On The Prowl (standard:mystery, 7298 words)
Author: Sarah Spenser	Added: Nov 28 2005	Views/Reads: 3273/2361	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
See if Allie lives in this next chapter!

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

looked at him perplexed. "Connor, what happened? Where am I?" "You're 
in the hospital, sweetness. You collapsed at the river." "Where's 
Francie?" she began to get out of bed, but Connor stopped her. "Stay in 
bed, honey. Francie's not in the river."" How do you know? My little 
girl can be down there and you're sitting here!" "Allison, there's 
nowhere else I'd rather be then by your side. Honey, you're sick, your 
fever's 104 and your escape didn't help matters." "I couldn't do it, 
Connor," she said beginning to sob. "I couldn't let you or the police 
do your jobs, she's my baby too, I had to be there. I know it was a 
crazy thing to ..." she stopped choked by a coughing spell. Connor 
watched as the spell overtook her, she shook violently with each cough. 
"Allie, take a breath." He said softly. "I can't breathe!" she said 
trying to breathe, but the more she tried, he more her chest hurt. She 
didn't seem to be getting anywhere. Connor crossed the room and rang 
for the nurse. Beverly appeared within seconds. "You're awake!" she 
exclaimed looking please, but one look at Allison's face told her 
otherwise. "She can't breathe. She just had a coughing spell. What the 
hell's going on?" "I don't know, Connor." "You don't know! That's 
great! You're a nurse!" "Calm down, Connor. Allison stop trying to 
hard." Beverly instructed coming over to the left side of her bed. She 
looked at Allison again, it seemed to be getting easier to breathe once 
she stopped trying so hard. But in an instant, she was choked by 
another coughing spell. "I'm going to get you some antibiotics." 
Beverly said, just as she left the room, Amanda approached her. "The 
tests are back from the lab." 

Once she could breathe again, Allison looked at Connor. His brown eyes
looked concerned and it was etched all over his face. She patted his 
hand trying to reassure him, but Connor knew that he should be doing 
the reassuring. "I'm going to be okay, honey. I'm sure of that." "Are 
you?" "I'm positive, my love. I promise you nothing's going to happen 
to me. Could you do  me a favor?" "Sure what?" "Could you go out and 
tell Lynn and your parents that I'm all right?" "Sure, I'll be right 
back." Connor headed out to the waiting room to tell Lynn and his 
parents about Allison. "They still don't know what she has? This is 
ridiculous!" Thelma said exasperated. "I know, Mom it's frustrating. 
But she seems to be holding up pretty well." "Is she conscious?" Lynn 
asked teary eyed. "Yes, she started coughing and it didn't seem to 
stop. Beverly went to get some antibiotics. I'd better get back in 
there." "Send her our love." Clint said, Connor nodded and exited the 
waiting room. When he arrived in Allie's room, she was shaking 
uncontrollably. "What's wrong?" "I'm cold." He felt her forehead, she 
was burning up. "Cold?"" Freezing actually. Could you get me a 
blanket?" "Sure, is there anything else I can do for you?" "Just stay 
with me, Connor. Will you go back and search for Francie?" "No, I want 
to be here with you." "But ..." "Allison, I have  Pete Parnelle and the 
rest of the divers combing the river. If they find anything they'll 
call. Besides, what good would it do if he killed her? Then he'd have 
nothing on us." "I guess." "You'd know if anything was wrong, just like 
I would." "You're right." She said weakly. Connor pressed the button 
for the nurse, Beverly appeared momentarily. "Well, we just got your 
lab results back." "Lab results?" "Oh, we took some blood while you 
were unconscious. They indicate that you have double pneumonia. All 
your symptoms match up, coughing, shortness of breath and the high 
fever." "I'm cold." Beverly went to retrieve a blanket and put it over 
Allison while she continued to speak. "Does your chest hurt?" "Yes, 
it's worse when I breathe or cough." "Okay, we're going to treat you 
with something called Ciprofloxacin. We're going to get you started on 
some fluids, and we're having the pharmacist write up a prescription 
for Ciprofloxacin." "What's that?" Allison asked weakly trying to keep 
from shaking. "It's a medication used to treat pneumonia. Your escape 
didn't help matters." "How did she do it?" Connor asked trying to 
contain the rage he felt. How could the woman he entrusted to take care 
of his wife let her escape? "She pretended she was asleep, I went 
downstairs to get a cup of coffee. When I came back she was gone. I'm 
going to go order those fluids." Beverly said sweeping from the room. 
Connor looked at Allie again, she was pale and looked exhausted. Connor 
was extremely worried, but he said nothing. He sat quietly just holding 
her hand, eventually, she drifted off to sleep. While she slept, Connor 
paced nervously, he was worried about Allie and Francie. But there was 
nothing he could do to save either of them. He loved Allie more then he 
could ever say, and would gladly trade places with her. He tiptoed from 
the room to give Lynn and his parents another update. "How is she?" 
Lynn asked the moment she saw Connor. "Well, she's sleeping right now. 
Beverly thinks she has double pneumonia. She's getting IV fluids and 
they're  going to put her on medication." "How's her fever? Did it 
break yet?" Thelma asked sitting on the edge of the couch. She looked 
worried, she loved Allie like a daughter. Connor knew this had to be 
hard for both her and Clint. "No, it's still 104. They're doing 
everything they can. But I just want her to get well. Listen, I think 
you should go and get some rest." "We'll stay." Clint said softly. 
"You're not going to do her any good just sitting here. Why don't you 
go home and I'll call if there's any change." They all reluctantly 
agreed conceding that Connor had a point. He watched them get up to go, 
and before they departed, Connor hugged each one of them and thanked   
them for their support. He returned to Allie's room to find Beverly 
standing in the doorway. "She's finally asleep." Connor whispered. 
"That's good, but I have to wake her. I have to give her IV fluids." 
"How's the medicine coming?" "The pharmacist wrote us a prescription. 
We're going to put her on it tonight. It has to be taken with food." 
"Beverly, will you tell me something?" "What is it?" she asked scanning 
Connor's face for any clue about what he was going to ask. "What are 
her chances?" Beverly paused a moment before answering, she glanced at 
Allison and then back at Connor. "Fifty fifty. Double pneumonia is very 
serious, Connor. She had some sort of infection before she escaped, her 
escape only made it worse." "I know, Beverly. She's a very determined 
woman." "Did you find your daughter yet?" "No, that's why she escaped. 
She figured out the clue Eagle sent us. She followed me to the river. 
When she got there, the divers had found Francie's shoe. Allie was 
hysterical, I tried to calm her down, but nothing worked. She tried to 
jump in the river with only her hospital gown in the middle of winter! 
Then she just collapsed." "I'm sorry." Beverly said patting Connor's 
shoulder. "Thanks, Allie will survive. She's a fighter." "Let me give 
her those fluids."  Connor tiptoed over to Allie's bed and gently shook 
her. She stirred slightly but didn't fully wake up. "Allie?" he said 
softly. "What time is it?" she asked sleepily opening her eyes to look 
at him. "Um ... around 6-30 why?" "I'm going to be late for work." 
Allison said trying to get out of bed. Connor looked at her confused. 
"What are you talking about?" "You know WFTR. Doug's going to be 
furious. Why aren't you in bed?" "Allie, you're in the hospital, 
sweetness." "You're dreaming, Connor." "No, honey look at me. You're in 
the hospital." "Beverly, what's going on?" Connor whispered almost 
inaudibly. "She's delirious, probably because of the high fever." 
"Connor, who's that?" she asked smiling at Beverly. "Did you get a 
secretary?" "Allison, I'm Beverly the nurse. You have double pneumonia, 
you're in the hospital. I need you to hold still. I have to give you IV 
fluids." Connor stood quietly as Beverly started the IVs. Once she was 
done she came over to Connor. "Will this go away?" Connor asked now 
very concerned. "Eventually, once her fever comes down. Just humor 
her." Connor took a seat by Allie's bed and took hold of her hand. "I 
love you, sweetheart." "I love you too, Connor. What happened?" "With 
what?" "Our honeymoon. Aren't we supposed to be getting married?" 
"Allie ..." "I don't know what the hell I'm doing at work, if we're 
supposed to get married." "Sweetness ..." "Never mind, I'll tell Doug." 
She tried to get out of bed, but Connor stopped her. "I'll tell him, 
you need to rest." "Rest? I don't want to rest on my wedding night. 
What the hell's the point of a honeymoon?" he tried not to laugh at 
that comment. He humored her for over an hour, but her delirium didn't 
seem to be subsiding. Connor was very worried now and rang for Beverly. 
"I'll see you at the church." Allie said kissing him lightly. "I love 
you." Connor said feeling her forehead again. She was still very warm, 
too warm. Connor came to where Beverly was standing in the doorway. 
"What am I going to do? Isn't there anything you can give her?" 
"There's nothing, Connor. We're doing all we can." "Yeah right! You 
were the one who let her escape!" "I told you how that happened." 
"Yeah, you're some nurse! I trusted you with her!" "I'm sorry, Connor. 
I had no idea she was that cunning." "She usually isn't, but when it 
involves Francie she is. I don't blame her for escaping. Any mother 
would want to know where their child is." "That's good. If I were a 
mother I'd do the same thing. It's good that you don't blame her." "I 
blame you!" "I'm sorry. I'm doing everything I can to try and make her 
well. You should give me a little credit!" "If you save her, I'll be 
eternally grateful. But what am I going to do about her delirium?" 
"Just humor her. Want me to see how her fever is?" "Sure." They entered 
Allie's room and discovered she fallen asleep. "I'll be back." Beverly 
whispered. "Thanks." Connor whispered back. He watched Beverly depart 
and glanced at Allie. She looked peaceful for the first time since 
Francie's disappearance. She wasn't tormented by the fact that she 
couldn't save her, and she wasn't blaming herself, she was just there. 
Connor relished it, wishing that he could make her that peaceful when 
she was awake. He didn't blame her for what happened, but Allie blamed 
herself. That kind of guilt ate at her every day. He gently placed his 
hand on her forehead, she didn't stir. She was still very warm, he 
gently stroked her hair as she slept thinking about the life they had 
lived in the last 6 years. But his trip down memory lane was 
interrupted when the phone rang. "Hello?" Connor whispered, he glanced 
back at Allie, she was still asleep. "Hi, Detective." Eagle said 
sharply. "Where is she?" "Oh, Detective, if only it were that easy." 
"What did you do with her?" "In due time, Detective." "No! where is 
she? Where's my daughter? Is she alive? Will you at least tell me 
that?" "What kind of a man do you take me for?" he asked with an evil 
laugh. "Please, Eagle." "Oh, Detective get a grip! You know who I want 
to speak to." "Will you tell me?" "We've been through this, Detective. 
You know what happens if you get me ticked off?" Connor gasped not 
wanting to ask. "Francie and I play a little game. It's a variation on 
tag you're it and hide and seek. How you play is I'll have Francie 
hide, and I find her, I tag her and kill her." "You bast ..." 
"Detective watch your language. Put your pretty wife on the phone. I 
like talking to her better anyway." Connor put down the phone and shook 
Allie. "Allie?" but she didn't respond, he shook her harder. Still 
nothing, he tried a third time, nothing. Then he realized she wasn't 
asleep but unconscious. He rang for Beverly and grabbed the phone off 
the nightstand. "Eagle, she has a high fever. You're little stunt 
worked you know." "I knew it would." "She's unconscious thanks to you!" 
"One more negative word out of you and Francie won't live to see 
tomorrow! I'll call back." Before Connor could say anything, Eagle 
slammed down the phone. Connor sobbed uncontrollably as Beverly entered 
the room. "What's wrong?" "I thought she was asleep, but she's 
unconscious!" Beverly tried to rouse Allison but nothing worked. "Damn 
it! It's this high fever. I'm going to see if we can get a liquid dose 
of Ciprofloxacin. Maybe we can start an IV drip of it." Beverly said 
dashing from the room. Connor phoned Lynn and his parents and gave them 
an update. He told them about how Allie had escaped and followed him 
down  to the river. They made him promise to keep them informed. Connor 
watched as Beverly returned with another IV and liquid Ciprofloxacin. 
Once the dose was started she sank in to  the chair on the opposite 
side of Allie's bed. "Will she wake up?" "She should." "All this time I 
thought she was asleep." "I did too, it's not your fault, Connor." But 
he felt that it was. He never should've left her to look for that clue 
that Eagle tantalized them with. He thought of Eagle's words about hide 
and seek. It made him sick, and if they could only get his location, 
they could send a swat team. Connor sat with Allie for hours, telling 
her stories and watching as the hands on the clock moved into different 
positions. Beverly breezed in and out as did Amanda. They all said that 
Allie would regain consciousness eventually. But it seemed like 
forever. Connor saw her stir slightly and tapped her on the shoulder. 
"Allie?" "Connor, where's Francie?" "We haven't found her yet." "Did 
you search the river?" "We're still looking." He was happy she was 
awake, and for the moment seemed lucid. "I should go search." "Allie, 
that's what started all this. Just stay in bed and rest. You have 
double pneumonia and a very high fever. You were delirious." "What did 
I say?" "Oh lots of things about work and our honeymoon. You gave us 
all a scare." "I don't remember that." "I didn't think you would. I 
love you, Allie. I think you should get some rest." "I can't rest, 
Connor our little girl's out there." "You're not going to be any good 
to me or Francie if you're too exhausted. Just try to sleep, Allison." 
Beverly appeared quietly and approached Allison's bed. "I'm glad you're 
awake. We were all worried about you." "I'm better now. Connor said I 
was delirious." "You were for quite a while. I just want to check your 
temperature." After a moment Beverly took the thermometer out and read 
it. "It's still 104 but at least you're lucid. We gave you some 
ciprofloxacin through an IV. It should stop the pneumonia." "Thanks, 
Beverly." "You're welcome. I'll be back to check on you." The phone 
rang then, Connor answered brusquely. "Hello?" "Detective, what a fine 
surprise! Can I talk to your wife now?" "Is she alive, Eagle?" Allison 
gasped as she knew who was on the line. "I'm not telling you." Connor 
handed the phone to Allison. "It's him, Allie." "Oh my God." Allison 
took the phone and tried not to sob. "Eagle, where is she? Is she 
alive? Did you hurt her?" "Obviously you don't have a good memory, 
Allison. What did I tell you about asking too many questions?" "Why did 
you call?" "I called to give you another clue. Listen up ..." "Can you 
let her go, please? I'll take her place just let her go!" "Oh, 
Allison." "She's only a child!" "I know." "She's six-years-old! Please 
I'm begging you! Let my baby go!" Allison sobbed, but Eagle was 
unmoved. "Listen to this clue and maybe you'll find her yourself. 
Francie isn't dead you see, the answer's very clear. On the outskirts 
of town is the one you hold dear. Point the way to your destination, 
think of a house in restoration." Allison was about to ask him what 
that meant when he hung up. She told Connor the clue and he wrote it 
down. He began drawing a map of the outskirts of town, while Allie 
sobbed. 

Francie drew a crude picture of Eagle's house, she knew where the exits
were. She had snuck out of the closet the night before and looked for 
the front door. But because she tried to escape, Eagle had locked her 
in the closet again. She was hungry and wanted her Mommy and Daddy. 
Tears began to fall as she pounded her tiny hands against the closet 
door. "Mr. Eagle let me out! I want to go home!" but she heard nothing. 
Not even footsteps. She sat for an hour, before she finally heard the 
door open. She was sitting in the corner farthest from the door crying 
softly. "Francie, I've been a bad man. I want to take you home." "No 
you're evil!" she shouted backing away from him. "No, honey. Your 
Mommy's right outside." "She is?" "Yes, deary. Why don't you come out 
and look for yourself." Francie timidly stepped out of the closet, her 
heart filling with joy and anticipation at seeing her Mommy again. 
"Where is she?" she asked softly. "She's not here." "But you told me 
..." "I know what I told you. Close your eyes!" he said producing a 
gun. "Wha ... what are you doing?" "Close your eyes!" Francie squinted 
as a bullet discharged from the gun. 

Allie and Connor worked for hours trying to figure out the clue.
Exhaustion took over Allie's body, but she pushed on. She was fighting 
fatigue and pneumonia all in an attempt to get her daughter back from 
the clutches of a madman. "What could this mean?" she asked with a 
yawn. "I think it means you need to get some rest." Connor said looking 
at her tired eyes and pale face. "Not that the clue! What the hell kind 
of  a clue is that? Houses in restoration. He did say she wasn't dead." 
"I told you he wouldn't kill her." "How did you know? I mean ... I kind 
of knew because I'm Francie's mother and I'd know. But how did you 
know?" "Just work as a detective. Allie, I'm not a detective on this 
case, I'm a father. I don't think like a detective." "Did you get his 
location?" "No, he's using a disposable cell phone he could be 
anywhere." "Damn!" she exclaimed looking at the clue again. "Why don't 
we check all the houses in restoration?" "I'll do it and call you if I 
find anything." "But ..." "Allie, you need to rest, honey. You're very 
sick. I promise I'll call you if I find anything." "Why did you lie to 
me?" "What? I never did! When?" "You lied to me about finding Francie's 
shoe in the river. I remember you telling me that they didn't find 
anything and then I remember finding out from that policeman that you 
did find a shoe that is Francie's size. Why did you do it, Connor? I 
thought we could trust each other." She looked so vulnerable and hurt 
he wanted to take her in his arms and hold her. But he knew he had to 
answer for his actions. He held her hand, feeling her skin brush 
against his as he explained. "I didn't want to lie to you, Allie. But I 
knew if I told you the truth you'd go into the river with your hospital 
gown on to search. I didn't want you to get sick." "Oh, well, I guess 
that makes sense. You don't have any cops staking him out do you?" "No, 
sweetness. We're just trying to get a tap on his location, and then I 
will go there and rescue her." "I'm coming if you find her." "It's a 
deal. I'll call you if I find anything. Get some rest." He said kissing 
her lightly. She kissed him hard on the mouth and watched as he left. 
Allison laid In bed just thinking when there was a knock at the door. 
She didn't look in the general direction thinking it was a nurse 
checking her temperature. "Allison? Are you awake?" Lynn asked sinking 
into the chair Connor had just vacated. "Lynn! How did you get in 
here?" it was only 9 in the morning, and visiting hours didn't start 
until 12. "I persuaded the nurse to let me see you. Connor called and 
told me that you were delirious. Are you okay?" "I'm better now. 
They're giving me some sort of medicine Ciprofloxacin I think to try 
and stop the pneumonia. I don't remember being delirious. But Connor 
said I gave him quite a scare." "You gave us all a scare. Thelma and 
Clint were up all night with worry. I was so worried, Allison. I had to 
see you. Where's Connor?" "Eagle called and gave us another clue. He 
said that she's alive! After they found her shoe in the river I ..." 
she couldn't go on. She choked back a sob and looked at Lynn again. Her 
blue eyes mirrored the concern that Allie's showed. Lynn patted her 
hand and glanced at her again. "What's the clue?" "Something like 
Francie's not dead you see, this is very clear. On the outskirts of 
town is the one you hold dear. Point the way to your destination, think 
of a house in restoration." "What does that mean?" "I have no idea. 
Connor's out looking at houses in need of restoration. Wait a minute! 
The outskirts of town is where Jack held me!" "You don't think ..." "I 
don't know. Can you get me the number to the prison?" "Which one is he 
in?" "Thatcherhouse." It was one of the most secure prisons in the 
country. Lynn got the number from information and dialed. Allison was 
greeted by a brisk voice. "Good morning, Thatcherhouse. Officer Dano 
speaking." "Good morning, my name's Allison Shure. Could you tell me 
the status of a prisoner?" "What do you mean?" "My father's in there 
for murder, I'd like to make sure he didn't escape." "Are you law 
enforcement?" "No, I'm not. Just an average citizen." "I'm sorry, Ms. 
Shure. Even with law enforcement, you'd have to supply us written 
documentation." "Mr. Dano, my daughter has been kidnapped, I just want 
to make sure my father is still behind bars." Dano thought back, his 
little girl had been kidnapped nearly a decade earlier. "Okay, what's 
his name?" "Jack Shure." "Hold on one moment." Dano put down the 
receiver and walked to the stockade. He retrieved Jack and brought him 
to the phone. As he did, Dano thought of his little girl, he had been 
lucky enough to be reunited with her. But the man who abducted her 
should've been in prison. Allison listened as the phone was being 
picked up. "Hi, Allison. What do I owe this pleasure?" she froze when 
she heard his voice. "Uh ... I ... I just wanted to make sure you were 
there." "You put me here, where else would I be?" "Thanks." "Don't rush 
off so fast, talk to your old man. How's Clinton?" "You mean Connor?" 
"Yeah that's it. Keystone, how is he?" "He's fine, Jack. How's prison 
life?" "Calling your old man by his first name. That ain't good." "Shut 
up! You should be ashamed of what you did." "Let's not rehash old 
history. So, why did you really call?" "I'm not telling you." "Come on, 
sweetheart. There has to be a reason." Allison was exasperated and 
wanted to hang up on him. "She called because her daughter's missing." 
Dano shouted. "I got a grandchild? Why didn't you tell me? I could plan 
a break and she could see her old grandpa." "She's never seeing you! 
You're not getting within a mile of her!" "So hostile!" "I found out 
what I wanted. I have to go." "Tell Keystone and my granddaughter I 
said hi." "Okay." She slammed down the phone before he could get 
another word in. "What happened?" Lynn asked as Allison's eyes burned 
like fire. "Dano the officer I was speaking to told him about Francie." 
"Oh no!" "Well, at least I know he didn't kidnap her. But I can't help 
think that this clue is important somehow. Especially the word point." 
"What do you mean?" "Well, how man houses are there in need of 
restoration on the outskirts of town?" Lynn thought and shook her head. 
"But point is important. Maybe it's like Fire Point or something with 
Point in the name." "Like what?" "The only point I know is Restless 
Point." "I don't even know where that is." Lynn said trying to picture 
it. "You know where Old Mill Road ends?" "Yeah." "Well, if you go for 
about a mile and a half, you'll come to Restless Point." Allison 
grabbed the phone and dialed as quickly as she could. 

He had searched all the houses in need of restoration on the outskirts
of town, and came up with nothing. He was dismayed when his cell rang. 
"Connor Cassidy." "Connor, it's me. Did you check Restless Point yet?" 
"No, Allie why?" "Because I think that it's important. Point is a very 
important word in the clue." "Okay, I'll check it out and I'll call 
you." "I love you." "I love you too, Allie." He listened as she broke 
the connection, he walked slowly to his car and got in. 

When he arrived, Connor saw one lone house sitting on a bluff
overlooking nothing. He knocked on the door, nothing. He rapt again, 
nothing. Connor drew his gun and a flashlight and entered the house. 
Inside he found the place dark and damp, but he searched every room 
just the same. The house was all wood, with beautiful craftsmanship 
Connor searched the kitchen, living room, and walked into the bathroom. 
On the vanity, he found a hairbrush, and saw drops of blood on the 
handle. He shivered thinking it was Francie's. Underneath the brush, he 
found another note. It read: 

Just out of reach the thing you desire, Think of a passion that burns
like fire, Out of your clutches out of your grasp, Your daughter is 
mine at last. 

Connor shivered as he read the note. On the bottom were the words "Two
Weeks" and an hourglass   with the sand was almost gone. Connor put the 
note and hairbrush into an evidence container and headed back to town. 
He dropped the things at the lab and then headed to the hospital. Allie 
was waiting anxiously for him to return. "What did you find?" "I found 
one thing a hairbrush and a note." "Is it Francie's hair?" "Well, we 
don't know that yet, sweetheart. I'm having it analyzed at the lab. But 
I brought you a copy." Allie read it and gasped. "What does that mean?" 
"I don't know." "Did you find anything else?" "No, honey." "I called 
the prison Thatcherhouse just to make sure Jack was in there." "Is he?" 
"Yes, and the officer who answered the phone told him about Francie. 
They said they don't let you know over the phone, unless your law 
enforcement, but when I explained that Francie was kidnapped, he 
relented." "What did Jack say?" "He wants to plan a break so he can 
meet Francie." "Don't worry, he'll never make it." "Lynn was here for a 
while. She just left a little while ago." "Oh, that's nice that you had 
company." "I love her so much, Connor." "She's a good friend." Connor 
said sinking into the chair beside her bed. He read the note again and 
tried to figure it out. "Hmm, just out of reach, does that mean he's 
not in this town anymore?" Allie asked looking at the note again. "I 
don't know." "What do you think, Connor? You're the detective." "I 
don't know, sweetness. I have no idea how to interpret that. It could 
mean that the place is an hour's drive from here." "Where did you get 
that from?" Allison asked incredulously looking at him as if he had 
lost his mind. "The hourglass." Allison stared at it a bit before 
answering. "Oh, I hadn't thought of that. I wonder if two weeks is 
significant." "How do you mean?" Connor said trying to follow her 
logic. "Well, if you're right and the hourglass means he's an hour from 
here, there are 14 days in two weeks. Maybe he's 14 hours away." "Hmm, 
that's interesting, but what's 14 hours from here?" Connor asked trying 
to think if he knew anything that would attract him there. "The next 
county. I have no idea." Allie said rubbing her eyes. "Hmm," Connor sat 
in concentration his head bent over the note. Several minutes passed, 
Allie was no closer to figuring out the clue either. After a while, 
Connor looked up. "Have you figured it out yet?" "No, not yet." She 
said sleepily, the fatigue was worse than ever, which Beverly 
attributed to the pneumonia. "I think we should call it a night, 
Allie." They had worked on the clue since dinner, and it was now 
nearing 11:30. "Maybe you're right. I can't even think straight 
anymore." "You need to rest, Allison." "I don't know how I would get 
through this without you, my love." She said patting his hand. "You'll 
always have me." He said kissing her lightly. "I love you, Connor." "I 
love you, Connor." She said planting a passionate kiss on his cheek. 
Within minutes, they were both asleep. 

Hours later, Beverly entered quietly to check on Allison. She advanced
towards her bed and placed her hand gently on Allie's forehead. Her 
fever was coming down, she definitely felt cooler, Allie opened her 
eyes and looked at Beverly sleepily. "Go back to sleep, Allison. I'm 
just checking your temperature." Beverly whispered with a smile. "Is 
Connor all right?" "Everything's fine, I didn't meant to wake you. Your 
fever's coming down, you feel cooler." "Do you want to take my 
temperature?" "Okay, now that you're awake." Beverly said inserting the 
thermometer under Allison's tongue. A few seconds later, Beverly read 
it as it registered 102. "What is it?" Allison inquired looking at 
Beverly with concern. Her blue eyes looked glassy, and Beverly knew the 
pneumonia and the fever still had a pretty good hold on her. "It's 102. 
Your fever's coming down. I'll let you rest. I'll be back to check 
later." She watched as Beverly left, Allison closed her eyes and tried 
to sleep. She had been up several times, just watching the clock, she 
thought it was the Ciprofloxacin that was treating her pneumonia that 
caused her bouts of insomnia. But she couldn't be sure. 

Connor woke several hours later, he glanced at Allie who was still
asleep. Bright sunlight had awakened Connor and he stood and quietly 
walked to the window to close the curtain. It rustled harshly, rousing 
Allie from sleep. "Connor?" she said sleepily opening her eyes to look 
at him. "Go back to sleep, Allie. I was just closing the curtain. The 
sun's too bright." "I can't sleep, Connor. I think about her all the 
time. I want to find her!" "We will, sweetness. We'll figure out this 
clue." "Beverly came to check on me before. My fever's gone down." 
"That's good, what is it now?" "102." "That's great. Are you feeling 
any better?"" I'm not as hot, and my chest doesn't hurt as much. I 
guess I'll have to stay here a few more days." "When Amanda says you're 
ready you can come home." She smiled at him thinking of home. "It's 
going to be so empty without her, my love." She said somberly. "We'll 
find her, sweetheart. Don't worry." 

They worked on the clue for the rest of the day, and for several days
afterward. Eagle had not phoned, and Allison was growing concerned, she 
could the worry lines in Connor's face, but he wouldn't admit to her 
that he was worried. Allie stared at her surroundings, wishing she was 
anyplace but here. Amanda came in and took her temperature again. Her 
soft eyes conveyed gentleness even before she spoke. "How are you 
feeling, Allison?" "Much better. Can I go home now?" "Not yet. We'd 
like to keep you one more day." "I can't, Amanda. I have to go find 
Francie." Amanda sighed exasperated. "I'll sign myself out." Allison 
said defiantly. "Oh, all right! I'll write you a prescription for 
Ciprofloxacin. Tell me, have you been sleeping? You look tired." "No, I 
can't stay asleep, I can fall asleep. But I wind up waking an hour 
later." "Are you able to fall back to sleep after this happens?" 
"Sometimes, but it depends."" In rare cases, Ciprofloxacin can have 
this affect on people. You'll just have to take it for a few more 
days." Amanda said with a smile. 

A few hours later, Allie was back at home. All she could do was pace and
visit Francie's room. Connor agonized while watching her. Thelma, Clint 
and Lynn dropped by with food and they talked for a while. It kept 
Allie's mind off Francie for the time being. They still hadn't figured 
out the clue. Two days later, they were no closer to figuring it out. 
Allie appeared in the kitchen doorway with red eyes and a pot of 
coffee. She hadn't slept well in days, and she looked absolutely 
dreadful. She set the pot on the table and poured Connor a cup. Then 
she poured herself one. It was nearly 4 AM, and Connor now paced as 
Allie did. He wandered between the dining room window and Allie's side. 
"What do you see?" Allie asked hopefully. "Nothing, darling. Aren't you 
even going to try to sleep?" he asked kissing her delicately. She 
kissed him tenderly on the mouth, letting her lips linger for just a 
moment before she reluctantly pulled away. "No, Connor. I can't, this 
damn medicine isn't helping. You haven't gotten much sleep either." "I 
know, but ..." he trailed off and took a sip of his coffee. "What's he 
trying to tell us?" Connor asked in frustration. "Passion burning like 
fire is not a clue! And the out of your clutches part makes me want to 
throttle him! Just out of reach the thing you desire. Think of a 
passion that burns like fire. Out of your clutches, out of your grasp. 
Your daughter is mine at last." "Hmm, I can't help thinking that 
passion is important." Allie said wearily. They sat up until 6 but were 
no closer. Finally, just before 7 Allie thought she knew what the clue 
was. Connor had dozed off and she was looking at the clue muttering to 
herself. "Connor! I think I got it!" Connor woke startled and stared at 
her. "Got what?" "The clue!" "What is it?" "I think he's talking about 
Passionfire Grove." "Where's that?" "I don't know. I'm going to look it 
up." Allie said going to the desk to find her map. She pulled out a map 
of Fallwood and scanned it. Connor poured the last of the coffee from 
the pot into his cup and sipped slowly. "Remember you said the two 
weeks may be significant?" "Yeah." "Well, guess what? Acording to this 
map, Passionfire Grove is 14 hours from here." "I'll drive." Connor 
said downing the last of his coffee and grabbing his car keys. 

Half an hour later, they were packed and ready to go. They had no idea
what they would find, and Connor dreaded the thought as he piloted the 
car on to the highway. After 6 hours of driving, he was exhausted. 
Allie could see it in his face and offered to take over as they 
listened to tunes on the radio. "Let me take over for you." "No, I'm 
fine." He insisted rolling down his window. He was falling asleep, and 
thought the air would do him good. "It's frigid out there. I'll drive. 
You just rest." When they came to a rest stop, Connor pulled off the 
road, and he and Allie traded places. 

She drove for about an hour, passing deserted houses, and old country
stores. Passionfire Grove was a forgotten section of  Free River the 
next county over. She gazed at the scenery ahead, which wasn't much to 
look at. Connor had fallen asleep beside her, so Allie turned on the 
radio softly. Sheryl Crow's latest song was playing and Allie tried to 
sing along softly as the car bumped along the old road. But lack of 
sleep was catching up with her, she hadn't had a full night's sleep in 
nearly a week, and she began to get drowsy. She rolled down her window, 
but it did no good. Within minutes she was asleep behind the wheel. 
Connor felt the car jerk forward and woke with a start. "Allie?" he 
mumbled not opening his eyes to look at her. When she didn't answer, he 
said her name again. "Allie, what are  you doing?" he opened his eyes 
and glanced at her. Horrified, he discovered she had fallen asleep at 
the wheel. "Allison!" he screamed shaking her awake. "Oh my God!" she 
said terrified. "Stop! Can't you see we're going off the road?" "I 
can't stop!" she tried frantically pressing the brakes as hard as she 
could to get the car to stop, but it didn't. With every passing moment, 
they were gaining speed, and heading towards the embankment. "Allie 
stop!" "I can't stop, Connor!" she screamed as the car plunged down the 
embankment. Shards of glass and metal went flying as the car came to 
rest at the bottom of a treeless expanse of land. 


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