Chapter Two

I walked towards Frank with somewhat of a heavy heart. The last time I had seen him, we had just finished a difficult mystery. It was a case that had involved danger, which for him, my father and Ned was the last straw. I had gone of to college to finish my masters, barely speaking to any of them. From Hannah I got regular updates on my father but frank and Ned had sort of disappeared. In some ways I was relieved but I was also lonely. I know I am doing a service to my country but it was a service that many in my life couldn't understand or even be a part of. Seeing Frank like this, had awakened those emotions that I had tried to keep under wraps for two years and now were resurfacing.

"Nancy!" Frank exclaimed when he saw me. He got up and pulled a chair put for me before the waiter could.

I had chosen Scravio's an upscale restaurant; besides having good food it gave me a home field advantage, many of my coworkers ate here after work. It also was a dressy place and no Hardy boy liked to get dressed up.

"Frank," I said more solemnly. "It's a, a surprise to see you." I kissed both of his cheeks quickly before sitting down.

"Yes it is Nan….Nancy. How have you been?"

"It's still Nan and I have been good Frank. I'm just a little surprised that you're here in Chicago. Or better yet that you are working for the FBI. How did you ever pull that and is Joe working for them as well?"

Frank waited for us to get our dinners before he responded to me let alone plunged into his story. That was one of the things I had loved, maybe still loved about him, his preciseness. He never wavered at least that was what I thought until now. Frank still looked the same for the exception of one thing. He wasn't as cool and collected as he had once been. In fact he was the opposite he was worried about it and for once he was showing it.

"I know you are Nan, and I am sure after two years ago you probably never thought you would see me again. The FBI recruited me to work as an analyst for them. Joe is part of the reason why I am here. Duric said you were working on the tangled case." without waiting for my response he continued as if almost talking to himself. "Duric isn't telling you everything and why should he? It is dangerous as it is without involving you in this."

"Frank," I said breaking into his thoughts. "If this is going to be lecture about my working for the FBI, save it. I'm not interested in your comments. If you have something to tell me, tell me now or I am leaving" to show him I meant business I started getting up from the table. That's when he grabbed my arm and our bare skin touched sending tingles up and down my body. That was when I made the mistake of looking into his eyes, that's when I saw the emotion and the pain he was going through. He was in trouble and he needed me so I sat back down.

"Nancy, please, I'm not here to lecture you. I'm just trying to explain," he pleaded. When I didn't say anything he continued. "As you know the press is calling it the tangle serial murder," I nodded thinking back to what I had found out.

In the past three months, people in different sections of Chicago and surrounding towns including river heights had been murdered or more precise had been strangled. None of the people appeared to have any connection with each other. They ranged from a rich politician's wife to a homeless man, yet all of them had been strangled by what forensics thought was fishing wire and by the same man or woman. 18 people had been killed and the murders all appeared to be done on a Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. The FBI had no clues and to tell the truth neither did I, which is why I tuned in Frank again. Maybe he did have some thoughts.

"Joe and I infiltrated a crime ring here in Chicago. It appears that one of the men has gone rogue and is the one killing all those people. The thing is we don't have any proof or didn't. Not until Joe went there yesterday to get some proof, except he never returned. Nancy I need your help not only is something big going on in the gang but Joe is also missing. You are the only one who can help." He finished, looking at me almost begging.

"All right," I said after some thought. "I'll help but there is going to be none of the 'it's getting dangerous so you better turn back now Nancy,' crap." When Frank cracked a smile I shook my head trying to look severe but failing miserably. "I'm serious Frank. We'll meet at my place at ten in the morning."

We finished discussing details over coffee then made our way out of the restaurant. Darkness had fallen upon Chicago and the city had come alive. We walked over to Frank's car and I gave him a quick hug and then turned to leave. That was when all hell started to break loose.