Chapter X

Nancy arrived at the scene to find that the police had already arrived and were attempting to asses the situation.

"Nancy, I should've guessed you would show up sooner or later." Chief Mcginnis said with open arms.

Nancy embraced the family friend and inquired of her friends.

"Bess is sitting in the ambulance, the paramedics are attempting to calm her down. George I believe is walking the detectives through the attack." The chief informed her.

Nancy nodded a thank you and went to check on Bess while she waited for George to wrap things up with the detectives.
When she rounded the corner, Nancy discovered her friend seated on the edge of the emergency vehicle, her legs dangling over the end with an oxygen mask placed over her face.
Bess's face brightened as soon as she caught sight of her friend. She pulled the mask off her face and ran to hug Nancy.

"Oh Nancy, thank goodness you're here! It was just terribly frightning!" She cried.

Nancy patted her distressed friend's back. "No need to fret, you're safe now Bess."

As Nancy soothed her friend's nerves and seated her in the ambulance once more, a male voice called from behind her; "Nancy!"

The young detective whirled around to find her fiance sprinting toward her. With a smile, she made a dash for him and Ned wrapped her up in his arms, lifting his fiance off the ground.

"Nancy, I'm so glad you're safe." Ned whispered into her neck.

Nancy smiled and said as he set her back down on her feet. "You know me Ned, always sticking my nose where it isn't wanted."

Ned sighed, planting a kiss in her strawberry-blonde hair. "I know, I just tend to worry about you."

She smiled up at him, a gleam in her eyes, feeling happy and content once more to be in his arms.
Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, the couple made their way toward the ambulance where Dave was seated with his arm wrapped protectively around Bess.

"Nancy!" Chief Mcginnis called.

All four heads turned in the direction of the voice to find the chief, George and Burt standing by a police cruiser with Mr. Gates in handcuffs.
Nancy gasped at the sight of the man as her suspicions of him were now confirmed. He gave her a deflated and helpless expression.

"We could really use your help confirming his identity Nancy." The chief said, nodding toward his detainee.

Nancy stepped toward the man and after looking him over a few times just to be certain, she said with a nod of her head; "Yes, this man is Mr. Gates. The man I saw enter the getaway vehicle at his house."

"And the man who attacked Bess and me." George mumbled with a menacing look toward Mr. Gates.

With a nod of his head, the chief shoved his detainee into the backseat of the police cruiser saying, "We'll try to get as much information from him as possible, you can even stop by headquaters and question him yourself if you would like." He told Nancy.

Nancy nodded and watched as the chief climbed in the driver's seat and drove off in the cruiser.

Nancy awoke bright and early the next morning, completely refreshed and ready to tackle whatever challenges were in store for her that day.
Both Bess and George had spent the night as they were still shaken up from the events of yesterday, Bess more so than George.
Hannah Gruen had taken the liberty of preparing a nice comforting breakfast for the trio that morning, which consisted of; a platter of a variety of fruit, individual plates of eggs, bacon and toast and freshly squeezed orange juice.

Bess sighed, sipping the refreshing beverage contently, now happy to be sitting comfortably on the Drew's living room floor by the fire, safely contained in their house and surrounded by her two best friends.

George set her empty plate down saying, "So, what's our next move regarding the case?"

Nancy set her glass on her lap as she contemplated this. "I was thinking," She began. "That perhaps we should allow the police time to question Mr. Gates and see what they can find out, chief Mcginnis even said I can question him myself if I would like but I think it would be best if I let him do it first. After all, I think we could all use a short break from sleuthing."

"Oh, yes please!" Bess begged. "The events from last night certainly gave me quite the fright!"

"Oh, it wasn't that scary. In fact, it was great practice for my judo." George laughed as she raised her glass.

Bess folded her arms in disapproval. "Well, the one good thing that did come out of last night's events was the capture of at least one of those awful men." She shivered.

Nancy smiled in reassurance. "Indeed you're correct Bess and while the police are interviewing Mr. Gates, I suggest we meet up with the boys for the afternoon."

"Oh yes! What a wonderful idea! We can even get some more wedding planning done." Bess cheered.

George groaned. "Not more truffle tasting."

Nancy laughed and the three friends finished the last of their meal before freshening up and leaving to meet the boys in town.

"How about this one?" Dave asked the group, as he held a yellow and white plaid tuxedo out to his friends.

"If you want to look like a lemon meringue pie then by all means." Burt said, ruffling his friend's blonde, messy hair.

The group laughed and continued strolling down the line of stores.

"Okay, why don't we begin with the food? I know a terrific restaurant that would make the perfect wedding meal." Bess chirped.

"Or we could just ask Hannah if she could be our chef, I'm sure she would be more than glad to be the one for the task." George piped up.

Nancy nodded. "I agree with George. After all, everyone simply loves her cooking and I think I would rather Hannah than anyone else." She looked to her fiance for his opinion.

Smiling Ned said, "Who better than Hannah?"

"Than it's settled!" Bess sang. "Now all that's left to do is finding the bride's dress and the boys tuxedos."

"Well, we can't shop for those together!" George spoke up. "The dress should be a surprise!"

"Hey, what about our dashing tuxes?" Burt asked. "Aren't they also supposed to be a surprise?"

George waved him off as she ushered her friends down the sidewalk. "They're tuxedos, they're all the same. No one really notices the difference."

Nancy and Bess laughed as they walked along.

"Have fun you three! And try not to get any that make you look like lemon meringue pies!" Bess called over her shoulder.

"Alright girls, where shall we begin?" George inquired.

"Ooh! Let's try that bridal boutique over there!" Bess bounced with excitement and she dragged her friend's to the store entrance before either of them could protest.

After being greeted by the proprietor, Bess skipped along the isles, running her hand along the countless dresses until she picked out the four she liked best and presented them to Nancy. With a wide smile on her face, Bess shoved the dresses in her friend's hands and ushered her into a fitting room before Nancy could say a word.

George laughed. "Honestly Bess, you're so excited that you act like this is your wedding."

Bess smiled sheepishly and said with determination, "I should do this for a living."

"Shove dresses in people's hands?"

"No! Plan weddings." Bess said, a dazed look in her eyes.

Presently, Nancy stepped out of the fitting room and posed for her friends.

George felt her jaw drop. "What are you wearing?"

"Oh! it's positively perfect!" Bess exclaimed.

"Yes, if you're planning to attend a costume party dressed as a peacock." George said, as she plucked one of the many feathers from the waist of the gown.

"It is rather embellished." Nancy said hesitantly.

"Well, we've got an entire store to choose from, so try away my friend!" Bess said, eyes lighting up.

And again, her cousin groaned. "At this rate, we'll be here for the rest of our lives."

Nancy giggled as Bess shoved her back in the fitting room.

As the hours ticked by, Nancy tried on dress after dress and rejected dress after dress. It wasn't until close to dinnertime that the girls finally settled on a gown that ended at Nancy's feet, allowing enough movement to dance with thick straps at the arms and a small white rose at the right side of the waist.

"Oh, it's just darling!" Bess cried.

George nodded her approval. "You look lovely Nancy."

Nancy smiled at the compliments and reentered her fitting room to change back into her regular clothes.

"Oh my, look at the time!" George exclaimed. "I suggest we go meet the boys now, hopefully they were slightly successful in their shopping hunt."

The girls nodded in agreement and as Bess paid for their purchase, after insisting she buy Nancy's dress, Nancy asked the proprietor if she could borrow her telephone. She was intending to call chief Mcginnis and inquire what progress he had made with Mr. Gates.
When the chief answered he told her no, he had not made much progress and suggested that Nancy come over and give it a try. After telling the chief she would be by in a few minutes, she hung up and her friends came up to her expectantly.

"Well?" They both asked.

"Let's go find the boys, we have some interviewing to do."