Once again, thank you SO MUCH to all the reviewers and commenter!s I really really appreciate it. And I apologize to the ppl who are reading this for the mystery part, but I've discovered I'm not the best at writing those type of plots. But I'm doing my best. The next chapter will start the ball rolling. The MAIN mystery I am focusing on is Nancy's heart as she struggles through emotional hurdles.

Chapter 3

"Frank? Is that you?" Laura Hardy peeked into the living room from the kitchen, looking for her son. She pulled the oven mitts off, laid them neatly on the countertop, and called for Frank again. She knew she had heard someone come in the front door and head upstairs.

"Frank?"

She heard a banging noise, then a clatter, and then a few not-so-nice words. Laura shook her head, once again silently admonishing her eldest. If it was Joe, she would have heard a door slam, possibly a fist being driven into some poor object, and some shouts that would probably register a good-sized earthquake.

She walked upstairs and knocked on Frank's door.

"Come in." Laura didn't miss the exasperation in Frank's voice.

She opened the bedroom door and surveyed the damage. Not as bad as it sounded, she thought. "Frank? Didn't we decide we would convert your bedroom into a gym after you moved out?" Laura teased.

Frank ran a hand through his hair. His nervous habit. "I'm sorry, Mom. My suitcase fell out of the top of my closet, knocking some stuff on the floor." He glanced at the now-picked-up suitcase and began neatly putting clothes in.

"Ah, to River Heights, I suppose." Laura smiled knowingly. Ever since the two had begun dating, it was hard to keep Frank away from Nancy. Not that she blamed him. Frank definitely had a lot of his father in him. And both boys took after Fenton's stubbornness.

Frank grinned sheepishly. "Yeah. I hope you and Dad didn't have anything big planned for the weekend. I've got a bit of time off, and I think Nancy's between stories."

Laura waved a hand. "Go, go! You've got the chance, take it. Give her a big hug for me, and give Carson our regards." She headed out the door, calling over her shoulder, "I'll pack some dinner for you on the way."

Frank sighed happily. He felt bad about spending less time with his parents, but he couldn't help feeling excited about getting to see Nancy again. It had been nearly a month since they were last together.

"Speaking of… I had better give her a call." Frank grabbed his cell and spoke her name into the phone. He loved having voice-activated dialing, and it came in handy more than once.

He frowned as his phone beeped. "Not recognized?" He spoke her name one more time.

He grumbled when the phone beeped a second time. He dialed her number.

"Frank!"

Frank grinned. "Hey, Nan. I just wanted to give you some info. I should be getting in tomorrow morning sometime." Frank gave her his flight information, and arrival time. "I've decided to just rent a car while I am there. Joe's going to be in Chicago for a while, and I may go see him once or twice while I'm in Illinois."

"Joe's in Chicago?" Nancy asked. "Is it for a case? Or Vanessa?"

Frank laughed. "Neither. Actually, it's about a job interview. I'll tell you more about it later on. I'll call you when I get to the airport to give you a heads up. If my phone works."

"What's wrong with your phone? Aren't you calling me on it right now?"

"My voice dialing isn't working like it usually does. I said your name and it wouldn't accept it."

There was a pause over the phone. "Say my name."

This time, Frank hesitated. "Uh, okay. Nancy."

He heard soft giggling on the other end. "Frank Hardy, you're saying it with too much emotion."

"What?"

Nancy laughed again. "Frank, when you first set that up voice stuff up, you did it mechanically, kinda dull. Your phone is sensitive as far as voice-recognition goes. If you don't say it the way you recorded it, it doesn't work most times."

"But-" Frank tried to say something but was interrupted by gales of laughter from Nancy. He had to pull the phone away from his ear as the laughter got louder. "I think wedding-planning is starting to get to you!"

From the continued laughter, he wasn't sure if she even heard him. Frank shook his head in amazement. The closer this wedding got, the weirder Nancy seemed to get.

"Nancy, I'm sorry. I hate to interrupt your wonderful time, but if I'm going to make that flight, I need to finish packing and get on the road."

Nancy took a deep breath to calm down. "You're right, sorry about that. I have no idea what came over me!"

They said their goodbyes and hung up.

Once Frank had finished his packing, he went back downstairs to tell Laura bye.

"Mom? I'm ready to leave." Frank sat his suitcase and carry-on down and walked into the kitchen. His mother was putting some containers in a small cooler.

"Frank, dear. I've packed you some dinner and something to drink. Promise me you'll eat." Laura regarded her son with a stern look. She knew how Frank could be when he was excited. Unlike Joe, food would be the farthest thought from his mind.

Frank grinned sheepishly. "Yes, mother." His eyes took on a thoughtful look. "Can I ask you a question?"

Laura nodded. "Is everything okay?"

"Well, I think so. I hope so, at least. I was talking to Nancy on the phone just a few minutes ago, and, well, she just started laughing uncontrollably." His mind drifted back to previous conversations. "Sometimes, it's like she just spaces out, the weirdest things make her laugh, and sometimes she even seems absentminded. That's not like her at all."

Laura couldn't help but laugh gently at Frank's helpless look. "Dear, it's all right. You have to remember, you two are getting married soon. Nancy has a lot on her mind, and planning a wedding is not easy. It can easily drive a woman crazy. That's why you just need to be there for her. Once the wedding is over and your marriage begins, she'll become herself again."

Laura smiled wistfully, thinking of her own wedding and her crazy antics leading up to it. "Just about every female goes through it. Your father nearly called off the wedding when I began acting," she grinned, "loopy."

Frank gave his mother a quick hug. "Thanks, Mom. I'll try to be a bit more understanding."

"Anytime, dear. Just tell Nancy that I'm always available to help her in any way. She's already like a daughter to me."

Frank smiled at that. "I will definitely tell her. And thanks for the food." He picked up the small cooler and kissed Laura on the cheek. "I'll be in touch!"

Laura shook her head as she walked her eldest son leave. She always knew she'd have to let her son go someday. But living it now, it was harder than she expected. And now Joe would be leaving for Chicago soon.

Chicago.

That area certainly had an appeal that drew both of her sons in that direction. For Frank, it was a woman. Not just any woman, she reminded herself. And for Joe, it was the start of a dream for him.

But she should be used to them not being home much. Just like their father. Retired police detective, and now a private investigator, Fenton Hardy spent plenty of time on the road, traveling, detecting, snooping, you name it. Laura was pretty used to it by now. Especially since her sons had taken up the game.

Frank and Joe. When one was gone, the other was usually right beside the first. Sometimes, one brother would get into a mess, and the other had to bail him out.

Laura smiled to herself. Usually, the one in the mess was Joe. Her girl-crazy son. Joe could flash a smile and make the ladies swoon, that was fact. Even as a little boy, the teenager girls would flock around him, lured by those baby blues on that baby face.

She walked around the house and into Fenton's study, suddenly feeling very lonely. With Fenton on a case, Frank headed to the airport, and Joe running last minute errands before heading to Chicago, she almost wished Gertrude would return from her trip.

Laura sank down in Fenton's comfortable leather office chair, her eyes glued to the family photo taken years ago when the boys were still in elementary school.

She sank back into the chair; it's cushioning hugging her body, providing some comfort. Laura closed her eyes and sighed deeply, not realizing her body was relaxing into sleep.

NDHB NDHB NDHB NDHB

Back in River Heights, the moon was rising to center stage, pushing the last remains of a sunset further into blackness.

The street was silent as residents settled in for the evening, tucking children in, putting away the remains of late dinners, settling into a movie, or what may come to a quiet town on a normal evening.

Few people roamed the streets, mainly those who were closing up shops and offices, headed home to loved ones after a regular day at work.

Except two figures clad in black. The first figure kept to the shadows, hugging the buildings. The second sat in a dark gray van, smoking his cigarette, impatiently waiting for him companion to return from down the street.

His companion walked toward a modest building, inconspicuous amongst the other buildings. Slipping into the alley way next to it, he stood still, staring intently at the building's side window, as if memorizing it's every detail. He had once been in the building, and slowly, he was remembering the inside. The secretary's office up front, the little kitchenette next to the small, modest bathroom, and the larger office, closed off by a locked door, dressed in brown tones.

Yes, in that office, there was a small closet, also behind a locked door, that housed file cabinets. File cabinets and a safe. In there, a file sat, identical to others. Except for a bit of information.

The information that could send him back to jail for years to come.

A shrill whistle pierced the air, and the figure jolted out of his concentration, and headed back towards the van, careful to stay in the shadows, avoiding the police patrol car that moved slowly down the street.

He swiftly jumped into the van, glanced at the driver, and said, "Tomorrow. Same time."

Alright, end of Chapter 3. Please continue with the great and wonderful reviews! Thanks again for your continued reading!

I've written chapter 4 and am starting on 5, so please look forward to the next one! The mystery begins!