I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas. And now as a belated present to you, I give you the next chapter!

Oh, and I ask that you give me a belated present too…a review!

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Nancy could feel a slight pounding in her head as her eyes slowly began to flutter open. She tried to raise her hands in order to massage her aching head, but she found that they bound securely behind her back. Without thinking, she let panic seize her as she opened her eyes all the way and found that she was in a small, darkened space.

Taking a calming, deep breath she tried to raise herself up, but found that she was hindered in doing so. Being careful to make as little noise as possible, she began to pull at her restraints, but realized her efforts were being wasted when she found that cuffs were around her wrists. Definitely not going to find a paperclip in here, she thought ruefully. She laid her head back down as she heard the sound of approaching footsteps.

She forced herself to remain still and calm as a key was inserted into a lock. A door above her opened and she finally found that she had been locked in the trunk of a car the entire time.

"I see you finally decided to wake up from your little nap," Randy said, leering at her.

Nancy didn't say anything; she just kept a steady glare directed at him.

Randy shrugged. "Not too talkative, I see," he said. "Don't worry, you will be. I have someone who wants to meet you."

He reached down and pulled her out of the trunk. Nancy stumbled out of the trunk and had to take a couple of moments to regain her equilibrium since she could still feel the effects of the drug Randy had used on her still in her system.

She took another moment to gaze at her surroundings and her breath caught in her throat. She was looking up at the biggest house she had ever set her sights on. It was a large mansion with beige outer walls and Spanish tiles as far as the eye could see. As Randy led her up to the house, she could see people working around the lawn, but they paid her no heed.

Apparently they're used to sights like this, Nancy thought with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. I won't be getting any help from them…

Randy seemed to know what she was thinking. "I wouldn't count on them to help you, blue eyes," he said, grinning at her.

"Where are we?" Nancy asked as he led her through a door.

"We're in beautiful Miami," Randy answered.

"I thought you didn't want me anywhere near Miami," Nancy challenged him.

Randy let out a humorless chuckle. "That was until you decided to screw me over, Nancy. You should have known better than that."

"What are you talking about?" Nancy asked.

Randy glanced at her. "Don't try to get cute on me now."

They finally came to a stop at a large, ornate wooden door and Randy turned the knob. Being led into the room, Nancy saw a distinguished looking man with piercing blue eyes and elegantly coiffed raven hair sitting behind a large, mahogany desk. Randy pushed her down into a hard, wooden chair that was in front of the desk. Before she could even think about trying to get out of the room, he restrained her to the chair. He then stepped back and let his intense gaze remain on her.

"So, are you going to tell me why I'm here or do you plan on just staring at me the entire time?" she asked, not bothering to hide her annoyance.

Miguel smiled as he got up from his desk and approached her. "So, this is the girl that has managed to bring you down?" he asked, with slight admiration in his silky voice.

"No, this is the girl that has kept you from your emeralds," Randy answered.

Miguel stopped in front of Nancy and gently grabbed her chin. He smiled as he studied her. "She really is quite beautiful," he said.

Nancy glared at him. "Thank you for the compliment, but I usually want to know a guy's name before I let him touch me."

Miguel chuckled, not the least bit offended. "Pardon my rudeness. My name is Miguel Sanchez—perhaps, you've heard of me." He let go of her chin and took a step back. "I like you. I have a feeling I am going to find you very entertaining."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Sanchez, but I'm not here to entertain you," she said, coldly.

Miguel let out another chuckle and glanced at Randy. "And she's feisty," he said. He then turned around and backhanded her across the face. Nancy bit back a cry, but could taste blood in her mouth as she shook her head. He then stooped down and glared at her. "You would do well to learn the difference between feisty and stupid."

Nancy didn't say anything as she flexed her jaw.

Randy then let a cruel smile play on his lips as Miguel stood up again. "She's not all that feisty when you take away someone she loves."

Nancy glanced sharply at Randy and felt as if he had punched her in the stomach as memories began to assault her. The burning cottage…Frank and Joe trapped inside!

"Did I hit a sore spot?" he asked, mocking her.

Nancy could feel tears begin to sting her eyes, but she pushed them away. She refused to let Randy see any emotion.

"What do you want from me?" she asked, tightly.

"I see you want to get down to business," Miguel said. He walked back to his desk and sat down. "Very well. It's very simple, Miss Drew. I want to know where my emeralds are."

Nancy scoffed. "I believe that's a question for your Boy Wonder over there."

Miguel smiled patiently. "Funny you should say that, Miss Drew, because I just did. He informed me that the emeralds from the gala were fakes."

"That sounds like it's a problem for you, not me," Nancy said.

"But it is your problem," Miguel said. "Because Señor Wolfe tells me that you know where they are."

Nancy tilted her head and let a small smile play on her lips. "Then he lied to you. I have no idea where your emeralds are."

Miguel looked at Randy angrily. Randy ignored him as he walked over to Nancy and pulled a switchblade out of his pocket. He then held it to her throat as Miguel looked on, amused.

"Tell me where they are," he demanded, his voice a growl.

"I don't know," Nancy said again, ignoring the blade.

"Quit lying to me!" He screamed and pushed the blade further into her flesh. "You worked with the FBI! They told you where the emeralds were going to be!"

"Then you have a problem, Randy," Nancy said quietly. "If the FBI told me before you gave me that trip to the hospital, then I don't remember. I can't remember anything from the start of this whole mess."

Randy's eyes bore into hers. Then he pushed away from her in frustration. "Son of a bitch!" he yelled.

"You messed up, Randy," Nancy said taunting him. "Maybe next time you'll think before you do something stupid."

"There isn't going to be a next time," Randy said, anger pulsating from him. "I'm going to take care of you once and for all."

"Like you did last time?" Nancy asked.

Randy walked towards her again, but Miguel's voice stopped him. "That's enough. It's obvious she doesn't know anything."

Randy glanced at Miguel and then at Nancy. "Fine," he muttered through clenched teeth.

Miguel smiled. "We'll just let Miss Drew sit here until she can tell us something. If she doesn't have an answer for us when we come back, then she dies."

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"Where's Phelps?" Frank asked Agent Brennan who had just finished talking to the forensics team. They were still in River Heights, standing in front of the burnt out shell that was once been the cottage leased to one Randall James Wolfe.

"Our director called him," Agent Brennan said. "Apparently they're not too happy with his job performance," he added a little too eagerly.

Frank felt a smile tug at his lips, but hid it very quickly. He was now starting to feel anxious—he was stuck here while Nancy was off with a crazed criminal. And it didn't seem as if they were going to leave from here any time soon.

Just then, Joe joined them after being examined by the paramedics.

"So, are you going to be sticking with us for a while?" Frank asked his brother.

Joe raised his eyebrows. "A little while?" he asked. "Paramedics said I just may live forever."
Frank smiled. "Then God help the world."

Joe punched him on the arm but smiled anyway. "So, what are we waiting for now?"

"Agent Phelps," Frank said, not bothering to hide his annoyance.

"We're going after Nancy as soon as we can," Agent Brennan assured the brothers.

"Yeah, well, it's not fast enough," Frank snapped. Then his voice softened towards the agent. "I'm sorry, Agent. It's not you I'm mad at."

Agent Brennan just shrugged it off and glanced back at the cottage.

Joe glanced at his brother and knew exactly who Frank was mad at. "You can't blame yourself for this, Frank," he said softly.

"I could have stopped this from happening," Frank muttered.

"How?" Joe asked as Agent Brennan turned to look at the brothers again. "Can you now be in two places at once? Did you forget you were trapped inside a burning house? How could you have stopped it, Frank?"

"I could have gotten out here faster," Frank offered lamely.

"That's a piss poor answer, Frank, and you know it," Joe said, shaking his head. "I seem to remember you telling Nancy not to blame herself for what happened to her. Seems to me you need to take your own advice and use it."

Frank stared at his brother in amazement. He rarely went off on tangents like that and it always surprised him when he did it and came off as philosophical.

"Your brother is right, Detective," Agent Brennan said softly. He was about to continue when the chirping of his cell phone interrupted him. "Excuse me," he said to the brothers and stepped away.

"Thanks, Joe," Frank said.

Joe shrugged and then his expression turned to one of mock horror. "Do we have to hug now? You know how much I hate these chick-flick moments."

Frank chuckled and shook his head as Agent Brennan approached them with a grim look on his face. "What's going on?" Frank asked.

Agent Brennan sighed. "That was the director, checking in and seeing how the case was progressing."

The brothers looked at him in confusion. "Why would he call you when he called Phelps not too long ago?" Joe asked.

"That's what I asked him," Agent Brennan said. "He said he hasn't talked to Jack in a few days."

"What?" Joe asked, shocked. "Why would Agent Phelps lie to us?"

"Only one reason I can think of," Frank said, anger evident all over his face.

Joe and Agent Brennan looked at him.

"He's been working against us the entire time," Frank said. He shook his head in amazement. "I can't believe I didn't realize it sooner."

"Don't you think that's a little far-fetched?" Joe asked, not entirely convinced of his brother's theory.

"I may have to agree with your brother, Frank," Brennan said. "Jack's been an agent for almost twenty years."

"And he's been stuck at the same job for all of those years," Frank pointed out. "What better motive than that? He agrees to work for Sanchez against the FBI and he's very well compensated for his services. It insures that the FBI won't come knocking at his door any time soon."

"What about Randy Wolfe?" Joe asked. "I thought Randy was the one working for Sanchez."

"He is," Frank said. "They both are. I just think they're working at two different angles." He turned to Agent Brennan. "You said so yourself, Sanchez has other people do his dirty work for him. So it would make sense if he covered himself at both points. Randy's a criminal and so is Sanchez—as a rule criminals don't trust other criminals. Phelps is a cop and Sanchez sure as hell isn't going to put all of his faith in a cop, even if he's turned rogue."

Agent Brennan nodded somewhat reluctantly. "You're starting to make sense."

"So you're saying Phelps has been with Sanchez from day one?" Joe asked Frank.

Frank shrugged. "It would make sense. Agent Phelps could have easily found out that Nancy had a history with Randy. He figured he could use her because of her knowledge on Randy and when he was finished with her, he would throw her to the wolves."

Joe winced. "Bad pun," he said.

Frank sighed. "Sorry. Anyway, he could have easily told Wolfe how to get Nancy, figuring he could get rid of the two people who could get him sent away if they found out. Randy would kill Nancy and in turn, he would go to prison for murder. So he offered Nancy up to Randy and didn't look back."
"But she survived," Joe said.

"Exactly, which I am guessing is why he was so anxious to see her at the hospital," Frank said. "He must have thought she could ID him."

"How?" Joe asked. "He would she know he's involved with Sanchez?"

Frank shrugged. "Remember, this is just a theory."

"Yeah, but a pretty damn good one if you ask me," Joe said.

"She could have seen him do something," Frank said. "Hell, he could have hand-delivered her to Randy himself." He looked again at Agent Brennan. "Has he had to bail on you at any time?"

Agent Brennan shrugged. "No more than usual. But he has been getting a lot more phone calls."

Frank rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm hating this more and more. If I'm right, then Phelps is on his way to Miami."

"To meet up with Sanchez," Joe said.

"Right," Frank said. "That means we need to head down there ourselves."

Agent Brennan pulled out his phone. "I'll see if I can get us a flight."

Frank glanced at his brother, fear creeping into his voice. "I hope I'm not right about this, Joe. Because if I am, then Nancy's in a lot more trouble than I think she realizes."

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Tell me what you think and I will update again next year!!!!

Happy New Year!!!!!!