Chapter 10

Nancy rubbed at her eyes, willing herself to focus on the computer screen in front of her. She didn't even want to look at her watch, afraid to see how late into the night it really was. She was surprised Frank hadn't called or showed up at the precinct yet, especially after she had promised him she would be home an hour after he left.

The paperwork was mounting and she really didn't want to put it off any longer. At least, that was what she was telling herself, not wanting to voice the real reason she was staying late at work. The truth was the case was hitting her hard, leaving her shaken and fearful for what the killer would do next.

There honestly didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the killings, at least in their eyes. But a killer like this was unpredictable. Nancy knew his reasons for the murders could be something that only made sense to him. Nine out of ten times, that turned out to be the case. And that only meant it would make it that much more difficult for them to stop him.

Nancy wanted to believe that maybe they had their killer in Stark. Everything was adding up to point to him being the person responsible. He had the history of radical treatment, which seemed to be the methods the killer was using. The victims were his patients. He wouldn't reveal anything that could exonerate him.

Not to mention the way he'd lashed out at Nancy when she'd brought up his history. She truly hoped that by having him in custody, the murders would come to a stop once and for all. She knew she would sleep better if that turned out to be the case.

"Hey, Drew! Shut it down and go home!" McGinnis yelled as he made his way out of his office. He stopped by her desk, perching himself on the corner. "You should have gone home hours ago."

Nancy shook her head. "My mind is racing too much. It wouldn't have done me any good to go home."

"I'm surprised Hardy let you stick around by yourself."

"He's not that bad," Nancy said, smiling.

"That boy wouldn't know what to do with himself if you were ever gone for more than a day," McGinnis said. "I may be old, Nancy, but I still recognize the signs of love. He's got it bad for you."

Nancy felt a slight blush creep up into her cheeks at his words. She knew what she felt and saw when she was with Frank, but for someone else to voice it to her made her feel weird somehow.

"Get home." McGinnis stood up, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Try to get some sleep."

Nodding, Nancy shut down her computer, turning off the small desk lamp. Grabbing her jacket from the back of her chair, she slipped it on before taking her keys out of her purse. Giving a wave to the desk sergeant, she pushed the door open and walked briskly to her car.

As soon as she was inside, she cranked the heat up on high and retrieved her cell phone. She wasn't surprised when Frank answered on the first ring. "Hey, just letting you know I should be home in about fifteen minutes."

Hanging up, she turned the radio to one of her favorite stations, putting up the volume as loud as she could stand it, wanting the steady beats to pulse through her and help clear her mind. Within a few seconds, she found herself singing and bopping her head to the song.

Just as she was about to pull out onto the road, a truck sped by her, swerving uncontrollably. It was followed a few moments later by a terrifying crash. Praying silently to herself for the driver or any innocent bystanders, Nancy pulled out and rushed to the scene.

The truck was totaled, smoke pouring out of the front as it stood smashed against a concrete light pole. But it was still recognizable enough to cause her blood to run cold. She knew that truck as well as she knew the back of her hand. It was a green older model Ford and there was only one in town like it.

"Papa..." she whispered, her blue eyes wide.

Nancy slammed on her brakes, throwing the door open before she had put it into park. She hoped she was wrong. She didn't want to walk to the front to see Papa there. She honestly didn't know if she could stand that. Of course, she didn't want to see anyone else hurt either, but she prayed against everything it wasn't him.

Unfortunately, no one was listening to her prayers and her fears were confirmed when she found a bloody Papa slumped against the steering wheel. Reaching in tentatively, she gently pushed him back, letting out a cry at the sight that greeted her. The older cop had been bound and gagged, blood oozing down from a deep gash on his forehead.

"Hey, is everything okay?" a female voice asked.

I can't breathe. Oh, God...please, tell me this is some kind of sick joke. Please!

"Ma'am?"

Somehow, Nancy found her voice, though it sounded weak to her ears. "Call nine-one-one. Hurry!"

The woman let out a strangled gasp when she saw Papa, but did as Nancy instructed. Tuning her out, Nancy forced all of her attention on Papa. She still had no idea if he was dead or alive. With a shaking hand, she reached for his neck, feeling for a pulse, her heart soaring when she felt a very faint one.

I have to get him out of there! Gripping the handle, she jerked with all her might, but it refused to budge. She jumped as sparks flew above her head, the light threatening to topple over the wrecked truck. "No, don't do this, please! Open up, dammit!"

"An ambulance is on the way," the woman called out to her.

Nancy waved her off, continuing to jerk on the door. Nothing else mattered. She had to get him out of there before they both ended up crushed by the massive concrete pole. There was also every chance the truck could explode, the smell of oil and gasoline so strong it nearly threatened to knock her out. She couldn't let Papa die.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, the door popped open, the force of it nearly knocking her to the ground. Vaguely, she was aware of her face being wet. It took a few seconds for her to realize that she was crying.

Reaching for her belt, she pulled out the keys to the handcuffs. She found her hands shaking as she tried to insert the key into the small hole, and she had to stop for a second to regain control of her composure. "Just hold on, Papa. I'm going to get you out of here and you're going to be okay."

Sirens grew louder in the distance just as she released his hands from the steering wheel. She pocketed the key before reaching in and pulling Papa into her arms. She had no idea how badly he was injured, but nothing mattered at that point but getting him away from the mangled truck.

Grunting with exertion, she managed to free him after a few more moments. Gripping him as tightly as she dared, she pulled him away from the truck to a clear spot on the grass just as the light pole gave a sickening groan and fell on top of the truck. Nancy threw her body over his until she was sure it was safe from flying debris. Turning his head towards her, she removed the tape over his mouth, trying to ignore the way he wasn't responding to her.

"Please, don't let me be too late," she whispered as she once again felt for his pulse. Fear stabbed at her as she felt nothing beneath her fingertips. "No...no!"

Propping herself up on her knees, Nancy began chest compressions, counting to herself silently before giving him mouth-to-mouth. She checked again for a pulse, but still found nothing. She was like a robot as she continued with her life saving attempts, her mind completely void of anything else.

Nancy was so caught up in it, she didn't hear the ambulance come to a screeching halt behind her along with several police cars. She put up a violent struggle as hands reached out for her, pulling her away from Papa.

"Let me go! I have to help him!" Nancy screamed.

"Calm down, Detective Drew," one of the officers said, pulling her away. "You have to let the paramedics in to help him."

Sagging in the officer's grip, she let him lead her back to her car. She knew he was just telling her that to get her to relax, but she knew the outcome even as the paramedics worked frantically to revive Papa. Her mind was already trying to process it even as they looked at each other and sadly shook their heads.

He was dead.

Numbness washed over her as she felt herself check out mentally. She thought she had imagined it when one of the officers had mentioned they had called Frank for her until he was standing there in front of her. She felt herself shaking as she looked up at him, tears in her eyes. She didn't even have to say anything as he knelt down in front of her, clutching him tightly as she began sobbing into his shoulder.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Frank let out a tired sigh as he softly closed the door to the bedroom he shared with Nancy. They had finally gotten home around three after sticking around so Nancy could answer the same endless questions over and over again. It had taken until five-thirty for Nancy to fall asleep, but even that had been helped along by sleeping medication he had tricked her into taking.

He honestly couldn't remember a time he had seen her so broken. It had nearly ripped his heart in half when she had clutched him tightly and cried. When they had gotten home, he'd helped her to the bedroom and just lay with her as she continued to cry. He didn't even try to offer her words of encouragement or condolence, knowing that it would do nothing to comfort her.

Nancy never was one to show weakness. There may have fleeting moments of it every once in a while, but for her to completely break down was something that was totally new for him. He didn't like seeing her this way, but at the same time, it made her more endearing to him, showing that she was human like everyone else.

That revelation shocked him more than it probably should have.

"I made some coffee if you want some," Joe said as Frank walked into the kitchen.

Nodding his thanks, Frank took a cup from the cabinet and poured himself some, not bothering to doctor it up like he usually would. He had a feeling the next few hours were going to be absolute hell and he needed all the stimulation he could get.

"Is she asleep?" Joe asked, keeping his voice low.

"For the most part," Frank said, sitting beside his brother. "I honestly don't know how long it's going to last. And I'm pretty sure when she does wake up, she'll want to kill me."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because I drugged her."

"You better hope she's in a forgiving mood," Joe said, letting out a low whistle. "I still can't believe she had to witness that."

Frank shrugged. "I don't think she was supposed to. She just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time."

"Still...she's taking it really hard."

"She hasn't really said anything to me, but I think she's blaming herself, wondering what she could have done differently."

Joe gripped his hands around his cup, shaking his head in disgust. "There was nothing she could have done. The killer knew exactly what he was doing to make sure Papa never survived."

"You try telling her that."

"This goes completely against his pattern so far. He's been targeting people from the group until now, so what made him change?"

Frank grit his teeth, his mind already going over the sudden change in victims. There was only reason the killer would have gone after Papa. "He's making it personal. He wanted to strike out at us. He's taunting us."

"Are you sure he wanted to go after all of you, or one person specifically?"

"What are you talking about?"

Joe angled his body so he was facing Frank. "Think about it. He could have gone after anyone on the force and it would have still had the same impact on you. But he chose Papa. Why would he do that?"

Frank frowned. "Nancy..."

"She was the closest to him. He practically helped raise her from all the time she spent at the station while her dad was working on cases."

"But why Papa?" Frank asked. "McGinnis would have been a more obvious choice."

"McGinnis also doesn't go out into public much anymore. Not to mention, he's nearly impossible to touch," Joe pointed out. "Besides, we have to assume the killer has been watching you. He's seen Papa at every crime scene, not the chief."

"So, he wanted to send a message," Frank muttered.

"Not just any message. He wanted to make it personal. For Nancy." Joe leveled his gaze at Frank. "I'm not the one you should be worrying about, Frank."

Frank shook his head. "I should be worrying about you just as much as I'm worrying about her. Nancy, I can protect. But you being at these meetings, you have no protection at all unless you blow your cover."

"I'll be fine, Frank."

"Haven't you learned not to say that?" Frank asked, letting out a groan. "Every time one of us says that, something bad always happens."

"Well, I'm choosing to be optimistic," Joe said with a grin. Then he sobered. "Seriously, bro...you need to keep an eye on Nan. If our killer is using innocent victims to send her a message, then there's no way to predict what he would have in store for her. And you know it has to be something big."

Closing his eyes, Frank ran his hand over his mouth. "I wish things could just be simple for once."

"We wouldn't have the first clue about what to do if things were simple."

"I'd be willing to learn."

Joe stood up, chuckling as he shook his head. "You'd run out of patience before they could teach you the first thing."

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

She couldn't remember a time she had been so nervous in her life as she stood backstage, waiting to go on stage. Miss Richards had finally given her the chance to perform the solo at this year's recital. At first, she had been excited and happy to have the opportunity, but now that it was time to go on stage, Nancy couldn't stop the butterflies in her stomach.

She just needed to calm down, take a deep breath, and do exactly as she had practiced every day for the past three weeks. She could do this; she knew she could.

Seven year old Nancy listened as the audience grew quiet, signaling her cue. Taking one more deep breath, she strode onto the dark stage and took her place in the middle. Striking a pose, she blinked as the spotlight suddenly shined on her.

And froze.

She couldn't do this. She was going to mess everything up and Miss Richards would kick her out of her class. Her eyes were wide as she looked out into the audience, searching for anyone who could put her at ease. She just needed that one familiar face.

There he was, right there in the third row. As if he could sense her unease, he stood up and smiled at her. He was just a shadow, but she recognized him instantly and smiled.

Papa.

As he stepped into the light, her smile quickly faded, replaced with utter terror. Blood poured down Papa's forehead, his eyes a milky white. His mouth was opened and as he reached out his arms to her, Nancy let out a scream.

Nancy awoke with a start, sweat drenching her body as she looked wildly around the room. Glancing at the clock, the red digital numbers told her it was just after five. Looking out the window as dusk began to settle in, she knew that it was in the evening. She had managed to sleep the entire day away.

Correction— the sleeping pills that Frank had slipped her had made her sleep the day away. She knew she should be mad at him. She didn't like to be tricked, especially by someone she loved and who was supposed to love her back. But despite all of that, she knew why he did it.

He was concerned about her. She couldn't exactly blame him after the way she had fallen apart after Papa's death. Part of her hoped it had all been a horrible nightmare, but she knew that she could never dream up something so horrible.

Papa was dead and she couldn't do a damn thing to save him.

Tears trailed down her cheeks and she threw back the covers in frustration. Stalking to the bathroom, she closed the door behind her and fell against it. She didn't like feeling like she was weak and she had always associated crying with weakness. It was the one reason she rarely allowed herself to go there.

Nancy Drew wasn't supposed to be weak and pathetic. As soon as anyone saw that vulnerability, they could exploit it and turn it against her. In her line of work, that could turn out to be a very fatal mistake and one she couldn't afford to make.

Pushing away from the door, she walked over to the sink and glanced at her reflection. What she saw was not the face she was accustomed to. Her eyes were red and dark circles cast shadows underneath them. She looked almost pale, her cheeks lacking their usual natural rosy complexion. She didn't miss the faint lines around her mouth or the corners of her eyes.

She looked like crap.

Turning on the faucet, she scooped up cold water and splashed it on her face, feeling herself perk up just a bit. Taking one of the small towels hanging next to the sink, she patted her face dry. Then taking a brush, she pulled it through her reddish blonde hair, before securing her hair in a messy bun.

Feeling slightly better about her appearance, she gave her reflection an approving nod. Opening the door, she stepped out into the bedroom and grabbed her cell phone. Walking out into the hallway, she was surprised to hear silence, figuring for sure that Frank or Joe would be around, afraid to let her out of their sight.

It made her feel better that they weren't, allowing her to have some time with her thoughts. There was a lot to be done, starting with Papa's funeral. He didn't have any surviving family, so Nancy knew it would be up to her and her father, Carson, and the police department to ensure he received a proper burial.

That thought alone caused her heart to ache, her mind still trying to process the fact that he was dead. When she walked into work, he wouldn't be there to greet her anymore. He wouldn't be there to listen to her complain or act as a sounding board when she got stuck on a case.

Her throat tightened as a sob tried to escape her lips, but she somehow pushed it down. There would be plenty of time to cry later. Right now, she needed to focus.

Coffee. That would give her the jolt she needed.

Walking to the coffee pot, she prepared it, making it as strong as she could possibly stand. Turning it on, she began putting clean dishes away just as her phone began buzzing on the counter. Picking it up, she frowned when she didn't recognize the number.

"Detective Drew. Can I help you?"

Silence lagged on for a few moments. Nancy was about to hang up when a voice finally spoke up. "I'm surprised to hear you pick up, Detective."

Nancy frowned at the unfamiliar voice, unsure if it was a man or a woman. "Who is this?"

"I choose to keep that information to myself for the time being."

"And I don't have the time to screw around with you. I'm hanging up."

"I'm sure you don't, with this case you're working, not to mention the loss of someone who was very close to you."

Nancy gripped the phone tightly. "I'll ask again. Who the hell is this?"

"I was wondering how I could get you to notice me, and it finally hit me," the voice said. "Strike at you from the heart."

"Why? Why do you want me to notice you?" Nancy sank down into a chair at the table, feeling her insides turn cold.

"Because I want to get to know you."

"You think I haven't noticed you, after all of those innocent people you've killed? You're all I've been thinking about."

"Really? It seems to me, that you've been giving all of your attention to Dr. Stark."

"Are you saying we've been looking at the wrong person?"

"I'm curious, Detective," the voice said, ignoring her question. "What is it that you fear?"

"I'm not playing your game," Nancy said, her voice cold.

"Yes, you will. Because if you don't, then I will continue to lash out at you. I wonder how many more people I can take away from you... There's your father. Chief McGinnis. Your fiancé—he's also your partner, isn't he?"

Nancy closed her eyes, a chill running down her spine. "What do you want?"

"I want I know what makes you different from all of the others. What makes you special like me?"

"I'm nothing like you."

The person on the other end chuckled. "Yes, you are. Even more than you realize. We're special, Detective. I've never found another who was like me."

"What are you talking about?"

"All in due time. We shall be meeting very soon. And when we do..." The mystery person took a deep breath, before letting out what could only be described as a pleasurable sigh. "I'm going to enjoy taking my time getting to know everything about you."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean? Answer me, you son of a bitch!"

Instead of a response, Nancy was met with silence. He had hung up.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Again, a huge thanks to: unobtrusivescribe, Caranath, Liliththestormgoddess, Michelle Gallichio, Marinebrat0311, Mrs. Frank Hardy, zenfrodo, Devlin Ross, ChocolateChip03, hlahabibty, KennaC, cupcake, and nicolelylewis! Your reviews mean so much to me!

Also, I have to thank my fabulous beta, roswalyn! Much love, chick!

I'll see you soon for another update!