Joe and Bess stepped back into Nancy's room and shut the door. Nancy smiled as they walked back over to her. "Where's Frank?" she asked, the disappointment clear in her voice.
"He's still talking to your doctor, but he's heading back to your house to talk to your father. You dad said he's really sorry he couldn't be here. He's wrapped up in a multiday trial. He misses you," Joe explained.
"I miss him too. He's a lawyer, right?" Nancy asked.
"Yeah. I can already tell it's you again, Nance," Bess joked. "It's good to see you again."
"Thanks. I still feel a little out of it. I feel like I understand my detective past pretty well, but what about me outside of detective work? Do I have any hobbies or anything?" Nancy asked with a shrug.
"If talking about Frank counts as a hobby, then yeah, sure," Bess joked. Nancy laughed.
"Seriously! What was I like?"
"You would volunteer a lot," Bess started. "You like being part of the community. You also used to spend a lot of time with your dog, Togo. Don't worry, he's being taken care of by George," Bess reassured her. "You also like to read a lot. I'm guessing Frank knows this too based on the amount of books he brought you."
"You also like spending time with your dad and Hannah. Hannah is your housekeeper, but she's like an aunt to you," Joe clarified.
"I remember Frank mentioning her," Nancy replied. "Do I have a job?"
"Not really. You like to jump from case to case. Some of them pay you a small fee to investigate," Joe explained. "But I know you were talking to Frank about career opportunities. You guys used to joke as kids that we'd all open a detective business some day. You, Frank and I would all work cases. George would come on to work the forensics department. Bess could be the receptionist and help with any cases related to pop culture- she is the second best at any pop culture references."
"Second best?" Bess exclaimed.
"Yeah, I'm clearly the best," Joe replied cockily. Bess reached over and slugged him in the arm.
"That sounds like a realistic dream," Nancy said. "What's stopping us?"
"We're not exactly made of money. Plus we're pretty young. With you and Frank being 22, you're the oldest. Bess and I are 21, and George is 20."
"When is my birthday?" Nancy asked.
"October 9th," Bess answered. "Just a month after Frank's."
"I can't believe 22 years of my life have washed away from my memory," Nancy sighed.
"Don't worry Nance, we know you'll be you again before you know it," Joe reassured.
"They're still in that hard head of yours. We just gotta bring them out. Do you remember your tenth birthday?" Bess asked with a grin.
"No, but by the look on your face I would really like to."
Frank knocked on the chief's door. The rest of the station was too busy to notice his presence, and those that did notice him recognized him. The door swung open to reveal a large man with a thick mustache and unpleasant look. When he saw Frank, his hard gaze softened and he stepped aside to let Frank in. "How've you been, Chief?"
"Busy, Frank. How's Nancy?"
"She's been hurt bad. I'm not sure how much of the case you're familiar with-"
"I read up on what happened before the Chicago PD took the files from me. I haven't seen them since." As the chief talked, he slid Nancy's case file across the table to Frank, who slipped it into his backpack discreetly. "How is she feeling?"
"She's doing okay. You know how tough Nancy is. She just wants to be back on her feet." Frank paused for a moment. "Nancy's rape kit came back positive," Frank said lowly. The Chief swallowed the lump in his throat.
"That's horrible news. How did she take it?"
"She doesn't know yet. We decided to wait to tell her due to her memory condition. We don't want to stress her out anymore than she already has."
"I see. Well I hope she feels better soon. Please give her this note for me," Chief McGinnis said as he slid a piece of paper across the desk to Frank. Frank snatched it and stuffed it into his pocket.
"I will, sir. I'll let you know if there are any developments in her case," Frank said as he stood. Chief McGinnis stood with him and offered him his hand. Frank shook it and was about to step out of his office.
"Frank," the chief started. Frank stopped and looked over his shoulder. "Be careful," he said as his eyes drifted to Frank's bag.
"I will Chief. Thank you," Frank answered before he left the office. He stepped into the parking lot and climbed into Nancy's car. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the note that Chief McGinnis had given him. On it was written a log in and website link. Frank looked at his watch. He had at least two hours before Carson would be home. Time to do some snooping.
As Frank drove back to Nancy's home, his mind drifted. He found himself thinking fondly of other times…
"Cold?" Frank asked Nancy as he put his arm around her.
"A little," Nancy quietly admitted. She nestled closer to Frank. "You know, I'm really glad we caught Krieger and Mahfouz and found Darius and Leila, too. But I wish…" Her voice drifted off. Frank's heart skipped a beat.
"What?" Frank nudged her gently.
"I wish we didn't have to leave this place," Nancy admitted. Frank felt what she did, too- he didn't want their fantasy marriage to end. He turned to face Nancy and gazed at her longingly.
Frank took a sudden leap of faith and pulled Nancy to him. He kissed her gently, slowly, and with every ounce of love he held for her. Nancy pulled away after what felt like forever. "Frank… that is, what I mean is…the case is over. We don't have to pretend we're a couple anymore."
"I wasn't pretending," Frank replied slowly and grasping her hand. "Were you?" Frank felt like the moment between his question and her answer lasted a lifetime.
"No," she answered finally. "I wasn't pretending either."
Frank rubbed his head as he stopped at a red light. He loved Nancy more than his brain was willing to let him admit. That night in Egypt on the balcony sealed the deal for him. He knew Callie wasn't going to be the one. He knew his heart would always be Nancy's, no matter how much he told Callie he loved her.
Callie Shaw. He hadn't talked to her in almost a year. Once they parted ways, Callie's life took off and she worked in sales for some hotshot company in New York City. Callie always had been smart.
Not as smart as your Nancy.
Frank groaned. He parked the car in the driveway of Nancy's home and rubbed his head. He was quickly gaining a migraine. He just wanted his and Nancy's relationship to be simple, just for once. Frank grabbed his backpack from the car and headed into the house.
He set up shop in the guest room, but had a hard time focusing in there, so he moved his papers and laptop to Nancy's desk in her room. Frank flipped open Nancy's file and began to dig in.
Bernaggio Dimeer was 32 years old, divorced, and had no children. He was last seen in River Heights, near the poorer side of town. Him and his brother, Gerald Dimeer, 30, frequent a bar in the shady side of River Heights. They originally hailed from Chicago and had several charges and a long rap between them, including automobile theft, petty theft, drug possession, aggravated assault and battery, drug manufacturing and distribution, sexual harassment, and rape. Frank swallowed the hard lump in his throat at the last charge.
According to the chief's notes, Nancy had evidence that made her believe the brothers had started a drug ring in River Heights. In addition, Frank noticed that the third brother was serving time in Illinois State Penitentiary for drug manufacturing and distribution. Frank shifted in his seat uncomfortably, but his stomach dropped even more when he read the detective's name attached to the case. Fenton Hardy.
Frank used the website link and login information to hack onto the RHPD's servers. From there, he had access to Chicago's criminal records, including fingerprints, evidence, and previous cases dating over 30 years back. Frank pulled up Bernaggio's file first.
Bernaggio was first convicted of petty theft when he was sixteen years old. Frank quickly skimmed through the other charges and dates until he came across a few from New York. He wasn't overly surprised when he saw his father's name listed under some of the paperwork, but he almost dropped the glass of water he was drinking when he read the other detective's name.
Kate Drew.
Now Frank had an even bigger headache. Nancy's mother was not only a spy, but a detective too? Perhaps she grew bored of being a stay-at-home mother and needed some action. It seemed strange to him that Kate would put herself in danger when Nancy was so young. Then again, Kate could never resist a good puzzle.
Perhaps this was why Bernaggio was after Nancy. Not only was she uncovering his drug ring, but he also wanted revenge for what Kate did.
But why River Heights? Why not New York? Why didn't he go after Fenton, a detective who put him away and was still alive? Was Nancy not part of the original plan?
A knock on the doorframe startled Frank. He turned in the chair to see Carson standing in the doorway. "Frank, it's good to see you," Carson started. His eyes drifted to Frank's screen. Frank could clearly see his welcoming face shift to his concerned one. "How is she?"
"It's good to see you, too. I think we've got a lot to talk about."