This is the sequel to Blind Terror. It may help to read that story first. As usual, all disclaimers apply.

Whispering Voices

1. Disturbing News

George Fayne sat at the window and stared out over the neighborhood. The late afternoon sun cast a soft glow on the backyard. But George really didn't see anything; her mind was thousands of miles away. Somehow the window seemed like the best place in the house to think of him.

It had been three weeks since she had returned from the private island with Nancy and the Hardy brothers. Nancy had been in hiding and somehow George had been set up during the course of events. Now they were finally able to relax. And relax they had. In fact George spent most of her time thinking about Nick.

Nancy Drew, unable to contain herself, giggled out loud. She was sitting on her bed looking at her best friend. Nancy had given up talking to George ten minutes ago. Now she couldn't help but laugh at the expression on George's face.

"What are you laughing at?" George whirled around at Nancy's laugh.

"You." Nancy answered. "Oh, I miss him. He is so wonderful. Ahh. What a great guy."

George watched Nancy make a few lovesick faces before attacking her with a pillow. The two girls wrestled around for a moment before collapsing on the bed in a fit of laughter. It took several seconds before either could talk again.

"Did I really look that bad?" George gasped between giggles.

Nancy burst out laughing again. "Worse." she managed.

"I do miss him though. Besides, if it hadn't been for Frank, you would have liked to date Nick yourself."

"No way. I saw him in his little white apron and feather duster." Nancy posed like a French maid. "Sweet, but not exactly dashing."

"You like him, admit it. You just like Frank more."

"Fine, I admit it. But you two make a cuter couple."

"I just wonder why he hasn't called for two weeks. I mean, that is a long time, isn't it? Maybe it was something I said, I just don't know." George sighed.

"Maybe he has been working on a case or something. He'll call. Don't worry."

Just as Nancy finished speaking her telephone rang. Nancy reached over to her night stand and picked up the receiver. She half expected to hear George's cousin, Bess Marvin, on the other end. However, when she answered she heard Frank Hardy's voice instead.

George sat back as Nancy talked happily with Frank. It had taken years for the two of them to admit their feelings to each other. In fact, Frank had nearly died before either one spoke up. But now that they had admitted their feelings they were almost inseparable, except when they each had a case to work on.

Suddenly Nancy frowned. "Frank? Frank, what happened! Frank can you hear me?" Nancy cried franticly. She waited for the answer that she knew wasn't coming. The line had been disconnected. Slamming the receiver down in frustration, Nancy let out a yell of complete dismay.

"What happened? You were talking so happily, then total switch."

"Frank was supposed to be coming back from a case he and Joe had just finished. They were getting ready to board the plane when he let out a yell and the line went dead." Nancy explained as she paced the floor, twirling her reddish blonde hair.

"Do you know where they were?"

"No, Frank didn't say. He just said that they would be home in a few hours. I did hear Joe jabbering about some case in the background."

"What kind of case?" George persisted.

"I don't know. I heard him say that there were some serious thieves wherever they were."

"Call their father. He must know where those two are."

Nancy settled down on her bed and called the Hardy home. She talked a few moments to Fenton Hardy, Frank and Joe's father. When she hung up she had a thoughtful frown on her face.

"Well…" George finally asked, unable to contain her question any longer.

"He says that Frank and Joe are in the southwest. Somewhere secluded. He didn't know where because he was out of town."

"Well if I know you, you're going to go after them."

"Right. I plan to leave right now." Nancy agreed.

George helped Nancy pack a small hiking pack to take on the trip. Unsure of what she might be facing Nancy decided to pack light. She didn't want to be hindered by extra luggage that would be useless.

"Are you sure you want to go alone?" George asked for the fifth time during the packing process.

"I have to. Nobody knows what happened. There's no way of knowing what I will have to do." George was about to protest when the telephone rang again. Nancy went over to the stand and answered it.

"It's for you George. Nicoletta."

George gave Nancy a puzzled look as she took the phone from her friend. George wondered why Nicoletta would call her. Nicoletta Dumont was Nicholas Dumont's cousin. Nancy had worked for Nicoletta to recover an expensive diamond necklace. After Nancy had found the necklace and captured the crooks responsible, Charles Walker, the man behind the theft, swore revenge. Nick had been called to protect Nancy from Walker.

George listened for a few moments before hanging up the phone. She turned to Nancy with a serious look in her eyes. "I'm going with you. And don't try to stop me."

"What did Nicoletta say?" Nancy questioned.

"Nick has gone missing too. She got the same kind of phone call you did. Everything was fine, then a scream, then nothing. He was in the southwest, just like Frank and Joe."

"Did he say where he was?"

"Arizona. He told Nicoletta that he had seen Frank and Joe there too. But he didn't say what city."

"That narrows our search down. Let's get packed." Nancy turned back to her task.

Some time later Nancy and George were finally ready to leave. Each had a single pack with basic survival goods ready to go. Both girls were anxious to begin their journey. The sooner they left, the quicker they would find Frank, Joe, and Nick.

George was standing on the porch waiting for Nancy to lock the front door when she heard the phone begin to ring. Frowning, she looked to Nancy.

"We have to answer. It won't take long." Nancy responded to her friend's gaze. Dropping her pack on the porch Nancy raced inside. George leaned against the railing and began to whistle, trying to remain patient.

"George, come quick!"

At the tone in Nancy's voice George dropped her pack and went back inside. Nancy was standing in the living room next to the answering machine. Her face was pale and tears were in the corners of her eyes.

"What's going on?" George gasped.

Nancy pressed a button on the answering machine and it replayed the last message. A whispering voice filled the silence, 'Nan, it's Frank. We won't be home like we planned. Nick is out here and ran into some difficulty in his case. We'll try to call again soon. We all send our love.' Suddenly a gruff voice filled the background, barking out threats. Then Frank was talking again above the yelling that had begun. 'Nan, if you must come after us, be careful. This place is WILD. And these people are ANIMALS. It's just like the WILD WEST. I hope this-' Nancy stopped the tape.

"We will find them Nan. Come on. We have a plane to catch."