Hello everyone! I'm sorry for the break, but life happened.

I hope everyone is keeping safe and well! I know the elections have made a lot of people happy but there also some who aren't feeling so positive, so I hope I can distract you all yet again with another chapter.

Chapter Nine:

"Are you okay, Nan?" Finn asked, watching her carefully as she slowly hung up the phone.

Nancy nodded but she didn't seem to have a voice anymore. It had been snatched away by the quick conversation with her contact, Sergeant Shulman. She just blinked stupidly up at her friend, unable to form a coherent sentence straight away.

"Come on. Exercise. It's good for you. It'll get you talking at least." He took her arm and guided her back out the doors and into the elevator. Once inside the square metal space, he stood next to her, tapping his foot as the little electronic screen displayed the floors flying by, as they descended toward the street.

"What's up with you, huh?"

"I just… I had a hunch and it was wrong. It happens to all of us. You don't need to make this a big deal, alright?" Nancy knew her friend was only trying to help but it was getting on her nerves. She fought back irritation and nausea.

"You know what? I think this is a big deal. Obviously, we haven't been friends that long, but in that time, a heap of stuff has happened. The last few months have really tested you. And this is a big change: work, relationships, all of it. The last thing you should be doing is bottling it all up. So, you need to talk. And I'm not letting you go back upstairs until you open up to me. Hit me, Drew. I'm not going anywhere."

She walked away from him, arms hugging her stomach as if they provided some protection. But, when she glanced over her shoulder, he was still standing there.

She returned to him, and they leaned against the entrance.

At last, she spoke. "I know it's all a big change. But I've got it, Finn. I swear. I can take whatever life throws at me, even if it's a lot."

"I know. But it can be hard. Even for you."

"And it is. I love Frank. God, more than anyone. But this life… it's not what I ever imagined. I want to be working. I want challenges and structure. But I want us to be together, to be a family. Just… every time the scale tips to either side, I freak out. And now, I'm trying to make friends. And one of them is missing. I feel… like it's my responsibility to make sure she's okay. And, I thought I had a lead, but…"

"We'll find another one," he promised. "After we get through that file."

Nancy gave him a small, relieved smile. "Okay. But let's work. All this heart to heart stuff exhausts me. I think I've opened up enough for one day."

He grinned. "Fine. But you'll learn. Just you see."

Across the city, Joe was trying not to check out cute waitresses, at Frank's bougie café.

He glanced down at his phone. A new message. Great. It was a heart from Bess. Cute. He found himself smiling hugely as he typed out a response.

"Hey, Joe!"

Joe's head shot up and he saw Frank gesturing for him to come inside.

His brother was talking to a tall young woman with a badge that said: "Rina, Manager" on her apron. She'd be the person to talk to, then.

"So, Rina, as I was saying, I'm a friend of Mia. Her neighbor actually. And this is my younger brother Joe. We're trying to work out where she's gone. Do you have any idea?"

Rina shook her head, turning her body and attention from Joe, and focussing on Frank. Was she batting her eyelashes? Oh, damn. She had it bad for Frank. But he was completely oblivious. Joe had to hide a grin. Good old Frank.

"No, I don't. I came in for the morning shift and unlocked, got everything ready. Then I realized she wasn't here. Which is weird. She's my best opener. She's so good that I get some time to sit on my phone, relax, you know."

"Does she normally miss shifts?"

"Never. She's a student. She needs the money. Like, that's normal, right?"

"Right. Has she ever mentioned any trouble with money, though? Problems with men?"

Rina cast a glance at Joe. "No. No problems. I don't even know if she liked guys. Me, on the other hand…" she smiled at Frank and licked her lips. "I love guys."

Frank shuffled slightly in Joe's direction. "How about customers?" he asked loudly. "Were there any weird people hanging around? Anyone demanding her attention?"

"Not that I recall."

Rina stifled a yawn, suddenly bored of the conversation. A man in a business suit had walked into the café and her attention was on his cufflinks, his Rolex.

Suddenly, she frowned. "Actually, there was a guy…" She pointed to the café doors. "He got a coffee near close and he stood outside drinking. It was weird because he got it to go but never sat down. And he wasn't smoking or on his phone. He was just watching. I thought he was just, you know… weird, or something. Should I have been worried?"

She gave Joe her full attention. "Is this a bad thing? Like, I thought Mia was just being… you know, lazy or whatever. But if you're a PI and there are weirdos around…?"

"Don't worry, Ma'am. It's just part of the process," Joe assured her.

"Okay. Well, I have to get to work then…"

Get back to working on her rich clients, Joe thought with a smirk. Frank wasn't so appealing with Mr. Rolex checking Robin Hood on his iPhone. He had a feeling Frank would survive, though. The older Hardy wasn't one for enjoying the spotlight.

"We should talk to other staff members, see if we can get a description," Frank said.

"Uhuh. Why don't you stick to the dudes and I'll talk to the dudettes."

Frank opened his mouth to protest, but then he flushed and stopped himself. Instead, he gave a simple, jerky nod and rushed off to talk to staff members.

They reconvened to sip lattes and compare notes, twenty minutes later.

"I only found one guy who was there on Mia's last shift," Frank admitted.

"Well, I struck out on that front. But I did talk to a girl who said Mia got a lot of attention. But she didn't really notice because she didn't seem to be looking for anything."

"That's what my guy said. He saw the man Rina was talking about, doesn't think it's one of Mia's regulars. All he could tell me was that this guy was short, stocky, wearing an old-fashioned hat. He paid in cash and stood outside until after all the staff left."

"That's super weird. I wonder if he followed Mia out," Joe wondered.

Frank shrugged; eyes glued to his phone. "Maybe. But maybe we're on a wild goose chase. Nancy says that the feds aren't pursuing a serial offender because Leah Martin was killed by her ex. She seems pretty shattered, to be honest."

"Well, I only see it as a win: Mia could still be safe. And, Nan is talking to you."

"She wouldn't stop. She's not petty like that." Frank looked faraway, as he heaved a sigh.

Joe gave him a nudge. "And you're lucky. You're doing a real "Ned," getting up in her grill. She's got the patience of a saint, but she hates it when guys try and tell her what to do. Yeah, I know you're just looking out for her. I am too. But as soon as she feels like you're acting more like a bodyguard than a boyfriend…" he trailed off.

"Got it," Frank said tersely.

"She loves you, bro. She knows you're the real deal."

"Are we really doing the love guru shtick?"

Joe shook his head vehemently. "Please no."

"Good. Anyway, I have work. So, can you stay out of trouble for a while?" Frank handed Joe his housekeys.

"Sure. I'll watch a game, call my girl. No trouble. It's me."

"And that's exactly why I'm worried, little brother."