J.M.J.

A/N: Once again, thank you so much for continuing to read this story! Thank you especially to Cherylann Rivers, max2013, BMSH, Candylou, angelicalkiss, and EvergreenDreamweaver for your reviews on the last chapter!

Chapter XI

It was frustrating how long investigations took. Ned knew that Fenton and Carson were working as fast as they could, but even though they arrived in Sackville, Colorado in the early afternoon, they hadn't accomplished anything yet other than finding hotel rooms and doing some research on the layout of the town. Now it was early evening, and Sam had insisted they all go to bed and get some sleep so that they'd be fresh to begin their search in the morning.

The owner of the one small hotel was thrilled that the new arrivals had taken three rooms. Carson and Ned were sharing one, Fenton and Joe were sharing another, and Sam and Jack Wayne took the third. Ned knew he wasn't going to get any sleep, and so he didn't bother going to bed right away. Carson felt much the same, but whether he could have fallen asleep or not, George was keeping him awake. She had called his phone in excitement to tell him about some discovery she had made.

While Carson and George talked, Ned sat in a stiff, uncomfortable chair in the corner of the room. He slipped a small, velvet box out of his pocket and opened it. Even in the dreary light cast by the dim lamp that served as the room's sole illumination, the diamond sparkled in its white gold setting. That ring should have been on Nancy's finger by now, not still in its box. Once again, Ned swore to himself that they'd find Nancy and Frank.

"He said what?" Carson's incredulous exclamation cut into Ned's musings, and he looked up. "He didn't hear any more?" Carson asked. "Okay. Yeah, that does help, George. As a matter of fact, it tells me more than I want to know. No, never mind. It's just a feeling." He ended the call with a grim expression.

"What's wrong?" Ned asked, a pang of worry piercing his heart.

"Bess and George learned something," Carson said as he typed out a text on his phone and sent it. "Fenton and the rest ought to hear this."

A few moments later, the rest of their company, whom Carson had texted, arrived at the door for a brief conference. Carson recounted his conversation with George, in which she had told him what she and Bess had learned from Robin.

"The name Robin overheard was Evangeline Moriare," Carson finished.

Fenton nodded slowly. "That makes sense. So much so that it's not exactly earth-shaking."

"I'm not so sure," Carson replied. "I only met Evangeline once and that was when she was a girl. I'd be willing to stake my life on it that she's more dangerous than her brothers ever were."

"Cliff and Dan have a sister now?" Sam asked. "Why didn't I hear about this?"

"She's a lot younger than them," Carson explained. "She was only twelve or thirteen when – all of that happened. I saw her once, and there was something about her. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but as I said, I'm certain she's dangerous."

"And she's got Nancy and Frank," Ned said, stating the obvious. "Why are we just sitting around? Let's get out there and start looking."

Sam shook his head. "There's not enough time to do anything tonight. We might as well get some sleep. It'll do us more good in the long run."

"I'll never be able to get to sleep," Ned replied. He dug his hands into his pockets, clasping his right one around the velvet box. Stepping toward the door, he added, "I'm going to go for a walk."

"It's probably best if you don't go out by yourself," Sam cautioned him.

"I'll go with him," Joe spoke up. "I could use some fresh air myself. We won't be gone more than half an hour."

He and Ned walked down through the hotel's lobby and out onto the sidewalk. The last bit of fading daylight would have been beautiful, if only their thoughts could have been on more pleasant subjects.

Joe glanced at Ned. "Lucky rabbit's foot?" he asked.

The question caught Ned off-guard, and he had no idea what Joe was even talking about. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"I noticed you've been holding onto something pretty tight since we picked you up this morning," Joe explained. "I've been trying to figure out what it was. You don't really seem the type that would be carrying a lucky rabbit's foot, though."

"No, I'm not," Ned replied. He didn't much care to say what it was that he'd been holding onto. "Joe, do – do you think –" He couldn't get the question out.

It had been uppermost in Joe's mind for quite some time now, so he had no trouble guessing what Ned was trying to ask. "No. I don't think they've done that. I think I'd know it if they had."

"But what's to stop them?" Even thinking of the possibility made a lump form in Ned's throat. "They're out for revenge. Besides, they tried pretty hard to kill you." The words were out before he even thought about it.

Joe froze. It only took a sentence as simple as that for it to all start flooding back on him. His heart started beating faster, and he closed his eyes, trying to shut out the thought.

"Joe, I'm sorry," Ned said. "I shouldn't have said that. Are you okay?"

With an effort, Joe nodded. "Yeah. Yeah. I'm all right. It's all right. She's safe. He can't hurt her again."

Ned was a little confused by all of that, and it concerned him as well. "Look, I – Maybe we should talk about something else. We've both been under a lot of pressure the last couple days."

Joe managed a half-smile. "Sure. It's no problem talking about movies or football or whatever while all this is going." He sighed and dropped the sarcasm. "Really, though, Ned. I don't know."

"You don't know what?" Ned asked.

"Anything." Joe shrugged. "This case – I've never had one like it. I hope I never have another. Two years ago, I was just a kid with a crush on the most amazing girl in the world. I know every guy says that, but it's true about Iola. I didn't even know how true it was back then. I thought we'd get married and always be happy – in the most non-boring and cheesy way possible. But then I almost got her killed. Don't try to say it wasn't my fault – it was. I shouldn't have taken her there. I should have been more careful and watched my back. At first, I thought maybe I hadn't lost her. I tried to talk to her. But I couldn't even be around her without thinking about that, without completely freaking out over every sound. I couldn't take it anymore, so I pushed her away. For over a year, I barely even talked to her. Then I couldn't take that either, and last September my parents made me start seeing a therapist. It didn't help at first, but then around Thanksgiving things started to look up. I started talking to my friends again, and it was almost normal. I thought it was all going to be okay after all. Then this started up again. No, wait. It was before that. When I went out with Iola, and Biff was bugging us – he was just teasing us. He would have cleared out in a minute or two. Although, if what happened had to happen, I'm glad he was there. Anyway – It happened again. A waitress dropped a stack of plates, and I was back there again. Back in that dark, overgrown yard with Terry leering at me and Iola dying in my arms. Now it's all back. It's two years ago all over again, but this time I realize that I'm never going to leave it behind, no matter how this turns out. So, I guess – I don't know what I'm. I don't even know why I'm telling you all this. It was probably more than you wanted to hear."

Ned didn't say anything right away. It was hard to think what to say. Finally, he found some words – he just hoped they were the right ones. "Joe, either we'll find them or Nancy and Frank will escape. Either way, we'll catch these people once and for all, and none of them are going to get even a 'light' sentence of fifteen years this time. Murder, kidnapping, attempted murder – they're never going to be able to come back with charges like those. Then they'll be the ones who can't come back from this. As for you, you'll be fine. You may not think it, but the fact that you're holding together at all is a good sign. You're going to be fine."

"This isn't something you just get over in a day," Joe said.

"Then stop worrying about it that you haven't recovered in a day," Ned told him. "If you –"

Tires squealed behind them. Both Ned and Joe looked back to see a car coming up onto the sidewalk toward them. They were next to a low picket fence. Acting quickly, Joe shoved Ned over it and then jumped over himself as the car continued barreling toward them.

HBNDHBND

"Stop!" Nancy screamed again as Terry and the other thug continued to kick and punch Frank.

With his hands tied the way they were, Frank didn't even have a chance to fight back. Nancy strained against her own bonds, her only thought being that she had to get Frank away from his attackers at once, even though she certainly wouldn't be any match for them.

The door swung open again and this time, Clarissa, who had heard Nancy scream, appeared in the doorway. She gasped as she took in the scene and then darted forward to grab onto Terry's arm.

"Stop it!" she ordered him. "What do you think you're doing?"
Terry shook her off his arm. "Get out of here, Clarissa. This isn't any of your business."

"Evangeline!" Clarissa shrieked at the top of her lungs, dashing back toward the door. "Evangeline! Come quick!"

Her cries were soon answered by the sound of feet rapidly approaching. Evangeline arrived a moment later. Although she retained her calm, a flash of anger showed in her eyes. "Terry, Will, stop that," she commanded.

Sulkily, the two men ceased their hail of blows on Frank, who now lay on the floor, gasping painfully for breath. Without another word, Will took down the camcorder set up, and he and Terry disappeared up the stairs.

"Make sure he's all right," Evangeline told Clarissa before following them.

Tears in her eyes, Clarissa turned to look at Frank. Nancy was already at his side, though her hands were still tied and there was nothing she could do to help him. Sniffling, Clarissa knelt next to her, took a pocket knife from her pocket, and slit Nancy's bonds. While Clarissa cut Frank's bond as well, Nancy quickly surveyed Frank's injuries.

"Do you have any disinfectant around here?" Nancy asked. "And blankets? You didn't put any on the cots."

Clarissa shook herself as if out of a daze. "Oh. Right. Yeah. I'll go get some."

As she hurried away, Frank blinked groggily and made a move as if to get up. Nancy gently pushed him back down.

"You'd better stay still for now," she advised him.

Frank again tried to raise himself up, and he winced at the sharp pain. "I guess you're right."

"When you're up to it, I can help you get over to one of the cots," Nancy said. "They don't look too comfy, but they're probably better than the floor."

"Maybe." Frank gave her a half-smile. "Don't worry, Nance. I've been in worse shape than this. I'm fine."

"This time, maybe," Nancy replied. "Who knows about next time? We need to get out of here as soon as possible."