Disclaimer: I don't own...well, anything, really.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I was kind of amused to find that people are more concerned about the dog than they are about Nancy! Anyway, here it goes, remember to read and review!
A/N: Also, I know nothing about cars. Sorry if all the car stuff in here is wrong. Basically, to me, a car is either a minivan, a convertible, or a car. I don't know any makes or models, so I tried to fake it. Just ignore it.
"What?" Nancy said confusedly. She took a deep breath and said, "Look, I don't know who you are or what-"
She was cut off by a high pitched whine on the other end.
"No!" she gasped silently. With a shaking hand, she pushed the "mute" button on the phone. "Togo!" she called apprehensively. Maybe that wasn't Togo on the other end. Togo was downstairs... Wasn't he?
"Togo! Come here, boy!" Her only response was a fearful silence.
The hoarse voice snickered. "Don't be silly, Ms. Drew! He can't hear you from here!" Then he spoke to the dog. "Can you, boy?"
A growl, presumably from Togo.
"Don't hurt him." Nancy warned, trying to keep her voice level.
A yelp from Togo. "Oh, of course not, Nancy," the voice said slowly, mockingly. "Where would you get that idea?" The caller broke out into hysterical giggles, bordering on maniacal laughter.
Nancy couldn't take it. She dropped the phone, leaving the receiver hanging off the nightstand. At the same time she leaped out of bed and ran downstairs, flipping on every light switch she passed. At her feet touched the cold tiled kitchen floor, she felt a draft. Whirling on the back door, she found it standing open, the screen door swinging creakily in the wind. Nancy didn't bother to close it. She simply didn't care. She looked around. No sign of Togo.
Nancy walked to the front door and looked out the window. No Togo. She bit her lip. What was she supposed to do next? She heard a footfall behind her and spun around, right into Joe. Joe's arms closed around her, and he gave her a reassuring hug.
"It'll be alright, Nan." he said encouragingly. "Frank got the guy's phone number and he's calling the police."
Nancy stepped away from him and nodded brokenly. She wasn't going to fall apart. She did, however, allow Joe to lead her to a chair.
Joe nodded at the back door. "Did you open this?" he asked.
Nancy shook her head. "It was open when I came down."
Joe walked over and closed it. "That must be how they got in." he said, stating the obvious.
Frank came down the stairs two at a time. "It was a pay phone."
"Huh?" Joe and Nancy said in unison.
"The stalker called from a pay phone a few blocks away from here. I called the police and they traced the number." Frank explained, crossing the room. He placed his hand on Nancy's shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." Nancy said distractedly. "Hey, did you say 'stalker'?"
"Yes." Frank replied. "That's what it sounded like to me."
"Great. Just great." Nancy said, burying her head in her hands.
The three detectives turned their heads as they heard a car pull up front. Joe reached the door first and flung it open. A silver car was sitting in the street. The passenger door opened and the car lit up, illuminating a figure dressed completely in black sitting in the driver's seat. The driver grabbed a bundle lying on the passenger seat and tossed out of the car. The door slammed shut and the car sped away. By this time, Joe was already halfway down the driveway, running after the car and trying to make out the license plate number.
Nancy and Frank rushed down the driveway. Nancy knelt to examine the bundle.
"Be careful, Nan!" Frank called. "It could be a bomb!"
Nancy squinted at it and grinned. "I don't think so." She pulled the squirming dog out of the burlap bag. "Togo!" Her grin faded. "Togo, what happened?"
She picked up Togo and carried him into the house. Frank picked up the bag and followed. His eyes widened in shock. Togo's fur was matted down and dripping with what appeared to be his own blood.
Nancy glanced at his alarmed expression and reassured him, "Don't worry, it isn't as bad as it looks." She dipped a finger in the sticky liquid and brought it to her nose. "Strawberry."
"What?" Frank said, amazed.
"It isn't blood, it's strawberry syrup." Nancy set Togo on the kitchen table. "Would you hand me that towel on the kitchen sink?" she asked Frank. Frank tossed her the towel and she began to rub off the syrup. Togo licked his paws. "I don't know what kind of sicko we're dealing with, but I'm just relieved; it could have been so much worse." she mused. As if she was reading his thoughts, she told him. "If you want to help you could fill the upstairs bathtub with water. Togo is going to need a bath."
"Okay." Something in her take-charge attitude made Frank smile.
Nancy turned and saw him grinning at her. "Why are you smiling?" But she was smiling too. "Go!" she ordered.
Frank did. Joe burst in the front door, panting. He had the same reaction to Togo as Frank. "Is he okay?" he asked.
"Yup." Nancy replied. "Strawberry syrup."
Joe shuddered. "This guy is twisted."
"What did you find out?"
"Not much. I can't outrun a car. But I did see an Illinois license plate. I'm pretty sure it was a rental. It had a bumper sticker with the Chicago airport logo on it."
"Good work! Tomorrow we can call the rental place. Did you see the make of the car?"
"Sure," said Joe. "It was a Saturn. Probably 1998 or 1999."
"Great! Now we have something to go on."
Joe flopped down in a chair. "You need any help cleaning him up?"
"Thanks but no thanks. Frank's running the bath. I'll take care of it. You can go back to bed."
"Thanks. Good night, Nan." Joe shuffled upstairs.
Half an hour later, Togo was syrup-free. Nancy lifted him out of the tub and then knelt to dry him with a towel.
Frank offered a hand to help her up. "Good night Nan. Just yell if you need me. Us." he quickly amended.
"Right. Thanks." Nancy said, heading down the hall to her bedroom. She had forgotten how much she liked having Frank around.
Togo followed her down the hall, then stopped in her doorway and refused to budge.
Nancy frowned. "Togo, what's wrong?"
Togo let out a deep, rumbling growl.
Nancy picked him up. "Togo, I'd like to get some sleep sometime tonight." Togo squirmed in her arms. "And I'm not letting you out of my sight!" Nancy threw back the covers and set Togo on the bed. He jumped off, grabbing a corner of her nightgown in his mouth and heading for the door. Nancy stood, amused, while the little dog tried to physically remove her from the room. At last she picked him up, plunked him next to her in her bed, and lay down. The cool sheets felt so good, and she was so tired...
Togo jumped out of the bed and sat stiffly next to the door, but Nancy was too exhausted to care. She closed her eyes.
Silence.
Nancy's eyes snapped open again as she felt something cold and scaly brush across her legs. Reflexively, she bolted upright and threw back the sheets.
At the end of her bed was a coiled snake, fangs bared and ready to strike.
A/N: Oh boy. Eventually I'm going to run out of stalking methods. Any suggestions are more than welcome. Also, please review and I'll try to update ASAP! Thanks!