How is everyone? I've had a lot on my plate but I managed to scrape this together. And yes, there's even a bit of Joe and Bess cuteness-with more to come.

If you want more, you know what to do! :)

Chapter Fifteen:

Joe glanced up at the clock on the wall, as he listened to the dial tone. It was almost midnight in NYC, but Chicago was an hour behind, so there was a chance that Bess might still be up. She was a bit of a night owl. If she wasn't partying with friends, she was probably watching her favorite beauty guru Youtube channels and sipping sweet wine.

"Hi," she said, answering the phone. Her voice was thick with sleep.

"Oh, god. Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up-"

"No, that's okay. I must have drifted off."

"Wow, is River Heights really that boring?"

"Mm… well, you're not here, so it's definitely not as exciting. Besides, mom dragged me out shopping today and I have to say, I'm a bit exhausted."

"No way. Shopping doesn't tire you out! Are you getting sick?"

"Oh, I don't think so. Anyway, what's hot in your life?"

"You? And a little attack just tonight." He quickly explained what had happened in the lot, when he and Frank were doing the delivery. "But nothing else happened," he added, as Bess started to voice her concern. "We completed the drop, and I got paid well. I'm just waiting to see what else the client wants. I don't know what's going on. It's a bit fishy, really. I feel like he's holding back. But I'll be careful. I promise."

"You better be. I like you in one piece."

His voice was husky as he replied, "Oh, I like you in one piece too. Or a two-piece. I'm thinking you'd be really sexy in a leopard print bikini. Say, what do you think about going to California sometime soon? We could have a vacation. Think, sex, sand, cocktails…"

She giggled and the sound was like a delicate, blushing rose unfurling.

"Seriously, when am I going to see you?" he asked.

"Soon. I promise. Mom is much better. And I only have a few things left to do for Mr. Drew. I miii-iiiss you." Her words were broken by a sudden huge yawn.

"I miss you too. Now, go get some sleep. Sweet dreams."

Down the hall, Nancy and Frank were getting ready for bed. As Frank changed, he told Nancy all about the events of the evening. He loved the look of concern on her face. But she kept still and silent, letting him finish without interruption.

"Do you think it was a warning?" she asked as he finished. She was thinking about how she had Finn had been hit by a killer just the year before. Finn had been injured. And he was lucky to be alive. She was glad Frank hadn't suffered the same fate.

"If it was, I'm not sure what they wanted to warn us about." Frank scratched his chin. "Joe thought this was a simple case. But it doesn't seem to be that way, after all."

"Well, nothing is simple at the moment."

"I know what you mean."

Frank laid down on his back and stared at the ceiling. He felt Nancy settle down beside him.

"I feel like I've really alienated everyone in my life. I'm going to let everyone down, I feel it. Mia's family is relying on me. Jess is relying on me. I've inserted myself in this task force, and now they rely on me, as well as Summer Skeigh's husband." She stared at him, eyes a little bit wild. And he saw something in her gaze: fear. It was jarring because he couldn't remember a time when he'd seen Nancy Drew afraid of anything.

"You're worried you've taken too much on?"

"I know I have. But, Frank, I don't know how to not do that. I've always committed myself completely to a case, obsessed over it until it's solved. I don't think I'm capable of stepping back, of being distant when it's something I care about."

Frank stared at Nancy, unsure of what to say. She was right, of course. And this was her. But she was more feeling, more invested than he'd ever seen her.

He folded her to him and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I don't have an answer for you. But I'm with you all the way. And if you ever need my help, I'm right here."

"I want you all to have a look at this." Jordan slapped a pile of folders on the large conference room table. He didn't look at Nancy as she grabbed the stack and passed them out to the agents on either side of her, who nursed coffees and the remnants of breakfasts eaten on the subway or inside their cars.

"Sara Wilson," Finn read aloud as he accepted a file and opened it to a glossy photo of a woman. She had a narrow face with eyes that seemed to be a bit too big for it. A small nose was perfectly poised, and she had long, straw-colored hair thrown over a slender shoulder. But the attractive woman was clearly distressed in the image. She had a large, ugly-looking bruise on her cheekbone, and there was blood on her swollen upper lip.

"She was attacked earlier this year when she walked home from the subway," Nancy summarised, as she read. "She worked in the city as a beauty consultant. She'd just returned from a trip out of the state and was taking a short cut down an alley when she was grabbed from behind. She was sexually assaulted and robbed. But her attacker was startled by a busboy who came out to dump some trash from a nearby restaurant."

"Wilson said it was too dark for her to see her assailant," Jordan picked up. "The attack was too quick, and he never spoke. But she was certain he was a man."

Another agent flicked to the next page in the folder. It had some photos of the alley. And there was a sketch, done in pencil. Nancy noted the overexaggerated features sketch artists in hopes they'd stand out to civilians. However, the face was blank, boring. There was nothing to latch onto, nothing that stood out. He could be anyone.

"The busboy sat for that sketch," Jordan explained. "He saw the attacker for a second, lit up by the light from the back door. But it was very abrupt, and the attacker didn't wait around. The busboy only chased him for a moment, but he returned to help Wilson."

"Looks like the attacker was white, youngish, dark hair." Finn groaned. "So, it could be anyone?"

"Do you think this is related to the recent disappearances?" Nancy asked.

Jordan shrugged. "She fits the profile. And it's local."

"So are these cases." Nancy moved to the final page. It had a lot less detail, but there were a few names and photos of women who had been attacked in similar circumstances, lately. They all seemed to have similar hair, and they were young, too young.

"Each person gets a case. We're going to see if they fit." Jordan assigned a case to each agent. When he finished, Nancy realized she hadn't been assigned a case.

But, before she could ask, Jordan had dismissed the team and left the room.

"Come see Wilson with me," Finn said. "I could use the help."

Nancy gritted her teeth. But she kept her protests to herself. "Thanks for the charity, Finn. I'm not above taking it. In fact, I'll shout you lunch to show my gratitude."

Finn just smiled and held the door open for her.

As they piled into Finn's car, Nancy wound down her window. It was raining outside, the streets wet. But the air was sticky and humid. She tied her hair up into a ponytail, hoping it might cool her down, to feel the air on the back of her neck.

"I don't get it," she said, returning to her folder. "The attacker took the time to assault Sara. If he is the same guy who is taking these women, he's changed his MO."

"Yeah. I thought that too. There's no "scene" in any of the other disappearances. All the women were out, in public, when they went missing."

"Aside from Mia."

"Yeah. But her housemate would have heard."

"Or her neighbors." Nancy startled Finn when she made a loud sound of frustration. "Urgh, Finn. I was right there. I should have noticed something. I should have been there."

He started to reply but stopped when his radio crackled.

"Come in," he said.

"10-54. There is a body. Will you head to the location?"

"10-04. Affirmative."

As Nancy and Finn listened for the location details, Nancy felt her heart sink. Did the body belong to one of the missing women?