Warning: This chapter contains adult language and incestuous homosexual situations.

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Chapter 5: The Connection

Fenton Hardy was not home when Frank and Joe got back from River Heights.

"Let's call him," Joe said. "I don't want to be right in the middle and have him pull up. I hate that."

"Me, too." Frank pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and called Fenton's cell phone. "Hey, Dad, it's Frank. Joe and I were wondering when to expect you back. Uh-huh." He winked at Joe. "No, that's ok. Joe took some steaks out this morning. All right. See you later." He disconnected and grinned at Joe. "He and the sheriff are going to stay in River Heights and have dinner with Chief Jones. He'll fill us in on what they found at Tonya's place tomorrow. He said not to wait up for him because he expects to be late."

"I love it when a plan comes together!" Joe said with a delighted grin. "Let's go fuck!"

"Sounds good to me."

The boys went up to Frank's room.

"Do you suppose people wonder about us?" Joe asked as he pulled his shirt off over his head.

"What do you mean?" Frank plopped down on the bed to take off his shoes.

"Well, you haven't had a girlfriend since the eighth grade and I've never had one."

"Oh." Frank leaned back on his elbows and crossed his ankles. "I suppose some people might speculate, at least about our orientation. Does it bother you?"

"Not really, I just wonder." Joe kicked off his shoes and pulled his pants down. "But maybe if people gossiped about us, it would get Rose off my back."

"Rose doesn't want to be on your back," Frank smirked. "But I do!" He reached out, caught Joe by the wrist and yanked him down onto the bed.

Joe fell over, laughing, his feet tangled up in his pants. "Horny bastard!" he laughed. "At least let me finish stripping!"

"You're taking too long. I'm ready now."

"You don't even have your pants off."

"Details." Frank undid his trousers and pulled himself out through the flap in his underwear. He was clearly ready. He rolled Joe onto his side and pressed up against his back.

"Hang on!" Joe exclaimed. "What about lubricant?"

Frank wet two fingers in his mouth and stuck them into Joe. "How's this?"

"I'd prefer lube."

"Fine." Frank reached over his shoulder and pulled the nightstand drawer open. Joe hunched over to push his trousers the rest of the way off and Frank patted his bare bottom. "Why don't you stay like that?"

"Planning something interesting?"

"Maybe."

A long time later, when they were finished, Joe let out a satisfied sigh. "Boy, I sure am glad Dad stayed out tonight."

"Me, too." Frank stared up at the ceiling with his arms folded behind his head. "I'm hungry."

"So am I."

"You know what?" Frank said suddenly, "I think Darren Bolton was gay."

"Why's that?"

Frank rolled onto his side and faced Joe. "A guy who needs that many condoms isn't going to be all that discreet about his paramours. Nancy would have picked up on it even if he wasn't flirting with her. And she and I both think he was with a man that night."

"But if he was killed by a male lover, how would that connect him with Tonya Amberson's killer?"

"I'm not sure. We'll have to wait and see what Nancy finds out from talking to the other people in that picture." Frank sat up. "Let's go make dinner. I'm starved."

"Ok." Joe rolled off the bed onto his feet and picked up his underwear. "It's still pretty nice out. I think I'll grill the steaks."

"That sounds good. I'll skewer some asparagus and mushrooms and we can grill that, too."

"Yum."

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"Did you and the Hardy boys find anything in Darren's things?" Carson asked Nancy at dinner that night.

"Yes, we did, Dad!" Nancy answered. "We found a picture in his high school yearbook that had both Darren and the woman they found dead in it. We aren't sure if there's a connection between Darren's murder and her death, but it does look like they knew each other at one time."

"Well, River Heights isn't that large a town, Nancy," Carson said. "Anyone who graduated within a few years of each other probably knew each other."

"I know. But, still…" She pursed her lips thoughtfully. "It still seems odd that they'd die within a few weeks of each other under suspicious circumstances. I'm going to call some of the other people from the picture and see if Darren and the woman were still in touch."

"I suppose that can't do any harm. But if you find out anything, be sure to tell Chief Jones."

"I will."

Nancy returned to her room after dinner to look up the people in the picture in her phone book. She hit pay dirt immediately. Three of the eight people in the picture were listed. She picked up her cell phone to call the first one.

"Hello?"

"Hello, I'm calling Alice Carter."

"This is she."

"Miss Carter, my name is Nancy Drew. I was wondering if I might ask you a few questions."

"What is this about? You're not selling something are you?"

"No, I wanted to ask about some people you knew in high school, from the debate team."

"Drew? Are you Carson Drew's daughter? Is this about Darren Bolton? We were on the debate team together."

"Yes, this is about Darren. I was wondering if you also remember a woman named Evelyn Amberson."

"Tonya? Of course I remember her. She was so smart. I always envied her. What about her?"

"Were she and Darren friends? Did they still see each other?"

"Oh, they were very close in high school. They had a little clique they hung out with, all smart kids. I don't know if they stayed friends after Darren went off to college. I lost touch with Tonya myself."

"Do you remember the names of any of the others from their clique?"

"Well, let's see… There was Julie Washburn, Kevin Brown, Lisa Delaney, Kimberly Watson and Jack Trowbridge. Julie got married right after graduation, but I think the others all went to college. I lost touch with them."

Nancy grinned. "You've been a tremendous help Miss Carter. I really appreciate you taking the time to talk with me."

"What's this all about, anyway?"

"I'm just trying to find out what happened to Darren. I thought some of his friends might be able to help."

"Oh, well good luck. It was terrible the way he died."

"I agree. Thanks again."

"You're welcome. Good night."

"Good night, Miss Carter."

Nancy disconnected, still grinning. She couldn't believe her luck. Finding someone who knew Darren and Tonya on her first try was incredibly fortunate. But, she was methodical by nature, so she called the next person on her list anyway. It wouldn't hurt to see what additional information she could get.

Two hours later, Nancy sat back to look over the closely written page of notes her marathon of phone calls had produced. Two of the five people mentioned by Alice Carter were already on her list from the debate team picture; Lisa Delaney and Jack Trowbridge, but she did not have phone numbers for either of them. Nancy had gotten a phone number for Julie Washburn, who went by her married name, Baker, from the second person she called, but Julie was not home. Kevin Brown and Kimberly Watson had apparently moved away. But everyone Nancy spoke to had agreed on one thing: Darren had been part of a tight knit group of friends which included Tonya Amberson.

Nancy stared at her notes without seeing them. Had Darren and Tonya remained friends, or resumed their friendship when Darren returned to River Heights? No one had been able to answer that question. She needed to talk to one of their current friends to know that.

Nancy sighed. It had been nice seeing Frank Hardy again, but frustrating. He was so good-looking she couldn't help feeling attracted to him. He always made her feel vaguely aroused, which left her feeling guilty and frustrated. Ned was faithful to her, but Nancy was ready for a somewhat stronger indicator of his affection. But Ned was not picking up on any of her increasingly unsubtle hints. Maybe if he caught her in a clinch with another guy, he'd get jealous and want to prove his love, but Nancy suspected he would just be hurt and start moping.

"What's a girl to do when she's ready to go all the way and her guy isn't?" she wondered aloud. "I'm eighteen years old, for crying out loud!"

Carson knocked on her door. "Still up, Nancy?" He poked his head in.

"Yeah, Dad, but I'm about to turn in."

"Learn anything?"

"A little. I need to make a few more calls, and maybe visit a few people."

"Don't forget what I said about informing Chief Jones."

"I won't. Good night, Dad."

"Night, Nancy."

He shut the door and Nancy listened to his footsteps receding down the hall. I wonder if Dad misses being married, she thought while she changed into her pajamas. She brushed her teeth, crawled into bed and lay there staring at the ceiling with the light on. Do I want to get married? I don't know. Maybe I just want to get laid. She rolled onto her side and turned out the lamp. But at this rate, I'm going to end up an old maid! Dammit! Why isn't Ned interested in sex?

Falling asleep was difficult that night because her thoughts kept returning to the handsome face and muscular build of Frank Hardy.

In the morning, Nancy met her friends George Fayne and Bess Marvin for breakfast at Nick's. George and Bess were already seated side by side in a booth, whispering about something. Bess blushed and giggled as Nancy slid into the booth opposite them.

"Good morning, Nancy!" Bess giggled. "I heard you saw Frank Hardy yesterday."

Nancy flushed. "Where did you hear that?"

"From my mom. She heard it from Ruth Barnes."

"Oh." Nancy frowned. Her father's secretary was such a gossip. "It was business. Frank and his brother came to ask for my help with an investigation they're working on."

"That's too bad." Bess giggled again. "Frank Hardy is awfully cute!"

"You think so?" George said. She leaned away from Bess and drummed her fingers on the table.

"He doesn't interest me!" Bess said quickly. She put her hand on top of George's. "I meant for Nancy."

"He doesn't interest me either," Nancy put in sharply. "I have a boyfriend, remember?"

"Of course," Bess said. "How is Ned?"

"He's fine!" Nancy grated. She picked up a menu and leaned over it. "What are you two having?" she asked, more than ready to change the subject.

"I'm just having tea and toast," Bess said. "I think I'm putting on weight again."

George patted her hand. "You look fine, Bess. I like the way you look with a little meat on your bones."

Bess pouted. "You make me sound like a prize cow."

"You know what I mean." George leaned close and whispered something in Bess' ear.

Bess flushed and began to giggle again. "You're so naughty!" she whispered back.

Nancy frowned as she tried not to watch them. In her opinion, her two friends were getting a little too obvious. "I think I'll have a Spanish omelet," she announced.

"That sounds good," said George. "I think I'll have that, too."

"So, what are you doing today, Nancy?" Bess asked over breakfast. "George and I are going to the gym this afternoon."

"I'll try to meet you there," Nancy said. "I have some errands I want to run this morning."

"For that investigation with the Hardy boys?"

"Yes."

Bess looked worried. "It's not dangerous, is it?"

"No. I just need to ask some people a few questions. It shouldn't take very long."

"Maybe we should go with you," George said. "Just to be on the safe side."

Nancy smiled. She could always count on her friends. "That would be great!"