Disclaimer: Not mine.

Joe opened the door to their hotel room and the teens tentatively stepped inside. The room was cold and damp, and the lamp that hung overhead buzzed and flickered. He was relieved to see that there were two single beds and a couch- no one would have to sleep in the bathtub.

"Who wants the couch?" he asked.

"I'll take it." Nancy and Frank said simultaneously.

"No, really, I don't mind." Frank said.

"You sure?" Nancy said, tossing her backpack in the corner.

"Mmm-hm." Frank sat down on the couch.

"Okay, Hardy, but I offered!" Nancy said. Just realizing how tired she was, she kicked off her shoes and pulled back the covers on the nearest bed.

"Make sure to check for bedbugs!" Frank said, only half joking.

"Gross!" Nancy exclaimed, but she did inspect the sheets before sliding between them, not bothering to change into pajamas.

Joe was lying on his back on the other bed, hands folded behind his head. Somehow, he doubted he'd be getting much sleep tonight.

"All I'm saying is, you shouldn't have taken her."

"We weren't going to, but she found out too much. What were we supposed to do?"

"She didn't know as much then as she does now! Besides, kidnapping was never my area. I'm a thief, plain and simple." said the girl with the reddish-blond hair.

"It isn't our field of expertise, either!" the auburn-haired girl said defensively.

"Well, if you had just found the right car!"

"If you had been on time!"

"Ahem." the older gentleman interrupted. "The girl is awake."

"Thanks, Dad." said the auburn-haired girl in her proper British accent.

The two girls made their way over to the stirring figure lying on the couch. The British girl frowned as she made her way through the damp motel room. She was used to much better lodgings than this. Sitting on the single bed across from the couch, she studied their ash-blonde captive.

"Why did you tie her up?" she asked.

"Better safe than sorry." grinned the strawberry-blonde.

The girl on the couch opened her eyes and groaned. "What happened?" She bolted upright. "Who are you?"

One of her captors shook back her red-blond hair and proudly said, "The name's Ch-"

The other girl silenced her. "Don't you think we should find out her name first?"

The captive tilted her chin up defiantly and said nothing.

"Don't be ridiculous. We aren't going to hurt you." said the Brit.

"Then why am I tied up? And that knock on the head wasn't exactly painless!" retorted the captive, her gray eyes stormy.

The strawberry-blonde knelt next to the prisoner. "What's your name?" she asked, suddenly no-nonsense.

"Vanessa Bender." the girl muttered.

"Lovely." said the auburn-haired girl. "Are you hungry?"

"No." Vanessa said through gritted teeth. She was confused. What did these people want with her? "What are you going to do with me?" she asked bravely.

The girls looked at each other but said nothing.

"Don't worry." said the old man to Vanessa. "Just get some sleep."

Vanessa was indignant. "My boyfriend knows where I am! He'll come to rescue me!"

The elderly man chuckled. "Rescue you?" Then he became stern. "If you can't be quiet, we'll have to tape your mouth shut."

The strawberry-blonde bent down again. "And just who is this boyfriend of yours?" she asked, a hint of mocking in her voice.

Vanessa stuck her chin out. "Joe Hardy."

"Joe Hardy?" the girls gasped together.

A/N: Ok, I know it's short, but I reached a good stopping place. Props to anyone who can figure out who the kidnappers are! Please review!