Things are really rocking now. Are you excited:) I hope so!
Chapter 9
When Bess, George, and Mick walked outside, Frank was just closing up his cell phone. "That was Joe," he explained, turning to them. "He'll be here later to help out."
Bess grinned. She hadn't realized it until that moment, but she missed being around Joe. Not that they were romantically involved, but since their early teens, they had shared some of the same passions. Namely, food, fun, and flirting. Boring was not part of Joe Hardy's vocabulary. And that's the way she liked him. "Great! We'll have Nancy back in no time!" she cried excitedly.
George laughed and shook her head. "Down, girl!" She held up her hand. "One thing at a time." She turned to Frank. "Ron is getting us copies of all the tapes. He wants us to take a look at them again tonight."
"Perfect. We'll get Joe to look at them as well. Maybe he'll catch something we're missing." Frank turned to walk back inside. "Why don't you girls take a break for a few hours? Joe is going to meet us at Nancy's about five o'clock. Bess, order some pizza to be delivered there for dinner. Mick and I'll see you then."
George blinked. "If you say so," she said slowly. Just don't let it turn into a blood bath, she thought.
Bess grabbed George's arm. "Come on. I need to look my best for Joe!"
As Bess and George headed to the car, Mick started to say something, but Frank cut him off. "We'll talk later. Let's go back inside for now and get those copies."
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George propped her chin up on her hands as she lay on Bess's bed. "And why did you have to take another shower?" she asked as Bess towel-dried her hair.
"Because my hair was wind-blown, and I always feel grimy after being in a police station for more than five minutes," was the muffled reply.
"And you're not doing this for a certain blond-haired, blue-eyed guy?" George teased.
"Well, maybe." Bess blushed. "I like to look my best for him."
George threw a pillow at her cousin. "You always want to look good! I thought you two were just good friends. This is Joe Hardy, after all."
"Exactly! Joe Hardy. I can't even begin to explain it. He's great to be around, fun to tease and be teased by, gorgeous, strong, you know. He's just Joe." Bess was practically floating around the room. "He's like my best friend and brother and boyfriend all rolled up into one." Bess thought about that statement a bit harder. "Well, kind of."
George just laughed.
"What should I wear?" Bess dug through a drawer, trying to be careful not to disturb the neatly arranged and folded clothing.
"Jeans," was George's simple, no-nonsense reply.
"For you, maybe. Let's see." Bess sat cross-legged on the floor. "Well be eating pizza and going over tapes and papers. Knowing the Hardys, we might have to tail someone, go on a stakeout, or set a trap." Bess stood up and grabbed a backpack. "Better take some dark clothing along, just in case."
George rolled her eyes. "Always prepared." She watched as Bess swiftly packed a bag, her mind wandering. "What do you think Frank had in mind, actually watching Mick around?"
Bess poked her head out of the closet. "Probably going to kill him and hide the evidence," she answers, dead-panned.
"Sure, sure. Do you think they'll actually talk, and not argue or fight?"
"Frank will probably tell Mick that he will fight for Nancy to the end, but the decision is ultimately hers to make. He stood by patiently while Nancy and Ned were still dating, and I know he only wants what will make her the happiest. He'd be devastated if she chooses Mick, but I think he knows there's not much he can do and still play fair."
"You know, as stubborn as Mick is, and as much as I'd like to blame him, this isn't completely his fault." George picked some link off the bedspread as she contemplated her next words. "I love Nancy, and she's a wonderful person. But she really led Mick on in Europe. She hardly mentioned Ned the whole summer."
Bess came out of her closet and looked straight at George. "I agree. Nancy really should have handled that differently. She was acting like..." Bess trailed off.
"Like you?" George supplied with a grin.
Bess stuck her tongue out. "I was going to say irresponsibly. Not like her at all."
"But it's not our place to say anything. This is her life and her actions and her decisions," George reminded her. "We're not Nancy."
"Well, this time, I think we should get involved. This mess involves Frank as well, and he's also our friend." Bess smiled. "We should just lock all three in a room and let them hash it out."
George laughed. "No chance of that. Frank and Nancy could take us."
Bess smiled sweetly. "I think you and I could handle Nancy. I'm sure Joe could take care of Frank."
George threw another pillow at Bess. "You're awful!"
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The ride to the Drew house from the police station was silent. After getting the copied videos and talking to Officer Williams, the two had left. And now, Frank was mentally preparing himself for an honest conversation with Mick. But he didn't know where to start.
Meanwhile, Mick was wrestling thoughts of his own. It was hard enough to come all the way to the United States, to this little town, to see a very special friend. But to find out she was engaged, and to someone else he knew, that just made it worse. He had respected Frank and his brother, Joe, and really appreciated their help before. But now, he felt extremely out of place and unwelcome. The one person he came to see wasn't there.
"We have to find her."
Frank fought a sarcastic comment, still irritated with Mick for even being here. "We're going to, Mick." He sighed. "We will."
Mick just nodded. He hadn't meant to say those words out loud.
Frank took a deep breath. It was now or never, he supposed. "And when we do, I won't stand in your way. I know you and Nancy have a history together. I'm not entirely sure I trust you, but I trust Nancy, and I love her more than anything. I only want the best for her." Frank stopped as he felt his throat tighten.
Mick was silent for a few moments, as he started out the window. He could tell Frank was being sincere, and it almost made him want to give up, but he held on to the hope that maybe he still had that chance. But the longer he was around Frank, he knew that hope was growing smaller and smaller.
"I believe you. Thank you," he finally spoke. "Frank, I really didn't know you two were together, I promise. I can't explain what I feel, but that I feel we left some things unresolved."
Frank nodded. "I⦠I can understand." He had no idea what to say next. So he spoke the only words that would come out, and it wasn't easy. "When we find her, and when she's ready, I'll give you two the time and space you need to sort through your," he paused, not sure of the right word to use, and scared of the only one he could think of, "relationship."
"For what it's worth, thanks, Frank. That means a lot coming from you. I know I haven't made things easy on you by being here."
As he drove the rest of the way to the Drew house, Frank felt a little better as far as controlling his feelings. But he felt worse about the complicated situation he now found himself in.
It's up to Nancy, he thought sadly. The sooner we find her, the sooner I might lose her.
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When Joe Hardy pulled up on the street in front of the Drew house, it was a little after five. He had spent an hour at the school's gym, working out. He had been largely impressed with the facilities, and looked forward to starting work there this summer.
By the time he had returned to the hotel, showered, packed up, and checked out, it was already four o'clock.
He grabbed his bag and headed up the sidewalk to the front door. Before he could reach the porch, the front door swung open, revealing a smiling Bess Marvin.
"Joe!" she closed the few steps between them and flung herself into his open arms. "I'm so glad to see you!"
Joe laughed and took a step back, taking an approving look at her. "It's my natural charm."
Bess grinned. "Well, that, too. Come on inside. But let me warn you. Then tension is pretty thick inside. You might need a knife."
Joe looked at her quizzically. "Frank is that messed up?"
"You'll see. I'm not telling you anymore because I want your opinion later."
Joe followed her inside. He grinned at the chess game on the floor. "George! Frank! I can't believe your lives are so boring without me that you've been reduced to playing chess!"
"Joe!" Frank leapt up and pulled his brother in for a hug. "I was starting to get worried."
Joe laughed. "You're the punctual one. Not me. I'm allowed to be a little late." He turned and swept George into a hug. "I see you haven't changed."
George stepped back and flexed a muscle, smiling "No chance of that."
A voice spoke up. "Joe, it's good to see you again."
Joe peered around Frank and George and saw Mick Devlin standing there. His eyes widened in surprise. "Mick?"
Mick stepped forward and stuck his hand out for Joe. "Yeah, uh, surprise. I came to visit Nancy."
Joe studied Mick's face, and to him, it was pretty evident how Mick felt about Nancy. Now he knew why Frank was so upset, and why Bess had been secretive outside. This is more complicated than just Nancy being kidnapped, he thought.
He extended his hand and shook Mick's. Mick's grip felt a little pressured, Joe thought. He bit back a grin and pumped his hand just a fraction harder. He had no reason to not like Mick, at the moment. But Joe always accepted a challenge, in any shape or form. "It's good to see you again." You've sure made things interesting, he added silently to himself.
"So," he turned to face the room. "Who's going to fill me in on what's happened?"
Everyone took turns explaining the kidnapping, the details of Carson's case, and the current state of the investigation to Joe. Joe took it all in while keeping an eye on Frank. On the outside, he seemed to be completely in control, but instinct and experience told him otherwise. But that had to wait, he decided. Nancy had to come first right now.
"So have you looked at those tapes again?" he asked, ready to jump into action.
Bess shook her head. "We were waiting for you. On, and the pizza is in the kitchen. It arrived right before you did. As soon as everyone is ready, we can start on both," she suggested.
George popped in the first video as everyone settle down on the couch, chairs, or floor, with pizza in hand. "This should be the video showing the kidnapper as he ran by the camera."
Joe watched intently at the short clip. Frank took the controller and slowed the playback down. Frame by frame, Joe studied the figure as he ran by, followed by Nancy, and then Frank.
"Did you see anything?" Mick asked hopefully.
"Well, the guy's face didn't look to be covered up, but it was so dark, and his head was turned far enough to the side that I couldn't see it." Joe shook his head. "There goes that angle. What about the next tape?"
Frank tossed it to George as he said, "It has even less on it. We're scraping bottom."
And after viewing the tape, Joe had to agree. "And that's it? That's all that we have?"
George pointed to the kitchen table behind them. "Well, there's the paperwork we got from Mr. Drew's secretary. We've been over it, but there's really not much there either. At least, that will help us find Nancy."
"What about the last tape, the one with that red-head?" Mick asked.
Frank nodded. "I don't know if it's important or not to our case, but it's worth a shot. There's something about that kid that is vaguely familiar, but I can't place it. The whole thing doesn't seem quite right."
Joe stood up. "Let me grab another slice and we'll watch it. Anybody else?"
After food and drinks has been replenished, they started the last video, and then Joe knew exactly what Frank meant. "He is very familiar, I think, but I have no idea where from. That accent has to be fake, as well. Maybe a past case?"
Before Frank could answer, his cell phone rang. Everyone watched intently as he answered. His eyes lit up, and after a "We're on our way," he hung up.
Before anyone could even ask the question, he jumped up. "That was Officer Williams. They may have something on that ATM recording. Let's go!"
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"Is this the 'oh-so important' information that we just had to get?" Buck asked incredulously. "This is all just stupid, background crap! Nothing here could even put you under suspicion!"
David and Buck were looking through Mr. Drew's papers before they burned them. And Buck was getting more frustrated by the minute.
David shook his head. "But I know there was supposed to be something else! I heard Drew tell my mother," he replied. "It was supposed to be really important!"
"Did you really hear him say that, or were you making a bigger deal out of this, as usual?" Buck snorted. Ever since he had known him, he'd been annoyed at how David tended to exaggerate things. Not just the little while lies, but the bigger ones too. And details. Buck swore under his breath. This guy was going to put him in a mental ward fast.
"Let's ask Little Drew. Surely dear-old dad told her what to look for," David growled. He didn't want to admit that maybe he didn't get that crucial item when he broke into Carson Drew's office.
"Fine, fine. I still think we should get rid of her. Having her here is gonna make Hardy more determined to find us. She's like a time bomb. If we kill her-"
"NO!" David shouted. "I don't do murder. It'll be bad enough if we get caught for stealing that money. I don't want to go to jail for murder, also."
"We'd only go to jail if we got caught," Buck reminded him. He was starting to get tired of David's sissy attitude. "If we kill Nancy, destroy the body ā maybe a house could conveniently burn ā then it'll be okay." Besides, he added silently, I'm not the one who stole the money. I just earned part of it for helping you out.
David's eyes widened. Murder certainly didn't settle well with him. But if Buck really could pull it off... his mind screamed at the thought of killing someone. But what choice did he really have now?
"Okay," he sighed. "But not yet. Let's see what she can tell us first."
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That was a big longer of a chapter than normal! There are a lot of people to keep up with! I sat on this chapter for a few days, wanting to make sure the rest of the story would make sense. Hopefully there aren't too many inconsistencies. That would be bad. Again, thanks to my reviewers, especially ndhbfan, LazyPanther, Lady Emily, SarahE7191, 4everndfh, and Roswalyn. You guys have really encouraged me on this story. More to come!
