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

-o-o-o-o-

Chapter 10: Another Interview

Joe lay on his bed on his stomach with his chin resting on his folded hands, listening thoughtfully to Frank's narrative of the interview with Jack Trowbridge. Frank was sitting on the edge of the bed with one leg tucked up underneath him.

"Wow!" Joe exclaimed when Frank finished. "I think you and Nancy are right. It has to be one of the three who are left."

Frank nodded. "But which one? I'm starting to wonder if I'm even right about it being a man. If they all broke the pledge like Jack said, why start killing the others off now?"

"Who knows? Are you sure Lisa Delaney is in Paris? I thought Nancy said she lived in town."

"She still owns a house in River Heights, but it's rented out. We don't know for sure if she's really in Paris. Nancy's hoping to get a number for her from an old boyfriend." Frank stood up. "We need to talk to Kimberly Watson and we need to find Kevin Brown."

Joe sat up. "Well, I didn't just waste time while you were gone. I got a phone number for Kimberly's producer. I called but he was out. His secretary said to call back tonight."

"Did you leave a message?"

"No."

"That's probably better. We can try him again now."

"I don't think Dad's going out tonight. What if he wants to know what we're doing?"

Frank looked thoughtful. "What homework do you have?"

"None. I finished it all at school."

"You're too damn smart, little brother," Frank grinned. "Well, let's say you're doing research for extra credit in economics and that I'm helping."

"And for this I need to call a producer of sex videos? I'm not sure even Dad will buy that."

"It's an industry, like any other!" Frank caught Joe by the hand and pulled him off the bed onto his feet. "We'll tell him you were looking for something unusual." He started for the door, still holding Joe's hand. "We'll fire up the computer and look for Kevin while we call."

"Ok."

In Frank's room, Joe settled in front of the computer and Frank sat on the bed to place the call. Arthur Sandoval was a giant in the local porn industry, but the nature of the business was such, he ran a very lean organization. Frank was not surprised when he answered the phone himself.

"Sandoval Films."

"Mr. Sandoval?"

"Yes, this is Arthur Sandoval."

"Mr. Sandoval, my name is Frank Hardy. I'm calling about one of your actresses."

"My girls are all legal adults over eighteen! And they don't do private parties!"

"That's not what I'm calling about. It's terribly important that I get in touch with Kimberly Watson. I think her life might be in danger."

"It's sickos like you that are a danger to my girls!"

"Please! Mr. Sandoval, don't hang up! Several of Miss Watson's friends from high school have been killed and I have reason to believe the killer might be after her."

"Look, Hardy, or whatever your name is, Kim's a smart girl. She knows better than to let some weirdo get close to her."

"That's just it; the person may be someone she knows and trusts. I really need to speak to her!"

"Well, I'll tell you what. I'll pass your little message along and if Kim wants to call you, that's her business. I got your caller ID." Sandoval disconnected.

"Dammit!" Frank swore softly. "I don't think he believed me."

"You didn't really expect him to, did you?"

"Well, no. But I was hoping." He tossed the phone on the bed and leaned back on his elbows. "Now what should we do?"

"Talk Dad into going out so we can go to bed."

"We're supposed to be looking for Kevin Brown."

"I'd rather fuck."

Frank shook his head. "Not gonna happen. Start Googling."

Joe turned back to the monitor. "Shit!"

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Nancy sat in the middle of her bed with pictures of the seven celibate students laid out in a neat row in front of her. She'd copied the photos out of Darren's yearbook from the student pages and enlarged them. They were all handsome people, with the promise of bright futures in their eyes. It made Nancy a little sad looking at them, especially the three who'd lost their lives.

Someone knocked on her door.

"Come in!"

Bess poked her head in. "Are you busy, Nancy?"

"Not really." Nancy waved Bess into the room. "Where's George?"

Bess stepped in and closed the door. "Playing golf with some people from work." Bess stuck her lower lip out in a little-girl pout. "We were supposed to go out tonight."

"I keep telling you to learn to golf, Bess. It would make George happy."

"I know," Bess sighed, "but I'm just not very coordinated." She sat down carefully on the edge of the bed. "Who are they?" She pointed at the pictures.

"These are Darren and his friends," Nancy answered. "It's starting to look like one of them may be responsible for the murders."

"Really?"

"Yes, but Frank and I haven't been able to talk to these three." Nancy pointed at Lisa, Kimberly and Kevin's pictures, hovering over Kevin's for a moment. "We can't even find him."

Bess peered at Kevin's photo closely. "I've seen him!" she exclaimed.

"What?!"

"At the pharmacy!" Bess looked up, her face flushed with excitement. "He was picking up a prescription."

Nancy gripped Bess' arm. "When was this?"

"Two or three days ago. You know I recognize all my regular customers. That's why I remember him. He was new."

Nancy threw her arms around Bess in a tight hug and Bess let out a startled squeal. "You're the best, Bess!" Nancy cried.

Bess grinned happily. "Oh, but it gets even better. I had him fill out a customer card so he can get his prescriptions delivered. I have his address and phone number on file."

"Bess, I could kiss you! Where's my phone? I have to call Frank."

Bess beamed with delight as Nancy rang Frank's number.

"Hello?"

"Frank! I found Kevin Brown. He's right here in River Heights!"

"Really? How did you find him?"

"Do you remember my friend Bess Marvin? She works at the pharmacy. Kevin Brown picked up a prescription a few days ago. The pharmacy has his address."

"That's fantastic! I'll come up first thing tomorrow and we'll go see him."

"Do you think we should tell Sheriff Becker and Chief Jones?"

"Let's talk to him first. I still haven't spoken to Kimberly Watson and we don't know for sure yet if Lisa Delaney is really in Paris. When we talk to the authorities again, I want to be able to tell them where everyone is."

"That makes sense. All right, I'll see you tomorrow. Good night."

"'Night."

Bess suddenly looked worried. "But Nancy, didn't you say one of these people is the murderer? What if it's him?" Fear made her eyes look large and vulnerable.

"That's why Frank is going with me. And we aren't going to say anything about our suspicions. I don't want to tip him off if he is the one."

"Promise me you'll be careful."

"Always. Besides, I've got a date with Ned on Saturday and I have no intention of dying a virgin."

Bess turned bright red. "Nancy!"

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Joe shut down the computer and turned to Frank with a scowl. "Well, this sucks! Now we don't have anything to do and we still can't fuck!"

"We could watch TV."

"My brain will rot."

"There might be a decent movie on. And you have more videos than Dad has books. Pick one."

"Fine! But if Dad skips group tomorrow, you're driving us somewhere to park."

"Oh, yeah, so Deputy Hill can catch us in the act! I don't think so. Anyway, Dad never skips group."

Joe continued to grumble, but Frank ignored him. "Come on. We're watching TV."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Frank arrived at Nancy's house shortly after nine the next morning. She greeted him with a smile, but this time there was no flirtation in her manner. Frank heaved an inward sigh of relief. Maybe their honest conversation yesterday was paying off.

"We need to swing by the pharmacy first to get his address. I feel a little guilty asking Bess to do this, though. She probably shouldn't be handing the information out."

"Probably not, but we don't have to say how we found him."

Bess had obviously been thinking about the propriety of giving out customer information because she looked nervous when she saw them enter the store.

"Hi Nancy! I'll be with you in a minute." Bess finished with the customer at the counter and then gave them an overly bright smile. "Hello Frank! It's good to see you again."

"Hello Bess. How have you been?"

"Fine, thanks." She turned back to Nancy. "I have that information you were asking about." She produced a folded piece of paper from her coat pocket. "Call me if you have any questions, ok?"

"Sure thing, Bess. Thanks!" Nancy took the paper without looking at it. "Let's have dinner tomorrow."

"That sounds great! Bye, Nancy!"

"Bye!"

"She seemed really nervous," Frank whispered as they left.

"She'll be fine." In the car, Nancy looked at the paper. "Oh, this isn't far." She gave Frank directions to an address only a few blocks away. "This is pretty close to my dad's office," she remarked.

The house was on a narrow street just off of the main street. A faded picket fence surrounded a yard whose grass was patchy and brown. They parked in front. The rickety gate in the fence nearly fell over when Frank pushed it open. They exchanged a glance as they walked up the cracked front walk to a shallow porch. Frank rang the bell.

A small dog began to yap and they heard a man's voice tell it to be quiet. Then the front door opened and they found themselves facing Kevin Brown through the ragged screen door.

"May I help you?" Kevin asked.

"Kevin Brown?" Nancy paused just long enough for him to nod. "We were wondering if we could speak to you for a moment."

A puzzled look crossed his face and he glanced over his shoulder. "If you don't mind, I'd prefer to talk outside. My grandmother isn't well."

"Of course."

Nancy and Frank moved back to give Kevin room to step out onto the porch. He pulled the door partway shut behind him and let the screen door close.

"My name is Nancy Drew," Nancy said immediately, "and this is Frank Hardy. We wanted to ask you about some of your friends from high school."

"I'm afraid I've lost touch with my childhood friends," Kevin said quietly. "I only just recently moved back to River Heights to care for my grandmother."

"Are you aware that people you used to know have been murdered?" Nancy asked.

Kevin flushed slightly. "I read about Darren Bolton in the paper. I felt so sorry for his family."

"Do you remember when you, Darren and a few others signed a celibacy pledge?"

Kevin's face momentarily lost all expression, but then he smiled slightly. "Young people do such silly things. They'll do anything to distinguish themselves from other kids. That was a long time ago."

"Two other people from that group have also been killed," Nancy said seriously. "We're concerned the rest of you might be in danger."

Kevin looked stunned. "Really? Who?"

"Julie Baker and Tonya Amberson."

Kevin's face paled and he put a hand out to steady himself against the door frame. "I… I don't understand. Why would anyone…?"

An elderly woman's voice called weakly from inside the house. "Kevin?"

Kevin started. "I'm sorry, I have to go." He fumbled at the screen door latch. "I'll say a prayer for them," he whispered hastily and ducked back into the house.

Nancy and Frank stared at the door as it clicked shut.

"Weird," Frank murmured. He turned to Nancy. "Let's go back to the pharmacy. I want to get his grandmother's name. Maybe we can find out more about him by searching on her name."

"Bess isn't going to like that."

"We don't have to have it right now. She can tell you later and you can email it to me."

"Ok."

They walked back to the car.

"By the way," Nancy said, "did you have any luck with Kimberly Watson?"

"No, but I'm still working on it. What about Lisa Delaney?"

"Nothing." Nancy raised her eyebrows. "But as you say, I'm still working on it."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

It was late afternoon by the time Frank got back to the house and Joe was already home.

"So what did you find out?" Joe demanded.

"Kevin Brown moved back to River Heights to care for his sick grandmother."

"Sounds like a nice guy."

"He seemed pretty quiet. He said he wasn't in touch with the others anymore."

"Interesting." Joe grinned. "By the way, Dad's already gone out for the evening."

"Oh, really?"

"Yup. He's having dinner with Sheriff Becker before they go to group. We have the place to ourselves."

Frank smiled. "Well, isn't that nice?"

Joe nodded. "I put a roast and some potatoes in the oven, but they won't be ready for at least an hour."

"How nice. Shall we go upstairs?"

"Absolutely."

Frank's phone chose that particular moment to ring.

"Dammit!" Frank grumbled as he answered it.

"Hello?"

"This is Arthur Sandoval! Are you the guy who called me about Kim last night?"

"Yes, that was me."

"Did you talk to her?"

"No. Did you give her my message?"

"No, and I wasn't planning to either, but the stupid bitch has run off on me again and I'm trying to find her."

"You don't know where she is?" Frank demanded. He exchanged an alarmed look with Joe.

"No! The cow called me a couple weeks ago and said she needed some personal time. I said ok, she could take a couple weeks, and then nothing! If you know where she is, you better tell me!"

"Mr. Sandoval, I told you her life might be in danger! You should call the police!"

"If I called the cops every time she went on a bender or had a knock-down, drag-out with some fuck she picked up, I'd have to put 'em on speed dial! The chick's a nut case. Look, if you ain't talked to her, you're wasting my time."

Sandoval hung up without any warning.

Frank stared at Joe. "Kimberly Watson is missing!"

"She's gonna turn up dead, just like Julie Baker!" Joe exclaimed.

"I don't know." Frank chewed on his lip. "Sandoval said she disappears all the time."

"But under the circumstances…"

"I know. I'd better call Nancy. We have to find out where Lisa Delaney is. But either way, I think I better call the sheriff. I think he needs to know what's going on."

Joe nodded in agreement. "Tell him and dad to come here for dinner. I'll put more potatoes in the oven."