Nancy knew she should be shocked, but nothing the killer did shocked her anymore. The attack on her last night proved that.

"When?" Nancy asked.

"A couple of my officers found her this morning," B.D. said. "Good thing it was an attempt."

Nancy did a double-take. "Did you just say attempt?"

B.D. actually smiled at her. "I sure did. That phone call was telling me which room she was in."

"Did you get a name?" Nancy asked.

"Nikki Masters," B.D. said, glancing at his notepad.

"Nikki?" Nancy asked. "She's my neighbor!"

"Are you telling me this guy got brave enough to attack someone in your neighborhood, not along after he did the same thing to you?" Frank asked.

"Brave?" Nancy asked. "No. Stupid–yes."

"He's getting desperate," Joe said.

"That's what it sounds like to me," B.D. said.

"What happened to her?" Nancy asked.

"She was stabbed and strangled," B.D. answered.

"Just like the third murder," Nancy said. "And she lived?"

"Just barely," B.D. said. "My officers said her father came home and found her. If he hadn't gotten home when he did, she would be dead right now."

"But this killer has been so careful," Nancy said. "Why would he make a mistake now?"

"Maybe he thought she was dead," Frank pointed out. "Maybe he didn't want to risk staying there for that long, especially when everyone was on the lookout for him."

"So, he must think that she's dead," Nancy said. An idea had occurred to her. "B.D., have the news gotten a hold of this yet?"

B.D. shook his head. "Not as far as I know. If they did, they would be all over me by now."

"What are you thinking, Drew?" Frank asked. He had seen that look on her face countless times before.

"I know it's against their ethics," Nancy said. "But do you think we can convince them to fabricate a story?"

"I'm listening," B.D. said.

"As you said, he thinks he killed Nikki. If we can convince him that he really did, we have something against him. Maybe she saw something that can help us catch him," Nancy said, getting excited.

"I like where you're going with this," B.D. said. "I'll put in a call to the station and see if we can get the ball rolling."

"I think this may be the break that we've been looking for," Nancy said. B.D. was almost at the door when another thought hit her. "B.D., was there another note?"

"As a matter of fact there was," B.D. said.

"What did it say?" Nancy asked.

"'Tell me, Katie; Do you feel fear?; If not now, soon enough; The end is near,'" B.D. read from his notepad.

"Well, at least we have a bright side," Nancy said.

"Being what?" B.D. asked, snapping his notepad shut.

"He just said it–the end is near," Nancy said.

"And where did that bright side come in?" B.D. asked.

"We're going to get him, B.D.," Nancy said. "You can be sure of that."

B.D. just looked at her for a long moment and then left the room. He's scared of what's to come, Nancy thought. Maybe if he knew how scared I was, it would make him feel a little better.

Nancy erased the thoughts from her head and then looked at Ned. "So...any idea about when I can get out of here?"

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Ned was fuming by the time he walked out of River Heights General. The doctor still didn't want to release Nancy yet, since she had such a large amount of blood loss. Sure, it had been his idea to ask Frank and Joe Hardy to come to River Heights to help Nancy, but did she have to be so happy to see them? As soon as they walked into her hospital room, it had been battle to get her attention away from them. And yes, these murders were bothering her and he would rather that the Hardys help her than she go after this killer alone.

But still, it bothered him.

He had barely gotten to his car when he heard a voice calling his name.

"Ned! Wait up!"

Ned turned around to see Frank Hardy approaching him. He inwardly sighed and cursed himself again for asking the brothers to come.

"Ned, we need to talk," Frank said, stopping in front of him.

"I really don't have time right now, Frank," Ned said, opening the door to his car. "I have to get back to Chicago."

"So, you're just going to leave Nancy in there alone," Frank said, with a trace of disgust in his voice.

"I don't see what you're complaining about, Hardy," Ned said. "That should make you happy," he said, getting into his car.

Frank held out a hand and grabbed the door before Ned could shut it. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Ned sighed. "I knew this couldn't be easy." He got out of the car and stood to face Frank. "You've been after her since day one."

"I've never been after Nancy," Frank said.

"Really?" Ned asked. "What do call never leaving her side every time you're near her? You're just waiting for the chance to be with her. Tell me, Frank–do you wake up every morning just wishing that she wasn't with me anymore?"

"What if I do?" Frank asked.

Ned shook his head. "Pathetic. You know, I almost pity you."

"I don't need your pity," Frank said. "I just think that she could do better than you."

"And you're better?" Ned asked.

"A far step up from you," Frank said.

"I'll say it again–pathetic," Ned said.

"If you remember correctly, Nickerson, you asked us to come down here," Frank said.

"You're right–I did," Ned said. "But it's something that I will never do again. Call it a temporary memory lapse, if you will."

"Or it's that you finally realize you can't protect her," Frank said. He was getting pretty steamed so he decided to hit him where it would hurt. "Tell me–how did it feel to know you could have prevented what happened to her if you had just stayed with her?"

Ned didn't say anything, but brought his fist back and hit Frank squarely in the jaw. Frank's head went back, but he recovered quickly and landed a punch of his own. Ned fell to the ground, grabbing his jaw. Frank put a hand to his lips to see that he was bleeding.

"You're not worth it, Nickerson," Frank said, looking down at him. He turned around and started to walk away. "I'll be sure to tell Nancy you said bye."

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When Frank walked back in Nancy's hospital room, Nancy and Joe both looked at him with shocked expressions. He figured he should have wiped the blood from his lip, but he secretly wanted Nancy to realize the kind of guy Ned was. At least, the kind of guy Frank thought he was.

"Frank, what happened to you?" Nancy asked. "I thought you were going to get something to drink from the vending machines."

Joe cracked a smile. "Looks like the vending machine won," he joked.

"I went outside and talked to Ned before he left," Frank said. "We had a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding?" Nancy scoffed. "Frank, you're bleeding."

"He is, too," Frank said. He went into the bathroom and grabbed a paper towel. He then sat in a chair and started to wipe at his lip.

"You two were fighting?" Nancy asked, incredulously. "About what?"

"I bet you could guess what it was," Joe said. He sat back in his chair and watched Frank and Nancy with an amused expression on his face.

"Tell me, Frank," Nancy said. "I may have a stab wound, but I'm pretty sure I can get out of this bed and knock you upside the head if I need to."

Frank looked at Nancy and then looked at the paper towel he was holding. "You," he said softly.

"Me?" Nancy asked. She shook her head in wonder. "It's amazing that you two can start a fight in the middle of a murder spree. And especially when I'm in here."

"I couldn't help it, Nan," Frank said.

"Let me guess: your argument's going to be that he started it," Nancy said.

"Ah...a classic," Joe said.

Frank shot his brother an annoyed look, but Joe just shrugged it off.

"Hey, I'm enjoying this," Joe said. "I'm usually the one that's on the chopping block."

"I'm waiting, Frank," Nancy said.

Frank looked up at her to see her arms crossed in front of her chest. He sighed. "I may have said something I shouldn't have."

"What?" Nancy asked.

"Nancy, I really don't want to talk about it," Frank said.

"You should have thought about that before you decided to get into a fight that was about me," Nancy said.

"Look, I feel stupid about it," Frank said. "I'm sorry I even said anything to Ned."

"Did you tell him that?" Nancy asked.

Frank shook his head. "I walked away before I did or said anything else I would regret."

"You owe him an apology, Frank," Nancy said.

"I know I do," Frank said. He looked at his watch. "Joe and I should get going. We still need to get a hotel room."

Nancy shook her head. "Stay at my house. Dad and Hannah both are out of town."

"Do you really think that's a good idea?" Frank asked.

"I honestly don't know," Nancy said. "I guess we'll find out."

Frank and Joe each gave Nancy a hug and left the hospital room. After they had walked a few doors away from Nancy's room, Joe instantly went on the attack.

"What did you fight about?" Joe asked.

"You already know," Frank muttered.

"Did you really start it?" Joe asked.

"Yes, Joe," Frank said with a sigh.

"How?" Joe asked.

"Are you ever going to stop questioning me?" Frank asked.

"I'm sorry, Frank–you're usually the level-headed one," Joe said. "I'm just in awe."

They had walked out to the parking lot and were at their car. Frank unlocked the doors and they got in.

"I hit him with a cheap shot about not being there for Nancy," Frank said. "I knew it would get a rise out of him and it worked. He punched me, I punched him back. I walked away before it got any worse."

Joe looked at his brother and smiled; he was really impressed. "I didn't think you had it in you, brother."

"I didn't either," Frank said, with a small smile. "And you know what? It felt really good."

Joe chuckled at his brother as Frank started the car. "So...was it worth it?"

Frank's smile grew. "It really was."

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The next morning, Frank and joe walked into Nancy's hospital room. She had just gotten dressed and was waiting for them to pick her up. Her doctor had given her a clean bill of health and was allowing her to be discharged.

"I see that you're ready to go," Joe commented.

"I was ready to go when I got here," Nancy said, wryly. "If you remember, I hate hospitals."

"Well, here are your two knights in shining armor ready to take you to your castle," Joe joked.

Nancy smiled at him and then looked at Frank. "Are you not going to talk to me?"

"I was wondering if you were going to talk to me after my little stunt yesterday," Frank said.

"You're male, Frank," Nancy said. "You were thinking with your fists, not your head. And if I can forgive you for something like that, then I would never be able to forgive you for anything. And I know you won't do anything like that, again."

"Unless provoked," Frank said.

Nancy rolled her eyes and smiled at him.

"So, how are you feeling?" Frank asked.

"I feel good," Nancy said.

"Hey, can I see where he stabbed you?" Joe asked. Nancy saw that he had taken hold of her Jello-cup and was halfway through it.

"Are you rally that morbid?" Nancy asked.

"Come on...please," Joe pleaded.

Nancy turned around and barely lifted her shirt to show the two-inch stab wound on the right side of her back. "Satisfied?"

"For the time being," Joe said.

"Ignore him, Nan," Frank said, throwing a pillow at his brother.

"Hey!" Joe protested as it hit him in the face.

"So, what do you have in your hands?" Nancy asked.

Oh...I thought you'd want to see this." Frank handed her the local newspaper.

"'Killer Claims Another Victim'," Nancy read aloud. "Right there...big as day. He got them to do it."

"I also watched all of the news channels and they're saying the same thing," Frank said.

Nancy nodded. "I feel really good about this," she said.

"We're going to get him," Frank said.

"I need to go to the police station," Nancy said.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Frank said. "You need to rest."

"I have been resting, Frank," Nancy said. "What do you call being in the hospital?"

"Recovering from a very serious stab wound," Frank answered.

"You can't keep me from going," Nancy said.

"I can–you wanna see how?" Frank asked, raising an eyebrow.

"But you won't," Nancy said, smiling sweetly at him. "Because you know if you won't take me there, I'll just get there myself. And I know you don't want that."

Nancy gave him a look that dared him to say something else. Frank threw up his hands in surrender. "Fine–you win."

Nancy smiled at him. "I usually do."

Frank shot his brother a look. Joe just shrugged at him. "What?"

"I didn't hear anything from you," Frank said. "Which is pretty odd."

"What can I say?" Joe asked. "I'm just full of surprises this week."

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B.D.'s eyes narrowed when he saw Nancy walking in with the Hardys.

"I thought you were supposed to be at home resting," he said in a stern voice.

"Since when do I listen to anything anyone says to me?" Nancy asked.

"Touche," B.D. said. Then he shot a look at the brothers. "I thought you two were supposed to be watching her."

"Have you ever known anyone to be able to watch her for long?" Frank asked.

B.D. grinned. "I knew there was a reason I liked you, too."

"Hello...I'm still here," Nancy said.

"Yes, you are," B.D. said. "All right, come to my office."

They followed B.D. into his office and he shut the door.

"So, what can I do for you today?" B.D. asked, sitting at his desk.

"I saw the newspaper," Nancy said. "How did you get them to do that?"

"I can be a very convincing person when I need to be," B.D. said. "And it helps that I have a badge."

"See–now I knew that thing came in handy for something," Nancy said. "You know, besides impressing the ladies."

"You are just so funny," B.D. said sarcastically.

"I came here because I thought of something last night," Nancy said. "Something that may be able to help us."

"Enlighten me, please," B.D. said, leaning back in his chair.

"I was thinking about Ann's book signing. If I remember correctly, that bookstore has a security camera," Nancy said. "So, that would mean it would have footage of everyone that came to the book signing."

"You think our killer was at the book signing?" B.D. asked.

"He had to be," Nancy said. "If he is this vested into the book and determined to bring it to life, don't you think he would want to be there when it was released?"

"So, did he just decide that night that he got it that he would start copying it?" Joe asked. "This guy is very methodic and smart from what you've been saying. He would have thought this out."

"There was a lot of publicity about it. And there was a lot of talk about it, and Ann made sure to leak out just enough to get everyone hooked. And she was a local celebrity, after all. So the killer had plenty of time to think about what he was going to do," Nancy explained.

"It makes sense," Frank said.

"Of course it does," Nancy said. "And do you think he would miss the opportunity to meet Ann?"

"We need to get that videotape, then," B.D. said.

"But we don't even know what he looks like," Joe said. "You said he was wearing a mask when he attacked you so how will we identify him?"

"We still have Nikki," Nancy said.

"What if he was wearing a mask when he attacked her?" Frank pointed out.

"We just have to hope that he wasn't," Nancy said. "I don't think he would though. He was planning on killing her, so he wouldn't bother to cover his face. When he went after me, he knew he wasn't going to kill me. He told me that much to my face."

"I'll see if I can get the tape," B.D. said. He looked at Frank and Joe. "You get her home. I'll let you know what I find out."

"But–" Nancy said.

"Don't make me arrest you for interfering with an investigation," B.D. said.

"You wouldn't dare," Nancy said.

"Nancy, you don't know what I wouldn't give to be able to arrest you," B.D. said.

Frank and Joe grabbed her arms and escorted her out of his office. Nancy could hear B.D.'s laughter following them.

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Author's Note: Wow, this was a long chapter! Thought I would leave it on a light note for you...for a change. Well, let me know what you think! Maybe some of you recognize the name of the victim. She is Nikki Masters and she first appeared in the Nancy Drew File–The Suspect Next Door.