Chapter Thirteen

Nancy stood still as Madam Hilde zipped up the back of the dress she wore. It was a soft-pink, tea-length dress that hugged her figure before it flared out at the waist. The sweetheart neckline gave just a hint of cleavage while still a being modest. But Nancy didn't care about the dress. She only cared about what was staring back at her in the mirror. It didn't seem human but she knew it was her own reflection. A ring of bruises encircled her neck where the choker had been the day before. Nancy imagined that no amount of makeup would be able to cover the bruises up. Her once sparkling blue eyes were now dull and dead looking, sunken in after days, if not weeks, of lack of sleep. Nancy wanted nothing more than to walk over to the bed and go back to sleep but she knew if she did, she'd be punished.

"There," announced Madam Hilde. The woman took a step back to admire her work. When she looked at Nancy's face in the mirror, she tsked and guided the young woman over to the vanity. After waiting for Nancy to sit in the chair, the woman then draped a cape around Nancy's neck before pulling out her makeup bag and hair styling kit. "I was told to give you a modest look but to make sure I covered up your horrible dark circles. You look so horrid! Well, I have my work cut out for me. Are you ready?"

"Just get on with it," mumbled Nancy, rolling her eyes.

Hilde suddenly smacked the back of her head causing Nancy to cry out. "I see that we still need to work on our attitude," she stated angrily. Hilde ran a brush through Nancy's hair and began styling it, viciously pulling her hair in the way that she wanted. "Lisle will know what needs to be done in order to combat that attitude. You should know better by now. If you want to have freedom again, you will do as you're told. Understand?"

Nancy was quiet, her eyes closed. She was so tired she didn't know how much longer she'd be able to stay awake let alone fight back. Every time her head nodded, Hilde would yank on her hair waking Nancy up. This wasn't the first thing that happened that morning either.

When they woke her up after four in the morning, she was pulled from her slumber…literally. Barton grabbed a hold of her ankle and dragged her off the bed. Nancy was lucky she didn't break anything when she fell onto the cold floor. She could hear Austin yelling at Barton then gentle hands helping her off the floor and guiding her into the bathroom. She remembered the kind words the young man whispered to her as they walked together. Austin was the one saving grace that Nancy had while she was in Donatelli's house. Once they reached the bathroom, Austin reluctantly left when Hilde shooed him out.

With the exception of Austin, her only moments of sanity were her dreams and even they seemed to be changing in the wind. In her dreams Nancy kept seeing her family and friends but she couldn't reach them. They were too far away from her and every time she grew closer they seemed to move further away. Did they forget about her? Were they not coming? Every hour she was there seemed to tick slower and slower and Nancy shifted closer and closer to hopelessness. Her thoughts of Frank changed as well and she wondered if he really was dead. He was present in the dreams but again, too far away for her to reach.

"Wake up!" cried Hilde, nudging Nancy hard. The young woman looked at her in annoyance. "I don't want you to ruin your hair! I just finished it!"

"It would be an improvement considering the fact that you make me look like an old lady!" Nancy snapped back, her anger rising. She looked at herself in the mirror to see yet again her hair styled form an era long forgotten. Angrily, Nancy reached up and started messing her hair around causing hair pins to fall out and her hair to go in every which way. "There! I fixed it for you!"

Hilde fumed, her faced a deep shade of red. She stormed out of the room leaving Nancy to deal with her hair. She delicately picked up the hairbrush and began to run the brush through her hair, getting tangles and knots out along the way. When she was done, she stared at herself in the mirror, her makeup still not applied. Nancy looked over at Hilde's makeup kit and opened it finding everything she needed to put makeup on her face. She remembered all the tutorials Bess had tried giving her and smiled at the thought of her friend.

Nancy suddenly stopped, thinking about her friends. Were they thinking of her at the same moment? What would they think of her now if they could see her? She was so different from the last time she saw them. The things she had done in order to survive.

The door to her room burst open bringing Nancy out of her thoughts. She didn't have to look over to see who it was. There's only one person who Hilde would go to in order to tattle on Nancy. Sure enough, Bündchen's shrill voice ripped through the room causing Nancy to cringe.

"How dare you treat Hilde in such a manner!" Bündchen shrieked. She walked over to the vanity as Nancy leaned back in her chair. Hilde stood not far inside the door, her arms folded in front of her and a smug look on her face. "I see that our time together has done nothing for your attitude and I assure you, his Lordship will hear of this. And you will regret your behavior when I through with you!"

"You know what?" Nancy replied steely. She rose from her chair and glared defiantly at the woman. Barton and Austin stood by the door with Michael, all three of whom watching the scene unfold before them. "Go ahead. Tell him. I'm sure he'll want to know all about the things that you have done to me in order to get me to comply to you. I've had enough! I'm tired and I want to go to bed! Get out of my room! NOW!" She began pulling on the sleeves of her dress, ripping them at the shoulder.

"No!" Hilde screamed. She tried to rush at Nancy but Bündchen held her back.

Nancy continued to rip at the dress not caring as to who was watching. Before long, the dress was in shambles, hanging off her body revealing her underclothes. Hilde was in tears while Bündchen glowered at Nancy, her chin quivering in seething anger. Michael was shocked while Barton stared lustily at Nancy. Austin's mouth hung open though he was blushing slightly.

"Ah," Nancy sighed, brushing hair away from her face. "That's better." She walked past the two women and into the bathroom. The door slammed and the tell-tale click of the lock being engaged echoed in the stunned silence.

Bündchen whirled around and glared at Michael who finally got his composure. "Do you see what I have to work with here? That girl is insufferable! I cannot take it any longer!"

"Your job was to get her to be a lady!" Michael snapped. "You have obviously failed!"

"But I cannot work in this environment!" she complained. "I will need more time! Maybe if I could move her back to my studio she would…"

"That is out of the question," he interrupted. "You will do what you need to do in the next day or you will NOT be paid!"

Bündchen's eyes went wide with alarm. Her reputation was at stake here. If one lowly girl defied her, she wouldn't be able to get another job in Europe. She was known for her brutal tactics to change the most defiant of young ladies but never had she encountered someone as troublesome as Nancy.

"I will get her to change today," she announced through gritted teeth. "If one of you would be so kind as to get her out of that bathroom, I would greatly appreciate it. The quicker we get started, the better."

"That is enough!" yelled a voice from the hallway.

Everyone turned to see Donatelli standing in the hallway, his arms folded in front of him. The expression on his face gave the impression that he was furious. Austin and Barton parted ways to let their boss into the room. Donatelli strolled over to Bündchen, glaring at her.

"My Lord," she bowed nervously. "I…I did not know you were here."

"I came yesterday," he announced. "I had some business to attend to and I didn't want to disturb Nancy's lessons which I see are not working out the way we wanted."

"I…I will make her a lady," Bündchen stuttered. "She's…she's just making it so hard."

"Really? And having her wear a corset and choker that tighten at your will did any better?"

The color drained from the woman's face and she bowed her head. "I…I thought they would," she admitted.

"And the bruising from the choker?"

"Hilde is a master at makeup artistry," she said with her chin up. "She will be able to cover it up. I assure you."

"But," Donatelli started then stopped, his anger rising. "I told you I didn't want bruising on her. She has to be ready for tomorrow night and you're not helping."

"I'll fix it," Bündchen quickly nodded.

He leaned forward, his face only inches from her. "You have one more chance. Now, get out. I will take care of Nancy." Donatelli glanced at Hilde. "As for you, you are no longer welcome here. I have someone who will be able to take over. Michael, please escort this woman downstairs and make sure she leaves."

Hilde nervously looked at Bündchen then nodded before she quickly grabbed her belongings. The woman didn't look back as she ran for the door with Michael trailing behind her. Bündchen soon followed, averting her eyes from Donatelli and the others as she left. For a brief moment, the room was quiet with only the sounds of soft sobbing coming from the bathroom.

Donatelli walked over to the door and gently knocked. "Nancy, may I come in?"

"No," a quivering voice answered from the other side of the door. "Leave me alone!"

"I can't do that, my dear," he replied softly. "I need you to come out. Madam Bündchen is no longer in the room and Madam Hilde has been asked to leave. I assure you that you are no longer in danger of them."

"I said NO!" Nancy screamed. "GO AWAY!"

Donatelli took a deep breath in. He knew what Bündchen meant about the girl being difficult. He just wasn't going to let her get away with it. He knocked a little more forcibly but received no response from Nancy. After a few minutes of time, his anger grew and he pounded on the door.

"Open this door right now!" he yelled.

"No!"

"Don't make me break this door down and drag you out by your hair, young lady!"

"Go ahead and try it! I'm not coming out!"

"Barton!" Donatelli barked whirling around to face his men. "Break down the door and drag her out!"

"Is this really necessary?" Austin intervened, holding up his hands. "Can't we just give her a break? She's been through a lot with Bündchen."

"If I wanted your opinion, Mr. Austin," his boss seethed, "I would have asked for it. She needs to be ready for tomorrow and holing up in the bathroom is not going to help. Now step aside and let Barton do the job that I know you won't do!"

Austin took a step back in shock. Donatelli knew his weakness, something he figured Michael told him about. He watched in shame as Barton tammed the door several times before it broke down. The burly man grabbed Nancy by the hair and pulled her out screaming, the remnants of the dress towing behind her. Barton cruelly forced Nancy into a kneeling position, her head turned up towards Donatelli. Tears flowed down her face though she remained as defiant as ever.

"I told you to open the door, Nancy," he slowly said as he gazed her down. Nancy breathed heavily though she said nothing. "You are going to change your clothes and allow my new stylist to help. If you don't, I will make you regret it. You are trying my patience, little girl. As I told Madam Bündchen, you have one more chance."

Donatelli snapped his fingers and a mousy-looking woman of about 50 entered the room with one of Hilde's assistants. Instructions were given and Barton was ordered to remain in the room to make sure Nancy behaved.

"Come, Austin," Donatelli beckoned as he left the room. "I have a job for you."

The young man took one last look at Nancy then reluctantly followed his boss out of the room. Once out in the hall, Austin showed his anger to Donatelli by speaking out. "Why the hell did you do that, Sir?" he cried. "Nancy doesn't deserve that! She's innocent here and you know it."

"Don't start with me, Mr. Austin," his boss replied though he kept his anger at bay. He motioned for Austin to follow him as he took the stairs down to the first floor. "I am giving you an opportunity to remedy your relationship here. You can redeem yourself by doing a job for you."

"And what would that be?"

"I need you to follow Madam Hilde and make her disappear."

"But you just told her to leave. Why would you want her to 'disappear?'"

"Ah, yes," Donatelli tsked. He stepped into the parlor and poured himself a brandy from a crystal decanter. He took a slow sip before continuing. "The quintessential virtue signaling on your part, is this not? You, a man who has killed countless people for me suddenly has a change of heart. Where does your loyalty really lie, Mr. Austin? From what I see, you have grown a conscience and I don't like that. You have been loyal to me for three years or so, correct? Why the sudden change? Could it be that you're possibly falling for a young lady whom you will never have a chance with? She can never love you, you know that, right? Nancy is destined for greatness and I intend to make her see that."

"By beating her into submission?" Austin cried. "By using someone like that Buttchin lady to make her like a civilized lady even though Nancy is an amazing woman already? How do you think she's going to respond to all this? She's already screamed it out loud that she doesn't want anything to do with you or your business. I don't want to see her become what you are or what you want her to be. Nancy has expressed that she wants to go home. I say send her home. I feel like you already have what you want."

"Is that really what you want to say?" the man sneered at him. Austin raised his chin up in defiance and had no intention of backing down. Donatelli laughed then pressed a button on a console beside his chair. "You disappoint me, Mr. Austin."

Seconds later, Nikola walked into the room and waited. The moment Austin saw the man he knew he was in trouble. There was no way out of the room that he could see. Donatelli smirked as he watched Austin squirm.

"Nikola," Donatelli replied calmly, "I need you to take this piece of garbage downstairs. Put him in one of the cells that I have. Maybe a night down there in the dark will change his mind."

"Don't do this, Sir," Austin pleaded taking a step back from an advancing Nikola. "I…I'll do whatever you want me to do. Please."

"You had your chance, Mr. Austin," his boss shook his head. "We'll talk in the morning about your loyalty. If you don't have a change of heart, then I'll have Barton deal with you. Barton will do whatever I need him to do."

Austin took a swing at Nikola but the much larger man grabbed his hand before it could touch his face. He whipped Austin's arm around, bending it at an awkward angle behind his back. Austin cried out in pain as he felt a bone snap in his arm. Nikola pressed him into the wall, knocking a few pictures down.

"You should have listened, boy," Nikola laughed as he pushed Austin out of the room.

The moment the two were gone, Donatelli shook his head in anger as he flopped down into the chair. He had never had so many people defy him in one day but he knew what he was going to do to make an example of both Nancy and Austin.

Leaning over, he grabbed a hold of the telephone and dialed a number he knew by heart. Even though it was still fairly early in the morning, Donatelli knew that the man he was calling would be up already. Sure enough, after several seconds of waiting, a gruff-sounding man answered the phone.

"Kingsley, old boy! How are you today?" Donatelli said cheerfully into the phone. "I have a proposition for you."

Jenny and Charlie had exhausted themselves going around London after finding Frank's and Joe's phones the day before. They even went as far as checking out the old hotel whose name was emblazoned on the bag the phones were found in. The only things they found though were locked doors and boarded up windows. It didn't look like anyone had been in the building in years. The only exception was that of a window about three floors up which was one of the only windows not boarded up. Charlie could have sworn he saw the curtains move behind the glass but he didn't say anything at the time.

It was now nearly ten-thirty in the morning and Charlie had fallen asleep at his computer. He stirred a little in his sleep, his thoughts on the window at the abandoned hotel. Suddenly his eyes shot open and his head quickly rose. The curtain did move, he was certain of it. But why would anyone be there? And why would someone blatantly leave such an obvious clue for him to find? The phones were left on on purpose as if the person knew Charlie would search for them using the GPS.

"What is it?" Jenny asked groggily from the couch. She yawned and stretched then watched as Charlie rose from his seat. He went over to where the bag was located on a table nearby and stared at it in thought. "Charlie?

"Huh?" He blinked realizing she was talking to him "Oh, sorry. It's just a thought."

"And what's that?"

Charlie bit his lip wondering if he was being silly about what he saw. And would Jenny take it seriously enough to go back? Sighing he turned toward her to answer. "Did…did you see the curtain move?"

"I'm sorry, did I what?" Jenny asked confused.

"See the curtain move?" he repeated.

"Um, what curtain?"

"The one at that old hotel yesterday."

"Oh! That curtain!" Jenny cried though she was still a little confused. She shifted on the couch, throwing the blanket off of her. "Hmm, I think I only saw it for a brief second. I wasn't really paying that close attention to it."

"So, you didn't see it move?" Charlie asked again downhearted.

"Sorry, Charlie, but no. Are you sure it wasn't the wind? A lot of those windows were either boarded up or broken. It could have been a stray cat too for all we know."

"True," Charlie sighed then walked back to his computer.

It continued to bother him as he went into the shower moments later. Letting the water run off of him, Charlie's thoughts roamed. He tried to recollect what he saw and what he could have seen. He was still convinced that the curtain moved. Then he tried to remember what the other windows were like. Most of the other windows were broken, like Jenny said but the one he focused on he didn't remember have a crack in the window. That ruled out the wind. Still, Charlie figured there was a reason as to why the phones were still on to be located and in that particular bag.

While Jenny showered and changed, Charlie examined the bag and phones once more. There had to be something he overlooked. That was when he noticed one of the cell phone cases wasn't on properly. Charlie carefully pulled the case off, adamant about not breaking the phone. As he did so, a piece of paper fell out onto the table. An "X" stared up at him as he picked up the paper.

"X marks the spot," he muttered looking at the phone in his hand: Frank's phone. "Oh, wow."

He rushed over to the bathroom and urgently knocked on the door until an annoyed Jenny cracked it open. Her hair was still wet and she clutched a towel to her body.

"There had better be a good reason why you disrupted my shower, Charlie," she said glaring at him.

Charlie turned away, shielding his eyes from her. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" he stumbled. "I…I was just so excited that I didn't even realize that you were…um…"

"What is it that couldn't wait?"

"I…um..think we should go back to that hotel."

"Really? And this couldn't wait until I was done?"

"Um, yep, yep, it can wait," Charlie had his back to her, his face a deep shade of red in embarrassment.

Jenny smiled, her anger melting away by Charlie's innocence. "I'll be out in a few and then you can explain it to me."

"Yep, okay." He raised a thumbs up at her.

About ten minutes later, Jenny stepped out of the bathroom dressed in jeans and a sweater. Her hair was slightly damp though she didn't seem to care. She went over to Charlie who was furiously typing on his computer. He avoided her stare though he kept glancing at her from the side.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Charlie finally burst before she could say anything. "I…I didn't even think about it when I knocked. I didn't see anything. Oh, boy. I'm messing this up."

"Charlie," Jenny said calmly with a sheepish smile, "it's okay. Really. You obviously found something that needed to be said."

"You're not mad?" he looked up at her hopefully.

"Should I be? Just tell me what you found."

Charlie blew out a breath of relief then gathered himself before starting. "Right, um, I found this tucked behind Frank's phone." He handed her the slip of paper. "I think it's a clue telling us that Frank is at that hotel."

"Are you sure?" Jenny turned the paper over in her hand, skepticism written all over her face. "How do you know Frank didn't do this himself before he came here? Maybe it doesn't mean anything at all."

"I know Frank," he pointed out excitedly. "He doesn't do things like this. Neither does Joe, even as a joke. I really believe that someone is sending us a message. Frank is at that hotel."

"But what about Joe? Why wouldn't he be there with him?"

"Who knows?" Charlie shrugged. "Maybe he is there too and we were just given information on Frank. But what I do believe is that Frank is there and that curtain really did move. I wasn't just seeing things."

"Okay, let's just say that you're correct in your assessment," Jenny said methodically. "If Frank was there, why didn't he just wave us down or call to us for help through the window?"

"Maybe he couldn't. Maybe he's tied up but he was able to move something to get that curtain to move. Who knows why it moved but I know he's there. He has to be!"

Jenny grew quiet, running a hairbrush through her hair. Too many elements of the clue didn't make sense including why anyone would lead them to an abandoned hotel. And too many things could happen including a trap for them.

"Have you told Mr. Hardy yet?"

"No, they're still on the plane as far as I know," Charlie answered. "He sent me a text late last night saying that they wouldn't be able to get on a plane until early this morning our time. Their original flight was delayed then cancelled due to pilot issues. Every other flight was booked solid. They'll be here in a few hours."

"And you're sure Frank is at this hotel?"

"I'm positive."

"We'll take Muldoon with us this time," Jenny announced after thinking about it for a minute. Charlie nodded in agreement. "Do you have the guns?"

"Yeah, but…"

"Bring them just in case."

A half an hour later and after avoiding head-on collision with a motorcycle, Muldoon pulled up to the abandoned hotel Charlie and Jenny were at the day before. The building looked the same though some of the debris that was present earlier was no longer visible. Charlie thought maybe someone had come through and cleaned the area in the morning that day.

"You went to this dump without me?" grumbled Muldoon as he shut off the engine. He looked around the sketchy neighborhood in which several people eyed their nice vehicle. "I'm surprised you were able to get out of here without any problems."

"Maybe it was a down day," Jenny shrugged nonchalantly before getting out of the SUV. She looked up at the run-down hotel wondering if Charlie was right about his theory. It still didn't look like anyone was there but she would humor him for now.

"Ready?" Charlie asked coming up next to her.

Jenny nodded then turned to Muldoon. "You stay here. I think we'll be okay inside."

"You sure, Ms. Powell?" he inquired looking around. "What if something happens inside and I'm not there?"

"We'll keep in constant touch," she answered. Jenny reached back into the SUV and pulled out a set of walkie talkies. She threw one to the man then turned on the one she kept. "I'm on channel six. I'll let you know if anything happens or if we need help. I want you to stay here in order to keep watch."

"Yes, ma'am," Muldoon nodded. "I don't like it but I'll follow orders."

"Good. Shall we, Charlie?"

Charlie nodded then followed her around the building in search of an opening inside. Jenny stopped the moment she saw a cracked open door several feet away. The two exchanged looks before moving slowly towards the door. Charlie pulled out a flashlight from the pack he carried along with one of the Hardys' guns. Jenny followed suit, pulling out her own gun and flashlight from her bag. Although Fenton Hardy insisted on him to train at the firing range, Charlie still felt a little awkward with the weapon and kept it on safety just for that reason.

The door looked as if someone had pried it open from the inside. Several pieces of wood littered the floor as if the same person punched through the boards covering the door. Jenny peered inside the dark room, scanning her flashlight in what looked like a stairwell. A closed door stood across from her, her flashlight blazing beyondthe broken window.

"What's inside?" Charlie asked anxiously. He wondered if he'd been wrong about his theory that Frank was there. He also hoped that no one else was in the building with them.

"Just a hallway," she announced, her voice low just in case. "Do you remember where that window was?"

"Yeah, I think it was about the third floor on this side of the building."

"Then we go up," Jenny stated, looking up the dark stairs.

The pair slowly took the stairs, keeping their flashlights down and their voices low. They made minimal noise though Charlie accidentally kicked a small can that was littered on one of the steps, causing an echo to rip through the empty stairwell.

"Sorry!" he hissed giving Jenny an apologetic look. She shook her head and continued.

When they reached the landing for the third floor, the door leading onto the floor was slightly open. Jenny stopped and looked down the hall in front of her before scanning down the halls on each side of her. There was no one to be seen but yet it still creeped her out being in the abandoned hotel.

Charlie scanned the hallways as well before seeing a light coming from one of the rooms down the hall to his right. He thought it strange that out of the whole building only this one room had electricity. As he came to the room, Charlie saw that the door had been broken open from the inside, just as the exit door downstairs.

"Frank?" he called out cautiously, holding his gun out at the ready.

Jenny stayed out in the hallway, her flashlight swooping back and forth down the hall. The last thing she wanted was an ambush though she had no idea why there would be one. She still felt as if someone were watching her through the darkness, giving her an uneasy feeling.

"Jenny," Charlie said to her from inside the room, "you have to see this."

"Okay," she answered warily, entering the room.

Jenny was utterly shocked to see the room made up as if it were still a working hotel though the bed was disheveled and clothes scattered the floor. The bathroom looked as if it had been used as well with towels flung to the ground. Water dripped from the faucet making Jenny wonder how it was accomplished in such conditions.

"What the hell is this place?" she muttered as she walked through the room. "You couldn't tell this was an abandoned hotel if you were in here. But why?"

"I think I found that answer," Charlie replied. He knelt on the floor next to a pile of clothes and pulled up a familiar shirt. The same one Frank was wearing when he left the room the day before. "I think Frank was here. I was right."

"Well, then where did he go?"

"That's a damn good question," replied a voice from the door. Charlie and Jenny whirled around to see two men standing in the doorway, each holding a gun. "Hopefully, the two of you can explain that among other things."

Author's Note:

Phew! That was long! I know I'm a few days later than I expected to put out a chapter but hey, at least it's not a month (or two) out! Anyway, I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know mine was good. Lots of family and friends to be around (and avoid). Plus that football game on Saturday. EPIC. I'm hoping the team goes all the way this year. That would make the season even better. The last time they went undefeated in the regular season was 1997…and they won the National Championship. Here's hoping! Sorry, Margaret. I do remember last year you said your son was going to OSU. I hope he did well in studies to graduate. I have to say though, Michigan did give me a scare in that first half. I really thought they weren't going to come back…and then second half exploded. Well, thank you all so much for reading the previous chapter! I glad that you all enjoyed it to come back for more! And thank you to everyone who left a review for the chapter. I love hearing your thoughts and feelings about what is going on. Max2013, don't worry. The rescue is coming but it might not be for at least another two chapters. I'm doing my best to get everything out so bear with me. Candylou, time will tell about who Kate's child is but again, it's coming and I won't forget about it. All will be revealed in due time. Elizabeth K Joan, yes, Donatelli is a nasty piece of work. I love writing characters like him. Jilsen, Jenny and Charlie are so adorable and do work very well together. I absolutely have a blast writing about them, especially this last chapter. I actually have a person that Charlie reminds me of. If you've ever watched CSI: New York, there's a character named Adam played by AJ Buckley. Although he's a little younger than him, Charlie is definitely similar to Adam is on the show. He's quirky and lovable along with having a knack for computers. If you haven't seen the show, I recommend it. It's my favorite out of the CSI shows and Gary Sinise is one of the best actors out there (IMHO). Anyway, I hope that you all enjoyed the chapter and if you could, please leave a review to let me know what you thought of it! Have a wonderful week and God Bless!