Chapter Six

"So we go to the police headquarters first?" George stated to Nancy as they placed their luggage onto the ground in their suite. As long as Georgia, or she liked to be called George, knew Nancy she always thought of her like a sister. Yes they got into arguments once in a while on cases here and there, but for the most part they were steady friends. This case meant a lot to her. This was the promoting her relationship with the FBI and their constant nagging recruiting voice on her answering machine. She was the star detective on this case. As she was told, she might not have the official training of an FBI agent or police detective but she carries a brain worth picking.

"That's the plan…Bess you staying or coming?" Bess George's cousin laid herself down on one of the beds head first into the pillow.

"Humph" Even though the clock read noon, they had been going non-stop since four in the morning. Even George wished she could take a catnap, but she wouldn't let Nancy do the first legwork by herself. George wanted to help Nancy crack this case.

"We will have lunch when we get back, ok?" Bess perked up at the mention of food. She looked at the time, yawned, and then placed her head back down onto the pillow."
"Fine. I'll sleep till you come back, leave a key on the dresser." Nancy just laughed.

"Were you up late last night Bess? I told you to go to sleep early." She only grumbled at them and George smiled. She suspected the same thing. After the grumble, they heard a sound of a soft snore.

"I guess that answers that question. Lets go." Nancy stated. She grabbed her bag that carried her laptop and they were off to the police headquarters of NYPD. They left a key on the dresser, for which they had three, and left. Walking down the hallway George could only think of how hard this case was going to be. There was so much evidence to comb over and unlike before, Nancy would have to manage who did what. This was her first managing case. Hopefully she could do it, the FBI had confidence in her and as long as that happened, things could happen. After all, she did do that one case with the FBI going through the training once just for kicks, but in a year or so she might do it for real. That was the scary part for George. Her friend might become a Special Agent that is what the FBI was trying to do. Her friend, an agent, she thought to herself. That's all she could think about as they went down the elevator.

"So you are really thinking about joining the FBI?" Nancy shrugged.

"I'm thinking about it. I have to submit my application soon, even though I'm technically admitted already. Weird huh?" George laughed.

"Not really. So do you want to do it? You are obviously taking this case they offered." Nancy looked over at her for a long moment.

"I love solving crimes and to get paid to do it would be nice. Plus I get the bonus of solving crimes I could not even touch otherwise. There are a lot of opportunities within the FBI besides just investigating." George gave Nancy a sideways glance.

"I guess you will have to decide after this case." Nancy nodded.

"They are sending an agent by the name of Emily Dickenson to help me out. She is a Special Agent." George sighed in relief.

"At least you aren't doing this case alone. But you think they'd assign guys to this case with the danger the killer has towards the victims." Nancy shrugged.

"Yes, and No. For guys even, this case poses a threat. I'm happy you two were able to come with me. This will be weird working with an FBI agent on the case. I'm used to working with people like Frank and Joe Hardy, not an FBI agent." George was surprised they were even mentioned but then again, they solved many cases together and were an excellent example of teamwork on a case. George thought thoughtfully to her self about the Hardy boys. She hadn't seen them in almost six to four years now since high school graduation. They all went their separate ways, Joe the last to graduate of coarse.

"I wonder what they are doing now." Nancy shrugged.

"Don't know. Last I heard Frank went to Columbia and Joe ended up at NYU. That's all I know." George saw her smile a bit of a sad one. She knew Nancy had a hard time breaking up with her long time boyfriend when entering their college. The long distance ran its toll and they finally separated. They are still friends and talk from time to time but there is no commitment between them.

"Nice schools." Nancy smiled a bit.

"I expected nothing less of them. Now subway or taxi or should we just walk." George liked the idea of a subway trip.

"Subway, cheaper." Nancy agreed and they walked their way towards the closest entrance to the subway system. The best way to get around town is the subway of coarse or a taxicab for a tourist. They could of rented a car but most of the action would happen inside the town and if it got to rent a car, they would rely on this assigned agent for a lift. That was Nancy's responds to George's question about renting a car later. They just walked to the subway, and got onto the train.

"Do you think you can crack the case? Have any thoughts of now of who it could be?" Nancy shrugged.

"I have to talk to these individuals before I just decide who is fault, and it takes a lot of evidence to convict a person for a crime in the first place." George agreed with Nancy on that one.

"To connect an individual to all three of these cases is going to take a lot of effort, and preventing it from happening again will take even more time." Nancy smiled.

"Yes, that is what Emily is for. I don't know everything quiet yet, so they send a senior why I'm just a rookie as they state." They rode the subway train talking about the case at hand. They were murmuring on their subway train of the dangers on this case but George wondered about the Hardy Boys.

"Maybe we could hook up with the Frank and Joe. Don't they go to school around New York City?" Nancy looked at George then shrugged.

"I don't know George, I'd love to have them on the case but its up to Emily if they can participate. She is the one in control of everything. Just in case, I left a message on Frank's phone last night but I didn't get a reply. So I figure he is either not interested or hasn't checked his messages. Though he always calls me back." George frowned at this news.

"That doesn't sound like Frank. He is always up for a good mystery." Nancy seemed to agree with George.

"Yes, but the last time I heard from them. He told me that he promised Callie that he would quit the detective business and resign from the Network. Joe hasn't resigned but it's pointless to employ one Hardy on a case without the other." George frowned and didn't know this was going on.

"So that was the last time you heard from them? How about contacting Joe?" You have his number, right?"

Nancy took out her cell phone and started dialing his number.

"That's a good idea. I'm sure he would be up for this crime mystery. This is his kind of case. I don't know what he is doing but surely he can squeeze me into his schedule to explain the case." George hoped that at least Joe would help out. They could use all the help they could get.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Joe's point of view

Joe was walking down the street towards the NYPD police headquarters in down town NYC. He would talk to Tom about what he had found out. His cell phone rang and he hoped as it rung that it was Frank rethinking his position on this case. Picking it up without looking at the caller ID he answered as if it was Frank.

"Frank you bastard, I need you on this case." There was a pause on the phone and that was how he knew it wasn't Frank. He cursed under his breath thinking it could be one of the many witnesses he had called to interview.

"Sorry, this is Joe Hardy." There was another pause and he knew the voice was female.

"Tina?" He looked at his watch to see if it was possibly her. Nope it wasn't her and the phone was silent. He felt like hanging up and was about to when a familiar voice spoke on the other end.

"Joe Hardy, this is Nancy Drew." Joe stopped walking and almost ran into another pedestrian walking in the opposite direction.

"Nancy? Hey! What's up?" He wasn't too surprised to hear her voice but he'd expect her to call Frank not him. Then again, he was happy to hear someone. Perhaps he could persuade her to help him out on this case.

"Look Nancy, I'm working on this case that Frank doesn't want to work on. In fact, Frank has been a prick over this no investigating thing that its pissing me off. He doesn't want anything to do with this case I picked up, and I don't know what you are doing but maybe you can help out?" Nancy seemed to go quiet.

"Well I'm asking you the same question. See the FBI has hired me to do this serial killer case in New York City, and I'm in town right now going to the police headquarters. I was wondering if you'd want to join in on the investigation? I've left a message for Frank but he hasn't returned my call." Joe was surprised that he hadn't the way he has been talking.

"I'm surprised of that. I think he just hasn't checked his messages. But that's my case." Nancy seemed to laugh on the other end cause it seemed that happened from time to time. But Joe was thinking, wow the FBI hired her for this case. That was big shit. What has Nancy been doing in college? Its been almost four years since their last investigation together and it seemed like forever.

"I'd love to work with you again, if that's possible." Nancy was interrupted by a beep on the other end. Joe looked at his caller ID.

"Franks calling on the other line. I'll meet you at the headquarters cause that's where I'm headed. Who'd you bring with you? Bess, George, or both?" He could almost feel Nancy smile.

"Both, they are with me. There is more to this FBI thing then it seems, but I'll clue you in at the station. Meet you there in a half hour?" Joe agreed and switched lines.

"Frank you won't believe it. Nancy's is in town, and is working on the case. I'm meeting her in a half hour, are you sure you don't want in on this case?" Frank seemed to almost gasp on the other end and he seemed now hesitant on the other side.

"I'm calling to ask you what happened at the interview, cause Callie is coming into town and wants in on the case." Joe scratched his head. Suddenly Frank wanted in, not because he wanted in but because Callie wanted to investigate for it looked good on his record. What kind of crap is this? Joe heard Frank and Frank insisted on meeting them at the police headquarters. Joe wasn't sure if Frank could handle Nancy and Callie being around each other.

"Can you manage Nancy though?" There was a pause.

"I plan on proposing to Callie this week, so that is a yes." Joe stopped in his track moving again to avoid being trampled.

"Propose? I thought you thought she was cheating on you?" Frank seemed to disagree.

"She told me on the phone that she wasn't, and that their friendship is on the rocks cause of her loyalty to me. So she hasn't been cheating, so don't worry Joe. I can handle my own affairs." Joe thought Frank was turning into a real asswipe right now.

"Frank you need to get out of this mood you are in for it won't solve the case. I want Frank back." Joe started walking again.

"I am Frank. I just have grown up from this investigating stage of our lives." Joe was curious now.

"When did you buy a ring?" Frank seemed to beam on the other end.

"A while ago, like spring break time. I just haven't had time to propose yet." Joe seemed to digest what he was saying.

"Why didn't you call Nancy back?" Frank went silent.

"I didn't want to do the case and still don't. I have a lot of work to do at school." Joe seemed to get infuriated at his brother for that comment.

"I have classes too and journalism isn't the easiest degree either. I'm going to the headquarters now so I suggest you make your way there now. I don't feel like talking to you and if you don't want to do the case then having you around will be like a third wheel. We don't need that." Frank seemed to get angry on the other end.

"Joe, I can be professional even though my personal interest have remained the same after high school. Callie just seems to have an interest in investigating somewhere. So I figure on case should cool her curiosity." Joe needed to call dad on Frank.

"So is Nancy being George or Bess along?" Joe nodded.

"I don't know who is with her but I think I heard George in the back ground. You better get going, for I know you're outside the city. I'll see you later." Joe hung up the phone shaking his head. His brother was a mess, and right now he would love to talk to his father about Frank. He just hadn't kept in touch with Frank after high school. They parted after he graduated and life just hasn't been the same since. Perhaps this was just a phase and Frank would grow out of it, but he wasn't positive that this was the result of the city life, school, or separation from each other. In high school, they would never separate. They would do things together. They were together all the time. That is how it worked and how things worked in their house. After leaving the Network, Joe thought he would never get a case again. Their reputation was high in the Network and in the detective world as it is with Nancy, as it appears to him. But why Nancy got the jobs, Joe sat in his classroom listening to lectures after lectures about how to investigate.

He walked down the street and he hoped that everything would be all right with Frank and he would be able to work out the workload with Nancy Drew. He would have to hear how she got the case being she wasn't an FBI agent yet. Maybe that is what she wants to be, which would kick ass.

He just thought of the differences between himself and Nancy and his brother Frank. They did investigate differently and thought differently on cases. There were different ways of coming to the same conclusion. The bases for their cases they have solved together almost always lead to the same conclusion. So this was perfect them being in town, and maybe Joe could get Frank out of his gloomy mood by the use of Nancy. He could only hope.

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Frank's point of view

Frank drove his small Mini convertible down the streets of NYC. He was heading towards the NYPD blue headquarters. He wasn't sure about running into Nancy again. He really didn't want to be reminded of the old days. He wanted this investigation for himself now. If Nancy was in town, so was George and Bess and that meant more people to work with. He really wanted peace and quiet. He has risked his neck on a thousands of occasions and solved many mysteries with her. He knew she must look gorgeous now or has changed in look for it has been almost five years since their last investigation together.

"Come on." He murmured at the pedestrians walking across the street. He had five minutes to get to where he was going. Five minutes to keep himself under control. He had to remind himself that Callie was coming on Saturday, and he would propose to Callie showing Nancy the ring he bought her to see her opinion. He felt like the message she left was like she was still in high school again and solving mysteries together wasn't something he wanted. He wanted to move on with his life, and as good as a friend as Nancy is. He figured not calling her was saying he wasn't interested in the case. But Callie has a way of convencing her otherwise.

"Frank." He picked up the phone as it rang. He heard Nancy's voice on the other end. He sighed a quiet sigh.

"Hey Frank. I didn't hear back from you so I thought I'd try again. This is Nancy." Frank smiled at her voice though.

"Its good to hear from you. Yes I'm in, but Callie is part of the investigating party too as is George and Bess I assume." Nancy seemed to hesitate.

"Callie? She has never been in an investigation before, and this is a dangerous case Frank. Perhaps she should sit this one out." That pissed him off.

"I think she can handle her self Nancy and this case is a little bit too dangerous for any girl to work on." Tempers were definitely flying.

"Look Frank, I didn't call to get in an argument with you. I'm fine. Joe is on the case, and so is the FBI. I have help, and I'm not doing it alone. If you're in on it, then there is no excuse for me to get into trouble. Callie knows nothing about investigation. Are you sure you want her part of the case?" She seemed skeptical on the phone.

"I'm sure. She comes in on Saturday." Nancy seemed to be hesitate on the phone.

"Well if that's what you think is the best. Did Joe tell you to come to the headquarters?" Frank rolled his eyes.

"Where do you think I'm going?" Nancy paused.

"You don't sound happy to be on the case. What happened Frank?" Frank frowned at Nancy.

"Nothing happened. I've just moved on from the investigation days. I want to be a lawyer now." Nancy seemed happy on the other end now.

"That's good, but no need to be all upset over a little mystery. You just might enjoy yourself and change you mind about law. Why not go for the FBI or CIA?" Frank remembered having this conversation with Nancy after his high school graduation.

"I don't want to be an FBI agent or CIA agent or a permenate Network operative. I want a normal life where I don't have to worry about men out to get me or a family I might have later on in life." Nancy paused on the phone.

"I guess that's a good excuse, but not a valid reason. You can balance both, your father does and FBI agents do all the time." Frank just didn't feel like talking about it.

"Look Nancy there is traffic. I'll see you at the Police Headquarters, okay?" Nancy seemed disappointed in him.

"I guess Joe's right. You have changed. But yes I'll meet you there. Later." Before he could say anything she hung up. This was the hardest part of this whole case, working with a girl he could of kissed forever in Egypt. He could have kissed her a thousand times and that case opened up possibilities, but that was the old days and he wouldn't think of it. He just wouldn't dwell on the past that he couldn't obtain in this future life he chose. He would marry Callie and have beautiful children being a lawyer, a steady job, a steady income without any enemies to worry about like his father.

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Joe stood waiting for his brother and Nancy in the police headquarters in downtown NYC. He was early. He was thinking about Nancy and Frank and Callie. He hoped nothing would happen between them.

"Hey Joe Hardy…" The voice was young, the face was beautiful, and her hair was a bit longer then usual. But that face was Nancy Drew, with her strawberry blond hair and green eyes. Nancy was wearing a pair of jeans, sweater, a scarf, and mittens. George with her brown curly short hair and dark eyes wore a green jacket and pair of jeans also. Joe and Nancy exchanged a hug.

"It's good to see you. I haven't seen you in a few years." Nancy smiled.

"Yes, it has been a while since I've seen you let alone did any mysteries with you. Frank is coming." Nancy nodded.

"Frank is here." The voice carried over the talking of people in the front room of the headquarters. Nancy and George turned as Frank walked up. Frank looked like someone punched him in the gut, but he smiled and they exchanged a hug. Nancy let go but Frank lingered as Joe could tell. He frowned at that. This wouldn't be good.

"Hey Frank. You're looking good." Nancy stated and looked at Joe. "So are you. Nothing has changed." Frank smiled and Joe sighed thinking maybe she could bring him out of this phase he was in.

"Ready to crack the case?" Joe smiled.

"Tom is waiting." Nancy seemed to hesitate before going in the back.

"There are a few things we need to discuss before going through some of the information." Joe looked at Nancy and Frank crossed his arms. Joe wondered why the crossed arms.

"There is an FBI Special Agent by the name of Emily Dickenson that will be tagging along with the investigation. She comes into town either today or tomorrow. So be aware we must work along side the FBI." Joe flipped out. They got a Special Agent working with them? What the hell?

"So you are being under minded." Frank stated. Nancy looked confused.

"How is she being under minded. We get an FBI agent." Joe defended Nancy.

"And she is being paid for this." George stated. Frank frowned.

"You never got paid before today for any case." Nancy and Frank were going at it and Joe couldn't stop it.

"I get paid because that is the field of interest I'm heading forward. I'm going to be an FBI agent out of college, and this is the first time I get professional help in an investigation. We need this help Frank, and I think with this new attitude of yours. You might as well take Callie and see the city." Ooooh, Joe thought to him self. That was harsh. That was all he could think.

"Ok you two. No arguments please," George interrupted Frank before he had the chance to respond. They looked at George as Tom came out of his office.

"Are you ready to go through the information?" They looked at Tom.

"Yes, we are ready. This is Nancy Drew. This is Tom." Nancy and Tom exchanged a handshake.

"Hello Nancy, its good to finally meet our star investigator besides Emily Dickenson. So where do you want to start?" Nancy seemed to take control as Joe just watched her in action. He watched Frank as his face showed a little jealousy at Tom's declaration that Nancy was the star investigator.

"I'm not the star investigator. There are others, like Frank and Joe Hardy." Tom looked at the boys and then at Nancy.

"True, so lets get on to the evidence, and discuss our first options of suspects."

Note from author: I'm back in town but sick as a dog. Didn't have internet connection nor time to write, but I had a good time. I hope you like this story's direction. – warriorasag82