Disclaimer: It isn't mine, and if you didn't know that by now, there is no hope for you.

A/N: Thanks so much to all my reviewers! I just wanted to answer a question I got from merry. I figured that Daniel was trying to kill the Hardys so he could get to Nancy. He doesn't want her to die in an explosion; he has something worse planned for her… Anyway, read, enjoy, and please, please review!

The deactivation of the car bomb was further complicated by a freak rainstorm. As Nancy trudged inside with her friends, she noted how well the weather matched her mood.

The group, which consisted of Nancy, Bess, the two Hardys, Detective Sam Fanelli, and his partner, Lisa Sheffield, waited tensely in the kitchen for the bomb technicians to finish their job.

Apparently someone had filled Officer Sheffield in, because she asked no questions and restlessly paced the floor. "Sorry," she apologized. "I'm just nervous, I guess. I'm new on the force, and this is my first real call."

The rest of the group nodded wanly at her explanation. It had been a long weekend.

Joe suddenly jumped up. "I think I'll go see what's taking so long." Lisa immediately volunteered to go with him; she was obviously as impatient as he.

A tense stillness filled the room after they left. Nobody had anything cheerful to say, so they kept their mouths shut.

After what seemed like an eternity, Nancy spotted a gleam in Bess's eyes as they darted from her to Frank. Sure enough, she stood up, saying, "I don't think it should take this long! We're going out to see what's up." Grabbing Sam's shirt sleeve, she fairly dragged him to the door.

Nancy snorted at Bess. "Don't worry; you aren't being obvious at all!"

The door slammed shut behind them, and several seconds later Nancy and Frank heard a muffled scream.

"Bess!" they chorused, racing to the door. No one was in sight.

"No one!" exclaimed Frank. The bomb technicians were no longer outside, and Bess, Joe, Sam, and Lisa were nowhere to be seen. Frank grabbed for the doorknob, but Nancy seized his arm.

"You can't go out there!" she gasped urgently. "What if you disappear too?" Her eyes looked haunted, and there was more panic in them than he had ever seen.

"I won't." Frank assured her. Then, however, their attention was diverted as the lights went out. Sure enough, the rainstorm had evolved into a full blown thunderstorm.

"Perfect." Nancy groaned. "I have a flashlight upstairs. I'll go get it." She looked back at Frank. "Please don't leave while I'm gone." she begged fearfully.

Frank was torn. His brother was out there somewhere, and Frank was fairly sure he was in trouble. However, there was no way he was leaving Nancy alone. He smiled at her weakly. "I'll do you one better." he said. "I'll come with you."

Nancy looked grateful. "Thank you." She led the way upstairs and found the flashlight. Feeling safer with the light, she asked, "Should we call the police?"

"I don't know." Frank admitted. "The police are already here. At least, they were!"

Nancy picked up the phone and listened for a dial tone. Her voice quavered as she said, "I don't think we have that problem anymore." She handed him the receiver. "It's dead."

Frank listened, stifled a curse, and hung up. "No power, no phone, no backup… Looks like it's just us."

Nancy was about to agree, but then froze. She put a finger to her lips.

A crisp, lonely noise cut through the air. Somebody was whistling, and it was coming from downstairs!

Nancy and Frank looked at each other in alarm. "He's down there." Nancy murmured.

"And we're trapped up here. Unless you want to chance climbing out a window?" Frank said softly.

"I don't want to be out there any more than I want to be in here. Who knows what happened to Joe and Bess!" Nancy muttered frantically. She paled visibly as the whistling drew louder. The whistler was coming closer! His tune was slow and sad, and incredibly terrifying. "Oh, god, Frank. He's coming upstairs!"

"We have two choices." said Frank, ever calm. "We can try to hide, or confront him."

Nancy shuddered. "We can't hide." Frank suspected that her eyes were full of tears.

The whistling stopped abruptly. "Come out, Nancy Drew! I know you're here!"

"No…" Nancy whimpered.

Frank wrapped his arms around her. "Should we go face him?"

A suddenchange came over Nancy. She wiped ather eyes, and her composure seemed to return to her. "What if," she asked curiously, "I go down now, and you stay here and be my backup?"

Frank didn't like the way this was going. "No." he said firmly. "This guy is crazy! You can't go down there alone!"

"Yes, Frank, I can!" Nancy said, a little coolly. "Look, if I have to die I don't want it to be hiding behind you!"

Frank raised his eyebrows. "You're not going to die, Nan. People like us don't die." He knew it wasn't true, but that was how it felt. People like Nancy, Joe, and him were invincible.

"There's a first time for everything." Nancy countered. "Frank, can't you just stay here and be safe?"

"That's the way I feel about you."

Nancy's cheeks burned. "We don't have much time. How about if I go down and you wait a bit, so you can help if I get into trouble?"

"Okay." Frank still didn't like it, but it was the only compromise they would be able to reach.

"Nancy! Don't make me come up there!" The whistler warned smugly.

Nancy reached for the doorknob, a steely look of determination in her eyes. As she turned it, she paused, just for a second.

"Be careful, Nan."

That was what did it. She turned and ran back to him, throwing her arms around his neck. And then she kissed him, urgently and passionately, until they heard heavy footsteps coming up the stairs. She drew away. "I will." Then she stepped quickly into the hall, towards possible death, and leaving a confused and very worried Frank behind.

A/N: Ok, yes, it is a bit short, but I kind of like it. Please, review and tell me what you think!