Disclaimer: I don't own any part of The Nanny…yet.

A/N: My husband gave me the overall idea…ok, actually he gave me the title. But every now and then I like to throw him a bone. LOL - D

The Nanny Mysteries

Chapter 4

Niles and CC emerged from the ladies room like they were on a mission. And technically I guess they were. They decided not to tell Max and Fran that CC was 'on to something'. No sense in putting them in danger.

"CC," Max and Fran joined their friends as they returned to the room. "How are you feeling?"

Smiling CC replied. "I'm just fine, Max, really." CC leaned in and whispered to Niles.

"Mr. Sheffield!" A voice called from the doors of the grand ball room.

Fran reacted with surprise. "Jeff!" She looked at Max. "You called Jeff? Of all the police you could have called, you had to pick, Jeff?"

"Hey, Frannie." Jeff joined them near 'the body'. "So, Max I did as you asked, I kept the team out in the hall, but what exactly is going on here?"

Max explained everything as quickly as he could while not missing any pertinent details.

"Miss Babcock, are you sure you're alright?" Jeff asked cautiously. "I could have an EMT come in and check you over."

"I've had my personal EMT check me out, thanks, Jeff." CC winked at Niles. CC was more than aware Sara had Niles get certified as an EMT just before Margaret arrived. Only CC was aware that he kept his license current.

"Okay." Jeff didn't know what CC meant, but figured she knew best. "So where is the victim?"

Max had asked 'Holmes and Watson' to escort everyone out to the balcony and to watch for anything strange or suspicious.

"Mrs. Chamberlain is over here." Max led Jeff to where their hostess lay dead. "As I understand from our benefit meetings, her death was part of the game. Right up until she was really murdered."

Jeff pulled back the tablecloth that covered the woman. Seeing her expression and the finger shaped bruises on her throat forced CC and Fran to turn away. "How long ago, Mr. Sheffield?"

"That's the problem, Jeff. We all heard the scream and the 'body' was discovered as part of the game; at least as far as we could tell. Then about thirty minutes later, CC and Niles were out on the balcony and someone pushed a cement planter off the upper balcony and it just missed CC."

Jeff looked again at CC who was still wrapped protectively in Niles' arms. "Did you see anything?"

"Yes…But I think I'd rather tell you in private." CC looked between Niles and Max and Fran then finally back to Jeff.

Max frowned. "CC, you know you can trust Fran and me."

"It's not about trusting you, Max. I want to keep you safe. If I tell you what I saw or what I think…it'll put you in danger. You have three children who need you both very much." CC smiled and held tightly to Niles' arm. "Let's go over here, Jeff."

Niles, CC and Jeff moved away from their friends before CC said a word. "Jeff, I didn't get a clear look at the person who pushed that planter, but I did get enough of a look. Then later that person joined us on the balcony." CC looked now at Niles. "That's when I fainted. I think I was still a little shaken up and what I saw, it didn't fit, I guess my brain just couldn't process it."

"You did turn white as a sheet just before you fainted." Niles explained.

Jeff looked at him. "Niles, did you see what it was that upset Miss Babcock?"

"She was looking over my shoulder so I can't say who it was she saw, but I can fairly easily tell you who it wasn't." Niles raised an eyebrow. "Max and Fran were in here with a fair group of guests as well."

Max and Fran stood and watched as Niles kept his arm protectively around CC's waist. "I never would've believed CC would let Niles take such a friendly position with her." Fran offered. "I guess you were right, Max. By the end of tonight they'll probably be a couple."

"This isn't exactly what I'd planned for the evening, Fran. I thought the two of them working as a team would allow them some freedom from their typical roles in everyday life. I didn't expect CC would be in danger and that Niles would come to her rescue."

"Aw, come on, Max. You've known Niles for what almost 30 years?" Fran asked. "You had to know how he would handle any danger comin' to the woman he's in love with."

Max sighed heavily. "Longer than that, Darling." Max took her in his arms. "I've known Niles since we were both boys. To be really honest, he was a most formative fixture in my young life…"

"Heh?" Fran wasn't sure she followed.

Max smiled at her. "He practically raised me."

"Oh…yeah, I get it." Fran watched CC and Niles as they talked with Jeff.

Jeff, CC and Niles rejoined Max and Fran. "We need to get the Medical Examiner in here and remove…the victim. We can't hold it off any longer." Jeff flipped open his cell phone and stepped away.

"CC…" Fran started. "Are ya sure you're alright?"

"I'm just fine, Fran." CC held tightly to Niles arm. Fran wasn't sure and CC wasn't really either, but it appeared that Niles was practically supporting her.

The police soon arrived and started their 'real' investigation. Mrs. Chamberlain's body was removed and taken to the police morgue where the cause of death would be determined. The guests were questioned and allowed to leave despite Max, Fran, CC and Niles' protests.

"How can you let them leave? One of those people killed Mrs. Chamberlain and tried to…" Niles just couldn't finish his thought.

Jeff sighed. "I'm sorry, Niles. We just don't have any cause to hold any of them. They all freely gave their contact information and finger prints." Jeff ran his fingers through his hair. "I just hope that the M.E. can maybe get something from the bruises on her neck."

That night back at the mansion, Niles had a very restless night. He barely slept, thankful though he was that Max had insisted that CC stay at the mansion with them until this whole mess was cleared up.

Niles threw the covers off him and dropped his legs over the side of his bed. "I'll never get to sleep." He slugged into his robe and headed down into the kitchen. "I'll just go warm up some milk." What he discovered when he arrived in the kitchen would leave him speechless, which would prove to be a good thing.

"Hello there. Niles…isn't it?" The squatty figure whispered from behind the barrel of the gun. "Or maybe you'd prefer it if I called you Shaggy?" Niles' jaw dropped and he was about to speak. "No, no, no, now…let's just let everyone else sleep for now shall we?"

Niles nodded. "You followed us home, didn't you?"

"You are a smart one, Niles." The figure waved the gun at Niles signaling for him to sit down at the kitchen table, while taking a position in the butler's pantry, well hidden from the back stairs. "Stop looking at me Niles. Just face forward." The whispering voice instructed.

"What is it you want exactly?" Niles asked. "The police let you go; they have nothing, just some poor dead widow."

The figure chuckled lightly. "Well, that's kind of what I was hoping for. But then you and CC Babcock had to muck up the works."

"How so?" Niles had to find out what this person knew and didn't know.

The voice whispered at him again. "You found that bit of fabric in her hand. I myself didn't know she'd torn it off until it was too late. I tried to take care of it on the balcony, but those planters are heavy and it made aiming rather difficult."

CC had trouble sleeping and was making her way down the back stairs. When she heard Niles voice she stopped just short of the landing.

"I'm glad of that at least." Niles whispered too loudly.

"Ahhh, you really do like her don't you?" The figure whispered.

"Like Babcock…that's insane. She's been the bane of my existence since she first stepped foot in the door and has only proved to get worse." Niles barked a little too loudly.

"Oh, I don't know. She's got her good points, I'm sure." The voice whispered.

CC thought to herself. "Who is he talking to…and why is he being so…mean?"

Niles laughed. "Well, if you find any, feel free to point them out."

"I saw how you were doting on her at the banquet." The figure kept the gun carefully aimed at Niles.

CC smiled. "That's right, he was doting on me."

Niles glanced up at the figure. "You nearly dropped a concrete planter on her, what was I supposed to do? I didn't want to see the woman killed. I'd have probably had to clean it up."

CC almost laughed at Niles' comment until she realized the first part of what he'd said. 'You nearly dropped a concrete planter on her…' CC's thoughts went crazy. "He's down there with the killer?"

"You know, Niles. I'm really surprised she fainted. I've heard she's a pretty tough bitch." The form offered contemptuously.

CC squinted and tilted her head letting her thoughts run. "I know that voice…the ladies room…Fran… why can't I remember?"

Niles laughed lightly. "That she is, I'm afraid. But even the strongest person can be frightened when it's done properly."

"You mean like when I tried to kill her?" The voice cackled sending a shiver down Niles' spine.