A US Marshal, an FBI Agent, and a Private Investigator: Chapter Three

-NDHB-

Melinda couldn't believe the idiot hadn't figured it out yet. He was supposed to be the ace detective. He had to know arsenic tasted like bitter almonds. The question remained why he had drunk it.

The other thing that bothered Mel was why he had used the name Ross as a cover. There are better names than Ross Yeager. But, it doesn't matter because in a little while he'll be dead. I won!

Melinda decided to celebrate the old-fashioned way with another kidnapping.

-NDHB-

As Frank walked through the garage door, he realized how much explaining he had to do. This is great. Why did Joe have to show up? He snapped out of his thoughts as Nancy came to strand in front of him.

Nancy informed him, "Kip Coles is here with Bess, George, Ross, and Joe. I think Kip is the…"

"…Link, yeah. I'm thinking the same thing," Frank acknowledged. "What do we tell them?"

In the living room, Joe was about ready to run into the kitchen when Bess restrained him. "Let them talk. Decide what we need to know," she said.

"Yeah, Joe. Give it some time," George added from her seat between Ross and Kip.

Kip watched Joe whine as Nancy and Frank walked in from the kitchen. "It's good to see you guys," he greeted.

Frank and Nancy said their similar greetings before glancing at each other. It was obvious they were talking without words in that special way they could. Frank stepped up, "We're undercover trying to catch a kidnapper. The same case as you probably, Joe," he said.

"Frank and I are pretending to be a happily married couple who adopted their first child, Michaela," Nancy gestured to the baby still in Bess's arms.

At this point, Joe decided it would be good to share his information. "I got a list of contacts of the different people all the victims knew and compared them. They are all clients of Kip."

"Who had access to the information on the victims?" Nancy questioned.

"Not many people. Myself, my secretary Melinda Thackerson, and my bosses. Melinda has been acting strange lately," he mused.

"Strange how?" Frank continued the questions.

Kip shrugged, "Sleep deprived, actually. She claims her niece is keeping her up all night. I remember her telling me before that she had no family."

Bess added herself to the conversation at this point, "What's she like?"

"Uh…normal? I guess, kinda flirty, outgoing. She keeps her personal and professional lives separate as far as I can tell. Why are you asking?" Kip continued answering.

"I'm a psychologist and I compiled a profile on the type of person who would do this," explained Bess. "Does she pay attention to the small details?"

Kip paused, thinking, before he continued, "Yeah. She's very organized."

Frank, Nancy, and Joe exchanged looks with Bess who conveyed her thoughts, Take a closer look at her.

Ross started to feel his headache grow worse. Little dots sprang into his field of vision. For a moment he thought he was going to be sick; then there was total darkness. George noticed when he slumped against her shoulder. She panicked for a split second before calmly stating, "Nancy, call an ambulance."

-NDHB-

Melinda locked the door and walked to her car. It would be about time for the poison to take full effect. I'm so glad I got him out of the way. Now I can kidnap the Olson baby. Melinda opened her car door.

"Hey, Mel," some person she worked with greeted her, "how've you been?"

"Great," she replied, "just great." Melinda slid unto her car and started the engine. She glanced at the address on the slip of paper. It would be about a half hour drive.

In her head, Melinda planned out this kidnapping.

It would be easy. From the insurance statement, she knew they didn't have a security system. That was why she had picked the families she had.

They could pay and they were stupid enough not to have security. What were they thinking? But, why am I complaining? It makes my job easier. Melinda switched in the radio. This is going to be so great! It might be the easiest yet. I'm so glad the stupid detective is out of the way.

-NDHB-

Joe and Bess led the way to her with Nancy; Frank, who now held Michaela, and Kip behind them. Bess walked up to George and slid her arm around her shoulders, pulling her in for a hug. Bess then led George over to a seat. Kip placed himself on George's other side. Joe sat beside Bess. Nancy and Frank with Michaela sat behind them. Frank's arm rested on the back of the seat. Nancy held Michaela

They waited for half an hour. That soon became an hour. Nancy picked Michaela up and went to change her. At an hour and a half Joe walked to get coffee for everyone but Bess, for whom he brought tea. When he returned, George was pacing the hallway. "They should know something by now, shouldn't they?" she demanded.

"George, sit down. It'll be okay," Bess tried. In her eyes, you could tell Bess was exhausted. But, she kept up her energy for George.

The doctor walked out. "Maybe it would be best if we talked in the private rooms. Could you follow me?" he asked. He closed the door behind the entire group. "I'm so sorry. We lost him."

George stared at him. He didn't just say what I think he said. No, it can't be. I'll just smile and nod. Kip slid his arm around her. George turned to his embrace and cried.

At the slightest of nods, Kip stealthily escorted George out of the small room. As the door closed, Frank stepped forward, "Special Agent Frank Hardy, FBI. Do you know what happened?"

"No, I have no idea," the doctor answered.

Frank quickly looked at Nancy. They were thinking the same thing; It had to be poison to not leave any visible trace He's too young to have a heart attack or stroke. "Could you send the body to our lab here," Frank asked.

"No problem. Do you think this was something other than an accidental death? Is that why you're here?" demanded the concerned doctor.

Nancy took over, "I'm sorry, we can't discuss ongoing investigations." Out of the corner of her eye, for no reason at all, she saw Bess grip Joe's left arm. On Bess's left ring finger, a nice-sized diamond ring glittered in the sunlight. She looked down at Joe's left hand and saw a similar band. How could I have missed this? They're married, she thought. Nancy decided Frank need to know.

What is with Nancy? Frank could tell she wasn't listening to the doctor babble on about the disadvantages of not involving doctors in investigations. That was when she caught his eye. Frank saw her slightly jerk her head at Bess. What? The sunlight is only glittering off Bess's wedding ring, he thought. Hang on, wedding ring? How could I have missed this?

-NDHB-

Melinda sat in her car. There didn't appear to be anyone home. Melinda stepped out of her car across the street from the Olson house. She glanced up and down the road and then darted across it. Like she had every right to be doing what she was doing, Melinda walked through the gate into the backyard.

She took her time looking around. God, this place is great. I wish I could afford this. The house appeared to be ranch style, but was still huge. This sucks. Not to self: after this, I buy a new house. Melinda walked to the backdoor. It was, of course, locked. She pulled out a thin strip of metal.

After half an hour of trying, the lock finally gave. Melinda stepped into the house. It's very clean for people with a new baby, she thought. They probably have a maid. Melinda wandered down the hallway on her left. That was when she realized the house was actually one and a half stories.

She walked up the stairs and opened the first door she came to. It appeared to be a guest room that wasn't going to be used. So, basically, it was a big empty room filled with boxes. She wandered down the rest of the hall. The door on her left was the master bedroom and the one across the hall held the baby's stuff. Melinda stored the information for later use. I wonder where the happy family is, she thought, heading back down the stairs.

Melinda looked ahead and spied the kitchen. Turning left, away from that, she entered another hallway. This held doors to the living room and the dining room along with a door Melinda assumed lead to the basement. It's a very simple layout. This will make this easier.

-NDHB-

At the same time as Melinda was going through the house a third time, Nancy and Frank finished their chat with the good doctor. The doctor excused himself, saying he needed to see to the arrangements for the body to be sent out. George and Kip came back into the room. "You okay, George?" Bess asked.

"Yeah, uh, I think," she replied.

"It'll be okay," Bess spoke in an effort to comfort her cousin.

"I know," was George's short reply.

Joe was keeping a careful eye on Bess, had been for about two hours now, and could clearly see the exhaustion; how she was about ready to collapse. "Maybe we should all go home and get some rest," he silently prayed the others would understand what he was trying to say.

Nancy saw the way Joe looked at Bess and understood what he was what was going through his mind. She walked over and gently plucked her "daughter" from Bess's arms saying, "That's a good idea. Joe maybe later you can talk to Kip's assistant?"

Frank also understood what Joe was trying to get across. "Yeah, that's a good idea. She won't expect to see you, Joe," he added.

Kip watched them try to cover up what they were saying. They think Mel's responsible. They think she killed Ross thinking it was Joe. Right now, however, Kip agreed with them. "We open at eight in the morning. You can come in then, Joe," he suggested. Changing the topic he added, "I can take George back to her hotel tonight."

Bess looked at him through half closed eyes. "Thanks, Kip," she said. Bess accepted what her friends were trying to get her to sleep. "Let's go." She also didn't mind Joe's arm around her as he guided her from the hospital.

Frank and Nancy seemed to be having a silent conversation. Frank looked at George then quickly at Nancy, Poor George looks dead.

Nancy glanced back, more at Bess than anyone else, Yeah, Bess doesn't look too great either.

Frank looked harder at Nancy, Are you okay?

Nancy gave him an angry glare, Of course I'm okay! I can take care of myself!

-NDHB-

Edited: 27 December 2008…ladybug1115