EXPLORING FRAUD AND FRIENDSHIP
Summary: Nancy heads to New York to consult with Hardy Investigators on the ins and outs of claims investigation to help her boss in Chicago prepare to bid on a new contract. This simple information-gathering assignment quickly turns deadly, and Nancy learns fraud and friendship can both be fraught with unseen land mines that can test even a seasoned detective's resolve to remain impartial.
A/N: My very first Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys fanfic . . . well, technically, I've probably been 'writing' ND/HB fanfic for 30+ years, but this is the first one I've ever written down ;). Before they even began exploring a possible relationship in the written series, I was pairing Frank and Nancy. Nothing against Ned, he's just a little boring. Besides, I can't deny an attraction to a man with brains.
I don't own the characters, just like to play with them. I make no money from this.
Oh, and please, don't forget to review!! I love to hear what works and what doesn't, so hit that little button at the end of the chapter and be honest (but please still be nice;). Thanks!
Chapter 1: Planning a Business Trip
Nancy Drew kicked her feet up on the desk, leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes. She had half an hour until the morning briefing with Riley Adams, her boss at Adam's Detective Agency in Chicago, Illinois. After the briefing, she could finally head home and get some sleep after a long night spent working surveillance.
"Snoozin' on the job, Drew?" Riley strode in and smacked her feet off the desk. Nancy grunted as they hit the floor. Her boss leaned in the resulting clear spot and gazed at her impassively. "How'd it go last night?"
She rubbed her hands down her face trying to wake up enough to speak coherently. "Let's see. While the sub slept soundly in a warm, cozy apartment, I huddled in my little subcompact trying to keep from slipping into a hypothermia-induced stupor. In short it was cold, boring and unproductive. Can I go home now?"
Riley's look was thoughtful. "Not sure how much longer I'm willing to put a 24-hour detail on this guy. Despite what his debutant fiancee's father seems to think, the kid appears to be a boy scout."
"I agree. After following Phil around for the last two weeks, I have come to the conclusion that the guy is a freaking saint. I'm not sure I would want to marry anyone that perfect, but there's no accounting for taste." Nancy shifted forward in the chair. "Can I go home, now?"
Riley chuckled. "Actually, I wanted to brief you on one other teensy little job. Then I will let you skip the full briefing and head home to get some shuteye."
Nancy leaned down and dug in her bag. When she sat up, she had a partial bottle of water and two aspirin. "What do you need Riley?"
"We have a potential new client. Hathaway Adjusters is opening a branch office in Chicago, and is looking for someone local to do their claims investigations here. It's a new area for our firm, so I asked who they retain out of New York, hoping to get some insider info. Apparently, they work with Hardy Investigators, and since I know you have an in with the Hardys . . ."
". . . you want me to pump them for info."
"I was kind of hoping you'd talk to them and find out what they generally get involved in, how they structured their contract with Hathaway Adjusters and anything else that might be pertinent. This is the first claims investigation contract we've ever gone after, and I'm a little out of my element."
Nancy shrugged. "I'm sure they'd be willing to help. I know Joe's working with the firm now as a private investigator. I could call."
Riley's brows furrowed. "I thought Fenton Hardy had two boys? Did only one of them enter the business?"
"I think they'll both enter the business eventually. Joe graduated with his undergrad in criminal justice and went straight into the firm. Frank, on the other hand was offered a research assistantship at George Washington University in DC after his undergrad. He's finishing up his Master's in High Technology Crime Investigation there. He only has a couple semesters left to go."
"GWU, huh? He must be pretty good."
She nodded. "Definitely. Frank is one of the best investigators I've ever worked with, and that was before he went through any formal training." Nancy smiled thinking of the elder Hardy. She liked and admired Joe, too, but Frank challenged her intellect in a way that she found invigorating.
She gave herself a mental head slap when she realized that Riley was staring at her, his eyebrows raised in blatant curiosity. She cleared her throat. "Anyway, Frank still plans to join the firm after he graduates. Right now, though, he's only there on school breaks."
"Sounds like you're carrying a torch for this Frank character. I don't need to worry about you jumping ship and joining Hardy Investigators, do I?" Riley's lips were pressed into a thin line, but his eyes were crinkled in amusement.
Nancy could feel the telltale heat in her cheeks. She had enjoyed nearly a month of tease-free Riley, so she was caught off-guard. She carefully schooled her features into a bland expression before responding, "Yeah, maybe I can convince them to open a branch office in Chicago."
Riley's expressive mouth turned up in a wide smile that was now openly teasing. "Way to tiptoe around the whole 'torch' subject. I find myself wondering, Drew. Just what are you avoiding?"
She had worked for Riley for nearly two years now, and she still had trouble dealing with his persistent ribbing. How she had avoided the topic of Frank Hardy up to this point was a mystery. Then she grimaced, recalling that up until a month ago, Ned had been the topic of Riley's jibes, usually centering around when she was going to let go of her stubborn independence and marry the poor, doting guy. After she and Ned had broken up, Riley had been unusually kind to her. Apparently his self-imposed moratorium on teasing her had been lifted.
She decided to try ignoring it. Sometimes Riley would take the hint. Sometimes. "I'm going home to get some sleep. I'll give Joe a call this afternoon."
"Definitely avoiding."
Nancy crossed her arms. "Just because I choose not to rise to your bait, doesn't mean I'm avoiding. For your information, Frank is just a friend."
"Just a friend, huh?"
"Just a friend."
Nancy set her mouth in a stubborn line and stared Riley down. Like most people, he couldn't seem understand why she wasn't 'settling down.' Good girls, these days, were encouraged to get an education, even start a career, but they were still expected to find a man, get married and have kids. The expectation that she was going to marry Ned and promptly get pregnant seemed to be an undercurrent to every conversation she had with her father, her friends, and her boss. It had almost been a relief when the relationship had ended so decisively last month.
After she and Ned broke up, she found herself enjoying the independence she had gained. After spending years tied down to one guy, she really wasn't interested in pursuing a serious relationship, right now. In fact, she had promised herself that she would take some time to be truly autonomous for awhile. Maybe even a long while. That included not getting hung up on Frank Hardy, no matter how attractive she might find him.
Riley considered her through narrowed eyes for several seconds before slapping his hands on his knees and standing up. "Well, I was going to say that I thought this assignment warranted at least a short trip to New York, but only if you promise to plead my case convincingly, and not abandon me for the Hardys."
Nancy felt herself relax as she realized that Riley was letting the issue drop, at least for now. If she had learned anything about the man over the last couple years, she knew he was tucking her involuntary reaction to Frank Hardy away for future teasing sessions. The topic was far from dead, but at least he was giving her a reprieve.
She chuckled and shook her head. "I'm not going anywhere, Riley."
He gave her a broad grin and a wink. "Sure you are. You're going to New York . . . but only temporarily!"
***
Frank Hardy stopped in the doorway of his brother, Joe's office. The window behind the desk offered a nice view of the shrubs and trees that made up the foundation plantings around the low office building that housed Hardy Investigators. The plants were in the full bloom of late spring in New York, and lent a colorful backdrop to the clutter on the younger Hardy's desk.
Joe shoved aside a stack of files, and looked up at Frank. "So how long you home for, big brother?"
"You're stuck with me until July. I decided to take the first summer session off. I need a vacation before I have to finalize and defend my thesis."
"You're taking vacation? Hang on . . ." Joe shuffled files and papers on his desk and snatched the first writing utensil he came to, a stubby little eraser-less pencil, and then shuffled some more papers until he found his calendar. "I have to mark this red letter day down."
"It's amazing you can find anything to mark with, let alone on, in that mess."
"Unlike some of us, I work for a living."
Frank's retort was cut off by the ringing of Joe's telephone.
"Hello, Hardy Investigators, Joe speaking. How can I help you?"
Frank moved into the office and folded into a worn leather chair that sat in front of Joe's desk. His curiosity was piqued when his brother flashed him a broad, suggestive smile, but he didn't have to wait long to figure out why. "Nancy Drew, how the heck are you? Jeez, it's been way too long, lady!"
Frank sat forward. He was sure his own smile was as wide as Joe's. He and Nancy stayed in contact through email and instant messaging. But between completing semester-end projects and studying and taking finals, he hadn't been in touch with her for several weeks. And he couldn't remember the last time he had seen her. It had definitely been far too long.
"Tell her I said 'hello.'"
Joe waved a dismissive hand at him. "A business trip to New York just to visit little ol' me? I'm flattered, Nan. Of course, my big bro might be a little offended if you ignore him . . . yeah, he's home from school for a month or so."
The mocking smile on Joe's face increased Frank's initial irritation. He knew he would have no peace now. The increasing irritation at his brother did nothing to overshadow the surge of pleasure he felt at the prospect of Nancy coming to town for a visit.
The first unbidden thing to slip through his mind was the selfish hope that Ned Nickerson didn't tag along. That was followed quickly by self-contempt, as he purposely squelched the notion. After all, Nancy was just a friend, and they'd get to see each other if Ned came along of not.
Joe was already hanging up the phone. Frank had been so preoccupied with his own thoughts he had missed the end of the conversation.
Joe smirked at him. "Excited to see the lovely Ms. Drew, big bro?"
Frank couldn't help the smile on his face. "So she is coming to town? Great."
"Man, you got it bad, Frank."
He tried for a nonchalant shrug. "I don't know what you're talking about. I was just thinking that I haven't talked to her for awhile. It'll be nice to catch up."
"Yeah, catch up. I knew that had to be what you were thinking."
"Smooth, Joe."
"Callie's out of the picture, after all," Joe prodded.
"But Ned isn't. Just drop it, baby brother."
"How 'bout I just let it dangle for awhile?"
Frank stood up. "It occurs to me that I haven't told you, lately, just what a huge pain in the ass you can be."
"But I'm your huge pain in the ass, Frank. You know you love me."
"Yeah, like I'd love Eddie Haskell if he was my brother."
Joe winced. "Ouch."
***
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