SECRETS OF THE PAST
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Franklin was excited that had
finally gotten the contact. He knew they were the ones they were looking for. He
couldn't wait to tell his father the good news, because after they nabbed them,
they would be able to go home and be alone with their wives and live happily
ever after.
After shooting a few hoops, he
sat down and patted his head with a towel. A girl had been staring at him and
watching him play. He smiled at her from afar. She smiled back and waved.
He didn't want to be rude, so he
figured he would at least get to know some people around the neighborhood.
"Hello. I'm Frank."
"Abby. Do you play a
lot?" She smiled at him.
"Sometimes. Back home I play
on a basketball team and a football team." He was proud to be on those
teams.
"Wow. There's not much to do
here, so I often just sit here and watch guys play. You’re the first whose ever
acknowledged me." Abby saw him as an older brother type.
"Well, I don't like to be
rude to my admirers." He smiled and took a seat with her.
"So, how long are you here
for?" Abby asked.
"A while." Franklin had
no idea how long they would actually be there.
"You got family here?"
Abby was full of questions.
"Nah. Just vacation with a
few friends." It was sad. He couldn't tell her that he was with his
family.
"Aw…I lived here most of my
life. My sister Mina works at this hotel." She pointed to the building
across from them.
"You’re Mina's sister?"
Franklin was surprised.
"Yeah. You know her?"
Abby asked.
"She's my guide while I am
here," Franklin told her. He saw no harm in telling her that.
"Oh. What do you need a
guide for?" She was curious about him now.
"I own my own business and I
need to find some investors." Franklin took the towel off his neck and
drank from his water bottle.
"How old are you?" Abby
asked.
"I'm eighteen. Why? How old
are you?" Franklin looked at her. She looked no older than fifteen.
"You’re eighteen? I thought
you'd be older." She didn't mention her age to him.
"Abagnale men always do look
older." He smiled.
"I'm only sixteen. I don't
have any brothers, only my sister and I. Our parents are deceased." Abby
lived a quiet life with her sister Mina. She hardly had any friends at all.
"Sorry to hear that,"
Frank said.
"It's all right. My sister
takes very good care of me." Mina had always been good to her.
"That's good. Would you like
to walk to the hotel with me?" he asked, wanting some company.
"Sure." She smiled and
got up.
*****
In another section of town, the
man who had offered Frank a job was talking to his boss, Manuel Ortega.
"We found our new investor for our little project."
"Who?" Manuel asked.
"Frank Abagnale," his
servant said.
"Frank Abagnale? Wasn't he
the one who got away with a lot of money in one night?" Manuel Ortega was
surprised.
"Sure is. Anyway, he's here
on vacation, trying to start a little business here. He gave us his card."
His servant pushed the card forward on his desk.
"Good. We shall meet
tomorrow and have a little meeting." Manuel smiled.
"Yes," his servant
said, and walked away.
"Thank you," Manuel
said, smiling.
He and Mr. Abagnale had a lot to
discuss. Inside his safe were the templates that they had stolen a few weeks
before. Not only could they make their own money, but they would have enough
cash to last them a lifetime.
*****
Frank smiled at Abby. He had
never had a little sister. She was everything he imagined a little sister would
be. She even laughed at his stupid jokes.
"Thanks so much, Abby, for
keeping me company," he said, stepping out of the elevator.
"No problem, Frank. I'll
catch you around sometime," Abby said, walking back into the elevator.
"Yeah. I would like
that." He held the door open and then let it go, saying good-bye to her.
Frank opened the door to his
suite when Abby's elevator had gone down. It seemed quiet now. He wondered if
his mom was still in his father's room. He didn't want to disturb them, so he
left them alone and went into his room. He got on the phone and dialed a
number, Leah's number.
"Hello," Leah answered.
"Leah?" He was glad to
hear her voice.
"Frank?" She was happy
to hear his voice.
"Yeah. It's me. How are
you?" He loved the sound of her voice. It eased his mind.
"I'm good. Graduation was a
blast, but I stayed home. It wasn't any fun without you." She had missed
him terribly that day.
"Yeah. It has been a drag
here, too. I miss you." He wished at that moment that he could take her
into his arms and kiss her.
"I miss you, too. Oh, Frank,
we have so much to talk about," she said, sitting on her bed.
"I know. I wish I were there
with you." He wished this ordeal was over.
"Me, too." She was glad
that he had finally called her. She was going insane, not hearing from him
except for his letters.
"So, do you have any news
for me?" he asked.
"News?" Leah didn't
understand.
"Are you pregnant?" he
asked again.
"I sent the results to you.
You'll see." She smiled.
"Aw…can't you tell me?"
He wanted to know so he could have something to keep his mind occupied.
"No. That would ruin the
mystery of it." Leah didn't want to spoil his surprise.
"Aw…come on, Leah. I need
something to keep my mind focused." He wished she would throw him a bone.
"All right. I found out
today." She touched her stomach.
"And?" Franklin
anticipated the news.
"You're a daddy," she
said proudly.
"Amazing! You don't know how
much you’ve made me happy just now." He felt happy.
"I have a feeling I could
make you happier if I was there with you." Leah craved his touch.
"I wish you could, but I
don't want my fiancée in any danger, so it's best you stay there," he told
her.
"I hear ya, Franklin. I just
need you so badly." She missed him so dearly, it was painful.
"I know. So do I. Believe
me, it isn't easy being here without you, either." He looked at a picture
he kept of her in his wallet and touched the outline of her face.
Someway, somehow, he was going to
make sure he got home, and fast. This operation was ruining his life. If he
didn't get home soon, he was going to go insane and mess everything up, just so
they could go home.