Author's Note: You loved that twist I threw in there, huh? Now I just have to figure it out myself...Oh well, that's the fun part of this. As always, thank you for the reviews and just keep them up!

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"Oh, my God." Nancy said, breathlessly. Frank and Joe got up and stood behind Nancy to look at the picture that had completely drained her face of color.

"It can't be." Frank said.

"It is." Nancy said. "Why didn't he say anything to me?"

Veronica was staring at them, completely bewildered. "Does someone want to tell me what's going on here?" she asked.

Nancy couldn't take her gaze off of the picture. Why didn't he tell me he knew Maddie? she wondered.

"Nancy, what is going on?" Veronica asked.

Nancy finally looked at Veronica and inwardly cringed. How was she going to tell Veronica that her best friend had been murdered? She tried to think of something to say, but her mind drew a complete blank.

Nancy finally found her voice. "Veronica...Madelyn is the girl I witnessed Eric murder the other night," she said softly.

Veronica shook her head in shock. "That's not possible."

"It is possible," Nancy said. "And it also happens to be true."

"No," Veronica whispered. She slowly sat down in her chair and looked up at Nancy. "I would know if my best friend was murdered. Someone would have told me."

"They haven't even found her body yet." Nancy said.

"Please don't refer to Maddie like that." Veronica said, sharply.

"I'm sorry." Nancy apologized. And she meant it. She knew this couldn't be easy to listen to–she was having a hard enough time tell Veronica. "Her parents filed a missing persons report a couple of days ago. The police have been searching for her ever since."

"Are you sure it was Maddie that you saw?" Veronica asked.

"I am absolutely sure it was Maddie." Nancy said. "I would have never told you this if I didn't know it wasn't"

Veronica wiped the tears that had fallen down her cheeks and stood up. "I don't mean to be rude, but I really need to be alone right now."

Nancy nodded her understanding. "I really am sorry, Veronica."

"I know." Veronica said. "Thank you."

Nancy looked at Veronica sadly. She really felt sorry for the woman. Her best friend had been murdered and her brother was the lead suspect in the crime.

"We'll let you know if we find out anything." Nancy said.

Veronica nodded and opened the door for them. They filed out and she shut the door softly behind them.

Before Nancy walked away, she could hear Veronica sobbing behind the door.

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"Do you think Veronica will be okay?" Joe asked as Frank pulled away from her house.

"I think she will be eventually. We kind of hit her with everything at once." Frank said, shifting his eyes from the road to glance at Nancy.

"It has to be hard to hear from the complete strangers that your best friend has been killed and your brother is probably the killer." Joe said.

Frank glanced at Nancy again. She was being unusually quiet. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine." Nancy said, without looking at him.

Frank didn't try to push her to talk. He knew she had a lot to think about.

Nancy leaned her head against the window and looked outside at the passing homes and trees. Thoughts were swirling in her head all at once.

How could Luke have not told her about this? How do you forget to mention you used to date the deceased, especially if you dated for a few years? Why would he keep this from her? Did he think she wouldn't find out?

Nancy closed her eyes and sighed. All of these questions were starting to make her head hurt.

But she did know something...

When she got back to Huntingdon, Luke had better be able to giver her some answers.

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When Frank pulled up to Luke's house, Nancy saw that Luke's truck was parked in the driveway.

"I need to talk to Luke." Nancy said. "Alone."

Frank and Joe nodded. They knew that Nancy was upset and it was best of they weren't around when she questioned Luke.

"We're going to go pick up something to eat." Frank said. "We haven't eaten anything all day."

Best idea I heard all day." Joe said.

Nancy gave them a small smile and got out of the car. She looked up to see that Luke was standing on the porch, waiting for her. Nancy took a deep breath and forced a smile.

"Hey," Luke said. "How are you feeling?"

"Good." Nancy said. "Can we talk?"

"Sure." Luke said. He opened the door for her and they went inside.

"Where have you been?" Luke asked. "I called the hospital and they said you were released this morning."

"I was." Nancy said. "Frank, Joe, and I decided to take a little trip."

"Where did you go?" Luke asked.

"Holly Springs." Nancy said, watching his face for a reaction. She got a small one and she would take it.

"Holly Springs?" Luke said. "Why would you go there?"

"I don't know, Luke." Nancy said. "Why would I have a reason to go there?"

"You've lost me, Nancy." Luke said.

"We found out Eric has a sister up there–Veronica. You know her. She's quite fond of you, if I remember correctly." Nancy said.

"What does Ronnie have to do with any of this?" Luke asked.

"Quit playing stupid, Luke. I'm a detective. I know when I'm being given the run-around." Nancy said. "Why didn't you tell me that you and Maddie used to date?"

"Because I didn't think it was important." Luke said.

"Why not?" Nancy asked.

"Because my personal life has nothing to do with this." Luke said.

"It would have been nice to know." Nancy said.

"Why?" Luke asked.

"Because...I don't know!" Nancy said, throwing her hands up in the air.

"That's not a reason." Luke said.

"Well, I'm sorry." Nancy said. Then she stopped. "Wait, why am I apologizing?"

"I still don't see why you think you needed to know about me and Maddie. Why bring up the past?" Luke asked.

"Because your past was a murder victim! You knew the victim! If the police knew that, you would be a suspect in her murder!" Nancy said.

"Are you going to tell them?" Luke challenged.

"Are you worried that I am?" Nancy countered.

"Will you tell me?" Luke asked.

"I don't know. I just need time to think things through." Nancy said.

"Well, let me know so I can get my alibi together." Luke said.

Nancy ignored him. "Tell Frank and Joe I'm not hungry. I'm going to bed."

Before Luke could say anything, Nancy was on her way upstairs.

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"Do you think she'll be okay?" Joe asked as Frank made his way back into town.

"I think the news that Veronica just gave Nancy totally blew her away. She wants to believe that Luke is the good guy because she likes him, but this will cause her to doubt that a little." Frank said.

"Maybe he still is, Frank." Joe said.

"Why are you always defending Luke?" Frank asked.

"I'm not." Joe said. "I just don't want Nancy to get hurt and I don't want us to be the cause of it. Just don't go and confront her again. You two don't need another blow-out."

"I know." Frank said. "I don't want another one either."

Joe remained silent as Frank pulled into Bonnie's Chicken Shack.

"I just want what's best for her." Frank said as he got out.

"I know you do, Frank." Joe said as he also got out. "It's what you've always wanted."

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Nancy was fuming when she got back into her room. How could Luke have gone off on her like that? All she did was ask a simple question and he totally blew it out of proportion.

Nancy paced around her room, trying to calm herself down. She then heard a beeping sound and realized it was her cell phone. She pulled it out and saw that she had a message. She played it and found out it was from her father.

"Hi, honey." Carson said. "I'm just calling to check in with you. I haven't heard from you in a couple of days. I'm just worried. Call me when you get a chance."

Nancy erased the message and then dialed her home number. Carson answered on the second ring.

"Hi, Dad." Nancy said.

"Hi, honey." Carson said. "Where have you been? Why haven't you called?"

Nancy hesitated. Should she tell him? Nancy shook her head. She had never lied to her father and she wasn't about to start right now.

"I'm fine, Dad." Nancy said. "I just had a little detour."

"What do you mean?" Carson asked, concerned.

Nancy quickly explained what had happened to her father and he hung on to every word. When she had finished telling him everything, he sighed loudly.

"You make me ten years older every day, you know that?" Carson asked.

Nancy gave a small smile. "I'm sorry, Dad."

"Just promise me you'll be careful from now on and not do anything rash." Carson said.

"I can't promise anything, Dad." Nancy said. "But at least I have Frank and Joe here with me."

"Knowing that allows me to sleep a little easier." Carson said.

Nancy talked to Carson for a few minutes more and then hung up. She lay back on her bed and let out a long breath. The past few days seemed to be catching up with her all at once and she was exhausted.

Nancy closed her eyes just to relax for a bit. She thought her imagination was playing games with her when she heard a noise–until she heard it again. She sat straight up and looked around her room, keeping a cautious eye out for anything out of the ordinary.

"Hello?" Nancy said softly.

Silence.

"Anyone there?" Nancy asked.

Nancy stood up and felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. Her suspicions were confirmed that she was not alone in the room. And she had a very good feeling who was in the room with her.

Nancy picked up her cane and casually made her way to the door. She had to get out of there–now. Just as her hand reached for the doorknob, a pair of hands grabbed her from behind and shoved her against the wall.

Nancy found herself staring into the cold eyes of Eric Warren.

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