Disclaimer: You know the drill.
Nancy started to shake. She dropped the evidence bag on the floor and ran out of the apartment complex. Frank stood there, shocked. He then took off after her. He caught up with her at her car.
"Hey." He said grabbing her arm. "You wanna tell me what this is about?"
Nancy shook her head. "It's nothing." She took a deep breath to compose herself. "I guess it was just nerves. I knew Rosie and I guess it kind of got to me."
"You're not telling me everything." Frank said.
"It's nothing, Frank. Really. I guess I was just overwhelmed. Which is kind of a shocker after all of the crime scenes I've been to." Nancy said. She gave Frank a small smile.
"Like you said, you knew this girl. I understand completely." Frank said, and he pulled her into a hug.
Nancy just let him hold onto her for a few moments. Finally, she pulled apart. "I need to get going. I need to get this story together so Ashley can go to print with something."
"Why don't you see if someone else can take the story." Frank suggested.
Nancy shook her head. "I'll be okay. And besides, if I keep on with this maybe I can help find Rosie's killer."
Frank looked at her sternly. "I don't want you to get in over your head with this, Nancy. Don't do something that's going to land you in trouble." he cautioned.
"I won't. I promise." Nancy said. "But you know that I have to help with this, Frank."
"I know there's no way of talking you out of it. But just remember not to get in the way of the investigation. The chief would have my head for sure if he knew I allowed you to help with the investigation." Frank said.
"I would never do anything to jeopardize your career." Nancy said. "Now, I have to go. What time was Joe getting in?"
"Sometime later this afternoon. You know he likes to surprise us." Frank said.
Nancy gave him another kiss and got into her car. She gave him a small wave as she drove away.
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Nancy pulled into the first parking lot that she got to. God, she wished that she could stop shaking. She couldn't let Frank see that she was scared.
Be reasonable, she told herself. It just has to be a coincidence. A lot of psychos use the name Cupid.
But that still didn't calm her. Nancy took a deep breath and pulled out of the parking lot. She had to get to the Chicago Tribune offices. Ashley would kill her of she didn't bring her something to go to print with. She pulled into the parking garage and locked her car. She put a smile on her face when she enetered the building. She didn't want to worry anyone. Paul, the lobby security guard, greeted her.
"Hey, Nancy." he said, smiling.
"Hey, Paul. How is Lizzie?" Nancy asked, as she siged in.
"She's doing great. The baby will be here in a few weeks." Paul said. He couldn't erase the smile off of his face.
That made Nancy smile and her spirits brighten. "I know you're excited." she said.
"I am." He said as Nancy handed him the pen. "You have a great day, Nancy."
"Thanks. You too, Paul." Nancy said. She sighed when she got into the elevator. She couldn't wait until she and Frank could have a child of their own. They had both discussed it and had decided to wait until after they were married to try.
Nancy got out of the elevator on the fourth floor and was instantly greeted by her secretary, Anna.
"Hi, Anna." Nancy said.
"Nancy, you have a few messages. I left them on your desk." Anna said, handing her a coffee. "Oh, and Miss Morgan needs to see you."
"Thanks, Anna." Nancy said, taking a sip of her coffee. She put her stuff down in her office and then made her way to Ashley's office. The door was closed when she got there, so she tapped on it and stuck her head in. Ashley was on the phone.
"Nancy!" Ashley said, smiling. She waved her into the office. She then turned her attention back to the phone. "Listen, let me call you back in a bit. All right. Thanks, Tom." She hung up the phone.
"I could have come back later." Nancy said, sitting on the black sofa across from Ashley's desk.
"Don't worry about it." Ashley said. "I told Anna I needed you as soon as you got here." She looked at her watch. "In fact, I thought it would take you longer."
"Well, they didn't have much they could give me." Nancy explained.
"And when we say 'they' do we mean a certain detective?" Ashley said, raising an eyebrow.
"I go to only the best source." Nancy said. "I'll get it typed up and handed to you before I leave today."
"Sounds great." Ashley went over to sit on the sofa beside Nancy. "Now, the reason why I wanted to see you. I know that we've discussed this before, but I really need you to do something for me."
"I've already done something for you." Nancy said. "What more can you possibly want, Ashley?"
"I have a new intern." Ashley said.
"I think I know where this is going." Nancy said, nodding.
"And I wouldn't normally ask you to do this, but it is very important." Ashley said.
"And why is this?" Nancy asked.
"Because he just happens to be one of our investor's nephew. And I promised that he would have the best." Ashley explained.
Nancy looked at Ashley. "If I do this, I get something in return."
"Name it." Ashley said.
"You have got to let me get some time off to finish up my wedding plans. It is only a few weeks away and I still have a lot to do." Nancy said.
"Done." Ashley said. "Thank you so much. I'll get him in here so you can meet him." She went to the door and opened it. She waved someone in.
Nancy stood up when a handsone, young man came into the office. He was tall with dirty, blonde hair and brown eyes. He was dressed casually aand walked with ease.
"Nancy Drew, I would like you to meet Andy Roberts. Andy, this is Nancy. She's going to be showing you the ropes." Ashley said.
Andy held out his hand. "It's very nice to meet you, Nancy."
Nancy smiled warmly. "It's nice to meet you, Andy."
"I can't wait to get started." Andy said.
"Yeah, me too." Nancy said, sighing.
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Frank Hardy was worried. It wasn't like Nancy to keep something from him. She had said it was nothing, but he knew better than that. Something was bothering her, and he wanted to know what it was.
Frank turned away as soon as he saw that her car was out of sight. There wasn't much more that he could do here. Forensics was taking care of everything now. He decided he would take one last look around.
His cell phone rang when he was almost back in the apartment. He pulled the small phone out of his pocket and looked at the Caller ID. He saw that it was his brother, Joe.
"Hey, bro." Frank said as a greeting.
"Hey. You busy?" Twenty-one year old Joe Hardy asked.
"Just investigating a murder, if you count that as busy." Frank answered.
"Just can't stay away from the excitement, can you, Frank?" Joe asked, laughing.
"Nope. The excitement always seems to find me." Frank said.
"So, what's the case?" Joe asked.
"A woman was murdered last night in her apartment." Frank explained. He watched as several of the CSI walked out of Rosie's apartment.
"I just wanted to let you know that I just got done with school for the semester. I'm leaving Bayport now, so I should be in Chicago in a few hours." Joe said.
"Sounds good." Frank said, distractedly.
"What's going on, Frank?" Joe asked. "I have a feeling that if I told you I was giving birth this very moment, you wouldn't even question it and congratulate me."
Frank smiled. "I'm distracted, Joe. Not crazy."
"So, what's up?" Joe asked again.
"I'm just worried about Nancy. She took this murder pretty hard." Frank explained.
"Why would she do that?" Joe asked.
"She knew the victim. It was from one of her old cases. But I get the feeling that there's something that she's not telling me." He absently reached into his pocket and pulled out the evidence bag that contained the note signed by Cupid.
"In fact, she closed up when she saw a note left by the killer." Frank said, thinking out loud.
"Frank, just remember not to pressure her. She'll let you know what's bothering her when she's ready." Joe said.
"I know." Frank said. "It's just that she has enough stress already with the wedding. I just don't want anything to add up on it." Frank explained.
"I'll be there soon. Maybe I can talk to her if she hasn't talked to you." Joe said.
"Thanks, Joe." Frank said gratefully. Sometimes it was nice to have Joe around.
"Hey, what are brothers for?" Joe asked.
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Mike Fitzgerald was happy. He hadn't felt this happy in a long time. It actually felt good that he had just held another person's life in his hands.
He had stood in the crowd of onlookers at the apartment when the news broke out about the murder. He had even made conversation with some of the people. He wasn't worried about being caught. He had an alibi. He was making his deliveries for the restaurant. No one even paid much attention to him.He was just a concerned citizen.
And then he saw her. The one responsible for this madness. But he liked that she was there. He liked that she was hunting him. It gave him a thrill. Fitz shouldn't have been surprised though. He knew that she was the top reporter for the Tribune. And then he overheard that her fiance was the lead detective in the case.
Fitz picked up the pictures he had taken of Rosie after he had killed her. He was proud of his handi-work. Maybe he could make things interesting. He could taunt her. Let her have hope before the next one had to die.
Yes, that would be a great idea.
He was smiling when he picked up the phone.
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"I just want you to know that I think it's great to be your intern, Nancy." Andy said, following her into her office.
Nancy sighed and rolled her eyes. It was the hundredth time today that Andy had said that. But she couldn't take out her frustration and anger out on him. She had been the same way when she had interned here. Besides, it wasn't his fault that she was having a bad day.
It was Cupid's.
Nancy sat at her desk and turned on her computer. She pulled out her notepad and flipped to her notes about the murder. Andy sat down in the chair in front of her desk. Nancy looked up at him. "You don't have to stay while I do this." she said.
"Why would I leave?" Andy asked. "I'll stay until you leave."
Nancy gave him a forced smile. "Well, I guess I better get to work."
Nancy had the story done in two hours. By four o'clock in was on Ashley's desk.
"That's it." Nancy said to Andy.
"I'll walk you to your car." Andy said.
"You really don't have to do that." Nancy said.
"I was taught that a gentleman always makes sure that a lady gets home okay." Andy said, hurt.
Nancy looked at Andy's disappointed face. "I guess it can't hurt anything." She finally said. Andy beamed at her.
She went into her office and grabbed her purse. After making sure that her office was locked, they made their way to the elevators. They got out at the lobby and walked to the parking garage. Andy stayed with her until they arrived at her car.
"Well, thank you, Andy." Nancy said, pulling out her keys.
"It was my pleasure." Andy said. He looked over her shoulder. "Looks like someone was thinking about you today."
"What are you talking about?" Nancy asked, confused.
"In your car." Andy said.
Nancy turned. There was a large bouquet of daisies in the passenger seat. Nancy's breath caught in her throat, but she turned to Andy with a smile.
"They must be from my fiance. He loves to surprise me." Nancy said.
"Well, I'll let you go." Andy said. "See you tomorrow, Nancy."
Nancy watched as he walked away. She hurried and unlocked her door and climbed in the car. She grabbed the envelope that was laying on the flowers. She tore it open and immediately felt sick to her stomach. She was looking at a picture of Rosie.
Nancy started to shake. She dropped the evidence bag on the floor and ran out of the apartment complex. Frank stood there, shocked. He then took off after her. He caught up with her at her car.
"Hey." He said grabbing her arm. "You wanna tell me what this is about?"
Nancy shook her head. "It's nothing." She took a deep breath to compose herself. "I guess it was just nerves. I knew Rosie and I guess it kind of got to me."
"You're not telling me everything." Frank said.
"It's nothing, Frank. Really. I guess I was just overwhelmed. Which is kind of a shocker after all of the crime scenes I've been to." Nancy said. She gave Frank a small smile.
"Like you said, you knew this girl. I understand completely." Frank said, and he pulled her into a hug.
Nancy just let him hold onto her for a few moments. Finally, she pulled apart. "I need to get going. I need to get this story together so Ashley can go to print with something."
"Why don't you see if someone else can take the story." Frank suggested.
Nancy shook her head. "I'll be okay. And besides, if I keep on with this maybe I can help find Rosie's killer."
Frank looked at her sternly. "I don't want you to get in over your head with this, Nancy. Don't do something that's going to land you in trouble." he cautioned.
"I won't. I promise." Nancy said. "But you know that I have to help with this, Frank."
"I know there's no way of talking you out of it. But just remember not to get in the way of the investigation. The chief would have my head for sure if he knew I allowed you to help with the investigation." Frank said.
"I would never do anything to jeopardize your career." Nancy said. "Now, I have to go. What time was Joe getting in?"
"Sometime later this afternoon. You know he likes to surprise us." Frank said.
Nancy gave him another kiss and got into her car. She gave him a small wave as she drove away.
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Nancy pulled into the first parking lot that she got to. God, she wished that she could stop shaking. She couldn't let Frank see that she was scared.
Be reasonable, she told herself. It just has to be a coincidence. A lot of psychos use the name Cupid.
But that still didn't calm her. Nancy took a deep breath and pulled out of the parking lot. She had to get to the Chicago Tribune offices. Ashley would kill her of she didn't bring her something to go to print with. She pulled into the parking garage and locked her car. She put a smile on her face when she enetered the building. She didn't want to worry anyone. Paul, the lobby security guard, greeted her.
"Hey, Nancy." he said, smiling.
"Hey, Paul. How is Lizzie?" Nancy asked, as she siged in.
"She's doing great. The baby will be here in a few weeks." Paul said. He couldn't erase the smile off of his face.
That made Nancy smile and her spirits brighten. "I know you're excited." she said.
"I am." He said as Nancy handed him the pen. "You have a great day, Nancy."
"Thanks. You too, Paul." Nancy said. She sighed when she got into the elevator. She couldn't wait until she and Frank could have a child of their own. They had both discussed it and had decided to wait until after they were married to try.
Nancy got out of the elevator on the fourth floor and was instantly greeted by her secretary, Anna.
"Hi, Anna." Nancy said.
"Nancy, you have a few messages. I left them on your desk." Anna said, handing her a coffee. "Oh, and Miss Morgan needs to see you."
"Thanks, Anna." Nancy said, taking a sip of her coffee. She put her stuff down in her office and then made her way to Ashley's office. The door was closed when she got there, so she tapped on it and stuck her head in. Ashley was on the phone.
"Nancy!" Ashley said, smiling. She waved her into the office. She then turned her attention back to the phone. "Listen, let me call you back in a bit. All right. Thanks, Tom." She hung up the phone.
"I could have come back later." Nancy said, sitting on the black sofa across from Ashley's desk.
"Don't worry about it." Ashley said. "I told Anna I needed you as soon as you got here." She looked at her watch. "In fact, I thought it would take you longer."
"Well, they didn't have much they could give me." Nancy explained.
"And when we say 'they' do we mean a certain detective?" Ashley said, raising an eyebrow.
"I go to only the best source." Nancy said. "I'll get it typed up and handed to you before I leave today."
"Sounds great." Ashley went over to sit on the sofa beside Nancy. "Now, the reason why I wanted to see you. I know that we've discussed this before, but I really need you to do something for me."
"I've already done something for you." Nancy said. "What more can you possibly want, Ashley?"
"I have a new intern." Ashley said.
"I think I know where this is going." Nancy said, nodding.
"And I wouldn't normally ask you to do this, but it is very important." Ashley said.
"And why is this?" Nancy asked.
"Because he just happens to be one of our investor's nephew. And I promised that he would have the best." Ashley explained.
Nancy looked at Ashley. "If I do this, I get something in return."
"Name it." Ashley said.
"You have got to let me get some time off to finish up my wedding plans. It is only a few weeks away and I still have a lot to do." Nancy said.
"Done." Ashley said. "Thank you so much. I'll get him in here so you can meet him." She went to the door and opened it. She waved someone in.
Nancy stood up when a handsone, young man came into the office. He was tall with dirty, blonde hair and brown eyes. He was dressed casually aand walked with ease.
"Nancy Drew, I would like you to meet Andy Roberts. Andy, this is Nancy. She's going to be showing you the ropes." Ashley said.
Andy held out his hand. "It's very nice to meet you, Nancy."
Nancy smiled warmly. "It's nice to meet you, Andy."
"I can't wait to get started." Andy said.
"Yeah, me too." Nancy said, sighing.
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Frank Hardy was worried. It wasn't like Nancy to keep something from him. She had said it was nothing, but he knew better than that. Something was bothering her, and he wanted to know what it was.
Frank turned away as soon as he saw that her car was out of sight. There wasn't much more that he could do here. Forensics was taking care of everything now. He decided he would take one last look around.
His cell phone rang when he was almost back in the apartment. He pulled the small phone out of his pocket and looked at the Caller ID. He saw that it was his brother, Joe.
"Hey, bro." Frank said as a greeting.
"Hey. You busy?" Twenty-one year old Joe Hardy asked.
"Just investigating a murder, if you count that as busy." Frank answered.
"Just can't stay away from the excitement, can you, Frank?" Joe asked, laughing.
"Nope. The excitement always seems to find me." Frank said.
"So, what's the case?" Joe asked.
"A woman was murdered last night in her apartment." Frank explained. He watched as several of the CSI walked out of Rosie's apartment.
"I just wanted to let you know that I just got done with school for the semester. I'm leaving Bayport now, so I should be in Chicago in a few hours." Joe said.
"Sounds good." Frank said, distractedly.
"What's going on, Frank?" Joe asked. "I have a feeling that if I told you I was giving birth this very moment, you wouldn't even question it and congratulate me."
Frank smiled. "I'm distracted, Joe. Not crazy."
"So, what's up?" Joe asked again.
"I'm just worried about Nancy. She took this murder pretty hard." Frank explained.
"Why would she do that?" Joe asked.
"She knew the victim. It was from one of her old cases. But I get the feeling that there's something that she's not telling me." He absently reached into his pocket and pulled out the evidence bag that contained the note signed by Cupid.
"In fact, she closed up when she saw a note left by the killer." Frank said, thinking out loud.
"Frank, just remember not to pressure her. She'll let you know what's bothering her when she's ready." Joe said.
"I know." Frank said. "It's just that she has enough stress already with the wedding. I just don't want anything to add up on it." Frank explained.
"I'll be there soon. Maybe I can talk to her if she hasn't talked to you." Joe said.
"Thanks, Joe." Frank said gratefully. Sometimes it was nice to have Joe around.
"Hey, what are brothers for?" Joe asked.
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Mike Fitzgerald was happy. He hadn't felt this happy in a long time. It actually felt good that he had just held another person's life in his hands.
He had stood in the crowd of onlookers at the apartment when the news broke out about the murder. He had even made conversation with some of the people. He wasn't worried about being caught. He had an alibi. He was making his deliveries for the restaurant. No one even paid much attention to him.He was just a concerned citizen.
And then he saw her. The one responsible for this madness. But he liked that she was there. He liked that she was hunting him. It gave him a thrill. Fitz shouldn't have been surprised though. He knew that she was the top reporter for the Tribune. And then he overheard that her fiance was the lead detective in the case.
Fitz picked up the pictures he had taken of Rosie after he had killed her. He was proud of his handi-work. Maybe he could make things interesting. He could taunt her. Let her have hope before the next one had to die.
Yes, that would be a great idea.
He was smiling when he picked up the phone.
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"I just want you to know that I think it's great to be your intern, Nancy." Andy said, following her into her office.
Nancy sighed and rolled her eyes. It was the hundredth time today that Andy had said that. But she couldn't take out her frustration and anger out on him. She had been the same way when she had interned here. Besides, it wasn't his fault that she was having a bad day.
It was Cupid's.
Nancy sat at her desk and turned on her computer. She pulled out her notepad and flipped to her notes about the murder. Andy sat down in the chair in front of her desk. Nancy looked up at him. "You don't have to stay while I do this." she said.
"Why would I leave?" Andy asked. "I'll stay until you leave."
Nancy gave him a forced smile. "Well, I guess I better get to work."
Nancy had the story done in two hours. By four o'clock in was on Ashley's desk.
"That's it." Nancy said to Andy.
"I'll walk you to your car." Andy said.
"You really don't have to do that." Nancy said.
"I was taught that a gentleman always makes sure that a lady gets home okay." Andy said, hurt.
Nancy looked at Andy's disappointed face. "I guess it can't hurt anything." She finally said. Andy beamed at her.
She went into her office and grabbed her purse. After making sure that her office was locked, they made their way to the elevators. They got out at the lobby and walked to the parking garage. Andy stayed with her until they arrived at her car.
"Well, thank you, Andy." Nancy said, pulling out her keys.
"It was my pleasure." Andy said. He looked over her shoulder. "Looks like someone was thinking about you today."
"What are you talking about?" Nancy asked, confused.
"In your car." Andy said.
Nancy turned. There was a large bouquet of daisies in the passenger seat. Nancy's breath caught in her throat, but she turned to Andy with a smile.
"They must be from my fiance. He loves to surprise me." Nancy said.
"Well, I'll let you go." Andy said. "See you tomorrow, Nancy."
Nancy watched as he walked away. She hurried and unlocked her door and climbed in the car. She grabbed the envelope that was laying on the flowers. She tore it open and immediately felt sick to her stomach. She was looking at a picture of Rosie.