I hope you like this chapter! Sorry for the late update. I really hope it's okay. Let me know if you liked it! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Nancy Drew, Bess Marvin, or the Hardy Boys

Nancy's POV

The next morning, I was released. Which is wonderful because I can finally start on this case. I stood in the lobby, waiting for Joe and Bess. Bess left me a blue patterned romper for when I got released. Along with sandals and my makeup bag of course. Bess wouldn't have me leave the hospital in a mess.

Frank arrived carrying food. "Here Nancy, I got you some coffee and a muffin from the cafeteria." He smiled softly at me.

"Thanks." I said, not meeting his eyes as I grabbed the food and drink.

I saw him nod before putting his hands in his shorts. I sneaked a peek at Frank, he looked concerned and thoughtful. His eyebrows were furrowed while he stared into space. His white shirt was tight on him, showing his muscles. He wore bright red shorts, showing off his tan legs.

I smiled as I thought of how grateful I was that he didn't mention what happened last night. I don't won't him to be worried about me when we have this case.

"You look great by the way." Frank broke the silence with a compliment. He shyly looked away for a moment after saying it.

I grinned while blushing slightly. "Thanks, you don't look too bad either Hardy."

Frank grinned widely, blushing himself. "Thanks."

We were both quiet in the noisy and busy hospital. I looked around at the crying family members receiving bad news. And the nurses scurrying down the extremely white halls quickly.

"Nan, what's wrong?" Frank asked seriously all of sudden.

I looked up sharply at him. "Nothing, I'm fine." I'm definitely not going to worry him further by telling him.

Frank sighed and rubbed his forehead warily. "Please tell me." Frank murmured so quietly I could barely hear him.

I acted like I didn't hear him, I just look away from his prying eyes. Luckily, Bess and Joe arrived before Frank could pry more. Bess looked ecstatic to see me. Joe had a smirk on his face when he saw us. Get ready for even more teasing.

"Nan, how are you feeling?" Bess asked with a worried tone.

"Good." I smiled slowly.

Joe suddenly gave Frank a slow smirk. "Well, hope you guys had a peaceful night rest."

Frank just rolled his eyes. Bess tried to not laugh. I looked down at my feet, it wasn't peaceful at all. I eventually stopped crying since Frank was there with me. I've never been like this, I've never cried this much, it's all because of him.

"Let's get started on the case, okay guys?" Frank snapped with a hint of anger in his voice. He's angry with me for not telling him what's wrong. I flinched at the realization.

Joe looked taken aback at Frank's harsh voice. "Okay. Geez, it's just teasing."

Joe rushed ahead of me and jumped into the backseat of the red convertible. Bess climbed in beside Joe. Their shoulders were pressed together from the small space back there. Of course, Joe and Bess made me sit up front. I reluctantly sat in the passenger seat as Frank looked at me with a sharp gaze. When I finally met his eyes, he looked away.

Frank started the engine and head through the city. Palm trees wheezed by in a blurry motion. The sun shone brightly upon the tourist. We heard music blasting from every car we past. Seagulls chirp happily and the sea breeze cast a salty smell.

"Are we going to see Shawn Johnson?" Bess asked as we stopped at the stop light.

"Yeah, he also works at the police station. He planned on retiring. But when June went missing, he put his retirement on halt till he gets her back. Shawn was just too devastated." Joe explained.

"We didn't get much information on the phone from Shawn. But we do know when she went missing, which was three days ago." Frank said as we continued down the road.

"When did the women start disappearing? When did it first started?" I asked curiously as we near the police stations.

"Three months. The pranks started a couple weeks before the missing cases started happening." Frank said grimly as we pulled into the Miami Police Department.

We all got out quickly, excited to find out more information. The clear automatic doors slid open with a whoosh. I glanced around the lobby, police officers were talking in their walkies talkies. Others type furiously on the keyboards or made phone calls. People sat outside of the sheriff's office, waiting for their appointment. The secretary frowned as she talked into the land line.

Frank confidently walked forward to the front desk. "Excuse me." He said to the secretary.

She glared at Frank. "Go away, I'm busy."

"It's important miss." I said from behind Frank.

"Another silly teenager prank again? I don't think so, go away now." She sneered before continuing her conversation.

I sighed as I walked away to sit in a chair in the waiting room. Frank and Bess followed. They both sat on opposite sides of me. But Joe didn't give up on her.

Joe kept hitting the bell on the counter. Every time it dinged, the secretary would pursed her lips. Finally, the secretary had enough of Joe.

She slammed down the receiver. "What!" She exclaimed angrily, her brown eyes flashed. I couldn't help but to laugh at the scene.

"Well that's one way of doing it." Frank commented.

Joe smiled flirtatiously. "We need Sheriff Johnson, it's very important. It's about his-"

Before he could finish, a man in his late forties walked into the lobby. "What is this all about?"

"These little pranksters are annoying me." She said as she crossed her arms. We all got up upon seeing the sheriff and stood behind Joe.

The sheriff took a close look at Joe then glanced over at us."Why you guys are the Hardy Boys."

"Yes sir." Joe saluted humorously.

"Also here is Nancy Drew, an amazing detective." Frank pointed to me.

I shook hands with the sheriff. He smiled at me while shaking my hand with a firm grip. Sheriff Johnson didn't look his age. He has a little bit of gray hairs beside his temples. But his black hair is the majority. Wrinkle lines shone on his forehead from the stressful job.

"And Bess Marvin, a friend of ours." Joe nodded towards Bess with a smirk. Bess also shook hands with the Sheriff.

"Abby, I disapprove your attitude to these amazing detectives. They offered to help find my daughter along with the others." The sheriff told the secretary sternly.

Abby looked embarrassed. "Sorry sir."

The sheriff nodded to Abby before turning towards us."Follow me, I want this case closed quickly and my daughter back."

The people outside of his office didn't looked pleased to see us go in before them. The sheriff pushed all the littered files and paperwork aside. Some papers slowly drifted to the floor from the push.

"Excuse the mess, I've been busy looking for clues of the whereabouts of my daughter." The sheriff explained. "Please take a seat everyone."

Frank nodded in understanding, we all sat in the comfy chairs. When you sit down in the chair you would sink down along with the cushion. The chairs provided a comfortable feeling.

"When did she go missing?" I asked curiously.

"Last week, she's been the most recent case. Luckily, none of the missing women showed up dead." The sheriff sighed with relief.

"Why don't they kill them?" Joe asked.

We all turned sharply to Joe, who shrugged in amusement in response. "What? It's reasonable to ask that. What are they doing with them if they're not killing them?"

"It is odd. All those missing women for what?" Frank wondered.

The sheriff nodded. "I've been thinking the same thing."

"Are we sure all the missing cases are by the same person or group. I mean I don't think someone could pull this off on their own." Bess reasoned.

"Yes, the cases linked up. This is very odd, but we have been finding a black widow in a delivery to their house right after they've been kidnapped." The sheriff frowned as he rubbed his stubble.

"Black widow? That's strange, why a black widow?" I asked.

The sheriff shrugged. "Could be their signature."

Frank frowned in thought. "When and where did you notice she was gone."

"That morning when she did went missing and her house. She just disappeared that day, I woke up that day. I call her every morning, after all she lives just down the street." The sheriff started.

Frank nodded, urging him to continue. "I went to her house, the place was ransacked. I then called everyone she knows with no news."

I suddenly had an idea. "Can we have the missing case files to examine thoroughly?"

"Of course. Take whatever you need. This case is causing more panic every week." The sheriff responded worriedly.

Frank's POV

"We still have half of the day left, let's split up guys. One half goes to Miami beach, the other half follow the other missing cases and study the files." I said.

"So, who goes with who? I know I would like to go with Bess." Joe smirked at Bess. Which caused Bess to roll her eyes in amusement.

"Yeah. I'm fine with that." Bess grinned happily.

"We'll take the files. Although I would love to see Bess in a bikini again, I'm just too curious about those cases." Joe mused teasingly.

"Okay, looks like Nancy and me have the boring one." I commented.

"Not really brother. You get to see hot babes on the beach. Or Nancy in a bikini again." Joe laughed.

I blushed despite the tension between Nancy and me. I glanced at Nancy to see her also blushing a very deep red.

"My bikini is ruined though." Nancy protested.

"Don't worry, I packed your blue bikini, just in case you wanted a choice." Bess answered her protest.

Nancy mumbled something before saying, "Fine."

We arrived to the very crowded beach. Although I'm still irritated at Nancy, it's still nice to be here with her. It's even more busier then it was yesterday. I dodged a football, being thrown in our direction. I shook my head in amazement. Even with the threats against the beach, it is still so popular. There is other beaches around.

"Where do you want to start Nan?" I asked Nancy with a glance in her direction. I then continued to look around the beach for anything out of the ordinary.

"Lifeguards. They stay here the most." Nancy answered reasonably.

"Just what I was thinking-" I started but saw Nancy already heading over to the lifeguard tower confidently.

Shaking my head, I jogged after her while cringing. The sand is so hot. Why didn't I wear flip flops? I stopped at the orange and white tower, beside Nancy.

"Um, hello?" Nancy shouted slightly up at the teen lifeguard.

I saw him roll his eyes before looking down at us. I snorted when I saw him look at Nancy up and down . He flipped his brown hair and smiled too wide. His eyes shone in a flirty way.

"Can I help you gorgeous?" The lifeguard smiled confidently at her, ignoring me completely.

"Yeah, um, you can..." Nancy started, looking for his name.

"Wade." He grinned like predator, well, that's what I thought the grin looked like.

"Wade, I'm Nancy. How much are you here?" Nancy asked.

"Whenever I can be here, especially when I met you; more often than usual." Wade winked with his shiny green eyes.

I couldn't take anymore of this when I saw Nancy blush a tiny bit. "Wade. Just answer the questions, without the flirting." I snapped.

Wade raised his eyebrows. "Who are you? Her boyfriend? If not, then leave her alone."

I gritted my teeth angrily. "No, how about you leave-"

Nancy looked sharply at me. "Frank go question the other lifeguards. We have a lot of ground to cover."

I sighed loudly before saying, "Whatever."

I walked to the next tower angrily. Oh Wade and his shiny body. Oh his six packs. I have four, better than six. Oh and his cheesy flirting. Guys like that make sick to my stomach. Douche.

"Hey!" I yelled to the blonde leaning back and tanning.

She glanced down, raising her orange ray ban sunglasses with interest. Her hazel eyes gazed over my body. "Oh hello."

"I have a few questions." I said as she hopped down.

"Oh?" She batted her eyelashes.

I grinned slightly. "Um...name first?"

She grinned very widely. "Claire."

"Claire, have you noticed anything strange around here?" I asked right off the bat, ready to get some answers.

Claire sighed disappointingly. "Well there's been a lot of accidents. Mainly jellyfish incidents."

I nodded. "How about the people? Do they act weird at all?"

She shrugged. "Not really. But some of them seem...terrified."

I frowned. "Why?" Maybe it's the pranks going on here. Or something else.

"Don't know. And they don't seem terrified of the pranks either." Claire said seriously.

"How do they seem?" I asked curiously. I think we're getting somewhere.

"The darting eyes terrified. Looking over their shoulder..." Claire answered.

There's something more to this than the pranks. Something strange is happening here on Miami beach. They wouldn't be that afraid of pranks. They're scared of someone. But who?

Joe's POV

"So, nothing yet. Nothing out of the ordinary?" I asked Bess for the millionth time.

We've been looking over the files reported on the missing women. But so far nothing that seem out of place. The police thinks that they weren't abducted at their house. But at somewhere public. Most likely their work. And the same shipment to their houses, a live black widow. Which is really creepy. Like serial killer creepy. Even though none of them showed up dead. Yet.

"No. Empty handed. There's nothing here." Bess said with frustration evident in her voice.

I put my hand on her bare shoulder, noticing the tingles that went through my hand. "Let's take a break."

Bess sighed, "Okay."

Both pairs of us are staying at the Mandarin Oriental. It's on an island close to the coast of Miami. And the ocean is so blue. We're in mine and Frank's hotel room studying the files very thoroughly.

"Hey Bess, let's go to the restaurant here. Haven't got a chance to eat there yet." I winked at her amusingly.

"Sounds good to me." Bess winked back.

"I would like a coke." I said to the waitress who raised her brown eyebrows so high I was sure they would go off her head.

Bess giggled. "So basic Joe. I think I'll have a strawberry banana smoothie with lemon."

I snorted and mumbled, "I'm not basic."

The waitress forced a smile. "Okay, food?"

"Grilled chicken with veggies to the side." I replied quickly. I'm so hungry.

"Same thing with me." Bess answered with a bright smile.

The waitress sighed. "Be back soon."

I looked around the fancy restaurant. The restaurant was dull colors along with bright flowers sitting on each table. Couples ate happily with candles alight romantically. Of course there were some silly younger teens goofing around. I watched as they threw sushi at each other.

I chuckled. "Looks like that manager is very angry." The manager's face was beet red and got even redder when he dodged a macaroon.

Bess laughed. "Maybe it'll lighten up the mood in this place." The waitress came back just in time to here that last comment.

"Excuse me, what mood?" The waitress asked with annoyance.

"That mood." I answered with a laugh.

The waitress' blue eyes blazed angrily. "You want a mood? Fine. Here enjoy your drinks, be back with your food." She spat out.

She slammed down both of the drinks angrily. The table shook, making the drinks spill a little bit. A few people stared at the scene then resumed with their meal. The waitress stalked away to the kitchen and the doors slammed shut.

Bess suddenly burst into laughter. "I think she's going to spit in our food Joe. Good job."

I chuckled loudly. "Let's hope not. I'm too hungry."

The waitress soon return with the steaming chicken and vegetables. She place the plates down in front of us. And walked away without a word. I turned my attention to my plate of

food. The grilled chicken was placed in a delicate style. A sauce drizzled over the chicken. And the steamed vegetables were off to the side.

"Well, it looks good. Hopefully we won't die. Because I'm eating it anyways." I told Bess.

Bess giggled. "I'm taking my chances."

I moaned in delight when put the first forkful of chicken in my mouth. "Good." I mumbled with food still in my mouth. I gave Bess the thumbs up sign. Bess nodded in approval once she ate her first bite.

I drank some my coke while thinking deeply. All the victims of being kidnap have been located at their works or public places. But not at their homes. Something seems odd with one of the files. I drummed my fingers against the table. Not at home, completely clean kidnapping; not messy...

I spit out what coke I had in my mouth, it flew everywhere. I went into a coughing fit.

"What? Joe, did the waitress poison your drink? Are you okay?" Bess asked with worry as she put her hand on my arm.

I hugged Bess tightly out of joy, we finally found something. "No! June's kidnapping was messy. Her home was ransacked, none of the others was!"

Frank's POV

"Is there anything else you can tell me-" I started to say at Claire but heard Nancy laughing.

I looked over quickly to find Nancy laughing with Wade. Wade said something that made Nancy laugh even harder. Suddenly Wade slung his arm across Nancy 's bare shoulders. And she left his toned arm there. He whispered something in her ear which caused her to smile. I fumed, two can play this game. If she really wants to tease me so be it.

"Claire, how about me and you go out some time?" I suddenly asked the blonde.

She smirked. "Knew you would come around. Would love to."

Time to flirt, thanks Joe for your tips. "Great, sure it will be a fun time." I smirked back.

Claire put her hand on my arm and giggled. "Definitely." She smiled a sly smile.

I put my arm across her shoulder. "Are you the only gorgeous girl on this beach?" I teased her.

Claire laughed loudly, while blushing furiously. "Oh stop."

I sneaked a peak over at Nancy, who was staring at the scene. Satisfied, I decided to get a few more answers carefully from Claire.

"So Claire, how is this beach? Is it fun to be a lifeguard here?" I asked with a grin.

We walked a little ways. "It's great! But the smell isn't too pleasant." Claire answered with a cringe.

"Smell?" I asked out of curiosity, suddenly intrigued.

"Yeah, I'm surprised you haven't smelled yet. But it comes and goes too." Claire explained.

"And-" I started but yet again was interrupted by a scream.

I glanced over to the source of the scream. A redhead girl looked very distressed.

"There's a body over here! Help someone!" The girl yelled frantically.

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