Chapter 4

Nancy Drew was eating breakfast with her father. He was very surprised to hear his house keeper, Hannah, cry out in surprise.

"What? Oh no! Emma! Does your sister know? I could go with you...I know...wait...I don't know!"

Carson looked at his daughter in alarm. He stood up and walked over to his housekeeper and dear friend.

"Hannah is everything alright?"

She jumped. "Emma, I'll call you back in a few minutes. Try to get a connecting flight out of Chicago if you can."

Hannah hung up the phone and looked at her boss. "Carson...I know you are supposed to go to the supreme court this week and I was supposed to watch over Nan...but...my great niece...she's been hurt. Her mother is in Europe...I have to get there to be with her until she gets home. It's the summer holidays now. I can take Nancy with me."

Nancy knew that Hannah's only sister died when she was 35 with two daughters that she had raised. She was very worried about this niece that was more like a granddaughter to her.

Carson interrupted her thoughts by addressing Hannah. "Say no more Hannah of course she can go with you."

Hannah hugged him. "I have to get airline tickets. My niece Emma Beaudry is flying in from LA. We are going to go together."

Nancy hugged the woman that had been like a mother to her. "Where are we going Hannah?"

"Bayport, New York."

"Ned is in Bayport right now..working on his masters and juror's doctoratel. We have friends there too! I'll look them up."

Carson chuckled. He knew what friends she was referring to. "Go pack sweetie."

Nancy tried to reach the Hardy's at their home but there was no answer. Next she called Ned on his cell it was about 3:00 in the afternoon. He answered on the second ring.

"Hello gorgeous."

Nancy smiled into the phone. Ned's voice always made her heart race a bit. He was working on his masters degree at Bayport University.

"Hi handsome, so are you busy with your thesis or did I wake you up?" Hannah and her niece Emma Beaudry checked into their hotel thirty minutes ago. They had just parked the rental car at Bayport General.

She smiled at Hannah and Emma. They were smiling back at her. Nancy had taken an immediate liking to Emma...she was witty and had a great sense of humour. However, there was no mistaking the worry etched in there faces. When Hannah had calmed down she had been able to tell her and her father what was happening in Bayport. Nancy was of course furious at this and knew that Frank and Joe probably were already looking into it.

Ned replied. "I just got done doing some work for Dr. Fisher."

Nancy laughed. "Sorry to bother you but I wanted to let you know that I was in town." Nancy gave Ned a quick rundown about what happened to Hannah's niece."

"Did you want to meet for dinner, there is a great pizza shop called Mr. Pizza in the mall."

"Sounds great...I'll call you with a time."

She hung up and put her research away. She had taken the liberty of pulling everything off the web she could find and read over it while in the airplane. Right now...she wanted to help Hannah. They got off on the third floor. They went towards the nurses' desk and Hannah asked anxiously. "Excuse me...my name is Hannah Guern and this is my niece Emma Beaudry. We are looking for..."

"EMMA?"

Nancy turned around surprised to hear her friend's voice. Nancy was stunned. She was looking at Joe Hardy and he had his arm on a beautiful tall blond. Nancy knew that this had to be Vanessa Bender.

Emma Beaudry smiled broadly. "Wow...Joe Hardy...the gentlemen if I remember correctly. You still owe me that burger and a movie you know." She winked.

Joe smiled. "I do don't I, mame." Then his eyes fell on Nancy and Hannah. Joe's mouth dropped open. "NAN!"

Nancy grinned. "Hello Joe...nice to see you again. Is this Vanessa?"

Joe finally found the rest of his voice. "Yeah...wow! What are you doing here?" He gave Nancy a friendly hug.

"I came with Hannah she is, well...she practically raised me."

Joe shook the older woman's hand. "Nice to meet you Hannah."

Emma interrupted. "Joe is Callie okay?"

"I don't know Ms. Beaudry." Joe said softly.

Emma looked at Joe tearfully. "Where is Frank?"

Vanessa smiled sadly. "He hasn't left her side since she got out of surgery.

Joe was looking over Nancy's shoulder. He was smiling at something. "Joe Hardy, why do you have that goofy grin on your face?"

Suddenly she felt someone tickling her sides. She shrieked. The voice she heard next. "This is a hospital Madame."

She wheeled around. "Ned! I thought we were going to meet for dinner."

He pulled her into a hug and kissed her softly. "My apartment is just across the street. I called your dad and got Hannah's niece's name."

"You're getting very good at tracking people." Nancy teased.

"No I'm just good at finding you."

Callie opened her eyes. She was in a bit of pain and she was cold. She looked over to her right and saw Frank. He was sleeping in a chair. His head was resting on his arm on the bed. His hand was holding hers. She loved him so much.

"Frank..."

He jumped at the sound of her voice.

"Hey..." His voice was tender and he looked exhausted.

She smiled at him nervously. "Have you been here all night?"

Frank didn't want to startle her. He squeezed her hand and answered her. "Pretty much...I didn't want to leave until the doctor said you were out of danger."

Callie closed her eyes. "I feel better. But I'm freezing. "

Frank grabbed the blanket the nurse gave him last night. He pulled up Callie's blankets and covered her with his own. "He said that everything was looking better...if you continue to do this well you will be able to go home in about a week."

Home...Callie didn't want to go home. She wasn't safe there. She started trembling.

Frank soothed her. "I won't let him get you again and I promised you last night that I would find him."

"I can't go home...I...how could someone do that to me in my home?"

Frank didn't know what to say to her. "I don't know."

The door opened and two women walked in. Frank recognized one of them and smiled.

"Hello Ms. Beaudry."

Callie was equally stunned. "Aunt Emma...Aunt Hannah...what are you doing here?"

Frank was very surprised but also very relieved. He smiled at them brightly. Hannah came over and smoothed Callie's hair.

"We heard that you were in the hospital and your mother and father were away. We had to come."

Callie hugged them both. "I am glad you're here. I'm sorry to be so much trouble."

"You are not," said Hannah soothingly.

"Yes I am...you fly from LA and Chicago just to see me...my boyfriend sleeps in a chair..."

Frank interrupted her. "I would sleep in a snake pit if it means keeping you safe Callie."

"Frank I know...I'm sorry...I so confused and… and scared." She started crying.

Frank went to her side and sat down next to her. When he was close enough, and he wasn't expecting it, she threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest crying. Frank held her and soothed her quietly. He felt helpless. Hannah watched smiling. This young man reminded her a lot of Ned Nickerson, Nancy's boyfriend. He was handsome too. She also knew that Frank and Nancy were good friends. The doctor came in at that moment.

The doctor approached the bed. "How are you feeling this morning? My name is Dr. Lewis... I'm a resident and will be looking after you."

"I feel a bit better. But I feel cold."

"I'll just make sure everything is still going well. Does that sound alright?"

Callie started to tremble again.

Dr. Lewis said kindly. "Your relatives can remain. I can also call your nurse if you want."

Callie shook her head. "My aunts yes. I don't like my nurse."

Dr. Lewis raised an eyebrow. "I can have another nurse assigned to you if you like."

Callie nodded. "Yes I would like that."

Frank kissed Callie's forehead. "I'll be outside."

Callie nodded but added on his way out the door. "Frank...I'm fine. My aunts are here. You do what you need to."

Frank turned and smiled at her warmly. "I will...I love you."

Callie whispered. "Love you too."

Nancy, Joe, Ned, and Vanessa were talking quietly when Callie's hospital door opened. Frank came out. Vanessa came over to him.

"How is she?"

"She's in some pain but doing better." He looked up and was astonished. "Nancy...Ned...what are you doing here?"

Nancy came over and gave him friendly hug. "I came with Hannah...she practically raised me after my mother died. Ned is working on his masters at Bayport University and heard that I was in town."

Frank nodded. "It is good to see you." He shook Ned's hand. "What are you working on?"

Ned smiled. "My masters in international relations and I am getting my jurors doctorate."

Nancy studied Frank intently. He looked horrible. "Frank...I was looking at some newspaper clippings..."

Frank gave Nancy his full attention. "What did you find out?"

"This guy works in a pattern and has the same MO every time. He has a trademark but I can't figure out what it is."

Joe nodded. "Dad might know something...or Con Riley."

Vanessa took the newspaper clippings. "I can do some more stuff on the computer at the farm house...but I'm starving."

Ned said, "I told Nan about Mr. Pizza. It has the best pizza."

Joe nodded. "That sounds good..."

"I don't know..." Frank said. "We should..."

Vanessa interrupted. "Frank Hardy you are dead on your feet...I know you haven't eaten all day. Besides we can talk about strategy." She grabbed his hand. "Now come on...don't think that just because Callie is in the hospital that you can get away with not eating. I can also call your mom or your Aunt Gertrude."

"Mr. Pizza it is then."