Author's Note: Yeah I've been gone for a long time but I have an excuse….work and school took up way too much of my time, but hey I've got one of them out of the way so hopefully I'll have more time for fanfiction. Also, in Frank's Day there are parts where he is remembering the captions he saw under the photos, they were supposed to be bold but for whatever reason they didn't come out that way. Hope it didn't confuse anyone.
Disclaimer: I don't own Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys, although I would like to. And while we're at it I would like to own Linkin Park, NERD, Wilmer Valderrama, Aaron Lohr, James Marsters, Shawn Ashmore, Hugh Jackman, Tyrese, Mekhi Phifer……
Chapter 12-New York (Saturday…finally)
"Nancy," Michael whispered softly.
Nancy slowly awoke from her deep slumber. Michael grinned at her disheveled appearance; the strands of strawberry blonde standing on end were definitely priceless.
"Nancy, honey we're landing."
She stretched in her seat. "Already?"
"What do you mean already?" Michael asked as his girlfriend put on her seatbelt, "For those of us you decided to stay conscious throughout the flight..."
"Alright smartass, I get it."
"Good morning," the pilot's voice boomed, "and welcome to New York City. The low today is approximately 75 degrees the high is 85. It should be sunny for the next few days but there is a little chance of rain. On behalf of American Airlines I want to wish you all a great time in the Big Apple. Hang tight and we should be landing shortly. Thank You."
"So how can we so sure that we need to be here in New York and not in one of the other cities Jack Maher and Berney Valleys seem to love hiding out in."
Michael looked at Nancy, "I took a look at their bills. They constantly have to pay off their electric and gas bills here in New York, whereas with their other homes they only pay their bills about once or twice a year."
"That doesn't explain why they were on a roof on the Wilder Campus just four days ago."
"Yeah, that's got me stumped too. But hey at least we have a lead right?"
"Right." Nancy sighed, "So their place is near the NYU campus."
"Yup. So who was that friend you said you had that lives on the campus?"
* * *
"Frank if you don't hurry up I'm going to leave without you!"
"Geez Callie just have a little patience." Frank yelled back, pulling on his pants. "Honestly that girl is insane," he muttered to himself. He reached over to his door and pulled it open.
"Finally."
Frank rolled his eyes. "Hey I had to take a shower and all that. You didn't want me to come out here smelling like, well like Joe."
Callie laughed, "Hey he usually smells good, it's just all his extracurricular activities..." she stopped when she noticed Frank staring at her, "What?"
"You've smelled my brother?"
"What? Getting jealous?" she teased.
Frank blushed then grabbed her hand, "Come on we're late."
"Don't you have to pick up Kim?"
"She'll meet us there."
* * *
"Man is it too early to be awake on a Saturday morning." Joe moaned.
"Stop your bellyaching," Gertrude snapped, "You're not the only one who was dragged out to the middle of nowhere at six in the morning."
Both were sitting in Laura Hardy's car, waiting for Laura to decide where to park.
"Oh stop you two. You're acting like children." Laura chastised.
"Mom, you brought us out to a flea market in the middle of nowhere at six in the morning. What were you expecting?"
"Hey this will be fun," Laura insisted as she parked her car.
"Famous last words," muttered Gertrude.
Laura rolled her eyes, grabbed her purse, and got out of the car. "Come on I know you two will find something you like."
Joe's eyes locked with Gertrude's in the rear view mirror, they shook their heads in unison.
* * *
"Come get your authentic Native American blankets! Native American blankets sold here!"
Joe rolled his eyes as dozens flocked to the vender.
What saps.
The blonde looked around him, his eyes taking in the endless rows of green tents, each one filled with it's own flea market wonder. So far Joe had seen absolutely nothing of interest. He ran his hands through his hair in agitation.
"Man, pushing thumbtacks through my eyes would be more fun than this," he said to no one in particular.
"Really? I always thought that would be slightly painful."
Joe turned around to see Sweet standing with her hands on her hips. He grinned sheepishly, "Yeah well at least I wouldn't be bored out of my mind."
"Yeah sure Hardy."
"What are you doing here anyway? I got forced into coming, what with my mom being the flea market queen."
"I actually came out of my own free will."
"Good Lord why? I mean after that stunt you and Vanessa pulled last night I already that that you were crazy but now I think your downright psychotic."
"Hey us crazy people have to shop somewhere. Actually I'm here to see if I can find a comic book stand."
Joe's eyes grew wide with excitement, "They sell comics at these places!"
"They did at the flea markets around L.A. and Vanessa told me to take a chance on this place."
"Uh oh, you're taking Vanessa's advice?" Joe asked.
"Yeah, why?" Sweet asked cautiously.
"Well isn't she the same person who told you that scaring me and Biff to death would be funny?'
Sweet grinned, "And it was. Now come on, let's find comics."
* * *
"Aw man Chet I totally remember the time...."
Frank sat back and tried to relax at The Bistro, listening to Callie and Chet reminisce.
"So what happened next?" Kim questioned.
"Well," Callie grinned evilly, "these two idiots decided it would be funny to..."
Frank laughed and nodded in all the right places not really caring to pay attention, his mind wandering to the pictures he'd seen the night before. He couldn't help but wonder if the psycho that took the pictures was following him around still.
"What do you think Frank?"
"Huh?"
Kim squeezed Frank's hand, "We were thinking about ordering a salad for all of us."
"That sounds good."
"Are you alright? You've been kind of out of it," Callie commented.
"Is it those pictures?" Questioned Chet.
"Pictures?" Callie asked.
"Yeah, um, well..."
Callie glanced around the table; Frank and Chet were visibly upset while Kim was unfazed. "Spill it Hardy."
"Well," Frank began, "I've been on this case for a the past few days now. You see one of my teachers is convinced someone is trying to kill him so I started sleuthing and I came across this building...."
Callie watched as immense clouds of fear built themselves up in Frank's eyes. She gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Frank," she whispered, "whatever it is you can tell me."
"This room, in the building it had a bunch of pictures," the brunette took a deep breath before meeting Callie's eyes with his own, "pictures of Joe and myself. It, it was like a timeline."
"What? How is that possible?" Callie asked wide-eyed.
"I'm not sure," Frank admitted, "But it was really creepy cuz these pictures start from our baby years and as far as I can tell the 'timeline' is a work in progress. And as if that wasn't enough there are captions under all of the pictures."
"Look Frank," Kim interjected in an annoyed tone, "I already told you there probably isn't anything to worry about. Now can we drop this, I'm here to eat." With that said the girl turned her attention to her food.
The three other people at the table just stopped to stare as Kim continued eating calmly. Frank opened his mouth then shut it, thinking better of actually saying anything. Instead he stormed out of the restaurant.
Chet looked after Frank's retreating figure in shock, never had he seen the detective so angry. Chet stood up to go talk to his friend but he felt the restraining pressure of Callie's hand on his arm.
"No Chet, I'll go talk to him."
Nodding, Chet sat down. After watching Callie follow Frank's path he looked at the longhaired brunette sitting across from him, apparently enjoying her diet cola. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"What?" Kim asked, confused.
Chet looked at her with as much contempt as he could muster, "You just disregarded your boyfriends feelings, like they weren't even important enough for you to register in that arrogant little head of yours."
"Look Chet, I was just being honest, I don't think this is anything to be worried about. Besides, he has other things to worry about, like whether or not to get his girlfriend a present for her upcoming birthday."
Dumbfounded, Chet stared at Kim, "You don't think a lifetime stalker is anything Frank should be worried about?" Before the woman could answer he rushed on, "And he should worry about your birthday? Just what kind of greedy little, emphasis on the little, person are you?"
She rolled her eyes, "Whatever Chet, I was raised to believe that I am a princess and should be treated like one. And if you are through asking stupid questions I am going to leave." She got up to leave, dropping three dollars on the table to cover her drink. As she walked toward the door she yelled back, "Oh, and nice try with the short joke!"
"Man what a piece of work," Chet muttered to himself.
* * *
"Frank! Frank wait!" Callie yelled as she ran to catch up. Despite the crowded New York sidewalk she managed to keep track of Frank.
"Callie I really don't feel like talking."
Callie fell into step beside her ex-boyfriend, "Frank I really don't know what to say, I've never seen you angry. Well not this angry. Nevertheless, you have to talk to me. Trust me, talking helps."
Frank stopped abruptly and turned toward Callie. "Callie there isn't anything for us to talk about, I'm pissed off at my girlfriend, that's all."
"Oh yeah, 'that's all'. Why are you trying to act like it wasn't a big deal? Doesn't it bother you that your girlfriend doesn't care that someone is stalking you and might even be planning to kill you."
"Kill me? Crap I hadn't even thought of that."
Callie winced. Nice work "Frank if you want my advice you should just dump the girl, she is totally wrong for you. What did you ever see in her anyway?"
"Did you hear that?" Frank asked, suddenly alert.
"Don't try and change the subject."
"No, really. Someone's calling my name." He looked around but couldn't see anyone who might know him.
Callie looked around as well. "I think you're getting paranoid now."
He shook his head as if to clear it out of unwanted junk. "Maybe you're right but I could have sworn I'd heard a voice."
"Frank!" A voice exclaimed.
Frank turned around in shock only to find Nancy Drew standing behind him with her hands on her hips.
"Man are you deaf, I've been shouting your name for the last few minutes. I got three other guys named Frank come up to me and ask what I wanted."
Frank's face lit up as he smiled. He gathered the strawberry blonde in his arms for a bear hug. When he finally let her breath he asked, "What are you doing here?"
Instead of answering Nancy rushed past him, "Callie! Hey I haven't seen you since the last time I was in Bayport." #1
"Yeah I know and that was ages ago. You still owe me a trip to the mall."
Frank watched as the girls hugged. "Mall? Never mind. Nancy what are you doing in New York? Shouldn't you be at school in Illinois?"
"Yeah I should but I came out here for a.."
"Case." Frank and Callie finished in unison.
"Yup. I'mherewithMichaelwe'reworkingonthiscrazystoryforHeadlinesandwehad juststoppedtoeatwhenIsawyoustandingouthere." #2
"Wow, you said that all on one breath," Callie said amazed.
"What can I say? I got a lot of sleep on the plane and then made the mistake of pumping myself full of caffeine."
"Frank! Callie! Nancy?"
All three turned to look at Chet running toward them.
"No way! Chet? What are the odds that I would see you too?"
"Nancy? Shouldn't you be in..."
"She's on a case," Callie explained.
"Yeah. Oh I should probably get back to Michael or he'll think I got kidnapped or something." She made eye contact with Frank, "I have so much I want to tell you, call me at the Swenson Hotel, Room 112."
"Alright, but only if you'll listen to the details of my case."
"Cool. I'll see you all later." With that Nancy ran back across the street to a small restaurant.
Callie frowned, "Wait a minute. Who is Michael? And what is Headlines?"
* * *
"Are you kids going to buy anything or what?" The grungy, balding, cashier asked.
Joe looked up from the rack of comics he was going through, "Chill out man, we're just trying to find comics that we really like."
"Yeah," Sweet piped up, "And you know we are your only customers right now. Would it kill you to be nice?"
"Whatever," the cashier grumbled, "Just don't go stealing anything."
Joe rolled his eyes. "Hey Sweet I found the Rogue comics."
"Really?" Sweet perked up, "Which series?"
"The first one."
Sweet rushed over to Joe's side. "No way! I've been looked for that series."
"I wonder what other wonderful surprises are on these racks."
Three hours later the teenagers stumbled out of the comic tent with more comics than they could really hold.
"Man," Joe said, his voice slightly muffled by the comics in his face, "My mom is going to be pissed when she finds out how much I spent today."
"Yeah, my dad's going to kill me. But as long as I have my comics..."
"Man now I'm gonna haveta find my mom and get her car keys cuz there's no way I'm gonna be able to carry these around."
"No worries, I'm borrowing Vanessa's truck. Just put them in her truck, I'll bring them over to your house later."
"Sounds good to me."
The two of them carefully maneuvered their way around the hordes of people in the flea market and finally found their way to the gravel parking lot.
"Now, where did I park?"
"You don't know?"
"Let's see, I parked next to a large hippie van..." her voice trailed off. "Oh wait, I remember."
Ten minutes later they were returning to the flea market without their comics.
"I'm hungry, let's find a place to eat."
"Shouldn't you look for your mom? Won't she be a little worried? It's been like three hours."
"Nah, she spends at least six hours at every flea market we've ever gone to."
"Six hours! How can you stand it?"
Joe was about to answer when he heard the snap of camera shutter. Frowning he looked around, seeing no one he turned back to Sweet. "Usually I just sleep in the car but since you're here I think I'll stay awake."
"Thanks..I think."
"What can I say," Joe said, putting his right arm around her shoulders, "You are too interesting to pass up. By the way, has anyone ever told you that you have pretty eyelashes?"
"Thanks and no," Sweet laughed, "Has anyone ever told you that you have bitable earlobes?"
Joe sighed, placing the back of his left hand on his forehead feigning sadness, "Sadly people have only commented on the left earlobe," his face brightened, "but alas this fine young woman has spoken of the other ear!"
Sweet laughed, "Joe you are honestly one of the most original..." her voice trailed off yet again, this time noticing that Joe had dropped his arm from her shoulders and was now frowning and looking around. "Joe are you looking for something?"
"I keep hearing a camera shutter or something."
She placed a hand on his bicep, "I'm sure it was nothing."
"But..."
"Joe it was nothing!" Sweet's voice rose so suddenly Joe had to take a step back.
Man do I not want to get her angry.
Click
"See! There it is again." Joe spotted a cluster of bushes to his far left. "I think it's coming from those trees."
"Joe, you are imagining things," Sweet chastised crossly, folding her arms over her chest.
Without a word Joe ran towards the bushes. Had he bothered looking back he would have witnessed the look of sheer horror on Sweet's face.
"Joe! No!" She realized her screams were futile as Joe dove into the bushes, encountering a man dressed in blue garb.
Joe wasted no time pinning the mysterious man to the ground. "Now tell me who you are!"
Sweet watched in horror as one single thought reared it's ugly head in her mind. Oh no, he's gonna find out.
#1-I'm not sure that Nancy and Callie have ever met.
#2-Let's assume that Nancy kept in touch with Frank and Joe and that she's told them all about Michael and her show Headlines.
A/N: I apologize for the short chapter; maybe the next one will be longer.