Hi! I'm back! I have some very good reasons for having missed……. How many months now? Oh it would have been about 7 months I think.

The first of many is that the summer that I was supposed to be getting my other stories finished my cousins were with me for about two months. She only has three kids and a husband. The second is that I started school in August. I have also been working two jobs to get all of the bills caught up. In the process of getting the bills caught up they cut off my internet. I only just got the internet up and running here about a week ago. I'm very sorry that I have taken so long to get this up. I started it about three times trying to find a satisfactory beginning. Now I'll stop talking. Merry Christmas!

This story is dedicated to pitaqueen as a thank you for not completely forgetting me in my long absence. That is one of the best compliments I think I could have gotten in the most recent months. I hope you get to read this as soon as it gets out.

The Agency

By: Avelyn Lauren

Bess and Jenny were on the way back to the office from lunch. "Jenny, you know, I think that we are being followed."

Jenny looked in the mirror. "That's just your imagination." Jenny turned into the next lane watching the car behind them. Sure enough they were being followed.

"We are being followed." Bess said once more.

"Must be one of these lunatics that have been driving the roads lately." Jenny was watching the road fro some kind of exits.

"One of the lunatics? In my experience there sure are a lot of them." Bess countered. Of course she was thinking back to all of the times that she had helped Nancy on her cases.

"You're right. I was referring to the ones that have been on the news lately."

Bess nodded not absolutely sure that she believed her friend. She handled the car too well and kept way too calm.

The car behind them had begun speeding up trying to bump them. All along Jenny had been speeding up. "Hold on Bess!" She ordered as the car went over a five foot wide watery ravine.

Bess wanted to scream but no sound came from while they were in mid air. The car landed with a jolt and a bump. Jenny looked to see a very pale Bess. IN the rear mirror the other car landed in the ravine hood first. Jenny sped off to a busy street while the man climbed out the window of the toppled car.

"Bess would you like some water?" Jenny pulled into the gas station.

"Yes please." Bess answered finally finding her voice. Jenny returned a few minutes later. "Who are you? I know you're not just a secretary because they don't know how to drive like that.

"That's classified."

"So you're either CIA or another unknown agency. Why do I always end up friends with all the spooks?"

"You're one to talk. You have been detecting from the time you were sixteen and just recently started solving cases on your own. I'm sure you're friend Nancy Drew would like that."

Bess growled at her. Nancy was off in Scotland working on a case for someone. Bess didn't even think that Nancy had much of a back up crew this time around. "Too bad that she isn't working with Frank or Joe." She muttered more to herself.

Jenny heard Bess's muttered words clearly but didn't say anything. She wasn't quite sure what Nancy was working on. She did know that Nancy Drew was in Scotland. "I'm sure she's just fine Bess."

Bess glared at her in response. "Listen if you're not busy on your case tonight why don't you come to my house and we can talk or something."

"Sure if nothing comes up I'll be happy to."

That evening she did show up at Bess's. "I smell acetone."

"Good that means your sniffer works perfectly. Come on I'll do yours." Bess grabbed her hand. Jenny wanted to pull away and see if there was something that could be done.

"Don't worry people are friendly in this house. Right now I'm the only one here." Bess laughed as she guided Jenny to the couch. The tub had just been filled with fresh water and there was a clean white towel.

Jenny gave her first real laugh of the day. "I see that you have been waiting for me."

"Well there isn't anyone else here. Nancy has been gone for two months and George has been in the Appalachians climbing. I miss them." Bess whispered the last part.

"They'll be back soon." Jenny understood some of what Bess was talking about. Her brother Matthew had been away for a year working on some case for The Company. Her parents were some of the top agents of the century even though they didn't work in the field usually anymore. Phillip and Jamie worked for the same agency that had once been the start of their jobs. Not only did her other two brothers work there; they ran the place.

"Place your feet in the tub." Bess ordered taking her mind off of the missing friends.

The girls did their nails and were watching a movie. "Hey, Bess, why didn't you go into working for a beauty parlor?"

"I couldn't. I don't think I know how to do just everyday things." Bess answered as the doorbell rang.

Who is that?" Bess wondered out loud.

The sight at her door was not what she wanted to see."

"Bess what is it?"

"It's a ….a …..a"

"It's a bomb. Bess run!"

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Well there it is. I hope you like the chapter. I know it's short but it is a good start. We'll see where this story leads. I'm sorry that I haven't been able to get something up before now. Well read and review. Merry Christmas!