I'm so sorry it took so long to get posted. It is taking a different turn but I hope you all like it.

Thank You for all the reveiws and critiques, please keep them coming

love kat

Chapter 6

I stared at the note in disbelieve. This couldn't be Joe's work. Why would he do something like this? I looked at the signature and I knew without a doubt it was Joe's. He had a distinct way of signing his name, and nobody nobody could copy it. Then what was his hand writing doing here? I was confused and worried. Pushing the feelings aside I motioned for Michael to follow me and together we went in.

The house was empty. That much I could surmise from just looking around it. That said it didn't leave much to imagination to what had happened. Furniture and decorations were everywhere. It looked like a tornado had come in and had kept on going without moving on. I looked all over it but I didn't find my Father or Hannah. Both were gone whether it was with Joe or someone else I didn't know.

"I'm going to call the police and Duric, Nancy. They both need to see this," Michael said to me.

Nodding I looked around taking everything in. This was the house that I had grown up in. This was the house where I had shared so many memories with friends and family. Now the two people I cared most about were gone and I was helpless in stopping it. In the last few day's five people I had once cared about had come back into my life and I had no idea what to make of it. My once almost perfect life was being torn apart and I was powerless to stop it.

When the police got here they looked for clues but found none. Duric also came and left finding nothing of value. Long after everyone had left for the exception of Michael I stayed to clean up. I knew it was small wishing that maybe Hannah or my Dad would come back but I couldn't give up hope. After two hours Michael convinced me to leave and we left. We drove to his apartment where we ordered Indian food and sat down to mull things over.

I was exhausted both emotionally and physically, whatever was happening, whoever was doing this was taking its toll on me. Normally I held against let myself get swept up with emotion but this time I couldn't help it. I poured out my heart to Michael telling him everything and then talking it over and over again. Slowly I fell asleep without even having my dinner. From below a heavy cloud I felt gentle hands lift me up and carry and lay me down gently on something soft.

The man watched from across the street. Just wait Nancy Drew, you think this is the beginning you haven't seen nuthin' yet. You and the freakin' FBI thinks they can shut me down, you think you're so smart you can catch a serial killer, HA, you ain't gonna be ready for what will hit you next. It will all be over for you and for your snoopy friends. You are sticking your noses where they don't belong and that's trouble. Little miss hoity taut senators wife thought she knew the whole game but she didn't. She didn't even have the guts o play right. Just watch out Nancy Drew I am watching you and sooner or later they will be hell to pay. The man with the jagged scar pulled away from the curb still muttering to himself. In the back of his car lay soiled-red, rags, tape, a knife and most important of all fishing wire.

I woke up in the late morning. After going over possible scenarios I was spent. I hesitantly got up and made myself some breakfast. Michael had already left for work leaving a note. While filling my glass with water I reached for it and started reading. I gasped in shock and dropped it so like it was burning my hand. Oh My God! It couldn't be possible. There was an APB out for Joe Hardy. I couldn't believe it as I tried to pull my thoughts together. I went to take a hot shower hoping it would soothe me. I had to convince them they are wrong, I thought to myself. Why I couldn't even see Joe doing something like this regardless of the evidence. It was that evidence that kept coming up. I knew on some level I was trying to reassure myself and that I was being biased but I couldn't help it. I knew Joe Hardy, he was hotheaded but he wasn't cruel or pure evil.

It was right around this time that I decided to check my messages. Bess and George had called as had Frank though he didn't mention whether he had heard about police and FBI haunting Joe. It was the last message that caught me off guard. I had to replay it three times before I finally understood. I called the number back quickly.

"If you want to talk to me, meet me at Riverton Park in 15 minutes," I said.

I hurriedly finished getting dressed and threw my still drenched hair into a ponytail. I grabbed my purse and ran to my car. There wasn't much traffic and I arrived at the park with plenty of time to spare. It was a good thing to; I took in my surroundings and the people who were here. Only a couple runners who were down on the other end of the park were here. It was desolate yet also very safe for me at least.

I sat in the car waiting for him to show up. I was just about ready to give up when he showed up and I gasped. He was tall walking with a slight limp. What should have been blonde hair was greasy, crusted red, dirt streaking straggly hair. He wore a ragged brown shirt and green army pants. He had a navy blue trench coat over his clothes. What struck me the most about this man was that his face was bruised over and caked with blood and dirt.

In other words the man I was meeting was indeed in danger. In fact he was worse then that. He was a wanted man by both sides of the law. I got out of the car and started walking towards the man everyone suspected of taking my father and Hannah. Joe Hardy had been the one to call me and he now was in one serious bit of trouble.

A man with a jagged scar across his chin, sat across from the park taking Nancy and Joe in. the man cracked his knuckles as he stared at Joe with great distaste. You may have gotten away from me Hardy but it won't happen again. Both you and Ms. Drew there are going down. I'll make sure of it