CHAPTER 1

I made my way to the college dorm where I had been living while finishing a degree. As I walked across the quad my thoughts went back to the last couple years of my life. Everything had changed so much. Ned and I had broken up. I hadn't seen Joe and Frank in a long time. And my dad and I weren't on the best terms. Not to mention the police weren't to enthused with me still playing amateur detective. It almost seemed like my life was in a downward spiral for the exception of the fact my college life was going great and of course my job, the job that my father frank and Ned didn't know about. The job that would have made them worried sick about me. I was of course talking about my assistance to the government in helping them crack down on criminals. Of course it wasn't easy and my social and personal life was paying for it.

"Hey Nancy." A stranger said to me as I passed.

I raised my hand in answer and continued along. When I arrived at my dorm I put my keys in and made my way up to the third floor. I opened my door and collapsed on the bed exhausted. Alone with my consulting duties I still had to go to college which was tiring in of itself. As I sat up I noticed the light blinking and got up to press the flickering red button, my forefinger hovering just above it. Thoughts were tearing at my mind as to who it could be and who I wanted it to be.

To put it simply I was alone in the world and even Bess and George weren't there for me. I didn't blame them I had blown them of when I took the job. They couldn't exactly get involved and I didn't want them involved either. I wasn't just handling everyday criminals I was handling serial killers and rapists and those were the nice guys.

Getting up the nerve I pressed the button and what I heard next took the breath from out of me.

"Hello, Nancy, it's me. I know your wondering why I am calling. I…well, look I understand that you work for the FBI as well and I well I just wanted to say that I am in town and that I have been doing consultant work for them as well. Including the case you are working on. Umm I was wondering if maybe you woul…"

"End of message" the tape recorder said interrupting the voice, a voice of my past. "second message."

"Hi Nancy it's me again, well obviously look this isn't going the way I expected it to go. I'm sure you think I am a total idiot. I was just wondering if you wanted to get together for lunch or dinner to discuss the case. I could really use your imput, well I'll hopefully talk to you later. Bye Nan. Oh and my number is 723-342-3672"

"End of final message"

I could only stare at the machine until I finally came to my senses to call him back. After making reservations I went to do what I always did when I was shaken. Clean. After my room was spotless I took a shower and got ready to meet him. I got into my blue convertible and drove to the designated restaurant. I steadied myself and walked into the building looking around. Then my eyes stopped as they rested on a person I knew all to well. A person that like every man in my life was very protective, someone who protected me at all costs regardless of my reassurances I would be all right. Someone who I know found out was working on the serial murder case, one that definitely involved danger.

That person was Frank Hardy and he was only the first one to show up unexpectedly in my life.

reveiws and comments please

love kat