Disclaimer: See Chapters 1-3

Andy-Whoa! When I read your review I was surprised at myself for forgetting to have them report it. As for the lack of police in this story, all I can say is that I don't want them there. Frank and Joe have taught me that police are useless pains in the butt. (Just kidding, I love police!) Anyway Andy, thanks for pointing that out.

Avelyn Lauren-Thank you for reviewing to both my stories. I'm a fan of your work. Thanks for the ideas, I will probably end up using some! (And no, I'm not Hispanic, but I'm a Spanish student and I get a kick out of knowing a different language.)

Okay everybody! I'm ready to start now. (Except for the part where I beg everyone to review my story) PLEASE remember to read and review? I'll be your best friend! (Except, obviously, I can't be everyone's best friend, so review now while I'm still free! Just kidding.) Okay, I'm rambling again, so here goes.

Nancy's eyes fluttered open, and the first thing she saw was the concerned face of Frank Hardy. She blushed, remembering her dreams about him. Then she scolded herself. Stop it now! You have a boyfriend! Remember Ned Nickerson? Strangely enough, that annoying twinge of guilt she usually got from this situation was absent.

Nancy's friends were too relieved that she was awake to notice her inner conflict. They watched her closely.

Nancy was the first to break the silence. "Hey guys, did you miss me?"

Joe pretended to give it some thought. "Well..."

George elbowed him. "How are you feeling?" She asked Nancy sympathetically.

"I have a headache that could be bottled and used as a nuclear weapon." Nancy replied, drawing smiles from her friends. "What happened? The last thing I remember we were in the hotel and I could barely- Wait! What time is it?" she asked suddenly.

Frank checked his watch. "Eight twenty-five. You were out for over three hours. Why?"

Nancy said, "I have to report my father's disappearance to the police!" She started to sit up, but her head spun and she sank back onto the pillow. "On the other hand," she continued with her eyes closed tightly, "I suppose one of you could do it for me."

George volunteered to go back to the hotel and see if Carson had come back. The last thing they wanted to do was report a missing person who turned out to be in his hotel room (of all places!) Then she artfully cajoled Joe into coming with her.

Nancy gave George the dirtiest look she could muster while her head felt like it was splitting in two. At this point, the last thing she wanted to do was be alone together (A/N- Oxymoron!) ahem... alone together with Frank Hardy.

George smiled and ducked out of the room. She realized she shouldn't be having this much fun while she had an anesthetic-stealing thief and a missing person to worry about, but she got her kicks while the getting was good.

Joe caught up to her in the lobby. "Hey," he said, "Do you know something that I don't?"

George just smiled.

Carson Drew opened his eyes, but it didn't do any good. He couldn't see anything. He felt tired and groggy, but he was aware enough to know that he was bound hand and foot and was lying on a cold cement floor. A light appeared, and three figures walked through the door. Carson could tell that two of them were men. (That means the other one is a woman, for the mathematically challenged out there.) Since the light was behind them, he couldn't see their faces.

"Well, I see our guest is awake." said one of the men. Carson was prevented from replying by the duct tape that covered his mouth.

The other man stooped and placed a hoagie and a water bottle in front of Carson. He stepped back and cocked his head at the first man quizzically. "Uh, Johnny? If the guy's mouth and hands are tied, how's he gonna eat?"

Johnny smiled menacingly. His teeth glowed in the dark. "Not my problem." he said coldly.

The three figures retreated through the doorway. The room was dark once more.

At least I'm not dead, Carson thought. Unless this is Hell.

After George and Joe left the room Frank vaguely wondered if George had set it up that way on purpose. He supposed she had. She was twisted sometimes.

He looked up to find Nancy watching him. Their eyes met, and for a long moment they just stared into each other's eyes. Nancy averted her gaze first, developing a sudden interest in those buttons they have on the beds in hospitals. Not that those buttons aren't interesting.

"I'm sorry." Frank heard the words come out of his mouth, but he didn't remember wanting to say them.

Nancy looked at him, confused. "For what?"

"Well, you only got hurt saving me."

Nancy was watching him intently. It felt as though she were looking through him instead of at him. "That wasn't your fault." she said honestly.

"It was a strong pyrogen. If the whole vial was used, it could kill in five minutes." Frank mused.

Nancy reached out to take his hand. "Well then I'm glad I was there." she said sincerely. Her gaze never left his face.

Her earnest expression made Frank's heart beat a little faster. There was something about Nancy... how her mind was always in sync with his own... the way she couldn't resist helping those in need...

He sneaked a glance at her. Even lying in a hospital bed, flushed and feverish, connected to about a million tubes of who-knows-what and a little beeping chart, she was beautiful.

When George and Joe arrived at the hotel Carson was not there. (But you already knew that.) Joe looked through the papers on Carson's desk. He was pretty sure the Drews wouldn't mind.

George sat on the bed and picked up the phone. "Hello, I need the Columbus Police Station." she requested. "Yes, I'll hold."

She turned to Joe. "Find anything?"

Joe shrugged. "Just the client's phone number. I haven't checked these files yet." he added.

George nodded, the snapped her attention back to the phone. "Hello? Yes. I'd like to report a missing person..."

Joe only halfway listened as George talked to the police. He was too busy going through the folder. He stopped shuffling to read a letter, squinting at the pinched handwriting. Behind him, George hung up. Joe finished reading and stood up. "I think I've found what we're looking for."

Frank felt his mind switch gears. He shied away from the confusing problem of his feelings for Nancy. He looked up again. Good, she was asleep. Now, to work. Missing supplies. Missing Mr. Drew. Coincidence? Probably. Still, he thought. When had there ever not been a connection? But he shouldn't look for a connection, not now, when he knew little more than nothing about either case.

He flipped open his notepad. The group had only managed to check out twelve of the twenty-six employees between the four of them. Nancy and Joe had only found two each. Frank had done three, and George had managed to get five. The only clues they had were the glove, the earring, and the dirt. Nothing they hadn't already pondered.

That stupid beeping chart was really starting to annoy him. Frank started to reorganize the suspect list, dividing Nancy's unquestioned questionees between himself and George. Nan was pretty much out of commission for the next few days.

Frank stared at the list for the next ten minutes but got no sudden flashes of inspiration. (Not only that, but he also didn't hear heavenly voices or witness unexplained miracles) In fact, he probably would have dozed off if Joe and George hadn't entered the room.

"Frank!" Joe said, handing him a crumpled piece of paper. "Check this out!"

A/N- Sorry if it's a bit short. I tried to write Frank's POV in this chapter. Let me know what you think. Suggestions, please, if you're going to criticize me. Well, um, it's REALLY late, so I'll be drinking a caffeinated beverage if you need me. Please R R, I love getting reviews because I like to know that people are reading my work and that my story isn't just cluttering up cyberspace. I need more than one or two reviews per chapter, okay? Please? Guys? Hello?