A/N: This is my very, very, very first fanfiction please bear with me. . .. hahaha

Nancy Drew and The Missing Countess

Chapter 1: The Start. . . or End

Nancy Drew was staring at the ceiling of her room. She was pondering on everything that has happened, happened in her incredibly

long 18-year old life. She had solved more than a hundred mysteries or cases, put thugs and criminals in jail, restore missing articles

to their rightful owners, find missing people, and occasionally, restoring friendship. Why she did so, she never knew. It seemed as if

someone missing action in her life wants to control hers by including too many. Then she realized, I don't want to do them anymore.

The next day, she hopped down to breakfast. She hadn't forgotten the thinking episode the previous night. She saw her father, the

most primary reason for her past love of mysteries, reading the paper. She also saw Hannah, or Mrs. Gruen, cooking breakfast. Her

thoughts were interrupted by Hannah.

"Nan, are you alright? You seem out of this world." she asked concernedly

Nancy jolted back. Then she realized that her father and Hannah were staring at her. She had apparently been staring at them

with a blank, impassive expression.

"Nothing, Hannah." she forced a smile and sat down.

Her dad smiled.

"Well, if that's it, I would like to talk to you about this new case Im working on. I want your insight on this matter. I know you would

want to give yours."

Nancy felt an unfamiliar jolt of anger. That was the past, dad. The past where i was such a madwoman to accept and jolt my nose

in things i shouldn't be in. Before she could make up her mind, she unconciously nodded her head and said "Sure"

Her dad frowned.

"Nancy Carolyn Drew, you don't seem so eager as you used to be. You know, its a request, Nancy, not a command. You have all right

to say no."

Nancy thought. . . but then the old detective instinct made her nod

"Okay. Well, a client of mine wants to sue Larkhill Hosptal for malpractice. One of the doctors, Dr. Malfaux, left a bandage in my client's sister during an operation."

Nancy shuddered.

"So, the doctors there, they're really showing their side." he passed a sheaf of papers across the table to Nancy

Nancy read them. The doctor's arguments sounded alright.

"Dad, who's your client?"

"Sephora Patridd, her sister is Olga Schelper."

"Describe them, please."

"You seem eager to take the case. Let me tell you, Ill let you meet them tonight."

Nancy sighed. Again, she was on mystery mode.

The doorbell rang and Nancy opened it to a grinning Bess and George.

"Bess! George!" Nancy embraced them.

"Nan! Ready to go shopping?" Bess asked.

"Oh! Wait a mo'" she ran to the kitchen. "Dad, I'll be with Bess and George shopping. Tell me more of your case later."

Carson Drew nodded half-heartedly.

Nancy, George, and Bess spent a nice time shopping. On the way home, a red-haired woman wearing a brown dress snatched Nancy's

hand bag! Momentarily stymied, Nancy stared at the running figure.

"STOP, THIEF!" she cried at the top of her lungs.

She sped after the woman, hurtling betweeen shoppers. She finally spotted the brown smock of the woman. But much to her chagrin,

she had a cane in her hand and was walking slowly, with a very large hand bag. She roughly held her arm.

"NO!" Bess and George cried

'Shocked', the 'old woman' passed out.

A man pushed his way roughly to the woman. He stared at her.

"You. . . are coming to the police with me, Nancy Drew."