The Diary of Nancy Drew

Chapter 4

Disclaimer: I only own Mark, the O'Brian's, Sue, Jon, any later additional characters, and the plot.

December 22

This Afternoon

I think I'm having a hangover. I woke up feeling like I was going to throw up. Ugh. I hate that feeling. I could already hear Bess in the bathroom throwing up. I guess we ate a little too much junk food. Oh well, it was probably worth it. George, like the miracle worker she is, was in the kitchen making some of her special, homemade stomach stuff. It worked miracles just like she did.

After I had, had some of her tonic, I remembered I needed to call Chief McGinnis. So I called him and told him to watch the O'Brian's. I told him that it was a classified case and that was all I could tell him. But I would let him know more when I could. He told me he didn't like not knowing the whole story and that I had better be careful.

Bess and George left around 1:00 or 2:00. I called Dad to see if I was still coming over and spending the night at the house Christmas Eve. He confirmed it, and then said he had to go to the airport to pick up some colleagues and he then hung up. WITH OUT EVEN SAYING I LOVE YOU! That was definitely a first for Dad. He always said I love you whenever he hung up. So, now the mystery is what's up with Dad?

Well I have to go grocery shopping, and then I need to pick up some paper work at the Agency.

Grocery List

Milk

Eggs

Bisquick

Vegetable Oil

Cereal

Candy Canes

Wrapping Paper

Bows

Gift Tags

Deodorant

Easy Mac

Ham

Potatoes

Later This Afternoon

Well I ran into none other then David O'Brian at the grocery store. I literally ran into him in the Dairy aisle. Luckily nothing was broken because I hadn't gotten the eggs yet. None of his stuff was broken either. He skillfully asked if I had gotten his call, it was skillful because he didn't look at all nervous or anything in that category. I told him that I had but I hadn't talked to my father yet. Oops. I guess I forgot to tell Dad something when I talked to him. Oh well I'll call him again later; he is after all at the airport. I told this to David, excluding the forgetting part.

Then I questioned him about what trouble he and his family were in. That is how I ended up having dinner with him tonight, at none other then La Bistro. Just my luck I guess. I hope he doesn't get the wrong idea about us. I mean he was acting kind of flirty. And I mean it's not like I can tell him there's another man, since after yesterday, there just isn't.

So after I left the grocery store, with nothing broken, and I drove to the Agency. I was 4th in command there. I was still pushing for my own Agency where I would be 1st in Command! But anyway, I picked up my stack of paper work and said hi to Sue.

Sue Evans is my partner in crime, or well my partner in solving crime. She was about average height, age 24, dark brown shoulder length hair. She is also none other than Mark's, Bess's husband, sister-in-law. She has been happily married to his older brother for 3 years. That's actually how I got the job. I mean I'm good and all, that's how I got 4th in Command. But Sue referred me to the Boss, Jon Stanton. I was originally placed about 22 from the top; that is until the Charleston case.

That case boosted me up. Now all I have to do is finish that report. FUN FUN FUN. Ha. So I'm gonna go have fun and go home and write that report.

At Home

Finally I finished the report. It took me 2 ½ hours. My phone rang like 5 times but I decided it would be best to screen those calls. I just got done checking my messages. The 1st was a hang up, so was the 2nd and 5th. The 3rd was from Dad he said he was back from the airport and he had just got a call from Chief McGinnis. Uh oh. Well back to the messages, the 4th was from Jon. He said he needed to see me urgently. I guess Sue didn't bother to mention to him I had just been there! Ugh. Well I'll go call Dad, then head to the Agency.

After My Call With Dad

Okay so I guess Chief McGinnis told Dad I was up to my head in something the police force couldn't control. It turns out that the Chief checked out the O'Brian's after my umm, not so detailed, phone call. Well Mr. O'Brian seems to work at the local jewelry store. Hmm, suspicious? Mrs. O'Brian, or Clara, also, works at the local jewelry store. But to top it off David works there too. Okay now why would BILLIONAIRES need to have a job? Well I guess that's what the Chief thought too 'cause he looked further into it and found out that every town the O'Brian's had left had been robbed by jewel thieves. Okay very suspicious. But what I want to know is why these ingenious jewel thieves have this, umm, bread crumb trail. I mean you think they would be able to hide it better.

Oh well and so Dad was worried, because the Chief was worried. So now Dad's gonna watch me like a hawk and I'll never get any of this investigating done. Thanks Frank. Brilliant idea once again. Too bad he can't hear me. Well before I forget I should probably head to the Agency, and call Frank to update him.

At The Agency

Guess. Just guess who else the Chief called. Jon. Yeah, so now Jon's worried I'm not going to pay attention to my job because I'll be too interested in my personal case. I told him that technically it wasn't personal, since I'm not related to the O'Brian's and they had never done anything to me. He just rolled his eyes. MEN, how rude. Well I told him that he could just make this my new case then it wouldn't collide with work. He just stared at me for a while.

He told me that, that was is plan from the start. I just rolled my eyes. Uh huh. Sure. Of course I said that out loud too and earned a glare from Jon and a laugh from Sue, who happened to be walking by Jon's office, at that particular point. Uh huh, whatever. That girl has skills; she knows how to make it look innocent. Unlike me. So here it is word for word, what Jon, the Boss, told me, "Nancy, you will solve this case by the end of January or you will be demoted own to the 29th position. Understand." I nodded. When he walked out the door I stuck my tongue out at him. Then he turned around so fast, I tried to look like Sue all innocent. But he didn't by it he just glared at me. Sexist MAN. He doesn't believe I can do it. But I'll show him. Oh crap, I gotta call Frank!

Calling Frank

First I called his house and he wasn't home, so I tried his cell and I reached him. Well I updated Frank up on everything happening, about the run in with David at the store, the info the Chief gave me, and the job Jon gave. That man drives me crazy. Then I asked him why he wasn't home. I mean it was like 4 days away from Christmas, and then he reminded me about the case. I was like oh yeah; I had actually forgot that he was busy with the same case I was working on. Silly me.

I asked him if he had talked to Joe about the whole Van being pregnant theory. He said he had and Joe had said that she was! Oh My Gosh. I was like Frank your gonna be an uncle. Oh My Gosh. Joe is gonna be a DAD! That is too, weird. He told me she was 2 months along; the baby was due July 2nd. I started jumping around screaming, finally after about 5 minutes I could hear Frank jumping around with me. Then I heard someone laugh in the background. He told me he had to go and he would call me tonight.

Man I love Frank. He is so sweet and funny. Oh my gosh, I didn't just write that did I? I can't have a thing for Frank; he's like my brother! Can I? I mean I really liked it those times we kissed. It was like heaven. But I was with Ned. But now I'm not. Oh no! I'm having an argument with myself. Too bad Frank can't come for Christmas. That would be perfect. I could work out my feelings for him. Oh well back to the drawing board.

Case Notes

Okay so this is how the case is going so far.

David O'Brian- Mastermind behind the robberies. Acts clueless and wants Dad's help.

Clara O'Brian- Wife, mother of David. She apparently is the one who goes to the safe with the jeweler to get the good jewelry. She seems mean, the incident at the store where she yelled at that kid.

Benjamin O'Brian- Husband, father of David. He seems to be the weapons master. A gun in each hand during these robberies. I have never met him.

The robberies have taken place during the day at around 3:00 in the afternoon. So right after lunch I guess. So far, as the Chief told me, the robberies have occurred in Bedford, Maine; West Burke, Vermont; Norton, Virginia; and Lancaster, Ohio. These are all small towns. Like River Heights. So I guess they don't want to make state news. Well that's pretty smart.

Well that's all I've got so far. Wait! Maybe I should talk to Brenda, I mean she might actually be dating him. I just better act uninterested or she'll find out there's a case.

Calling Brenda

Well I called Brenda and asked if she wanted to have lunch with me tomorrow. She said yes as long as I was paying. Sigh. The things I do to solve a mystery. Oh there's the phone I bet its Frank.

The Phone Call

It wasn't Frank on the phone. It was David. I forgot our dinner date! Oops. But so far I'm only 30 minutes late so I'm gonna rush getting dressed and meet him there. It helps being a billionaire's son. They rescheduled his reservations for later thank goodness. So I think I'll wear my light blue knee length dress. With my mother's necklace, the one that looks like a locket but isn't. I'm also going to wear black strapy pumps. Bess gave them to me for my Birthday last year. Okay I think that's it, time to go.

The Date

Well David seemed a little mad about me being late, until he got a good look at my dress, I mean it wasn't really low, but you could still see some stuff. I swear his jaw dropped. I wonder what Frank would think of me in this dress. But that's not the point.

So after we were seated we ordered drinks. Then I noticed where we were seated; it was none other than the spot where Ned broke up with me. Me and my luck; I guess I sighed a little too loud because David looked up from his menu to look at me. He gave me the weirdest look; I swear it looked compassionate, like he knew why I had sighed. But I didn't get to think too much into it because the waitress came with our drinks and asked if we would like an appetizer. I told her I would like Canapés,David said he would have the same. She then asked if we would like to order, but David said we were still looking. When she came back I ordered Soupe à l'Oignon gratinée and David ordered Emincé de Volaille sauce Roquefort - Pommes de terre sautées.

After that we started talking. I asked David what troubles his family was having. I expected some tale that would try to make my go off trail. What I got completely surprised me. He told me the same story I new, except one detail was changed. He didn't do the robbing his family was being framed! I didn't know what to think, but I kept a calm face on. I asked him why I should believe this story.

He said he didn't know, but he new my father was known for finding the truth, not lying for his clients. I actually smiled at this. He also added that he had heard I was the same and asked if I would consider taking on his case. Well I couldn't tell him I had been on it for the past couple of days, just incase he was the bad guy, so I told him I would think about it. Are dinner arrived and we stopped that discussion. The food was excellent, and afterwards David refused to let me pay for my food. He is definitely a gentleman. Brenda doesn't deserve him, oh my gosh did I just write what I think I wrote? I just said that Brenda doesn't deserve a thief. Wow I must be tired.

There's a message on the answering machine but I don' t feel like listening to it. I 'm going to bed. I mean I didn't get much sleep last night after all, and it is almost midnight.

Love,

Nancy Elizabeth Drew

lightwarai- Thanks. Yeah, I've read most of the books too. I really like the new series you should check it out. Its called Nancy Drew Girl Detective. There are about 14 books out right now. They sell them at Border's.

imakeladrygirl- Thanks! I will.

nancy nickerson- I always thought they made a cute couple too. Thanks for the review!

A/N- French Dictionary

Canapés - appetizer (I can't figure out what it is)

Soupe à l'Oignon gratinée- Onion Soup

Emincé de Volaille sauce Roquefort - Pommes de terre sautées - Thinly sliced fillet of chicken with Roquefort sauce - Sautéed potatoes