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Nancy watched doubtfully as Frank turned and walked out of the bathroom without another word. How could they solve a case with so much unresolved resentment between them. She hurried to catch up and found Frank back in Joe's room. Everyone turned to stare at her as she went in and she stood self-consciously in front of her family. "I, um... Frank and I are going to-"
Frank cut her off. "I'm going to take her home, she needs to get some rest."
He flashed Nancy a look, and she understood that he didn't want to say they were investigating. "Right." she said tiredly.
George gave the pair an odd stare. Just minutes ago they had hated each other and now he was driving her home? She didn't think so. "Mind if I come?" she voiced.
"No problem." Frank said. He had planned on counting her into the investigation too; her police contacts would probably be useful...
Nancy's father exchanged a knowing glance with Fenton Hardy. "Take care of yourself, honey." Carson said, hugging his daughter.
"Yes, Dad." Nancy said, making towards Joe's bedside, but Frank was already there.
"Hang on, little brother." he said softly. He looked up at his mother. "Call if there's any change?"
Laura nodded. "Any change."
Nancy bent to kiss Joe's forehead before she found herself and George being herded out of the room by Frank. "We've got to hurry." Frank said once they were out in the hall. "Before-"
"Hold it." Came the voice of Fenton Hardy, stepping out of the room, followed by Carson Drew.
The three friends stopped short.
"Be careful." Carson said.
Frank, Nancy, and George turned around.
Fenton laughed softly. "We know you kids, and we know that there's no point in telling you not to investigate the shooting, even though I'm not thrilled about it."
"That's right." Carson spoke up. "I don't have to remind you who you're dealing with. I don't want to see anyone else get hurt. The Assassins are serious trouble."
Frank and Nancy had to smile at how well their fathers knew them. "We know, Dad." Nancy said. "But we have to do this. For Joe and Frank. The Assassins didn't get their target this time; you know they'll be back. We can't let that happen."
Frank eyed his father. "We just don't want to worry Mom any more than she already is. She has enough on her plate."
"Don't we all." Fenton sighed.
George cut to the point. "Are you going to tell us to stay out of the investigation?" she asked.
"I don't like it." Carson admitted. "And I'm afraid for you. But I want to say that if you choose to investigate, I'm behind you one hundred percent."
"And we want to help in any way we can." Fenton added.
Nancy realized how hard it was for Carson and Fenton to condone them taking on the Assassins, but she appreciated their decision and gave both her father and father-in-law a quick hug. Frank just gave them a tight smile. "Thanks, Dad. Mr. Drew."
Fenton smiled sadly at his oldest son's impatience. "Okay." he said. "Go get 'em."
"And be careful!" Carson called after them as the three detectives headed for the door.
"So how long before Laura realizes we're going after the Assassins?" George asked as she climbed into the driver seat of her car. Frank got in beside her.
"Not long; I'd give it two days, tops." Nancy said good-naturedly, sliding into the backseat. "Understandably, she's a bit off her game today. She can usually see through any lie; the woman's got eyes like a hawk."
Frank smiled, remembering how hard a time he and Joe had given their mother as kids. "That's probably our fault, Joe's and mine." he said. "We were always tricking her into letting us do something dangerous..."
"And I thought my father had a hard time..." Nancy said. "He only had one crazy detective to worry about!"
"Plus me and Bess, who were always tagging after you anyway." George added, smirking.
The three laughed half-heartedly at the banter, but all had other things on their minds.
"Alright, now," George said when they got to Nancy's house. "What's our plan of action?" She had to park on the street because the area around the house was blocked off with police tape.
"Check the yard outside the picture window?" Nancy suggested, looking at the damage to her house sadly.
"You think we'll find anything the CPD hasn't already?" George asked. "I can call whoever's in charge of this case and ask for the details."
"You're forgetting that the Assassins don't usually leave clues." Frank reminded grimly. "Our best bet would be to contact the Network, if you can still do that." He looked at Nancy. "Do you still have the modem?"
Nancy knew he was referring to the only way to contact the Network; since they were such a secret organization, they could not be reached by phone and no one knew where their headquarters were. The only mode of communication was through a special modem that had been provided for them. "Sure." she said. "We still have it. The thing's impossible to get rid of." She recalled how Joe, in the early days after Frank's kidnapping, had gotten frustrated with the Network's lack of ethical assistance and had thrown the modem down the stairs. The modem was completely unharmed; all there was to show for it was a crack in the tile at the bottom of the steps... What do they make those things out of? "I'll get it." she volunteered, stepping under the yellow police tape. By this point in her life, she had no qualms about crossing police barriers.
"Good," Frank said. He followed her into the house, only to see her stop short. The room was exactly as they'd left it; shattered glass and splintered furniture everywhere, the ominous brown bloodstain congealing on the carpet. He stared at the stain, unable to tear his eyes away.
"Oh, Nancy..." George said sympathetically, wrapping her arms around her best friend from behind. "It's going to be okay..."
"What a mess." Nancy commented, brushing back the tears that had sprung to her eyes without warning. She took a deep breath and got herself together. "That couch was ugly anyway."
George grinned, even though Nancy hadn't been trying to joke. Frank just nodded, looking at the ripped-apart couch in question.
"Your mother picked it out." Nancy tossed over her shoulder to Frank as she went up the stairs. George bit her lip to keep from laughing.
"Hey!" Frank called after her. "My mother has fine taste in furniture!"
Nancy smiled wanly to herself but didn't respond as she approached her and Joe's bedroom. She turned the door and screamed at the sight of a man sitting on the bed.
Frank, hearing the scream, took the stairs two at a time, George right behind him. "Nan! What's-" He stopped, astonished, at the sight of Nancy talking to none other than his old Network contact, the Gray Man.
"Sorry, Frank." Nancy said. "I wasn't expecting to see Mr. Gray in my bedroom." she explained, her tone telling that she was none too pleased to see him at all. She turned back to the Gray Man, arms folded. "You were about to tell me what you want?"
The Gray Man took no notice of the animosity in her tone. "I took the liberty of inviting myself in." he said. "I've been waiting for you to return, Mrs. Hardy. I'm so sorry about Joseph." He turned to Frank and offered his hand to shake. "Frank Hardy. I'm glad to see you alive and well."
Frank shook his hand. "Same to you." he said.
George studied the Network agent. She'd never met him, but Joe and Nancy had told her all about him. His outward appearance was almost aggressively average, making him perfect for blending into any surrounding. His average height, weight, and build was accompanied by brown hair with wisps of gray, dark eyes, and regular features. George knew that Joe and Nancy hated working with the Network because of their disregard for individual human lives, but that they often had to when they needed manpower or contacts they normally wouldn't have access to. She stepped up to introduce herself. "George Fayne, Chicago Police Department."
The Gray Man didn't shake her hand. "Oh, please." he said. "I know who you are."
"Probably has a file on you." Nancy muttered to George. "The Network has an affinity for stalking the friends of their contacts."
"For their own safety." The Gray Man acknowledged. "Now that we've finished with the pleasantries- if they can be called that- why don't we discuss the case at hand here?"
"Can we do this somewhere else?" Nancy asked uncomfortably.
As soon as they relocated to the kitchen, Nancy sat at the table with her friends as they listened to the Gray Man talk. "I assumed you'd be looking for me once you figured out who was behind the attack, so I figured I'd save you the trouble of digging out the modem which Joe so thoughtfully tried to destroy a few years back."
Frank almost smiled at the reference to his brother. He could well imagine Joe becoming that angry; he had never enjoyed working with the Network either.
"Get on with it." Nancy said stonily. "I don't want to hear about your fond memories of Joe right now."
"Okay, okay." The Gray Man said. "You've figured out that the Assassins were trying to kill all of the survivors of the prison raid, and they very nearly succeeded."
"But why kill us?" Frank asked. "We don't know anything that could hurt them. The police don't even know they exist; it's not like we could endanger them."
The Gray Man shrugged. "Just in case. To them, you're loose ends. Better safe than sorry."
"But, won't the police notice something when thirteen of the fourteen newly-found people turn up murdered, and the other one attacked?" George asked incredulously.
"It looks like one already has, Officer Fayne." The Gray Man said dryly. With exasperation, he added. "Of course the police will notice! But they have no knowledge of the Assassins. They have no idea where those men have been for the past few years. The families of the men don't even know that. The Network met with the men to establish a cover story." He glared at Frank. "Which you so kindly ignored, thank you."
Frank shrugged. "You think Nancy or Joe would have believed that pack of lies about... what was the story? A P.O.W. camp or something? No way. Besides, they saw the Assassins take me."
The Gray Man sighed. "The point is, the police have no chance of solving this crime. And I'm assuming you will want to avenge your brother and you'll need Network intel."
Nancy leaned forward on her elbows. "What do you mean by "Network intel"? Do you know where this bozo is?"
"That depends," The Gray Man replied. "On whether you're planning on cooperating with us."
"Hold it." Frank said. "Even if we do catch up to this guy, what will we do? The Network has other operatives. If they want me that badly, they'll send in someone else. You know we can't shut down the entire group."
"We're hoping to, someday." The Gray Man said. "But you're right, it just isn't feasible right now. The Assassins may never stop going after you. Or they may decide you aren't worth it and move on."
"We're in too deep already. What do we have to lose by going after the guy who shot Joe?" George said quietly.
Nancy shrugged. "Just our lives and the lives of our loved ones." she answered bitterly.
Frank looked Nancy and George in the eyes. "You guys don't have to do this. I don't want to make you two targets as well." he said seriously.
"Yeah, right." Nancy scoffed. "This guy is on my hit list."
George said nothing, but her reassuring smile told Frank she thought the same thing.
A/N: I hope you're enjoying reading this story, because it's certainly a lot of fun to write! Please share your thoughts on the story: REVIEW!