a great person and...I really hope to know someone whom Frank called his best friend all times better."

Nancy thought for a while and nodded, still smiling. She was magnanimous and understanding. It made Hope a little afraid though, should Frank start comparing girlfriends in future, Hope did not know if she could measure up to Nancy's grace.

The two ladies took the lift and exited from the building, making small talk along the way. Nancy drove Hope to a nearby café, Black Coffee. Hope had come to the café on a number of occasions with Frank but she said nothing, simply taking her seat and proceeding to order something.

"Miss Drew! Miss Hings! What a surprise to see you two together. What can I get for you?" The manager of the café, seeing the two women in Frank Hardy's life stepping into the restaurant together rushed to their table to serve them, fearing to make a bad impression on important people in his richest and most influential customer's life and secondly, more importantly, to see if he could catch some juicy gossip.

After all, why would rivals in love dine together like best friends?

"I'll have an earl grey tea and a tiramisu cake." Nancy spoke first. She had ordered what Hope was going to.

"Give me a cheesecake and black coffee." Hope changed her order, she did not want to somehow, seemed to be infringing on Nancy or annoying her by ordering the same thing.

The manager left them together, though Hope was uncomfortable with the side glances that he and some other waiters and waitresses threw them. Nancy noticed her discomfort. Picking up a pickle and chewing on it, she whispered with a twinkle in her eye, "Don't bother about them. The food is good here too...looks like you've been here quite often."

Yes...we have been here...before you even broke up with him.

"He likes this place too." Hope responded, a little more at ease now but still uncomfortable.

"He likes the cakes...brought me here once and got me hook. I bet he got you hook too."

"Nancy...if this is awkward..." Hope suddenly felt a slight regret at asking Nancy for tea. The strawberry blond hair woman raised her eyebrows and broke into another friendly smile.

"It's not...we are adults. We can handle this...besides...I want to talk to you too."

They both stopped talking for a while to let the manager serve them their orders. Hope was glad to have her cake to play around with; she hated the pickles they offered as free appetizers.

Nancy tucked into her cake with gusto. Hope could tell she was really enjoying the tiramisu. Hope could do no better than fiddle around with her fork.

"Like I said..." Nancy took a sip of her tea. "I need to talk to you...but not about Frank...about Joe."

Hope coughed, choking a little on her cake. Nancy handed her a napkin.

"Why? Hmm..Ahmm.." Hope asked, still trying to clear her throat.

"Joe's my good friend before and...I just want to know about him...haven't seen him...how is he?" Nancy's eyes flashed with genuine concern.

"He's...he's alright. I haven't seen him for a while too...but...he's a really sweet guy." Hope smiled at the memory of her dates with Joe. Most of them were sweet but they really did not get to know each other on a deeper level.

"He still plays the piano?"

"I guess so...I bought him a piano...with an advance from my pay...he...he plays it beautifully." She could almost hear the song again. But it was more with a sweet ache than bitterness. Her heart was with Frank now, but she would think of the emotionally chancy Joe with sweetness in her heart.

Nancy laughed softly. "We used to tease him because he was like this...this muscular jock and at tonight, his fingers would fly over the keyboard...it was a little strange to see a footballer so engross in music and playing so well too. But Frank loved to hear his brother play, though he would jibe him to no ends."

"I guess he probably lost quite a lot of weight."

"Must be a tough prison life."

A sensitive issue, one that Hope wished she knew when she was with Joe. But Joe never gave her the chance to understand, to help.

They ate in silence before Nancy shot another question. "You know if he got any friends?"

Hope cocked her head to one side. "He was chummy, or as chummy as he could with anyone with Malcolm and Michel, Michel especially, both of them are from the soup kitchen. But after moving out, they hardly contact each other, or rather, Joe did not contact them...and..."

Nancy put down her fork, her cake almost finished. "And..."

"Nothing...it...it still hurts a little."

"Frank mentioned to me before that you saw him with another guy, in that way."

"Yah..." Hope shook her head, trying to shake away the memory as well. "He was like this huge monster...I didn't take a good look ..."

"Curly black hair? Bushy eyebrows and beady eyes?" Nancy queried. Hope was a little startled.

"How do you know?"

She paused. "It's an old friend of Joe's."

"So I have wronged him?"

Nancy stirred her tea, her expression ponderous. "Would it matter if you have gotten the wrong or right idea? I mean...will you and Frank still be together?"

Hope looked down at her own half-eaten cake. "I guess...I guess it wouldn't matter...I mean...I was already attracted to Frank...I'm sorry Nan, it's just so difficult not to..."

"Precisely. It would not matter if you had been on the scene or not Hope. Truth is that Frank and me have both changed too...any blind fool could see. If he had not, I would have." Nancy placed a hand over Hope's.

"The only temper you need to fear now is Marjory's. You met her haven't you?"

Hope looked at Nancy and chuckled. Nancy laughed too in understanding. The laugh was good, it took away the tension and the awkwardness and Nancy continued to amuse Hope with stories of Marjory's untamed tempers and her possessiveness of her brother. Hope nodded in agreement from time to time. Nothing like a bitching session to get two women closer.

"But she's a nice kid, considering what she had been through, it's understandable. I have gotten past the competing with her stage to befriending her. If you take the time, she's really pretty sweet."

"She's very in awe of Frank...and you."

"Yes...she is."

"Have you met Frank's father before? Fenton Hardy?"

"No..."

Nancy leaned forward and in a very serious expression, she gave Hope an advice. "Whatever it is, if you ever the chance to meet him, don't mention anything about your relationship with Joe."

Hope pressed her lips together. There were so many taboo subjects in the Hardy's household, and all of them got to do with Joe.

They left the café together, Hope said she would walk back to the office and they were both just right outside the café when suddenly, a car pull up next to them.

"Miss, can you tell me how to get to..."

"Yes?" Hope walked a little closer to the man, since he was speaking so softly. Nancy seemed to try to pull her back but it was too late. Hope saw the gun pointed at her.

"Shut up bitch and get into the car. You first blondie! Or I'll shoot your friend here."

Hope looked at Nancy, eyes wide with fear. Nancy calm her down and she stood still for a moment, thinking.

"I'll get into the car...but you let my friend go." Nancy offered. Hope could have died right then in shame. Nancy was so brave and she was shivering like a coward.

"No Nan...I was the stupid..."

"Shut up bitches. Now get into the car! Or I'll kill the dark haired one."

"Ok...now don't be rush...I'll go in...and my friend will follow."

Nancy got into the car, sat next to a man in the backseat. The driver gestured with his freehand for the man next to him the passenger seat to go get Hope. Hope found herself escorted roughly into the car, next to Nancy.

"Where's Hope?" Frank rushed into the office and questioned Ben's PA, a middle-aged lady (Regina had picked her out). She was sitting in the main area as Hope and would know where his missing girlfriend was.

Let her be in the toilet...I know God I don't pray much...but let Hope just visit the ladies for a while.

"Oh...she left with your ex-girlfriend, Nancy. I heard them talk about going for a drink..."

Frank rushed out as fast as he rushed in. Ben's PA simply shook her head. Frank went could only think of a place the two of them could have gone to. He and Nancy had always loved Black Coffee and Hope was also becoming a regular customer. He thought he hit jackpot when he saw Nancy's car parked at a side road. Catching his breath, he went into the café.

"Mr Hardy!" The manager greeted Frank in a booming voice. "It's such a coincidence...Miss Hings and Miss Drew were just here." He then proceeded to lead Frank to an empty seat.

"Wait...what do you mean just here?" Frank stopped abruptly, turned around, almost knocking the manager down with the sudden halt of his strong, virile body.

"Oh...they left about 20 minutes ago." The manager replied a little timidly, seeing Frank's harassed look.

Frank's heart sank. Nancy's car was empty. Where could they have gone?

Shopping? No...this is not a good area to shop...

"You know where they went?"

"No...but they left in a black Mercedes. I thought you had them picked up."

"A black Mercedes?" There were numerous black Mercedes in Barnett Bay, where was Frank going to start looking?

He made a mad dash for his car. The whole world must be thinking that Frank Hardy had gone quite nuts...and he had.

"Grey! I need to speak to you..."

"I heard...Clark's dead right?"

"No...I think they got Nancy and Hope...damn the red lights. Need to check out..."

"Wait. They got who? Nancy and Hope?"

"I left Hope alone in the office and she went out with Nancy...I'm driving around looking for a black Mercedes in the vicinity and I found like 10 in just two streets! Why are the people here so damn rich?" He swerved sharply at a corner, racing against time, racing for Hope's safety.

"Calm down...why don't you come back here? You don't sound like you know where to look. Come back here and we'll discuss. Your little brother went missing too."

"I'll be there in a few minutes."

Chapter 33

Frank paced around the room and there was nothing that Grey Man could do get him to sit down. Grey Man himself was on the phone, ordering agents to keep a look out for Joe and a black Mercedes in any suspicious circumstances.

Michel finally arrived. The moment he did, Frank grabbed him by the shoulders and shook the poor man who was taken quite by surprise.

"How the hell did you let him get away? You are supposed to watch him!" Frank demanded furiously.

"Hey...cool it. I got my job to do. I cannot be with him 24 hours." Michel tried to pull Frank away. Though he had a wider girth than Frank, Frank lean muscles were effective and coupled with his anger, their effectiveness had increased more than ten folds.

"That's what your job is! To keep an eye on him!" Frank screamed into Michel's face, shaking the man like he wanted Michel's brains to fall out.

"Frank..." Grey Man interrupted. "I was the one who called Michel back. We were a little shorthanded and I needed Michel to check out on some leads...but I found out that the both of you already knew that there was a possibility that Kleptous could be alive."

"I came back to look at the past records we had with Kleptous, to see if he ever used a double...the records were many. I thought by finding Kleptous, we could solve the whole thing quickly..." Michel elaborated.

"And Joe's gone! My best lead's dead. And Nancy and Hope kidnapped! You want a clue..." Frank took out a crumpled note stained with blood and threw it on the table. "There! Here's your clue!"

"Frank...calm down..."

"How can I calm down? You let out a murderer!" Frank Hardy almost raised a fist up to punch Michel. Grey Man pulled Frank away roughly.

"I'll have no fighting here! If you want to behave like a little kid...get out."

Frank sat down, his eyes were lethal. Grey Man smoothed the note opened and read the message before passing it to Michel. Frank ran his hand through his hair. "I should have never left her alone."

"You don't know it's going to happen..." Michel tried to calm down Frank's nerves. Frank's anger was not what they needed now. They needed him to be calm enough to work his brains.

Frank took a huge breath. "Anyway, I was just thinking...terrorists like to use alias...often the same one as a form of their signature. I took a copy of the log," Frank pulled out a piece of paper from his coat. "And we can try to match the handwriting."

Grey and Michel nodded in understanding. They knew what was Frank driving at. There were not many visitors and Frank quickly spotted a similar handwriting. He read the signed in name aloud.

"E.N Kelehen,...does it ring a bell?"

Grey Man typed the name into his database. It seemed familiar somehow...but he could not place it. Michel though was faster.

"The Assassins train their own followers...each higher ranking one will train about 3 ...I believe I read about the name in Kleptous file. He's supposed to be one of Kleptous trainee but he was not heard of in any of the Assassins operation about the same time that we were supposed to chase Kleptous to his death."

"Yes...it's in my database...Kelehen...bright Turkish guy...I never...why is it we never spotted this?"

"Because we are so happy that we have killed off one of the Assassins leading man?" Michel tried to crack a lame joke.

"The Assassins have no leading man. Kleptous' just a more prominent troublemaker."

Frank caught on. "Joe can't lie through the truth serum...so you're saying that Kelehen was somehow a double for Kleptous and got you guys fooled...exploded in the car and thus you'll think that Kleptous is dead?"

"It was only three months ago...but yes...I believe so...Now."

"He has my best friend, my girlfriend and my brother. Where can we find the damn guy?"

Grey Man smiled wearily. "You finally believe your brother?"

Frank gave him a cold look. "Don't talk feelings with me now. He's after all once my brother."

Grey Man raised his hands in mock surrender.

"So what do we do?" Frank asked, hoping that someone had some answers because his mind was too distracted to think.

"We can trace Joe's steps...it would not be difficult. He has one worry constantly in his mind...Hope. So I think he may have gone back to her house, not knowing she had already moved in with you. Maybe from there we can find some clues."

"Right...and Grey...you should go check out Clark's murder scene...see if there's anything." Frank stood up. "I'll go with Michel"

"I'll see you guys later...Michel knows where our new meeting place."

Frank raised an eyebrow. "New meeting place?"

"Nancy's caught. If she...I can't have one agent putting all of us at risk. We have already started moving...if you haven't noticed."

"You guys are sure heartless."

"Not heartless. Just practical. I do wish for Nancy to be safe too Frank."

Frank and Michel looked behind a tree. They had searched pretty thoroughly around Hope's house and Frank had mentioned that Joe would duck behind something, or hid, in order not to be spotted by the Network agent keeping watch there. And after a few tries, they came across a tree just a little above where Hope's house was but from that angle, Joe would be able to see Hope when she returned home as well as keep an eye on the agent from where he was posted while maintaining out of sight. Frank had hit jackpot with his idea, the area where they thought Joe would have stood smelled faintly of chloroform.

"He might be abducted here by that Kleptous or someone..." Frank took a few steps around the area, looking intently on the ground for something that the abductor might have dropped, if they were lucky. He spotted a cigarette butt and picked it up. It had a very unique fragrant, very familiar to Frank, but Frank could not place it.

"You recognize the scent?" He passed it to Michel who took a whiff.

"No...could be left here by the residents also."

"In this out of place spot?"

"Why not?"

Frank shook his head. "Impossible. I recognize the scent...I can't place it but it's too...too unique to be commonly available...if only I can remember...I smelled it before...but where? On my clients?"

Michel left Frank alone to his thoughts. Something caught his eye, some hay caught in soil near a curb on a small road off the main street. He went over to investigate. The small road was well hidden and thus, if Joe had hid behind the tree, he would not have been able to spot any car which can hide in the shadow pretty effectively. The man had probably gotten out of his car, stepped on the soft garden soil and maybe left some hay on it as well.

Hay...they would be able to find hay on farms. Barnett Bay had a few farms lying on the outskirts. Yet, one of the towns near Barnett Bay, Vermont Ridge had plenty of farms. But at least they might have something to go on.

"Frank, I got something."

Frank walked over to him and he explained his hay theory to Frank. Frank thought for a while. "We can check out the farms in Barnett Bay first, I will drive us there."

"Just the two of us?"

"Yes, of course...time is running out."

Grey Man had a few findings of his own. Posing as an FBI agent, he went through the crime scene very thoroughly. The killing had been brutal. Clark was probably killed by strangulation as there were bruises on his neck, but Grey Man could not tell if the tongue was cut before or after, though he thought it should be while Clark was still alive since his chest seemed sprayed with blood, a sign that he probably spat out the blood or the tongue after it was cut. There were signs of struggle and some scratches. He clipped off the top of all the nails of the dead Clark, thinking he could be able to find some bits of the assailant's skin on them and then perform a DNA and blood type check.

He looked through the whole place and obtained knife which had stuck the note that Frank found to the tongue. It was a normal steak knife, probably taken from Clark's kitchen. Stepping into the kitchen, he opened the drawers and found a set of steak knives identical to the one he was holding. The murderer could have been in a hurry. Using a magnifying glass, he spotted a small stain on the blade of the knife next to the one that was taken away. It could be blood. He picked up the knife and put it in his own pocket.

"Found what you need sir?" The officer-in-charge queried. Grey Man could see nothing that would interest him further.

"No. Thank you for your time. I'll be taking these with me."

"No problem. If it's a case for the FBI, you call the shots."

Grey Man smiled and patted the officer on the back. "I'm glad we have an understanding. Is the coroner here?"

"Yes...he is. Taking a break downstairs. We hardly have murders in this part of the town...I wonder...the streets aren't safe anymore."

Grey Man had no time to listen to the officer reminisce about the how safe and peaceful Barnett Bay was before it developed into a town for the rich and wealthy. He found the coroner downstairs, but not taking a break. He was jotting down notes in a notepad.

"I'm Arthur Grey, FBI." Grey Man flashed him the FBI card. It was 100% genuine, only that Arthur Grey did not exist in the FBI. The coroner, a young man of about 32 years old looked up and smiled sheepishly.

"I think better when I'm away from the bodies."

"I need to clarify some doubts with you. You have seen how the man was killed"

"Yes."

"Would you say there is only one killer or more than one?"

"I...I'm not experienced enough...but...if you want my guess..."

"Yes, I do."

"The man was obviously strangled...that would take one man to do it. And there were struggles, but it looked like he was pretty much held down. My guess is that someone held him down while another cut off his tongue. Two of them."

"Thank you. Just what I thought. Have a good day."

"No problem...but like I said, I'm not that experience...it will take me time to actually...you know...come up with a full sequence."

Grey Man waved him off. "Have a good day."

Grey Man exited from the apartment buildings when he received a call. "Grey, it's me."

"You're back? So soon? How's the situation in Israel?"

"Chaotic. Totally out of our hands now."

"Ah. Less work to do."

"I need to talk to you. Come back to our new office and update me on everything."

Chapter 34

Nancy and Hope were in the car for very long before the car finally stopped. They were blindfolded the whole time and Hope tried to remember the various turnings they took and tried to devise a method to be able to find the place just in case somehow, she managed to get out and could lead the police back there. She only hoped her little method worked. When they reached, the three men uncovered their eyes and Hope saw a man pawed Nancy's thigh only to be slapped away.

"Keep your hands to yourself." Nancy told the guy off sharply.

"Touchy touchy...but it's ok...we can always have fun later. Now...move!"

Hope found herself being pulled out of the car. Nancy seemed to be summing up the three men. They were each "escorted" roughly by one man and the driver led the way.

"Where are you taking us?" Nancy queried and was given a sharp jerk by the man holding her from behind.

"Shut up! You're one noisy extra."

"Extra?"

"I said shut up bitch."

The man holding Hope probably had an easier since Hope was a little too terrified to think of any question. Nancy kept peering over to Hope but Hope could not get what she meant.

What does she want me to do?

They slowly walked up a trail which led them into a huge plot of land. On the land was an old mansion, hidden behind the trees. They were led inside and the two men holding onto Hope and Nancy tied up their hands behind very tightly. Hope could feel her blood circulation being cut off.

"You both stay here. I go and see if the stables are ready. You two, watch them well or Kleptous will shoot you on the spot." The driver went off and Nancy and Hope were left alone with the two men guarding them.

The two men stood in front of them, leering at them. Hope and Nancy were seated on a metal bench. Hope took her eyes off the two perverts to take a good look around. It was a sparsely furnished place. The hallway where she and Nancy were held only had a few pictures hanging on the all and a bench, which they were sitting on. The floor was marble tiled and the lightning was not very good. The windows were opened but the curtains were drawn. Only a dimmed light lit the room. The walls were rough and something was cutting her behind. Something metallic.

Must be some funny thing attached to the bench.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Nancy shifting a little. She wondered what was Nancy doing when Nancy spotted her looking and gave a sharp glance. She immediately turned her head away.

"I can't wait for the two of you. We missed the morning fun...Kleptous should let us go first later. He really does enjoy breaking people down that way." The man who held her, the one with a mop of greasy black hair and stinking cigarette smell stepped forward and lifted her chin. Hope twisted her face away and his loud smacking kiss landed on her cheeks.

"Bitch! Stay still!" He gave Hope a slap. The other man went forward and laid a restraining hand on the first man's shoulders.

No, please...not now...think Hope...think...

"Cool it bro..." The second man, a fat skinhead drawled. "Don't want to hurt that pretty face until later...right?"

"Excuse me, but I think I'll be hurting your ugly face now." Nancy suddenly stood up and gave a martial arts chop to the fat skinhead's neck. He dropped down immediately to the floor but Hope saw that he was still breathing. The greasy hair one turned around but instead of using force, he reached inside his pocket for his gun which was a bad move because Nancy landed one strong punch on his face that send him reeling on the floor. Yet, he managed to get the gun out. But since he fell backwards in an awkward position, it took a second too late to aim the gun at Nancy. Nancy simply stormed on his arm and kicked the gun away. Punching the guy face again, she managed to knock him unconscious.

How can I compete with that?

"You alright? We got to hurry...have too." Nancy was helping Hope untie her hands. Hope noticed that Nancy had cut through her rope using the sharp corner of the ledge behind her. She had hurt herself; Hope could see her left wrist was bleeding a little.

"You were great...like in the movies..." Hope spoke in a shaky voice. It was a weird time to be giving compliments but a semblance of normality kept her a little more calm in face acute danger that she had never been in before.

Maybe being Frank's girlfriend entitled me to special, unwanted persk.

Nancy smiled grimly. "But this is real life. We are in mortal danger...C'mon."

They ran out of the door and Nancy helped Hope up a steep slope. "I think the trail's in front...we're reaching..."

A laughter sounded. Three men sneaked out behind Hope and one grabbed her. She felt a pistol pointing at her temple. "Nancy..." She called out, fear reached into her heart, gripping it hard. She thought of Caramel and her stomach churned. No, it could not be. She could not die then, she could not let her daughter down, could not let Caramel be an orphan.

Nancy who was a few steps ahead of her heard the laughter as well. Her face was crestfallen. Hope knew Nancy had no chance by herself against the three men wielding arms.

"You're very good. Our camera caught it all...just like Charlie Angels. But fun time's over. The two idiots watching over you will have less pleasant jobs in future. Will you just come with me?"

A man stepped out from behind the three men. His voice was rough and threatening. Hope recognized him as the man with Joe; the one Nancy said was 'Joe's old friend.'

"Who are you?" Nancy asked. Hope was a little puzzled, Nancy knew who the guy was but a quick glance from Nancy caused Hope to wipe away the puzzlement from her face.

"I'm Alexander Kleptous. And I know you...Nancy Drew. You used to be a teenage sleuth but because of your boyfriend Frank Hardy, you gave up that career. Very noble...only now your boyfriend is someone's else." He cast Hope a very amused glance. "Men always like their women softer...weaker."

Kleptous went forward to grab Nancy. Nancy winced in pain as Kleptous gripped her hands from behind. "But I do like my woman with a little spunk. If you may, let me bring you to your accommodations. You should have a friend joining you." Dragging Nancy down the slope, he continued to have a death grip on her while Hope was led behind them with a pistol trained to her head.

Kleptous opened the door to where Joe was. He was still bound up, his face no longer very pretty due to the bruises and cuts. He noticed Joe's lips were split too. A huge ugly bruise was forming on his stomach, not to mention angry whip marks all over his body.

Used. Just like a dirty rag. But it's not time to throw you away yet. I do love to torment you so.

Smirking, he spat with disgust on Joe's body before snatching the watch away from the bedside table. Joe's eyes followed him but they were without the fire that he was so used to. Kleptous held the watch in the air and threw it hard on the ground. He could see Joe's breathing becoming more rapid.

"Your brother's a multi-billionaire and you're giving such a cheap watch? My Joey...I thought you have better sense than that."

"Why are you doing this? I did nothing to you." The soft raspy voice finally found some words. Kleptous gave a laugh.

"I'm not the one Joe. I'm only following orders and I would have let you go if the vial was correct. But it was not. Seeing Network agents protecting Hope just cause us to piece the puzzle together. Not to mention you were so friendly to Michel Angelos. We know him to be a Network agent. He chased my understudy to death. My understudy sacrificed himself for the greater good." Kleptous fists clenched.

He pummeled his fists into Joe's stomach, the part which was hurting. There might be internal injuries but who cared? Joe gasped in pain, he did not scream. That was one thing Kleptous did not like about Joe. He was not a screamer, just taking whatever was dished out to him in a vacant manner, stoic at times even. "But I'm beyond revenge. As long as we get the virus, the whole world is doom. But since we don't..." He looked at Joe with an evil glint. "Someone decided to continue what he had begun. You only got yourself to blame...child of a rapist. A bastard child. Not to mention, the whole of Assassins have an axe to grind with you and your brother. The two of you had in the past cost us one of our most beloved leaders, and one of our most brilliant plans!"

Kleptous left the room, enjoying the look of puzzlement on the tortured face. If only Joe knew what had been done to him before. But he would not of course. He could not remember.

Satisfied at having hurt more than one person today, he commanded the guards outside Joe's room to release Joe, hose him down and dump him into the stable with the other two girls. The Network would be worried of course, since Joe, whom Kleptous presumed to be a Network agent given what he had seen, was caught. They would get the location of the vial from Joe. Kill the Network bastards and go ahead with the plans to rule the world.

Kleptous sniggered. World domination. That was the ultimate goal of every Assassin.

Nancy and Hope were not tied up. There was no need to since the cell was securely locked and they were searched to make sure that they had no hidden lock picks or anything that could be used as a lock pick on them. The search was slightly disgusting and humiliating. In the end, they took out Nancy's hair pin and Hope's brooch and then left them alone in the stable.

Nancy paced around, shaking the cell door in frustration. There were hay everywhere in the old stable which was converted to something like a jail cell and she could not any means to get out. Kleptous kept the keys with him after he locked them in. A goon was outside the door, standing guard in case anything happened. He glared angrily Nancy who gave him a lethal glare of her own.

"You not try stupid tings! We shoot!"

Nancy backed down, not so much in fear of being shot but more worried for Hope safety. Kleptous was perhaps correct. Hope was the kind who would be a good wife and a mother. Nancy was destined to lead a life of solitary. Frank needed her, but perhaps could never commit himself to her.

Here am I, probably awaiting death and I'm thinking about my love life. Get a grip Nancy Drew!

"Nan...I'm sorry...I wasn't fast enough." Hope spoke finally. They were in silence since they were thrown inside, neither one spoke.

"It's ok. I have had experience in the past when I was a teenager. It's your first time..."

"Why would they want to catch us? To demand ransom from Frank?" Hope large green eyes widened. She had come to the most normal conclusion of a kidnap.

Nancy gave a soft laugh. If only things were so simple. She was pretty sure that the Assassins here did not know she belonged to the Network or they would be extra cruel to her, being their nemesis. That could work to her advantage. But she did not know what was in store for her and Hope, until she remembered what Joe had told them or rather, Frank.

You don't have Hope's life hanging by a thread in your hands.

They had make good on their threats, but why? Because they found out that the vial contained nothing but water or something else that Joe did not tell them about? Nancy believed it to be the former. She was pretty sure Joe had told them everything.

"Maybe. But no matter how much it is, Frank can afford it." She tried to console Hope who was extremely distraught.

Two guys came, dragging a thin young man between them. He seemed to have underwent some form of physical torture. Hope gasped, 'It's Joe!"

The goon outside trained his rifle on Nancy and Hope while the two guys opened up the door and flung Joe inside to the back of the cell. He was not unconscious, his eyes were vacant and he seemed lifeless. Nancy was relieved to see him breathing.

Without a word, they left, locking the door behind them. Hope immediately rushed over to Joe but was greeted with a flat request.

"Don't touch me."

"You're hurt...did they beat you up?" The concern in her voice would have touched anyone's heart. But she did not know that her concern would be the last thing Joe wanted to hear.

"We missed the morning fun...Kleptous should let us go first later. He really does enjoy breaking people down that way"

Nancy coughed and Hope looked up at her, her eyes were distressed. "He's badly hurt...he needs a doctor..."

"I don't think they're going to let us go to the doctor Hope."

"They should...Joe..."

"Don't touch me." The same flat reply, the same vacant eyes. Hope pulled her hands away. She had merely wanted to soothe his hair.

"Joe...don't say such things...I know you're hurt...but when Frank paid the ransom...we'll be out and you will be fine...here...let me see..."

Joe turned with intense anger towards Hope which sent chills down Nancy's spine. He gave Hope a sharp push. Hope landed on the floor hard. "I said don't touch me. Which part do you not understand?" His soft voice was toxic to Hope. Hope was hurt. She covered her mouth and started sobbing. Joe turned away from her, staring at the cell wall.

"Hi Joe." Nancy said.

"Hello Nancy." It sounded more like "leave me alone Nancy."

Nancy did not know what else to say. Joe did not say anything more. It was going to be tough for them to be held up together, with Joe in a corner, lost to the world and Hope crying in pain and fear and only Nancy with the coolness and calmness to force her brain to work.

Unfortunately, she could not think of a way out of their mess.

Chapter 35

"We've been going round and round all the farms near Barnett Bay and even the few near Little Port. There's nothing Frank, we should go back to the Network."

"No...they got to be...we saw those barns in those farms...hay! That's our clue...I..." Frank sped down the same winding road they had traveled earlier in the opposite direction. It was already past sunset and the sky was darkening. Frank's knuckles gripped the steering wheel so hard that they had turned white.

"It could be one of those in Vermont Ridge." Michel tried to sound rational. He was worried just as much as Frank, worried for Nancy. But he was trained, really trained, to be cool under fire so he could think.

"How many farms in Vermont Ridge?" Frank asked, his eyes bursting with new hope.

"I don't know...50? It's a farming area...there's a lot of farms." Michel was extremely tired himself. He was worried sick too and his heart sank when they entered the last farm on the map to find it occupied by real farmers, friendly farmers. Flashing his fake and yet genuine FBI card at the owners, he and Frank had combed through all centimeter squares of each farms and found nothing of interest but animals' poo.

"Then we should get started! We..." Frank bit his lips. Michel could see Frank's eyes glistening.

"We'll get them...but combing through Vermont Ridge is not going do us any good. It's a very healthy farming area, no deserted farms or anything...and they are all very close to one another so if there's trouble in one, the rest will know. So far there are no reports of any kind from there."

"All the more we must search...it may seem alright but that's what the Assassins are good at, a well done up front!"

"Frank..."

"Don't Frank me! Joe would go along with me! He would just listen to my decisions! Why can't you..." He stopped abruptly, knowing he had said too much, revealed too much.

"Because I'm not your brother. He looked up to you...he would take everything you say as the gospel truth and that's what landed him in confusion all these years." Michel could not help himself. It was bad time; it was not even a time to be blaming Frank when Frank was already filled with self-blame. Yet, Michel could not stand the way Frank treated Joe sometimes. The gravity of Joe's crimes made Frank's conduct understandable, though not much more bearable.

But will I have done the same if I am in Frank's shoes? Maybe I'll do worse. Most probably I'll do worse.

"Shut up." Frank snarled, anger and anxiety consumed him, devoured him and made it difficult for him to cordial, among other things.

"Because you don't trust him...he can't trust himself...do you get it? He would not even explore the possibility of him being innocent."

Frank jammed brake the car. "How long have you known him Michel? A few months? How long have you known me? These past few days? You don't know anything...so just shut up! Hope's and Nancy's life are in danger...I don't want to think of anything else now until I get them back in my arms."

"And who will you choose then?" Michel had to ask. He knew Nancy too and it was weird how Frank, who seemed to be the one clinging on to Nancy all the time when he needed someone to run to, would just dump her and go off with a gorgeous but definitely not a very strong woman who could take his nonsense. Not someone like Nancy. Michel had a slight crush on Nancy Drew before but the age difference between them and their profession caused him to not want to take any action. But he would pick Nancy over Hope anytime.

"I love Hope. Nancy's my best friend. Does that answer satisfy you?" Frank spoke through gritted his teeth. Michel thought Frank must had found him very irritating.

"Yes. Can we just go back to the Network?"

"I don't know where it is." came the reluctant reply. Reluctant to not continue searching.

"I'll guide you. Let's go and we'll see what Grey found out."

Michel led Frank to a small building in Little Port. It was near the docks again and once again, it was disguised as some company. The office they stepped in though was not like the previous one. It was all empty inside but once again, Michel led him into the basement of the building after punching some code on a panel hidden under an old rug that would open the trap door.

"Another basement?" Frank asked with a little contempt in his voice. The Network outfits were just like its nature, afraid of the light because light would expose its clandestine operations which saved the lives of many Americans.

"What do you expect? We need our imagination for other things." Michel answered. The scene that greeted them was almost a mirror image of the old branch but it was bigger and it had more than one makeshift office. Michel peered into the largest one and knocked twice, before opening the door. Frank stepped in and was not very surprise to see his dad.

"You finally returned."

"Yes son. Sit down. We got to talk." Fenton motioned towards two armchairs placed haphazardly across the room. Michel took his seat and so did Frank.

Fenton Hardy had aged a lot since all the unfortunate incidents had occurred. His wife's death was a great blow to him and every Network agent knew how difficult it was to be able to find a supportive spouse. Laura Hardy was not only supportive; she had joined the Network too on a nominal basis, sometimes posing as an extra in some of their stints. But whatever it was, she never gave up on her husband, even when he decided without discussing with her that Joe and Frank were tested to be suitable Network material and would have to be separated from Marjory and Ben to receive training.

His brown hair had grayed and his eyes bags got droopier. But Fenton Hardy still had a sharp mind and still was the head of the Network for the second term, each term being 4 years. He would soon step down and the next most popular candidate would be Grey Man.

"We're in a mess dad. I'm sorry. I screwed up." Frank looked up most to his dad. He not only looked like his dad but he had his dad's characteristics too. Cool, intelligent and able to stay calm under fire. But lately, he was finding it harder and harder to keep a lid on himself.

"Whatever happened, I'm proud of you son. I came back to find out about the Assassins newest move and I came to warn you guys to keep the virus safe. It's their only vial and they may have the cure already. Once they lay their hands on it, they will use it." Fenton told them in all seriousness.

"How do you know?" Frank asked.

"You don't get an upper hand on your enemies if you don't know them well or don't do things to know them better. Our agents knew the risk. Sadly, none of those who successfully infiltrated in were called to this mission in Barnett Bay."

"They have insider or insiders in Maximillian too." Frank confessed miserably. "I was too dumb to see it...too stupid and now my best lead got killed...he should not have gotten killed if I just questioned him there and then when I suspected him..."

Grey Man laid a calming hand on Frank. "We all lacked hindsight. You made the call ...it was right to you and in our line, there's no time for regrets."

Frank rubbed his forehead with one of his hands, his migraine coming back. Thoughts of Hope and Nancy perhaps dead left him weak and sick to the stomach. He just wanted to go over to Vermont Ridge and search every damn farm, not sit down here and wasting time, waiting.

I'm behaving like Joe more and more...got to calm down and think. Michel's right...Vermont Ridge is huge... it would take days to find them...unless we are lucky...by then...it will be too late

"What have you found Grey?"

"I did a DNA test on some skin samples and a very minute bloodstain. There were two involved in the murder. Two people...and my deduction is simple. Clark knew the insider because the insider had somehow bribed Clark to compromise the security in your company that night. There was a deposit of $200 000 in his bank account a week before the break in. Since he had not sold anything or made any money on his investments which we also checked, I think that should be the bribe money but it was probably not the whole amount as it was too much for Clark to be having and yet too little to be able to tempt him for executing such a dangerous job. His account also shows a few more deposits earlier of roughly the same amount.

Whatever it was, on the morning, before you went to look for him, he was visited by the insider, most likely to receive his last payment and he received the person very normally. There was no sign of a break-in or struggle near the door. It was only when they were inside, with the insider's friend then he was attacked. From DNA matches, we found Kleptous skin under Clark's fingernails and someone else's skin too. It made perfect sense as he would be struggling against Kleptous famous death grip, using whatever defense he had. And the blood, which also belonged to that someone else, got onto a steak knife just next to the one the someone else took because in a hurry, he probably cut himself but did not notice. It should not be a very big cut, maybe more like a razor cut or a paper cut. Anyway, with Kleptous holding Clark in a death grip, he forced Clark's mouth open and sliced it off. Clark in shock spat out blood...accounting for the spray of blood on the floor and his chest and Kleptous finished strangling him. The tongue was then attached to the note you found. The insider probably already knew we are on his tail."

Frank and Michel listened to the gruesome re-telling of the murder as understood by Grey Man. Michel could digest the information well, he was used to even more horrible murders but Frank had a tough time accepting.

"It's a terrible way to go."

"It is."

"I'll never give my head of security so much authority again."

"So you're going to do everything yourself?" Fenton questioned his son, knowing how controlling Frank could get sometimes over everything.

Frank shrugged. "I feel like not doing anything at all. So...any clue as to whom the someone was?"

"We tried to match the DNA with all our records of every known terrorist, even those not in the Assassins but we had no luck. This guy is one that we have not encountered before to get a piece of him. It's not Joe's either." Grey Man answered.

Michel smiled in relief. "Was getting a little worried there."

Fenton stood up and gripped his son's shoulders. "We'll find Nancy...and your new girlfriend Hope. Right now, there's really nothing we can do."

"We can comb through farms."

"Huh?"

Michel explained Frank's cryptic statement. "We found hay on the scene which we believed Joe was abducted and we came to the stunning conclusion that the Assassins are hiding in farms...we combed through all the farms on Barnett Bay and Little Port's outskirts but found nothing."

"We should go to Vermont Ridge...now." Frank muttered. Fenton caught it and shook his head.

"We will be wasting time."

"Better than sitting down here waiting for leads! So what if we know that Kleptous whoever he is murdered Clark? It doesn't bring us to where Hope and Nancy are!"

"Grey, do we have enough men?"

"Yes...I guess...for I think you are thinking."

"Get them to comb Vermont Ridge. These two young men here obviously are about to fall on their feet."

"No problem. They're just a phone call away."

Fenton looked at his son. "Satisfied? Let's go home. We'll get this figure somehow. We can start by the company employees...see who is the insider...we can do it."

Frank faced the wall and suddenly punched the concrete hard, letting out an anguish shout. "I'm just afraid by the time we do...Hope and Nancy would be dead."