Landmine

Disclaimer: I still own nothing…someone want to help me with that? Oh, I do own Dominic Shepard and any character I decide to make up…that's something, right?

Author's Note: Well, as you can see from the disclaimer, this story has Dominic Shepard in it. That's right…this must be the sequel to Never Again! Yay! I know, I know…it's about time, right?

Just so you know this picks up right where Never Again left off. And you know me…there will be cliffhangers in this one, because it's what I do best. I hope that you enjoy this story and as always, let me know what you think, good or bad (but preferably good…).

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Dominic Shepard started to laugh—and not because he had something to laugh at. He just did it in order to do it. Not that he should be laughing, though. After all, he was sitting in an eight-by-ten jail cell at the River Heights Police Department, being held on numerous charges.

It was a couple of days after the fiasco at the Roxie Theater and he still refused to talk. Partly, because he needed a lawyer and partly because he wanted to see the officers squirm—especially Lieutenant B.D. Hawkins. After all, this was a huge arrest for him and it didn't look good for him that Dom still refused to talk.

Overall, Dom had to admit that things went fairly well. Well, except for the fact that Katie was still alive. He would have loved if he could have taken her life before he was caught, but that wasn't the way it was meant to be. Her death had been so crucial to him, that he felt as if he had failed. And now it even made him question if she truly was his Katie or not. Maybe he had made a mistake by going after her…

No, he said firmly to himself. She wasn't a mistake! You never make mistakes!

Dom chuckled to himself and took a seat on the bench. At least he had the cell to himself. The good officers of River Heights were afraid to put him with anyone else. And it was just as well—it gave him time to think about what his next move would be. Sure, he couldn't really do anything while he was sitting in this cell, but who said he actually needed to be out in order to cause fear and pain. He could do it just as well in here and he was already coming up with a way to do just that.

He heard footsteps and looked up as Lieutenant Hawkins approached the cell. Dom sat there on his bench, smiling and him and B.D. just glared.

"To what do I owe this visit, Lieutenant?" Dom asked.

B.D. let out a frustrated sigh. "Are you ready to talk yet, Shepard?"

"You know, I've actually been thinking about that," Dom said.

"What does that mean?" B.D. asked.

"It means, you may finally get the answers you've been waiting for," Dom said. He stood up and walked towards B.D.

B.D. pulled out his keys to unlock the cell door, but Dom stopped him.

"Not so fast, Lieutenant," Dom said. "Don't I need my lawyer present before I say anything I'm not supposed to?"

"Give me the name and I'll call him," B.D. said.

"I only want the best criminal defense lawyer in River Heights," Dom said with a chilling smile. "Carson Drew."

B.D. felt a cold fist clench around his heart. "Do you honestly think that Carson Drew is willing to represent the bastard that tried to murder his daughter not one, but twice?" B.D. hissed.

"I don't care if he's willing," Dom said. "I can be very persuasive."

"Carson Drew isn't one who's easily intimidated," B.D. said.

Dom turned his back on B.D. and sat back down on the bench. "You want me to talk? You get Carson Drew in here."

B.D. glared at Dom for a few moments before he stalked off angrily. Dom smiled as he watched B.D.'s retreating figure.

Yep, that ought to do it, Dom thought. Katie's dead to me…Now it's time to hurt Nancy Drew…

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Twenty-one year old Nancy Drew didn't know how long she had been holding Frank Hardy's hand, but she wasn't about to deny that it felt good. He was only there to comfort her after her blow-out with Ned, and there was nothing wrong with two really good friends holding hands. And that's what she loved about him—he knew to respect her boundaries and he was never one to force anything on her.

Especially when it came to her detective work. He had always admired her and respected her for her work.

Unlike Ned, she thought bitterly.

Stop it! she scolded herself. Stop dwelling on him. It's not as if he's dwelling on you!

Or maybe we was…she thought sadly.

"Are you okay?" Frank asked, cutting into her thoughts.

Nancy turned her head to face him to see concern written all over his handsome face. She gave him a small smile. "I'm just thinking."

"You were thinking so hard, I was afraid you were about to burn a hole into the ground," Frank joked.

Nancy gave a small chuckle at his attempt at a joke. Poor Frank, she thought. He sure didn't have the sense of humor that Joe possessed.

Just then the backyard was bathed in a bright glow. Nancy and Frank looked up to see Frank's younger brother, Joe, walking outside.

"What's going on out here?" Joe asked, seeing that they were holding hands.

They dropped each others hands. "We just wanted to come outside and get some fresh air," Frank replied before Nancy could say anything.

"And that requires the two of you to hold hands?" Joe asked, arching an eyebrow.

Nancy and Frank both looked at each other uncomfortably.

"Is there a reason why you're out here, Joe?" Frank asked his brother, glaring.

"No, not really," Joe said. He looked around. "Where's Ned?"

He had to go," Nancy answered. "He had to get back to Chicago."

"Oh," Joe answered. Nancy wasn't sure if he believed her answer or not, but she wasn't about to fill him in. Frank could tell him later if he wanted to.

She stood up and held out her hand to Frank. "We better get back inside before everyone decides to join us out here."

Frank took her hand and she pulled him up. As they passed Joe to go inside, Frank gave him one more look. Joe just shrugged his shoulders and followed them inside.

Everyone was still in the den when the three detectives walked in.

"Where have you been, Nancy?" Bess asked.

"Yeah," George piped up. "We thought that you had left or something."

Nancy shook her head and smiled at her two best friends. "I just needed to get some fresh air."

"Where's Ned?" Carson asked.

"He wanted to get back to Chicago before it got too late," Nancy responded. "Where's B.D.?" she asked.

"He had to get back to the police station," Carson answered. "They're still waiting for Dominic Shepard to talk."

"Ned didn't even come in to tell us he was leaving," Hannah said. "I would have sent home a plate of food with him."

"You mean you still have some left?" Frank asked, sending a surprised look to his brother. "I would have thought Joe had polished it off."

Joe narrowed his eyes at his brother and Frank just gave him a shrug of his own. Before Joe could say anything to his brother, the telephone rang.

"I'll get it," Nancy said, and made her way to the phone in the kitchen. When she answered the phone, she was surprised to hear B.D.'s voice.

"Hey," she said. "We were just talking about you."

"Good things, I hope," B.D. said, with a small smile.

"Always," Nancy said.

"Is your dad still around?" B.D. asked.

Nancy nodded. "He's in the den with everyone else."

"I need to speak with him," B.D. said.

"Let me go get him," Nancy said. She went into the den to get Carson and he went into his study to use the phone

"Lieutenant," Carson said, closing the door. "What can I do for you?"

"Carson, you're not going to like my reason for calling," B.D. said. "But we need you at the station."

"B.D., it's ten o'clock at night," Carson said with a sigh. "Can't this wait until morning?"

"I'm afraid not," B.D. said. "I'll try not to take up too much of your time."

Well, I'm not getting out of this one, Carson thought wearily.

"Can you at least tell me why I need to come down there?" Carson asked.

"Again, I just need you down here," B.D. said. "I'll fill you in on everything as soon as you get here."

"All right," Carson said. "I'll be there in fifteen minutes."

When he walked out of his study, he was startled to see Nancy waiting out in the hall for him.

"What did he want?" Nancy asked, concerned.

"I don't know, honey," Carson said. "He just wants me to come down to the station for a bit."

"Is it about Dom?" Nancy asked.

"Again, I don't know. As soon as I know something, you'll know," Carson promised her. He slipped on his blazer and grabbed his briefcase and keys. He kissed Nancy on the cheek and said, "Don't wait up for me. I'll promise to tell you all about it tomorrow morning."

Nancy nodded and watched him walk out the door. A few moments later, she heard his car start up and drive down the quiet street.

Something about B.D.'s call made Nancy worry. She couldn't put her finger quite on it, but she knew whatever it was, it couldn't be good. Why else would he call her father to come out to the station so late at night?

Nancy let out a big yawn. Everything from the past couple of weeks seemed to finally start crashing down on her. She was exhausted, but she knew she wouldn't really get any sleep tonight.

Not when she couldn't stop wondering what B.D. could have possibly wanted.

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Not sure when the next update will be, but you know I try not to keep you waiting for too long. As always, let me know what you think!