DOUBLE JEOPARDY

By: desert_vixen

Author's Notes: Thanks for all the supportive comments in reviews!

Chronological Note: The previous story, "Meet Me In Chicago", takes place in the middle of June, roughly. This one is set in the beginning of August. The general time frame for the stories is three years after the SuperMysteries, making the characters of legal drinking age.

I'd like to thank my fabulous beta Amy for keeping me from making silly mistakes in the story, and for helping me keep the plot from getting too crazy.

Also, disclaimer: I don't own any of the established ND/HB characters. And I'm in the Army, so suing wouldn't really be worth the money anyway…

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CHAPTER THREE

The heat of the late summer afternoon made the lake water especially refreshing. She dove under the water then surfaced, the sun warming her skin. It was peaceful, and quiet, and they were alone. Just the two of them, enjoying the water, and enjoying being alone. She turned on to her back, floating peacefully, until she felt his hand on her ankle, sliding along her leg, and startled, went under the water for a moment.

"Sorry," he said as she pushed wet hair back from her face. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"I'll get you back for that," she replied, her tone mock-threatening.

"I'm worried," he teased.

"You should be," she said with a laugh as she tried to push him under the water.

They wrestled about in the water, but somehow ended holding each other, her legs wrapped around his waist as they shared a kiss, a long kiss…

The tire swing was still hanging in the back yard, Frank saw as he stepped outside onto the deck. It had been more than two years since he'd been in the Drews' house, but it seemed nothing had changed. Nancy sat in the swing, her back to the house. Frank watched her for a moment before he walked towards her. She was obviously relaxed, face tipped up to enjoy the sun.

"Hi, gorgeous," he said softly near her ear, pulling the ropes to spin the tire swing around so she faced him.

Nancy blinked, looked up at him. "I was just thinking about you," she said slowly. "Too bad I'm obviously dreaming."

He grinned at her. "You're not dreaming."

"Why don't you prove it?" she asked, and he could hear the challenge in her voice.

He slid his hand behind her neck as he bent to kiss her.

"Satisfied?" he said softly as his lips left hers.

"No, this could be a really good dream," she said, eyes closed. "I've had a few."

"If you insist," he said, sliding one arm under her legs, the other behind her back and pulling her out of the swing, leaving it to spin on its ropes. Nancy laughed and slid her hands over his shoulders, as he turned around to find his younger brother standing there, camera in hand. When he would have moved to set her down, she shook her head and kissed him. Only then did she let him put her back on her feet, and she turned to give Joe a hug.

"What are you two doing here?"

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She still couldn't really believe it. Her father had said that he and Fenton had come up with the idea as a surprise for Nancy, Frank, and Joe – a much-deserved vacation – but there was something about his explanation that simply didn't ring true. Nancy had decided to ignore the small, somewhat annoying voice that told her something was going on, and for at least the rest of the day enjoy the unexpected opportunity. There would be plenty of time in the morning to interrogate her father about why exactly the Hardys were here.

It wasn't only a surprise to her. Hannah was also taken aback, and Nancy could tell the housekeeper thought something was a little strange as well. Carson Drew was generally a good host, and rarely failed to let his housekeeper know important details, like the fact that he had invited houseguests. Nancy had helped her get everything sorted out, biting her tongue to keep from saying anything about the arrangement of guest rooms that saw the brothers being put in separate rooms on the third floor. There were guest rooms on both the second and third floors, but she wondered if the fact that her own bedroom was on the second floor factored into the decision.

It wasn't until Hannah started trying to figure out what they would do for dinner when Nancy remembered her plans for the evening. She had promised Bess that she would put in an appearance at the Scouts fundraiser this evening – at least the early part of it. The councils in the area – both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts were trying to raise money to save and modernize River Heights' largest roller skating rink, with a skate night that would turn into a lock-in for the Girl Scouts at the rink itself. Bess was involved as an assistant troop leader, and had somehow convinced Nancy to help out. She still wasn't entirely sure why she had agreed to spend the better part of Saturday evening at the event, but suspected it had something to do with the fact that she'd been planning on being alone.

Now she wasn't. If she didn't show up, however, Bess would never let her hear the end of it. They were best friends, and they backed each other up. That, of course, was another reason she had agreed to even go. She had her duty to her guests as well, though. Guests, she realized with a jolt, who needed to be entertained.

It seemed there was really only one thing she could do to fulfill all her obligations.

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"I can't wait to see Bess's face," Nancy said with a laugh as they got out of the car at the rink. "I know she's been trying to figure out what Eagle Scouts we both knew that she hadn't already tried to invite."

"Has anyone ever told you that you have a vicious streak?" Joe teased as he jumped out of the back seat.

"Now and then," she admitted. "I'm sure I'll be forgiven, though. After all, I'm bringing her you."

Joe grinned, and Frank sighed as he took her hand. "Don't tell him that. It only puffs up his ego."

"Nancy can't help noticing male perfection when it's right in front of her," Joe replied. "She's obviously a woman with taste."

"And she's dating which one of us?" Frank shot back.

"Down, boys," Nancy said, pretending to scold.

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Inside, it was a madhouse. Nancy didn't think she'd ever seen so many kids in one place, and getting over to the skate rental counter was easier said than done. The teenagers behind the rental counter looked frazzled as they handed out skates in what seemed like an unending flood. Rollerblades were forbidden on the skate floor, and not that many had their own quad skates. Nancy hoped from the looks of things that improving the rental area was on the list of things to modernize. Still, the old place had a charm that was hard to forget. She'd even gone on one of her first-ever dates here, and received her first real kiss in one of the dark corners. It was not, however, a place she had often come with Ned, and that made her smile as well. She didn't want to think of him, not tonight. The guys were still trying to get their skates, and she was trying to find a place for them to sit down and get the skates on.

Bess caught up to Nancy as she was leaving the rental counter. "Nancy! I was starting to think you had backed out on me."

"Would I abandon you?" Nancy teased.

"Normally, no, but I thought you might have second thoughts about spending all Saturday evening with a ton of kids." Bess grimaced at the ugly brown rental skates Nancy carried. "Do they have to be so ugly?"

"At least they're not bowling shoes," Nancy said with a laugh. The neon pink laces used on the women's skates didn't help either. Bess, of course, had her own skates – white with pristine white laces, so they would always match whatever she was wearing. Tonight, it was jeans and a blush pink fitted t-shirt, the Scouting logo on it in darker pink. Nancy hadn't dressed up too much, pairing jeans with a teal vee-neck trimmed around the hem in white lace, her hair down around her shoulders.

"So…where are the guys? And who did you find anyway?"

"They're still getting their skates. And you have forgotten a pair of Eagle Scouts we know," Nancy said as she sat, removing her shoes.

Bess scanned the crowd at the rental counter, then turned back to Nancy with narrowed eyes. "Their last name wouldn't be Hardy, would it?"

Nancy turned and waved at the brothers. "Trust me, it was a surprise for me, too. We would have been here a little earlier, but we all went for dinner at Dona Maria's."

"All?" The question in Bess's voice had Nancy grinning.

"The three of us, and our parents. And Helena," Nancy added after a moment.

"You didn't know they were coming?" Bess had the same note of almost-suspicion that Nancy had felt earlier. "Is something going on?"

"I don't know," Nancy said slowly, but before she could say anything else, the brothers had reached them and Joe had caught Bess up in a hug. When he had released her, she turned to Frank, a smile on her face.

"So you two finally figured it out," Bess said calmly. "It's about time."

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Bess leaned on the wall, watching the skaters. The rink was anything but quiet, even with the couple skate going on. The sounds of the people not skating around in pairs, the not-quiet slow song being blasted over the speakers, the sound of people in the arcade all contributed to the ambient noise. Three hours of being inside it hadn't killed her ears yet, although she was going to be glad when the lock-in started and most of the people left. The Brownie troop she was an assistant leader for was having a good time, and so was she.

She waved as she watched Joe skate by, hand in hand with a girl who couldn't be more than fourteen, her cheeks wildly pink. Bess resisted the urge to blow him a kiss when she saw the pack of wide-eyed teen girls pointing at Joe and his partner. It didn't take long for her to figure that one out – a dare. She was sure Joe knew it as well, considering the girl's age. Frank and Nancy, of course, were skating together, hands held between them as Nancy glided gracefully backwards. They were talking quietly, and seemed absorbed in each other.

The song ended, and flowed into another, and Bess looked up to find Joe standing in front of her on the rink. The teen-aged girl was skating up to her friends, and Bess could only imagine the conversation that was going to ensue. He was looking fine tonight, in khakis and a dark blue shirt that left her in no doubt that he had been working out. "Care to skate?"

"Why not?" She came around to a break in the wall that allowed admittance to the skating floor, let him pull her forward as she laughed. She rested her hands on his shoulders, as she matched his rhythm, his hands coming to rest on her waist. "I'm sort of surprised Frank and Nancy aren't skating a little closer," Bess said after a moment, when they passed the couple.

"Skating backwards is not one of my big brother's talents," Joe said with a grin, "and it's a lot harder to do the backward thing when you're not the taller half."

"That's never a problem for someone who skates with me," Bess said with a grin. At five-four, she was shorter than both Nancy and George. Joe had a good eight inches in height on her. "Although I can skate backwards as well."

"You're a woman of many skills," he teased. "Want to show off a little?"

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow, then let her hands drop from his shoulders, let them slide down his arms a little. "Give me some room to turn around."

When she had turned, Joe guided her in front of him. It took skill for both of them to skate backwards, and a moment for them to find the right timing. Bess laughed as they managed it without too much trouble. He admired Nancy, but he always enjoyed time spent with Bess. She made people laugh, made people feel good about themselves, and never failed to flirt back with him easily.

"I like the haircut," he said. Strands of hair gently brushed the back of her neck, curling up at the ends.

"I'm letting it grow a little," Bess replied. "I think it was a little too short to start with."

They laughed with each other as they passed Frank and Nancy again, both of them waving at the other couple in unison. Bess saw Frank shake his head slightly. He and Nancy were perfect for each other, but Frank Hardy could be a little too serious, a little too intense, for Bess's taste.

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The couple skate over, the music gave way to the strains of the infamous "chicken dance" song, and the majority of older people fled the floor as the younger ones were herded on. Bess, of course, was staying with her girls, and Nancy was glad of Joe's foresight in bringing his small digital camera. Bess Marvin doing the "chicken dance" was worth a blackmail picture or two. Just because George couldn't be here in person didn't mean she had to miss the laugh. Frank had offered to brave the refreshment counter, and Nancy and Joe stood by the wall, watching the skaters.

"Enjoying Saturday night in River Heights?" Nancy yelled over the music.

"It's a blast. I mean, I could be hanging out at Mr. Pizza right this second," Joe answered, referring to the popular pizza place run by the Prito family in Bayport.

"Why aren't you?"

Joe flashed her a brilliant smile. "Maybe Dad thought he should make up for the holiday weekend Frank had to miss with you."

Nancy sighed. Whatever was going on, it was obvious she wasn't going to get an answer out of Joe. He could play the dummy with the best of them, but she knew that he was a lot sharper than he sometimes appeared. She could probably push, but this didn't seem like the best time or place.

It could wait, she told herself, until later.

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Reference Note: There are a few of the Super Mysteries in which the brothers visit River Heights, notably Royal Revenge and Dead on Arrival, both of which are worth a read. (Dead on Arrival especially has some fun scenes between Nancy and Ned, but it also has a hint of Frank/Brenda Carlton, so beware…) Chief McGinnis does have a high opinion of teen detectives.