Chapter 9

Psychedelic Hollow

itsmeocean@hotmail.com

Frank switched off his mobile and gave Nancy a small shrug. Crossing his long legs which were stretched at an uncomfortable angle because the width of the table was too small and he didn't want his to brush across Nancy's, he set the phone down on the table and glanced at it quickly, just in case Joe changed his mind and called.

Five seconds passed and Joe didn't happen to the phone. He heard Nancy's soft laughter and looked up, arching his brows.

"Hmm, I got something on my face?"

"Nope. I can't hear Joe's reply but you sure sound like his mother and now, you're looking real pissed." Nancy giggled, almost choking on her soda. Frank curled his lips crookedly, embarrassed and misunderstood all at one go. She sensed his discomfiture and her eyes softened with a mixture of sweetness, seriousness and concern. However, she shook her head and twirled the fancy straw in her pink colored drink.

"I know you have something to say, Nan." Frank remarked as he cut his rosemary chicken. Nancy ordered Caesar Salad and was almost done while he was having some trouble finishing his food. His stomach felt pulled in a multitude of directions and any food that was introduced seemed to invite nausea.

But still, he exercised control and smiled easily- naturally.

"Nope, nothing. Just…" Her head tilted down at an angle as she stabbed at her salad, a whimsical smile gracing her lips, "Nevermind, Frank."

"Hey, it's all right. I'm so used to being asked difficult questions- I had a lot of practice in the past when dad asked me about Joe's whereabouts all the time."

"It's not a question… just an observation…" She looked up and scrutinized him deliberately with those intelligent eyes, as if emphasizing her comment. Involuntarily, he was drawn again to those eyes which he had once swam in the depths of- scouring out, with heartrending and unspeakable emotions, those cracks of vulnerability in the particularly seasoned gaze of a young woman.

An excruciating twist of his chest was all that he needed to remind him to obliterate any straying emotions and thoughts. In any case, he knew he was only pained by the memories of a past that was, perhaps, best left forgotten.

"Observation?" He placed his fork by the side of the plate and drank some water. This wasn't a good place to bring Nancy for lunch. A cozy café with heavy curtains blocking out most of the sunlight such that it was romantically dimmed inside with the cliché, yet effective, flickering glow of a candle on each table stirring up whatever little feelings inside into amorous passions.

Next time- Burger King.

"Yah, I know you've always been… well, protective over Joe. And anyone will naturally assume such brotherly protection will simmer down with years… Doesn't seem so in your case. If anything, you sounded rather…" She narrowed her eyes, as if mildly agonizing over her choice of words next, "How should I put it?"

Frank smiled good-naturally, "Paranoid?"

She snapped her finger and grinned, "Yes! How did you guess I was going to say that?"

"I didn't need to guess, Nan. The word's dancing on your lips the entire time."

Smiling wryly, she played with the remnants of her salad and glanced at him briefly, "Right, I forgot. You used to be able to complete my sentences."

"And you, mine. I don't think we'll ever lose that connection." He replied softly. In a silence heavier than gravity, they finished the late, dragged out lunch. Waiting for the bill to come, Joe messaged, informing them that he was coming back to Bayport with Justin. Frank settled the tab and guided Nancy by the shoulders out of the café. Throughout, he hadn't a clue what to say to her- inspired contents rarer than dodos and small talk too banal to even try making interesting.

Too many thoughts were whirling in his mind to endeavor making Nancy feel comfortable. He knew she was increasingly awkward with each tick of the clock- digital, analog- he didn't care. So was he- it was harder to let go of the memories than he thought it would be. Undulating emotions, alternating between the joys of seeing an old friend and wishing she had never come at all, swell and rose most irritatingly in his stomach.  Moreover, there was the little act that Joe did which added to his ire. His kid brother had messaged, not called. And he didn't want to phone Joe back- Nancy was right. He was paranoid and he didn't exactly like being that either.

C'mon, open the door, Connie!

He rang the doorbell again and grinned sheepishly. Nancy gave him a half-shrug, indicating that she was all right with waiting longer than necessary. Frank knew Conrad was at home- he had called Conrad about fifteen minutes earlier and the man said he would be waiting for them. Not to mention, Frank thought he saw a shadow over the peephole. Sick of the wait, Frank pounded hard on the door.

"Conrad! Open up!"

Finally, the door swung opened. Conrad eyed Nancy skeptically and, from that instant, Frank knew why Conrad had hesitated in answering his door. However, there was no escaping the introductions. Cordial, but rather formal, the greetings were suffered through and it was apparent that Conrad's suspicions grew more foreboding after learning that Nancy was with the FBI. Throughout the short introductions, Conrad shot Frank dirty looks. Frank could understand where Conrad was coming from- Justin was a suspect and Frank had betrayed him by bringing someone from the law in. The law was prosecuting Justin and Conrad was certainly not feeling too friendly with it right then.

They convened around the dining table and Conrad brought out some cans of soda for them. He sat down opposite Nancy and Frank, pulled the tab off his can and drank deliberately, never lifting his steely sight off Nancy.

"Nancy Drew? You and Frank are good friends?"

Without missing a beat, Nancy smiled genially and the old ache tugged at Frank's heart. A heartfelt smile was powerful, he thought. It could tear down walls; it could draw enemies in as friends; it could save lives, it could stop wars.

It could inspire love.

But no more.

"Yes. We know each other since high school during an inter-school debating competition."

"Hmph." Conrad grunted, glancing at Frank with some mistrust. "Knowing her for long doesn't make it okay to bring her into this case."

"I assure you, all I want is to find a lead into the suppliers of Rofomyn." Nancy said gently but Conrad brushed her off with a wave of his hand.

"I know how you cops work. My friend who never sold drugs in his life was set up by a cop and still serving time in jail. I don't trust you guys. Give me a reason why I should allow Frank, whom I hired, to let you into this case and share privilege information with you?"

Nancy inhaled in deeply, the smile still on her lips. Frank knew she was about to blow from the interrogation. With some amusement, he wondered if Nancy was finding it easy to be on the receiving end after giving it for the last few years. She looked at Frank, a subtle call for help in those summer blue eyes. Frank shrugged and leaned back against the rickety dining chair, feeling much less tense suddenly as a drop of humor lightened up his nerves. Nancy could handle it by herself.

She threw him a lethal glare matching that of Marcie Brown and he grinned at her wickedly in reply. Annoyed by him, she turned to Conrad who was seated to her left and gazed at the hulk piercingly without fear or prejudice.

"Do you trust your brother?" Nancy asked somberly. Perhaps rather surprised by such a direct and forceful approach in a girl, Conrad's eyes widened slightly before he furrowed his thick brows and growled.

"Yah."

"Then you have nothing to worry about from me. I'm only looking for the suppliers. If you trust your brother's innocence, then my co-operation will only serve to hasten your brother's acquittal from manslaughter and rape."

"Frank..." Conrad turned to him and nodded towards the bedroom he shared with Justin, "Can I have a private moment with you?"

"All right. Nan, I won't be long."

"Don't worry about me. I'll make myself comfortable." Nancy took a drink of soda and smiled at him in mock surrender. She had said all she could- it was up to Conrad to believe her now.

Conrad shut the door gently but not before sneaking a wary peep at Nancy. In the dim room, Conrad paced up and down while Frank sat down on one bed and waited until his friend worked out his anxiety and frustrations.

After a few minutes of stalking and hair grabbing, Conrad stopped and faced Frank squarely, "Can she be trusted?"

"If she can't, I wouldn't have roped in her assistance."

Conrad sank down on the bed next to him, burying his face in his hands before he spoke next, lowly. "I let Justin go. He told me he was leaving; I gave him bus money and just sat on the couch."

Frank blinked, finding it difficult to reconcile with what he had just heard.

"Buddy… you all right? I'm sorry. I guessed I didn't openly help him… but I did give him bus money."

" 'cuse me, Conrad, I think I need time-out right about now." He stood up with some struggle and was about to open the door when Conrad, following right behind, shot out an arm to stop him, grabbing him hard by one shoulder.

"Hey, I'm really sorry about it. I mean, Justin said he needed to some place for a while and that he would be back. I wanted him to be honorable and come back after he did what he needed to do but at the same time, I can't help but wish he found some way out of this. It's not looking good. I read the newspaper reports. The town practically hung him!"

"So you didn't really ask him to leave… you merely wished he could get himself out the mess. There's a slight difference but.,.. okay. We can work with that." Frank turned around and smiled though his heart was crushed. Helping people often brought more joy to his heart than the recipients of his kindness. This time, he felt like he was taking on a thankless favor.

"I did tell him to go as far as he could." Conrad dropped his head as he quietly confessed, "He looked at me and I know he knew what I was talking about. Justin's friend, Colin, has some connections and I was hoping...."

Sucking in a deep breath, Frank leaned his back against the door and gazed up the ceiling, counting to ten. He was a patient man and had tolerance for things that most people would fly into a rage at. But this broke the straw on the camel's back.

"You. Take. Me. As. A. Fool. Don't. You?"

"Frank, please… you're always asking me to calm down. I knew I was the wrong the moment I saw him left. So I raced to the bus and train stations but I couldn't find him. His car was confiscated by the police as evidence and he didn't touch my Harley so I have no clue what mode of transport he could be taking. Then I called you and…"

"You freaking lied to me!" Frank hissed, clutching his friend by his t-shirt suddenly and bore his gaze penetratingly into Conrad's brown eyes. "After all I have done for you! I'm not one to broadcast what I did but do you know just how big the favor you asked of me is?"

"Frank… man…"

"The money was for my wedding! My marriage! I earned it risking my damn life and you come here, asking for help and I gave it! This is how you repay me? And how far do you think Justin can run? On your bus money? No matter where he is, the arms of justice will catch up with him! If he's innocent, you're helping him better by making sure he stays! Learn your honor my damn foot!"

"Cool it, man!" Conrad shoved Frank and the crash of bones against wooden door must have alerted Nancy outside. Some sense knocked into him then and he knew didn't want a commotion thus he didn't retaliate. It would be hard to explain the situation to Nancy and Conrad didn't know his own strength. His back was hurting from the impact and he feared he might be badly bruised.

Such payment for kindness. Sometimes, it seemed like being the good guy wasn't worth the effort. He didn't mind people not thanking him. He didn't do it for gratitude. But he minded being betrayed and what Conrad did just ripped his trust in people to shreds.

Seething at his friend, Frank gritted his teeth to contain his anger. Conrad let go of him and stumbled backwards, his eyes hooded with apology as he stared at his open palms. "Sorry. I didn't mean to push you."

Frank straightened up and rubbed at his spine, steadying his breathing before he could trust himself to speak next. "I don't think you broke anything."

"I know you've always been cool to me, man. But he's my kid brother. I really don't wish for him to take even a day trip to jail, you know. I've been inside- it's no walk in the clouds. There you have to fend for yourself or be bullied. Justin's so small and so frail… he's easy picking. I have to protect him from these things and at that moment, it just seemed like the only way out." Conrad looked at Frank in the eye and Frank just knew the next question before the bigger guy could spell it out.

"If it was Joe, what will you do? You'll have done the same."

"No, Connie." Frank replied softly, using Conrad's childhood name, the name that he first knew Conrad by. He hoped the name would remind Conrad just how vulnerable he was inside even when he was all muscled up and full of bravado; how wrong he could be. "I will have utmost faith in him. And then I will do my darn best to make sure that he's free from the charges, not make him look even more culpable to the jury. And even if I can't do anything, I'll pray with him every night. I'll watch over him and give him words of encouragements. I will never…" He stabbed a finger at Conrad for emphasis as his eyes pierced right into Conrad's soul, "Never hit him. Never give up on him. Never give up on hope. Because if I do, then I know that he, looking up to me for strength and faith, will give up on himself too."

"I didn't give up on him!"

Frank shook his head, "No, Conrad. By asking him to leave, you're telling him that he's guilty and he doesn't have a chance at all. All our efforts could have been for naught if Joe hadn't found him, do you realize that?"

Conrad collapsed on the bed and rubbed at his face violently before snarling, a man frustrated with himself. "I don't know. All I can think about is getting my brother away from prison. All I can think about is if Justin don't have a chance with the legal system, then I'll give him the chance. That's all I can think about. I didn't give up on him. I just didn't want to see him go to jail. I know I didn't pave a good way for him to escape but if I can, I will. I'm sorry, Frank. That's my truest thoughts and feelings. And I will slog my whole life just to pay back what I owed you. If my brother is safe, I don't mind paying off his debts. I don't mind never seeing him again, only missing him at night when memories of the happier times we had when we were kids come back to haunt me. If Joe was facing execution and you have a boat to bring him somewhere…." Conrad let the question hang, his voice turning scratchy,

"But I truly felt it then. I saw him and I could picture the jury looking at him. They wouldn't give him the chance, Frank. They will look at him but they won't see Justin the way I see him. They don't love him the way I do. They will only see a deadbeat punk and his deadbeat brother. They will see a drug addict. They will see a man high on drugs while scoring with his girlfriend…"

Letting out a heavy breath, Conrad cradled his head as he stared at the floor.

"They won't see Justin. Only I see Justin. It's the same way for you when Joe split town. Those not in the know didn't see your brother protecting his girlfriend and baby the best way he knew how. They only pointed fingers and spread rumors. They didn't know Joe the way you did, believed in him the way you do. They don't." Conrad looked up, shaking his head, convinced of his own argument. He pointed at the door and whispered harshly, "She doesn't."

Frank swallowed hard as, with each, heartfelt word from Conrad, the sharp edges of black and white bleed into each other, forming a shapeless, suffusing puddle of gray. How could justice work in tandem with mercy and compassion faultlessly? After all, the system was created by humans, one of the most fickle and confused species of nature. But he also knew what would be right in his eyes- it might not be palatable to everyone's taste but he knew the answer to the incomplete question thrown up by Conrad before Conrad even asked.

Most importantly, he was touched to the very core by Conrad's devotion to Justin. There was nothing he needed to do to infer, interpret or decipher- Conrad was openly honest and clear. He loved his kid brother more than everyone gave him credit for. It was in the mist over his eyes when he talked about Justin- a mist which was more than tears.

"I'm sorry, Conrad. Thanks for sharing. And you're wrong. It's not an unfair question. If Joe was facing execution and I have a boat, I will bring him someplace safe, even though I know when he's gone, they'll come after me. But I only ask that you have faith in me. Justin is not facing execution. We will get the person who spiked Kimberly's drink and we will make sure Justin doesn't meet your father under the wrong circumstances."

Conrad let out a derisive snort, "Hah! There are no right circumstances."

"There is, Conrad. The circumstance is 'forgiveness.' Don't you think you have carried this baggage for far too long?" Frank met Conrad's cynical eyes steadily. Nevertheless, he knew that his words were heard when Conrad turned away again, looking down as he kicked his heels against the ground.

He knew it when he saw a single drop of tear splash onto the wooden floor boards.

***

Nancy jumped away from the bedroom door when she heard the front door opening. Scampering stealthily back to the dining table, she sat down and crossed her legs, pulling the magazine on the side of the table towards her, pretending that she was reading it all along. Well, she didn't need to feign interest in the magazine- it arrested her attention when the first picture she saw was a half-naked girl smiling back at her.

Oh no. Men's porno magazine. Put it back, put it back.

"Why are you here?" Justin, who stepped into the apartment with Joe, appeared in shock when he saw her. Immediately, after he recovered a split second after, he tried to rush for the entrance only to bump right into Joe who was blocking the way.

"Whoah, calm down tiger. This isn't the first time you see a drop, dead gorgeous lady, right?"

"You're crazy! Do you even know who she is? She's an FBI! She's here to arrest me!"

"Nope, she's helping me and my brother to prevent you from dancing to the jailhouse rock. C'mon, in you go."

"Where's my brother?" 

"I don't know. Maybe he's in the toilet?" Joe grabbed Justin by the collar, kicked the door shut and sat the kid down onto the springy sofa. "There, sit here. Nancy, nice to see you…" Joe drawled and his eyebrows did a little dance when he caught a glimpse of what she was reading. Tensing up, she smiled at him plastically before flipping the page over to an even more prurient center page.  Joe sniggered inaudibly, his blue eyes glinting with glee as she pushed the magazine aside and sat up straight with as much decorum as she could.

 "Hey, Justin. Nice to see you again too."

"You two are friends? Man! This is nuts!" Justin exclaimed, "I'm practically charged!"

"No, Justin. She's cool." Conrad emerged from the bedroom, a little red-eyed. Nancy knew the reason. She had to work out every single cell of self-control to keep herself from tearing earlier while she was eavesdropping. Faking a non-affected smile, she arched a brow, "So, Conrad. Trust me now?"

"For now, yah." Conrad glowered at her and opened his mouth as if to say something else when he clamped it shut.

"Thank you for not threatening me." Nancy guessed the nature of his unspoken sentence and her intuition was rewarded when he grunted as he approached his brother.

"Justin…"

"Hi, bro. I'm back." Justin's eyes darted at the private detectives and one Federal agent in the house before announcing a little too loudly, "I'm sorry I ran away! I know you asked me not to but I still did! You told me to stay but I…"

"Stand up, Justin."

"Conrad… I swear! I really didn't… I mean…" Justin was positively fretful. Nancy remembered Frank's mention of Conrad's violent ways against Justin when he hadn't a clue how to discipline the errant kid. "I…"

"Just stand up."

Nancy stood up then and Frank, standing by the bedroom's entrance, shook his head at her and Joe who was hovering behind Conrad with readied hands. She was still worried, however, noticing Joe's complete trust in Frank, she felt more comfortable taking the leap of faith. Joe had relaxed his hands and walked away, giving the Daye brothers space.

Justin stood up hesitantly, backing into the sofa when Conrad came near. He turned his cheek, as if expecting a punch to land on his face. Though Nancy couldn't see from the back, she could imagine Justin's shock when his brother simply pulled him into a fierce embrace for he stiffened for a moment before returning the affection.

"Glad you're home, kid. Help the detectives out, will you?" Conrad pulled away and looked down into his shorter brother's eyes earnestly, "Can you tell them as much as you know? Don't bother protecting anyone or anything. Just tell the truth. The innocent won't come to any harm and those in the wrong will get what they deserve, nothing more, nothing less."

"Bro, I already told Joe what I knew. I'm sorry, man. Look…" Justin turned around; addressing all of them. "Conrad didn't give me the money to escape or helped me in anyway, if that's anyone is thinking. I really just wanted to go down to Port City to pay my respects to Kimberly. It's only right that I do. If she's looking down from Heaven, she will want me to be there. I know it here." He pressed a palm to his chest as his eyes welled up again with the fresh cuts of the dolor death brought, "Which was why I had to go. I wanted to come back but I don't know. I bought a drink at in a convenience store, gave the cashier my only note and left the change behind and no one wanted to give me a lift..."

"We know." Frank said smilingly. "I'm just glad you're back."

"You're just glad your money's back." Justin muttered dryly and Conrad, out of habit, smacked the back of his brother's head.

"He's helping us, you cr… . Say…"

"Sorry, Frank." Justin mumbled, interjecting Conrad's gentle promptings. "And thank you."

***

Author's Note

Hey guys, thanks for the reviews. I am currently proof-reading and emending chapters after some disastrous overlooking of grammar and typos. Now, to answer one specified question before I go on.

I'm a Hardy Boys' fan, more so than Nancy Drew. However, I feel that the Supermysteries were so inadequate in helping us comprehend the dynamics between Frank and Nancy. I'm am absolutely sure that the two of them would have gave in to temptations long ago. Being in the position of loving one man and liking another intensely long ago with my first boyfriend, I can understand how Nancy felt and will like to explore this.

That said, Nancy remains a peripheral character as compared to the Boys. In Supermysteries again, the main characters were Nancy and Frank. Joe was just there for mind's eye candy purposes or for getting into trouble to create some action for Frank and Nancy to jump into. This isn't a supermystery. This is the Hardy Boys with Nancy visiting… and that's all she does. She does get involve in the case but I don't feel qualified to build up her character more than her relationship with Frank Hardy because I have read only 4 Nancy Drew case files as compared to almost of Hardy Boys' and the Supermysteries.

Hope that clears it up. J

Ocean