Chapter 9

Joe's Point of View

They got into the cab from the hotel. They had a quick meeting to discuss what they were going to do. He would go with Nancy to meet Tina. They discussed how it might be easier for her to answer questions to people she might know. Frank went with Emily, and Bess and George went to see the town. He could tell Bess was hoping Nancy could go, but that was a negative. They had a lot to do.

"So Joe, is Frank serious about proposing during this investigation?" They sat in the cab being driven to the other side of town. They could of taken the subway but where they were in town, Nancy decided to take the cab. Tina lived outside town and commuted into town to go to NYU, which Joe didn't know. In fact, she lived in the same town as Tad. No wonder they knew each other, he thought to himself.

"I guess so. It's complicated Nancy. I don't understand it myself. So what's new with you?" Nancy shrugged.

"Nothing much. Journalism is a bear to graduate with, but I'm doing fine with it." Joe just looked at her for a long moment.

"Journalism?" Nancy smiled.

"Yea, and criminal investigation. I have enough credits to have a dual major. So I'm deciding to go for it. I take about 16 credit hours semesters. They are all online classes though." Joe wasn't surprised. Nancy had to do things the hard way.

"I'm a journalism major myself. I want to be an investigating reporter. So how do you manage everything?" Nancy shrugged.

"I just write them reports when I travel around the world and such. Sometimes George and Bess can't go with me now, so I do it by myself. Then there are crimes on campus, which I investigate. I try not to have an ego though, and if I sound like I have one. Give me a kick to the shins or something, cause I don't want to sound like that." Joe gave a smirk.

"How about a hug instead of a shake of the shoulders?" Nancy shrugged.

"So what do you think of Emily?" Joe didn't know.

"I don't know. Can't gage on her yet. Is she to be your new partner if you join?" Nancy nods.

"That is what they told me. It's weird. Frank is different. What changed him?" Joe knew he would get bombarded with questions.

"I think he is just having a bad day or week. He will come out of it. Now the case, do you want to know what I know?" She nodded.

"What do you know of the case?" Joe started talking. He knew that Tina knew Lisa, and Lisa had a relationship with Tad who somehow knew Michael now, so Michael had access to Lisa. Lisa was from NYU and someone the police figured met the second victim through one of the fraternities and they did some ceremony. This was a ceremony requiring them to do some sort of test. He also knew that Jenny, the last victim's husband goes to Columbia University. He is a law student majoring in international law. He also knew that this husband name was Timmy and he had to laugh at all the T names.

"So they are connected. Did you share this with the police yet?" Joe shook his head.

"I haven't had time. I've just been doing research with all the information in that police headquarters. Its obvious these girls knew each other from that sorority. So we got to see who is part of that sorority and see if they are connected." Nancy frowned.

"Yes, fraternities are fun. I give them that much. I remember investigating a few for the school." Joe smirked. There was good old Nancy, investigating cases for the school. He wondered if she got paid for the investigations.

"Tina isn't a part of the sorority. I don't think so anyway. Michael isn't, and neither is Tad. But Michael's sister was, and she is dead and Jenny and Lisa are dead. They were all part of the sorority."

"This is a big link that means a lot. I'll have to get an early start in the morning a noise my way around the sorority." Joe shook his head. The taxi driver glanced in his review mirror, Joe noticed.

"It sounds like me this Michael is a likely candidate for these murders." The taxi driver quipped. Nancy and Joe looked at the driver.

"Yes, he is a suspect but there are many. Tad could have met the other girls through Lisa. They obviously had contact with each other up until this point." Nancy stated. They seemed close to their location as the taxi was slowing down to a stop. They were now in front of a big apartment complex. Nancy pulled out her piece of paper.

"She said to go around to the back, and it's the second building on the left. We will walk from here." The taxi driver went to a stop. Nancy paid the taxi driver.

"Do you want me to come back within two hours or so?" Nancy shook her head.

"Tina said she'd give us a lift." Joe sighed in relief. One-way taxi was expensive enough. They got out and shut the door. The apartments were halfway descent. The buildings were four story high with a small porches on the outside. Some people were home and with cars in their parking spaces. There was a gate, which was open to go inside to the back. There was a pool and they both could tell it was a new complex.

"This should be interesting." Joe stated. Nancy nodded as they walked their way around to the back of the apartment. Nancy was looking at her directions.

"I'm amazed she commutes into New York so much. It must get expensive." Joe shrugs.

"Beats living on campus. This is the alternative. It's expensive to live in the city. I wish I had the time to travel outside the city and back." They got to the building. There was a stairwell that took them to the third floor. They walked up the stairs. Joe knocked as Nancy just checked the number on her paper which read 484 Cyprus Circle , Magnolia Apartments.

They heard the bolt unbolt, and open a small centimeter.

"Yes? Joe!" She opened the door. She then looked over at Nancy.

"Hey Tina, this is Nancy Drew." Nancy smiled and put out her hand. Tina looked uncomfortable now.

"Oh yes. Nancy…I almost totally forgot until five minutes ago. Give me a minute to tidy up." She quickly shut the door and Joe turned to Nancy.

"She is a real nice girl." Nancy shrugged.

"No big deal. Sometimes people get nervous about a real investigator. She could just be not in the mood to talk right now. There is a lot of information to go over. I wonder what Frank is finding out." Nancy stated as Joe wondered the same thing.

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Frank's point of view

Frank chewed on a piece of gum as he plowed through this Michael's think profile. He was reading for any incriminating information. He had about five different files and they were thick with criminal activity. He also had Tad's files in a separate pile. He was comparing the two to see if there was any parallel between the two. He was also looking for any thing that could be different.

"Anything interesting?" Emily stated from her side of the table. He looked up. Emily was one cool FBI agent. She was going through the victim's files. Seeing the similarities, she was drawing parallels over why these pacific girls and not the other girls, cause of the school connection.

"Michael has been in jail for marijuana possession, and is in the NRA for narcotic addictions. He is also an alcoholic and tends to drink extensively. He has never had a steady girl friend says his neighbors but he has them come in and out, but they can't stand his drinking habit. He isn't over weight, but he refuses to talk to the cops and is avoiding them like the pledge. What about you?" Emily put down her reading glasses which she was wearing.

"It looks like these girls could have been friends or if not friends met at this sorority at the school, which means all these suspects boyfriends or husbands could of met their sorority cousins. Michael's sister was obviously into her brother, and it often brought him along to the meetings. He was the in thing, said one of the witnesses. There is other evidence that Jenny, the last victim did some endocrine of some kind. Which means there was a test of some kind they needed to do, which means it might not be a serial killer but some test that goes wrong or something even sicker." Frank frowned. What was she insinuating?

"Meaning?" Emily put back on her glasses.

"It means it could be that they fell victim, and the others didn't. Or that Michael goes after certain members and ditches the others. Or someone in that sorority is the serial killer, so that means we need a list of names. Hopefully Tina can lend light onto this situation." Frank wasn't sure that made any sense to him, but he knew that this sorority connection was important.

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Sorority House

Clack. Clog. Darkness. Screaming. Partying. This was all Rachel could think about. She had to complete the test. She just had one more test before she could become a member. She had to do this. There were about four hundred members looking at her to take the challenge. She had to. There were risks but she would do it.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Nancy's point of view

They waited outside the apartment for what seemed to be a half hour until the door finally opened. Tina had a purse and keys in her hands.

"I'm sorry. Something has come up. I can drive you back into town if you want and talk to you there. Is there anyway we can make a rain check for Saturday?" Nancy frowned and Joe looked confused.

"Yeah, that's fine. Something happened?" Joe asked. Nancy was about to ask but she didn't know Tina to well to ask.

"Yes, its just a friend of mine needs to be picked up from the air port and a place to stay. I'm sorry." Joe shrugged.

"Just give us a ride back into town?" Tina smiled and Nancy just frowned. This wasn't good.

"So we can discuss our discussion Saturday morning. Perhaps meet at the café on campus." Nancy didn't mind that but preferred to meet in private.

"That's fine. Frank, my brother might tag along." They walked down the stairs as Joe stated. Nancy was just thinking how Tina was acting really weird and nervous. She had to wonder why.

"That's fine. Where do you need to go? Is it okay if I drop you off at a subway entrance and you can take that into the city." Even now Joe frowned.

"That's fine." Nancy interrupted before Joe could say anything. They were down stairs and they got to Tina's car, which was a small used BMW. She wondered about Tina, but dismissed her nervousness.

They drove to the subway ride into the city in silence, and when they were out of the car that is when Joe broke the silence.

"What kind of shit was that? She was definitely not like that when I met her. I wonder if you had something to do with it." Joe stated and Nancy shrugged.

"I don't know. It could be she really had something to do and didn't feel comfortable talking over the case with me. Some people are like that." Joe sighed.

"I know. But this isn't the safest way into the city at this time of day, do we want to call that taxi cab?" Nancy shook her head.

"Na, we can wait for the subway train. Its cheaper."

Hour Later Down Town New York Central Station

They sat on the train as it came to a stop. Joe could only think about Tina. What was going on? They decided to go to the police station and help comb through the files. This was one unusual night. Perhaps they could shed light on this experience with Frank and get his take. Tina didn't seem the type to do something like what she did. She seemed punctual, and serious student. Her friend Lisa was important to her, and she wanted to catch the bad guy. Though it seemed she didn't want them to question her tonight, or anything like that. She was avoided Nancy, and he wondered what was about Nancy that made her nervous.

"We better get you inside the police station before you get mobbed." He smirked. There were a few guys looking at Nancy as they made their way off the train.

"Ha, real funny." She glanced at the punk with black hair and pierced noise. Joe frowned as he noticed him following them now. He put Nancy in front of him. Neither of them were armed, but they knew their martial arts so if anything funny happened. They could handle it. The man had his hand in his pocket and held his arms close to his side. They had been talking on the train about the case and came to the conclusion that they needed more information on the sorority. Joe's job tomorrow was to find out their endocrine and see what it takes to be a member. He would also stop by and question some of them.

"I think he means business." They went up the stairs with the man following them down the street. They decided to up their pace. They walked for what seemed a few minutes when the man behind them started to run. Nancy was the one that noticed and grabbed Joe's arm. He had a gun in his pocket.