A Beckoning Cage

02. I.G. Pharmaceuticals

"I call the back seat!" Joe hollered, racing across the small lawn, wrenching open a door to the back seat.

"No shotgun?" Nancy asked, amused, as Frank locked the door to their soon-to-be business and he and Nancy walked down the sidewalk to Frank's car.

"You guys can be cooped up in the front; I'll camp out back here and spread my legs," Joe gloated, pulling the door shut.

Frank slid into the driver's side and Nancy slipped into the passenger seat. The car smelled of Frank-a mix of aromas that reminded her of air-dried sheets, autumn and old books. She stretched her legs, because she could and gave Joe a wry smile. "It's not even that cramped up here."

"Maybe not for you, but I've got at least three inches on you and Frank refuses to get a different car."

Frank rolled his eyes, starting the engine. "You have your own car. And there's nothing wrong with this one. It's a hybrid, and unlike yours, passes emission standards."

Joe mocked him by flapping his thumb against his other four fingers. Frank pulled out of the driveway and they were on their way.

Nancy relaxed in her seat, peeking at her phone to see that she had no messages. She stowed it back in her bag.

"So, Joe, how's Vanessa?"

A sly grin worked its way onto Frank's face and he leered at Joe through the rearview mirror. "Yes, Joe, how is Vanessa?"

"Oh, you're dead Frank," Joe shot him a glare.

Nancy raised an eyebrow, swiveling in her seat to glance back at Joe. "What did you do?"

Joe put a hand to his heart. "I'm wounded, Drew. Why would you think I did anything?"

"Uh, because you're always the culprit in these stories," Nancy smirked.

Joe shot her a glare this time. "Well, I never."

"Cough up the tale, Joe," Nancy said, undeterred.

"There's nothing to tell," Joe shrugged. "Vanessa and I are…"

Joe trailed off and Nancy quirked an eyebrow again. "Yes?"

"I don't know," Joe looked momentarily flustered. "We…see each other from time to time."

"You're not dating anymore?"

"Not…exclusively…"

"Joe!"

"It was a mutual decision!" Joe immediately defended himself. "The long-term relationship thing wasn't working for us."

"So they hook up from time to time is basically what he's saying," Frank said, amused.

Joe looked unabashed. "You live your life, I'll live mine."

Frank shook his head and gave Nancy a bemused look.

"Mine's a lot less lonely," Joe said casually, the gleam of revenge in his blue eyes.

Frank's eyes narrowed in a glare and he put a hint of warning in his tone. "Joe…"

Joe held up his hands in surrender but Nancy's eyes flickered to Frank. He wasn't looking at her, his eyes on the road. Nancy turned her head towards the road as well, though kept shooting Frank looks from the corner of her eye.

She wasn't sure if she was surprised that Frank was still single. It was a strange concept in the sense she still had to remind herself that he and Callie had broken up. It had been years ago already but they'd been together so long it was easy to forget. But it didn't sound like he'd started dating again, and Nancy hadn't heard wind of it either.

Overall, she wasn't surprised, because she knew Frank just as well as she knew herself. Joe was the flirtatious brother, rarely holding down any kind of commitment either because the girls he really wanted didn't pan out, or he was hopping to the next best thing quicker than a jackrabbit. But Frank got his fair share of attention from the female kind.

While Joe was the carefree, fun-loving brother, with his easy charm and striking looks, Frank held his own charm. Quiet and reserved, he was still charismatic, radiating confidence and authority. His dark features made him all the more mysterious and Nancy had caught women sneaking longing looks at him every time she went somewhere with him.

But Frank wasn't the sort to go on many dates, to spend his time chasing battering eyes and pretty faces. If he was looking for someone to spend his time with, he was selective in who he chose. He was, to put it plainly, here for a long time, not a fun time. He was a man for commitment, not a fling. It was part of what made Frank a rare breed and admittedly more attractive.

"Joe, play nice," Nancy lightly chastised the younger brother.

Joe rolled his eyes. "Yes, Mom."

The remainder of the drive consisted of strategies and planning. They went over the case again to make sure none of them were missing any of the sparse details they were provided.

"Where are we staying?" Joe asked, as they grew close.

"In a hotel a few blocks away," Frank answered, eyes set intently on the traffic. "I figure if we could walk, it would eliminate any suspicion over a new car always being parked there, and perhaps being parked there at strange, nighttime hours."

Nancy grinned, gently elbowing Frank.

Joe nodded. "Smart thinking bro."

"I booked a suite," Frank glanced at Nancy. "That way you can have your own room, but we're close enough for convenience."

A short while later, they arrived at said hotel. They didn't linger, rather they checked in and quickly hulled their luggage to their room, dumping it unceremoniously near the door. True to his word, Frank had booked a suit. A small sitting area and breakfast bar, which sported a coffee maker and a microwave, took up the entrance. Two full-sized beds dictated where the brothers would sleep. Off the room were two doors. One led to the bathroom, the other to Nancy's room. Nancy didn't bother bringing her luggage to her own room, she simply placed it by the Hardys' and hurried back downstairs with the boys.

They decided to walk over, Joe pointing out possible restaurants to check out as they traveled. They passed a few busy crosswalks when they noted the multi-story building looming over the businesses below it. Large solar panels could be seen on the roof. Nancy marveled at the impressive building as they passed through the revolving door. They were immediately met with a metal detector and two men in uniform who asked to see Frank's satchel and Nancy's purse. After a moment of silence, their bags were returned and they moved forward into the building.

Joe let out a low whistle. "I think we chose the wrong profession, Frank."

It was true what was said about pharmaceutical companies; it was where the real money in healthcare was made. The lobby of I.G. Pharmaceuticals was massive, massive enough to have a fountain in the center of the room. The walls and floor were the same color of chrome, reminding Nancy of a sci-fi film.

Their footsteps echoed through the vast lobby as they made their way to the reception desk. A young woman clicked away at a computer, bright eyes darting across the screen. As the trio approached, she glanced up, quickly swiping some curly blonde bangs out of her eyes.

"Welcome to I.G. Pharmaceuticals," she said, taking in the three of them. Nancy watched her eyes linger on the brothers. "How may I help you?"

"We have an eleven o'clock appointment with Mr. Jackson," Frank said, leaning an arm against the counter.

The receptionist's eyes returned to her computer and she clicked a few keys. She nodded. "You must be Frank and Joe Hardy."

"That would be us," Joe flashed her a grin.

The woman smiled. "I'll let him know you're here. Please take a seat."

As the receptionist picked up her phone, Nancy and the brothers wandered to a nearby waiting area. The couches were black and looked as equally expensive as the rest of the building. Nancy sank into the cushions as she sat down.

"How much information do we have on Jackson?" Joe asked Frank.

Frank had his files and laptop in a brown satchel that he placed at his feet, but he didn't need to look. "Not a whole lot. I don't have very much information on anyone here, just basics."

"Any reason to suspect he might have anything to do with this?" Nancy asked.

Frank shrugged. "Hard to say. Everyone's always a suspect, though it would be strange to call us out here if he was involved."

Nancy nodded. "Stranger things have happened."

Frank nodded. "Stranger things have happened."

"Mr. and Mr. Hardy."

The voice grabbed their attention and the three glanced up to see the receptionist. "Mr. Jackson will see you now."

The woman led the three to an elevator, punching the button for floor eleven, which appeared to be the highest floor of the building.

Joe glanced over to the woman, dressed in a blazer, skirt and high heels. "What did you say your name was?"

"Marlene," the woman smiled, pulling her eyes away from the numbers above the door and shooting Joe a smile.

He gave her a winning smile in return. "How long have you worked here?"

"About five years," she replied.

"Do you like it here?"

"Oh yes. I.G. takes good care of its employees. And I meet the most interesting people."

"And some very bright minds, I'm sure," Frank added.

She grinned. "Oh yes."

The elevator dinged and Marlene escorted them through a polish hallway. The clacking of her heels against tile echoed around them as they passed several doors, all made of polished oak. She brought them to the end of the hall, rapping on the door. She paused for several seconds before pushing open the door and leading them inside.

"Mr. Jackson, Frank and Joe Hardy are here to see you," Marlene said, looking to the far end of the room.

A man sat at a very ornate desk, probably much larger than it needed to be. A gilded plate sat upon its surface, indicating the man's name and position. The man, who'd been looking over a paper, glanced up. He was a stout man, appearing in his early fifties. His black hair was peppered with grey and his brown eyes looked aged with experience. He set his paperwork down, folding his hands on the surface of the desk.

"Thank you, Marlene."

Marlene nodded, shot Joe another smile, and left the room, closing the door behind her.

"Please, take a seat," offered Mr. Jackson, waving a hand at the two chairs that sat in front of his desk.

Frank, Joe and Nancy moved forward. Joe took a seat in one chair, Nancy in the other. Frank hovered just behind Nancy's chair.

"And who might you be?" Mr. Jackson set his piercing gaze on Nancy.

"This is Nancy Drew. She's a close associate and an expert detective," Frank introduced.

Nancy reached across the desk, shaking Mr. Jackson's hand. "Frank and Joe thought three heads might be better than two."

Mr. Jackson nodded, offering her a brief smile. It wrinkled uneasily on his face, as though he wasn't accustomed to the action. "Pleased to meet you; I need all the help I can get."

Frank nodded. "We're here to help, Mr. Jackson."

He waved a hand. "Please, Phineas will do."

Joe nodded. "We were given the information you gave to our employer, but we'd like a firsthand account."

Phineas nodded. "Several days ago I received a call at home, asking me to come to the office early. The team couldn't access their research and couldn't find the files anywhere on their computers."

"What time was this?" Frank asked; he'd taken out a notepad and a pen.

"About six in the morning."

"Is that a normal time?" Nancy asked.

"Yes. My researchers don't have set hours per say. Many will stay late or come in early, even pull all-nighters if they're in the throes of their research."

"And who alerted you?" Frank asked.

"The lead chemist of the project, Dr. Heather Hardin. She was in a panic and I headed over straight away."

"And the research was just…gone?" Joe asked.

Phineas looked grave. "Gone. There was no trace of it, like it never existed. All our computer files on the project, everything that was backed up, completely gone."

"How is that possible?" Frank asked. "I imagine all the files are encrypted?"

"Heavily," he nodded. "We have one of the best cyber security networks money can buy."

Frank nodded, but he knew even the best security systems could be hacked. Frank himself was an expert hacker. Still, it would be difficult to get into those files. But it would be much easier for someone familiar with the network; say, someone who worked in the company.

"And only this project was erased?"

"As far as we can tell," Phineas sighed. "I have a team going through every file to make sure. But it seems as those this was the only thing that was touched."

"You said this was several days ago, but we only received the case yesterday," Nancy pointed out.

"Well, I had our programmers go through every protocol we could think of and checking every system before we made a crisis over a glitch."

Joe nodded. That made sense. "Does everyone have access to these files?"

Phineas frowned, thinking for a moment, before shaking his head. "Not every employee if that's what you mean. Only our research teams have access to any projects or ongoing research."

"And can any researcher access any file?"

"Yes and no. Every team is assigned to their own research, although they have the ability to pull on the research of their co-workers. New information, as you can imagine, can benefit many different projects at the same time. However, there is a process for accessing files. A report has to be submitted to check into other projects or research that hasn't yet been published."

"We'll need those reports to see who has accessed them recently," Frank said and Phineas pulled a steno pad from a drawer to jot down a note to himself. "Who is all involved with the research?"

"We have a team who specifically works on the project," Phineas replied, sifting through the folders on the desk. "Often times we'll rotate team members if a project has grown stagnant, but the original team made huge headway when they started and I've had no reason to bring anyone new in; unless another pair of hands is needed."

"Can we see their files?" Joe asked. "The ones we were given were very brief."

Phineas nodded, producing a stack of folders that he'd been looking for. He handed them to Frank, who had his hand outstretched. Frank opened the top file, skimming the top page within.

"Who is this?" Frank asked as his eyes took in the information.

Mr. Jackson straightened himself so he could catch a glimpse of the file. "That is Dr. Lukas Page, our lead scientist. You'll find the files for the whole team in there. You'll find Dr. Hardin in there, as well as our lead medical scientist, a few pharmacologists and our engineer intern."

Frank closed the file, eager to begin looking through them. "Do any of your employees have access to their work at home?"

Phineas immediately shook his head. "No. Our employees are forbidden to bring research home with them, as it's a security risk. That's why all our research is stored on our computer system; that way no handwritten notes leave the building."

"But it is possible that the information could be copied down and taken," Frank said.

"Possible, yes, but unlikely. Our employees are subject to the same search you three encountered upon your arrival. They are subject to a metal scan and all pockets and handbags are searched before they can leave for the day."

That would certainly make it harder, Nancy thought to herself, but not impossible. There were many ways to smuggle out information; though Nancy had to agree, none would be utilized without desperate desire to take the research. Still, she was certain the research had been taken. Had it been smuggled out by an employee? There was a number of ways to avoid detection. But it seemed the real hurtle was accessing the information from the computer drive. Frank would probably know that there was some kind of security system to keep the information from being downloaded onto some other device. So whoever stole the research would have to overcome that hurtle before managing to smuggle out the information. And while she was a novice to scientific research of this magnitude, writing down all the information would take a painstakingly long time and certainly someone was bound to notice something.

"Do those files have addresses?" Joe asked.

Phineas frowned, glancing to the blonde. "No."

"Can we have them?"

The man looked uncomfortable. "Legally, I'm not allowed to release that information."

"We understand," Nancy rushed to assure him. "We just need to know where they live, in case we need to confirm alibis or the times they've left or headed to work don't match up with their travel time."

Or we need to sneak into their houses.

Phineas frowned, considering Nancy for a moment before leaning back in his chair. "I suppose I could find a loophole for this situation. I'll have it gathered."

Joe hid a grin.

"You mentioned Intel Health Discoveries might have something to do with this," Frank prompted.

Phineas quickly raised his hands in defense. "I said nothing of the sort; I don't want reporters having a field day with slander. When I was asked who might benefit from our research, I mentioned Intel."

"And why is that?"

"They're our largest competitor," the man shrugged.

"Any other companies?" Nancy asked.

"Anything is possible," the man said uncomfortably. "But Intel is our rival."

The three tried not to glance at each other.

"And how about anyone else? Do you have anyone on a personal level that might want revenge? Or maybe one of your researchers?"

Phineas seemed to roll this over in his mind but he shook his head. "Not that I can think of. I pride myself in that I don't like to make a lot of enemies. One enemy could mean millions of dollars in lost revenue. As for my employees…that's a question you'll have to ask them."

Frank nodded, closing his notebook. "Is there anything else we need to know, Mr. Jackson?"

"Just this, Mr. Hardy: this research will change the face of the world. It will make history books, save millions of lives."

"I understand," Frank said. "We'll find it."

"I find it a little strange Jackson was quick to point out Intel but completely dismissed any other companies," Joe said quietly once Marlene was out of earshot. She'd ducked into the security office grab them security passes.

"I agree," Frank said equally quiet. "He's hiding something."

"Threats?" Nancy wondered.

"Maybe. We're going to have to do some digging."

"At least we picked the right profession for that," Joe muttered before smiling as Marlene appeared, passes in hand.

At Joe's insistence, the trio decided to try a Japanese restaurant down the street from I.G. for dinner. Joe and Frank slid into either side of the booth and Nancy took a seat next to Frank. After putting in their orders, they relaxed in their seats and Frank withdrew his notepad from his satchel, glancing at his scribbling.

"Tomorrow we ought to meet the research team," Frank mused. "And we should check in with security. They probably keep logs if security is so tight."

He quieted as the waitress appeared, sliding them their drinks. She walked away and Joe took his, taking a sip through his straw.

"And we need information on Intel," he added.

Frank nodded, jotting down a task list. "We can start that tonight while we look through the files Phineas gave us. I'll need to check with the IT team as well."

Nancy scooted closer until she was shoulder to shoulder with Frank. She peered down at the list. "It's a lot for one day. We could split up."

Joe seemed to consider this, a far off look in his eyes as he absently played with his straw. "I don't know…we'd cover more ground that way, but maybe we should pair up for interviews. That way we have two opinions right off the bat; no need to retrace our steps to get a new feel on them."

Nancy's eyes rolled upwards in thought before she shrugged. "You make a good point. It's such an important case, I'd hate to miss something."

Frank finished making notes and slipped the notepad back into his bag. He pulled his drink towards him as Joe fished into his pocket, pulling out his phone. He looked at the device before smiling.

"Looks like Mom and Dad are having a blast," Joe said, showing Nancy and Frank the picture his mother had sent him. Fenton Hardy was in the picture, an annoyed look on his face. He appeared to be on a beach, sitting at a café table. A plate of fries sat before him, as well as two seagulls, helping themselves to fries. The picture was captioned: This is why we can't invite anyone to dinner.

Nancy chuckled as Joe pull his phone away, texting a response.

"How are your parents?" Nancy asked, still smiling.

"They're good," Frank replied after taking a sip of his drink. Already knowing Nancy's next question, he continued. "So is Aunt Gertrude. Her health remains fully intact despite her nightly-"

"And late afternoon!" Joe interjected.

The corners of Frank's lips quirked. "-And late afternoon brandy."

"No millionaire has swept her off her feet yet?" Nancy chuckled.

"Oh, he's coming," Joe assured her with a twinkle in his eye, recounting the sentence his aunt had been sticking to the last twenty years.

"How's your dad doing, Nance?" Frank asked. "I haven't spoken to him in a while."

Nancy brought her drink closer, twiddling with the straw. "He's great. Just finished up with a high-profile case. I was hoping he might take a few weeks to relax; that case kind of ran him ragged, but alas, no luck."

"I'm sure Hannah is taking good care of him," Frank smiled.

Nancy smiled warmly. "Always."

"How's Bess?" Joe asked. "And George?"

"Both great. Bess loves her job; which I'm grateful for. Now I get to hear about two things when she calls me."

"I hope it's me," Joe winked.

"Usually whichever male passed her on the street while we were talking."

Joe snorted.

"And George is still George," Nancy continued. "Although it sounds like her and her boyfriend are getting serious."

"Michael?" Frank asked, eyebrows drawn together as he thought.

Nancy nodded. "That's the one."

"Speaking of boyfriends," Joe leaned back in his seat. "How's Ned?"

Nancy's smile faltered. "O-Oh…um…"

With perfect timing, the waitress appeared, holding a tray laden with food. She deposited each dish on the table and Nancy became acutely aware that she'd never moved away from Frank. Trying not to be obvious, she put half a foot of distance between them.

The trio thanked the waitress and dug into their meals. Nancy was desperately trying to think of a conversation point but Joe had clearly not forgotten about his unanswered question. He looked to her keenly.

"You were saying, Nance?"

She tried not to wince. She did, however, shoot him an annoyed look; but the smug look on Joe's face told her he knew what he was doing. She supposed, to him, it was only fair. She'd gotten the scoop on Vanessa in the car.

"He's…fine," Nancy said simply, pushing a piece of broccoli around her plate unconsciously.

"Fine?"

"Fine."

Joe rolled his eyes. "How's the insurance gig going?"

Nancy swallowed a bite of food and did not look up from her plate. "It's fine, I guess."

"Well I'm so glad everything's fine," Joe rolled his eyes, but then studied her with renewed interest. "Is everything fine?"

Nancy felt another pair of eyes on her now and she peered to her left from the corner of her eye. Frank was watching her, frowning, a trace of worry wrinkling between his eyebrows.

"How did he feel about you coming here?" Joe asked, carefully, those blue eyes still watching her closely.

Apparently, he didn't want to play fair.

Nancy thought about lying, but immediately dismissed it. She couldn't lie to the boys; that wasn't who she was. But there was definite tension between her shoulder blades now.

"He um…He doesn't know I'm here to help you guys," she finally mumbled.

Joe's eyes grew as large as saucers. "What?"

"What?" Nancy shot defensively, instantly regretting it.

But Joe was looking a bit nervous now, shifting in his seat. "Nance…"

He trailed off; she knew what he was thinking. That the fact she hadn't told Ned about them was not a very good sign. That she had to keep this from him. That the mention of their names would have a prompted a fight. And the whole situation would have coaxed raised eyebrows from strangers, much less her best friends.

She was quickly growing annoyed. Annoyed that Joe was prying, annoyed that these were reasonable questions that shouldn't make her feel so jumpy. Annoyed that this was an innocent case, working professionally with the Hardys, and that she shouldn't be stressed about it. Annoyed that her relationship could sometimes be akin to walking on eggshells.

"Are you sure everything is fine?" Joe asked quietly, his meal temporarily abandoned.

"Fine," she nodded curtly, her voice on edge with finality.

She didn't want to think about the state of her relationship. Or the fact that she'd yet to hear from Ned since the day before she left River Heights. That the fact she hadn't heard from him was pushed to the back of her mind, something she hadn't barely considered much.

Though she did not look up from her meal, she did not miss the glance Frank and Joe shared across the table.

It was growing late as the three detectives holed up in their hotel room. They'd pushed the two full-sized beds together in order to spread out their research, taking notes and fact checking.

"Nothing of much interest in these files," Joe said, frowning at the last three files he'd gone through. They'd been going through the files Phineas Jackson had given them. "Basic bios. Career, education history, past research."

Nancy sighed, lowering the profile she'd just read through. "Their background checks are in here but I don't see a single ding on any of them."

Leaning forward, Nancy pulled a poster board closer to her. They were mapping out their suspects, placing their names and position and possible relevance on a chart. So far, however, they'd yet to have any links or interesting information.

"And they're even updated," Joe said dejectedly, lazily watching Nancy write. "Looks like they're checked every two years."

"Well, they're careful," Nancy said.

"Not careful enough."

"Well I found something interesting," Frank piped up. He was leaning against the headboard of his bed, back propped up on some pillows. His laptop rested against his knees, eyes set intently on the screen.

"Which is?" Joe prompted, scooching over to peer at the computer screen.

"The reason Phineas was so quick to mention Intel," Frank said, hitting a button on his keyboard. The portable printer set up on his nightstand whirred to life and several pages began to inch out. He grabbed them, passing them to Nancy.

The New York Post has the answer to the question many New Yorkers have been asking; what is the massive, expensive-looking building that's been under construction on Madison Avenue? While the building nears completion in record time, a sign has yet to hang over the gleaming, glass doors. Earlier this week, I sat down with the owner of the new impressive infrastructure.

Dr. John (Jack) Lawson is the CEO of a brand-new company: Intel Health Discoveries. His company, already employing 100,000 people, seems to have sprung up overnight, but is already offering promise. Intel Health Discoveries has partnered with Pfizer- one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. Their notable discoveries through history include Zoloft, Lipitor, Aricept, and Viagra.

Dr. Lawson's track record may have something to do with the stock market's faith in his enterprise. After a brief dabble into medicine, Lawson graduated with a double major in pharmacology and chemistry from Harvard University. Eager to get to work, he cut his third major down to a minor in business. After a brief stint at a small pharmaceutical company, Lawson went into business with friend and Harvard classmate, Phineas Jackson. Together they built I.G. Pharmaceuticals; a company right here in New York that's been dominating healthcare news.

When asked about why Dr. Lawson separated from his own company to fly solo, he smiled graciously and said, "Life is full of twists and turns, and all we can do is roll with the punches."

Intel Health Discoveries is set to open in a few short months, and Dr. Lawson reports that ground-breaking research will commence immediately. When asked what his focus would be, he said: "Whatever the America people need it to be."

With the leading causes of death in the U.S. as heart disease and cancer, Intel Health Discoveries has their work cut out for them. 647,000 Americans die each year of….

Nancy's eyes skimmed the rest of the article, but Intel Health was barely mentioned again.

"That certainly answers some questions," Joe murmured as he finished reading.

"And creates some new ones," Nancy nodded. "Why did Dr. Lawson just pick up and leave?"

Frank shook his head. "It couldn't have been spur of the moment. Not with having the ability to get Intel up and running so quickly."

"Maybe the reporter was able to dig up more than what was written here," Joe gave Frank a knowing look. "You know how tenacious reporters can be."

Nancy's eyes immediately moved to the author of the article and her eyes widened.

Author's Note:

I'm blown away with the responses to this story! Thank you all so much! I was a little weary about posting more without several more chapters under my belt, but I was persuaded by all the love! So I hope this doesn't come back to bite my timelines in the butt.

I'm already working steadily on the next chapter and this time I hope to get a few more done before posting! Unless I'm persuaded again, haha.

Sending lots of love!