Chapter Four

It was going on three in the afternoon by the time Frank got back to the office. Nancy still hadn't returned nor was she answering his calls. He just hoped that wasn't getting into any trouble but then again she was only looking for a cat in a dump. Frank knew he should help her but cats always seemed to have a tendency to hate him, sensing a similar distaste that he had for them. Nancy would just have to find the cat on her own this time.

Earlier, after Nancy got mad at him over the case of Mr. Snuffles, he called the three people who left messages on their voicemail. Frank listened to each one of them as they talked about their problems and he took all of the cases on the spot. Only one of them though could meet him that afternoon on such short notice while the other two made appointments for the next morning.

Mrs. Jenna Barry was convinced that her husband was cheating on her. Since she was in a wheelchair, Frank had visited her while her husband was at work. She gave her suspicions about her husband, revealing that he would sometimes stay out late after getting off work early then go out to dinner with someone. She gave Frank bank statements that showed entries for places outside of town, mainly restaurants and what sounded like a gentlemen's club. After their meeting, Frank returned to the office to look over the information Mrs. Barry had given him. His thoughts though were not on the case at hand.

Frank looked around the office, plunking down into his chair and leaned back. Rubbing his face, he groaned loudly, his frustration over the arguments with both Nancy and Bess evident. When he reopened his eyes, Frank noticed his cell phone sitting nearby. He wanted someone to talk to and he knew just the person. Picking up the phone, he dialed the number he knew by heart and waited for him to answer.

"Well, well, well," Joe replied when he answered. "Will wonders never cease. I didn't think you would ever call me again."

"Sorry, Joe," Frank grumbled. "I've been busy."

"Yeah, but you weren't too busy to call Dad yesterday," his brother replied. "I'm hurt. It's been a long time since I talked to you. But then again, I was going to call you soon anyway."

"Oh?"

"Yeah," Joe said excitedly. "Vanessa's pregnant again! We found out a few months ago but I knew you and Nancy would be busy with the whole test that you were taking so I didn't want to bother you with it."

"Seriously?" Frank said though there was a tinge of disappointment in his tone. He was a little hurt that his younger brother didn't call him with the important news. "That's…that's awesome, Joe! That's great. How is she doing?"

"Oh, she's doing fine," Joe replied, his giddiness apparent though he didn't realize his brother's tone. "CJ is good too. He's getting big. I honestly didn't think we'd be having a second one with him being so young but at least he'll be close to his younger brother like you and I were."

"So you already know it's a boy?"

"Oh, yeah," he said nonchalantly. "I just said that we've known for a while. She got pregnant not long after Mom and Dad moved out so she's maybe 5 months along, I think."

"Someone didn't waste any time, I see," Frank laughed uncomfortably.

"Well, you know me," Joe laughed. "I think she's a little disappointed that it's not the girl she wanted though."

"Congratulations then, Joe," he said. "To both of you."

"You could just tell us that when you come next month for Christmas, Frank," his brother replied. "Aren't you and Nancy coming to the Christmas Eve gathering at the new house?"

"Uh, I don't think we're going to make it, Joe," Frank said sadly. "Nancy and I discussed it a few days ago. We're still getting things up and running with the business so we don't really want to leave town until we're fully settled."

"Oh," Joe said, not hiding his disappointment. "I mean, I understand and all but it's Christmas, Frank. You guys shouldn't be there by yourselves."

"We know that," he grumbled, looking out the window at the people walking by. "We…we just didn't think it was going to take this long to set up. I think Nancy was a little overwhelmed by it all too. Besides, we're not going to be alone. Hannah will be here and Bess and Marshall will probably stop by sometime. I've already told Dad this. I'm surprised he didn't say anything. But it's not to say that I won't miss you though."

"I understand," his brother said sadly. "Um, what was it that you needed, by the way? You called so I thought maybe you needed something."

"Oh, no," Frank lied, waving his hand dismissively. "I'm fine. We're fine. I, uh, just wanted to tell you that we got our first case. Or cases, that is."

"Really? That's great!" Joe cried enthusiastically. Frank could hear his father in the background, yelling at Joe. "Oh, man! I've gotta go! You know how Dad can get if I don't answer him right away. You call me when you finish the case. I want to hear all about it!"

"I will, Joe," he said. As he hung up the phone, Frank felt worse than before he made the call. Sighing, he thought about what Joe had said. They were having another baby and he and Nancy were still nowhere near walking down the aisle. But Nancy was pretty adamant that they weren't ready just yet. With Joe's happy news, Frank didn't want to ruin the moment for his brother by telling him his own woes with Nancy. He would just have to deal with it in his own way.

Frank took the notepad that had his notes from Mrs. Barry and began looking into the entries on the statement. The name Savannah's caught his eye. He opened Google on his computer and typed in the name. Several places showed up though only two were in the area located just outside of town. Frank decided to look into the places but called Nancy first to tell her where he was going. When she didn't answer again, he left a message then left the office for his car.

It was just before 4:30 when he finally arrived at a place named Savannah's on the outskirts of River Heights, pulling into the parking lot. Frank took a look around, seeing two buildings, deciding to go into the one that looked like the gentlemen's club. Sitting down at the bar, Frank ordered a beer then took in the nearly empty room. Since it was still early in the afternoon, most of the predominantly male patrons, were clustered around pool tables and the bar itself. The stage was set in the middle of the room, the lights dormant and the room quiet, save for the jukebox playing nearby. The only women around the place were wearing short skirts and flattering tops though it still seemed a bit modest. Frank looked back as the bartender set the beer mug in front of him.

"Got a question for you," Frank asked with a stern look. The bartender nodded his head in acknowledgment. Frank showed him a picture of Mr. Barry. "You wouldn't happen to know this guy, would you?"

The bartender studied the photo. "Oh, yeah," he said. "That's Larry."

"His name is Larry?" Frank asked, incredulously. Mrs. Barry didn't tell him her husband's name.

"Yeah," the bartender nodded. "He gets harked on a lot over his name being Larry Barry so he doesn't come in here that often."

"Oh," Frank said disappointed. The bartender gave him a curious look.

"What I should say is that he may not come in here that often," he reiterated. "But he does go into Miss Savannah's next door all the time. He might come in here once in a blue moon."

"I thought this was Savannah's," Frank replied, confused.

"Well, it is," the bartender said, "but Miss Savannah's is a private dance studio, mainly for older couples who want to learn how to do the tango or learn to ballroom dance. She owns both places. Why are you asking there, mister? Everything okay with Larry?"

"Oh, I'm just looking for him, that's all," he answered, looking toward the exit. "His wife is worried about him."

"Ah, well, you won't find him here, that's for sure," the bartender said. "He's a straight arrow, that one. Loves that wife of his even after her accident."

"You don't say," Frank said, suddenly interested.

"Yeah," he continued. "Whenever he's in here, Larry completely ignores the ladies and sticks to the bar just for a snack or a beer, like yourself. This place isn't like most gentlemen's clubs. It's respectable. The ladies aren't skanks, if you know what I mean. Miss Savannah takes them under her wing and helps them out by giving them a job here while also helping the girls through college. If a girl is found in a compromising position with a patron, she gets thrown out. Same thing goes with any of the guys who expect more out of the girls. Most of the guys who come here though are upscale people and respect the ladies. We don't get much riff raff here. They tend to go to the nudie bars where the girls do more than just dance. Most of our dancers don't even come in until the evenings so they can go to class during the day."

"Is there any way to see Miss Savannah?"

"Well, I guess if you go next door, you might be able to find her," the bartender shrugged.

"What do I owe you?" Frank asked, rising off the stool and pulling out his wallet.

"Aw, it's on the house, man," he smiled, waving off the money. "I don't get many people talking to me and I'm a bartender. Well, at least not many guys asking what you were asking. I like Larry. He's a good guy so I worry about him, especially if his wife is worried too."

"Thanks," Frank smiled back though he still pulled out a twenty and placed it on the bar as a tip. He walked out the door and headed toward the other building. When he stepped into the foyer, it was a completely different place than what he was just in. The hall was brightly lit and the walls were painted white. Pictures of dancers dressed in ballgowns and tuxedos dotted the walls. Simple elevator music played from the speakers above.

"Can I help you?" replied a voice. Frank turned to see a woman in her fifties, her hair pulled tightly back into a bun at the nape of her neck. She wore black leggings under an oversized shirt. A large cane was in her hand though Frank had a feeling she didn't need it.

"Yes," he gulped, her presence rather intimidating even for him. "I'm looking…looking to learn how to ballroom dance with my girlfriend. I want to surprise her with some lessons."

"Really?" she asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically. She scanned him than smiled. "Your girlfriend wouldn't happen to be Nancy Drew would it?"

"How did…"

"I know who you are, Mr. Hardy," she replied with a witty smile. "I'm Savannah. I may live outside of town and own a gentlemen's club but I do know people within River Heights, one of them being Carson Drew. He was a good friend of mine and I was at his funeral last year. I remember you and your family very clearly and I appreciate the support that you gave Nancy. I'm surprised she didn't come with you though. My question for you now is what are you really here for?"

Frank was surprised that the woman remembered him but even more surprised that she wasn't kicking him out for lying to her. Sighing, he decided to tell her the truth. Frank went on to explain Mrs. Barry's story and why he was out at Savannah's. "I was just looking to see if Mr. Barry was here."

"This way, Mr. Hardy," Savannah gestured for him to follow her. She walked down the hall and into a small room with a large window. On the other side was a man dancing with a woman…in a wheelchair. Frank watching as the two move together. "The Barrys are not from around here and Mrs. Barry doesn't know my reputation, the same as you. But Mr. Barry comes in here a lot. He wanted to learn to dance with his wife for their anniversary this year. Since she was in a wheelchair, he wanted to learn to dance around it. When Mrs. Barry had her accident, it devastated her. She loved to run and move around but losing that ability changed her. Larry loves his wife very much and wants her to be happy. All he could think of to do was to learn to dance with her.

"Breanne was in a similar accident that took away her ability to dance," she continued. She looked to Frank who studied Larry with awe. "She was one of the best dancers here and was going to go to Julliard once she had the money saved up. When the accident happened, she changed mentally and it took her a while to find herself once again. I let her stay on as a partner here and it has helped. When Larry came in with his request, I knew Breanne would be able to help him as much as it would help her. I'm sorry that Mrs. Barry would think her husband was cheating on her but it is understandable."

"How do I talk to her?" Frank asked though it was barely more than a whisper.

"Are you asking for Mrs. Barry," Savannah said, eyeing Frank closely, "or are you asking for someone else?"

He looked over at her, confused.

"I'm not blind, Mr. Hardy," she replied. "You're having issues yourself."

"I don't know what you mean."

"You came here on your own, for one," Savannah smiled. "Nancy is known for her mysteries but also for the kindness she shows toward the people in the area. Her father was the same way and when he died, a lot of people mourned him. If someone in town needed help, usually they went to Nancy knowing that she would always be willing to help them. Tell me, does she even know you're here?"

"No," Frank shook his head. He looked down at the ground then back up to Larry Barry. He admired the man for having so much love for his wife even when she was feeling the way she did. Even though he barely knew the woman beside him, Frank had a feeling he could open up to her. "We had a fight earlier. I was upset over something stupid and she called me out on it. She hasn't been answering my calls since."

"Then I suggest you go home, Mr. Hardy," Savannah smiled. "The Barrys can wait. I'm sure if you call Mrs. Barry to let her know you'll get back to her soon, she'll understand. And when you're ready, there will be ballroom dancing lessons waiting for you as well. I'm sure Nancy will enjoy it."

"Thank you," Frank replied. As he turned to leave, he looked back at Larry who was beaming with pride in himself. Frank smiled, knowing what he was going to do when he got home.

It was after six and Nancy stood in her bathroom, staring at herself in the mirror. She had just gotten out of a very long shower, scrubbing herself down after the hours long search in the dump for Mr. Snuffles. After running a brush through her wet hair, Nancy turned her head slightly, drawing her finger down the scar along the side of her face. It was a constant reminder of what happened the year before. Although the scar was no longer red, it still felt like it burned.

Wrapping herself in only a towel, Nancy opened the door to go into her bedroom only to be startled by someone who just walked in. "Frank!" she cried, clutching the towel to her body. Nancy blushed deeply as he stared at her, his mouth slightly open, his face betraying his surprise. "Don't you knock?"

"I…I did," Frank stammered. He still looked at her though his eyes softened a little. Clearing his throat, Frank finally turned away. "I didn't expect you to come out like that."

"Then why did you come in?" she huffed. Although he had seen her in a lot less, Nancy still felt as if she needed more clothes on.

"I'm sorry, Nancy," he said, saddened by her tone. He turned to leave. "About earlier. I…I just wanted to say that to you."

"No, wait," she said, grabbing his arm. He turned toward her and she could see the torment in his eyes. "It's me who should be apologizing. I'm sorry about last night, leaving you the way I did. I should have talked to you and made Bess wait."

"I understand, Nancy," Frank replied. He stared at her, trying his best to keep his eyes focused on her face and not to the towel she wore. Even with her hair wet, he thought she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. "I know that everything you've gone through has made you a different person than what you were before. I understand that certain things in our lives are just moving too quickly and I want you to know that I still love you more than anything."

Nancy bit her lip, not knowing what to say. He was right. She had changed but she wasn't sure if she was ready to tell him about it. She was still learning herself how to cope with everything. "I love you too, Frank," Nancy said softly. She looked over at her desk and picked up a printout. Handing it to him, Nancy watched as he curiously read it, his eyes going wide. Frank looked back up to her, his face registering shock.

"Are you serious?" he replied, looking back at the paper as if making sure he read it right. "But I thought…"

"I wanted to make it up to you," Nancy replied with a smile. "I thought about what Dad would have said and done and this is what I came up with."

"But, Nancy," Frank said, still confused. "I already told them we couldn't make it."

"Yes, I know," she said. "But I know you miss them and I thought it would be a surprise for them just as much as you. We would only be gone for a few days and I've already talked to Hannah about it. She's going to go visit her sister for a few days while we're gone. And there's something else too."

"Oh? There's more?"

"I convinced her to finally go on that vacation," Nancy smiled. "She leaves in January for a whole month! Aunt Eloise is going with her too. Hannah needed a break after worrying over us for the past year."

"That's great, Nancy," he said. "Where is she anyway?"

"It's bridge night, remember?"

"Oh, right." Frank looked down at the itinerary. They were going to fly into New York Christmas Eve, just in time to celebrate with his family for their annual Christmas party. It made him excited that he was finally going to see them after being gone for over six months. Plus the fact that he was finally going to see his parents' new house after his childhood home was destroyed months before.

"You okay, Frank?" Nancy asked, interrupting his thoughts. He looked up at her, his eyes slightly watering.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Frank said, quickly wiping his face. "Thank you, Nancy."

"You're welcome," she smiled.

He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. Nancy blushed deeply, still clutching the towel to her body. With Frank being so close, she could smell his aftershave, her eyes closing. He surprised her though with his own restraint as he turned to leave the room once again. Frank knew he wanted her but she had to want it too. Their relationship depended on the respect they had for each other and their wishes and if Nancy wanted to slow down, like he suggested the night before, Frank knew he needed to honor that.

Frank was just about to the door when Nancy stopped him. "Wait," she said softly. Suddenly she rushed to him, pinning him to the door. Her kiss was soft yet fierce, taking Frank totally by surprise. Even though Nancy knew she still had qualms about their commitment to one another, she had an urge to be with him in that moment.

Whipping her around, Frank now pinned Nancy to the door, his kisses making her weak in the knees. Her towel hung precariously as she reached for his clothes, unbuttoning his shirt one button at a time. Frank picked her up as she wrapped her legs around his waist, the towel now falling to the floor. Nancy pulled his shirt off revealing the solid abs below, his bare chest pressed against her own.

He laid her down on the bed, smiling at her, the kisses halted for a brief moment so that he could take her in. Nancy was beautiful, her semi-wet hair cascading over the pillow below her head. Frank could see the desire in her eyes but something else as well but he couldn't place it. "Are you sure?" he asked breathlessly. Nancy smirked, pulling him closer to her, passionately kissing him. She gave Frank her answer.

Author's Note:

I know I usually give warning when I add a little "something" to the chapter but I didn't want to give it away and ruin the moment for you. I probably surprised a few of you as well or maybe confused you. I don't know. You all know that there is always a reason for my madness. Muwahahaha! Anyway, from this point on, the story moves a little more quickly so the cases will be few and far between. Thanks to everyone who left a review for the last chapter and welcome to those who just started leaving reviews as well. As always, I appreciate anything you guys have to say about your interpretations on the chapters. Some of your words actually bring ideas to my head so thank you for that as well! I hope that you enjoyed this latest addition and please don't forget to leave your mark so that I know you were here! God Bless and have a wonderful week!