Sorry for the long delay. This chapter took some time developing. Thank you all for being so patient. Hope you enjoy the chapter.
5. Missing
"Nan, do you really remember everything?" George asked hopefully.
Nancy thought for a moment before answering. In her mind she saw her family, Carson, Hannah, the picture of her mother on the bedside table. She remembered the times she had planned weekends with Bess and George and the mysteries that usually followed. And the times that Frank and Joe had been there to help her solve the crimes.
"I remember. I remember everything." Nancy smiled.
A joyous whoop escaped from her circle of friends following her announcement.
"So what do you say we convince the doctor that I'm cured and we all meet at my place? I could really go for a cup of cocoa and some of Hannah's cookies."
Frank laughed. "Good to have you back Nan." He gave her a brief hug, and then walked out to find the doctor.
"Nancy," Bess whispered, "why didn't you ever tell any of us about your search for the journal?"
"It's not the journal as much as the killer I was searching for. But the trail's been cold for years. I wasn't even sure where her house was. Then I saw that portrait. There's nobody else it could have been. I couldn't believe it. I randomly choose a house to restore and it turns out to be my family's old home. As far as any of us know, no Drew has been inside that mansion since Lady Drew died."
"Well, I for one, plan to get in on this mystery. This is exciting." George declared.
Just then Frank walked in, followed by a young doctor. Everyone stood back while the doctor examined Nancy. Finally he agreed that Nancy was fit enough to go home, with the caution that she rest.
After the doctor's examination, Bess and George gathered Nancy's things while she went into the bathroom to change. Frank pulled the doctor aside while Bess and George worked.
"We heard about Nancy on the radio." Frank said matter of factly. "How did the press find out that she was here? And how did they find out about her amnesia?"
The doctor looked at Frank in surprised bewilderment. "I'm sure I don't know who talked to the press. I certainly didn't. That would have broken doctor-patient confidentiality."
Joe, who had been listening to the conversation, spoke up. "We intend to find out just who talked to the press. And if we have to question everyone here, then so be it."
"Certainly. I really must be going. My first day and I have several other patients to tend to." the young doctor answered as he scurried through the door.
Nancy sighed with content as Frank pulled into the driveway in front of her house. "Home sweet home. And it never looked so good."
"I still can't believe you just remembered everything like that." George told Nancy from the back seat.
"Amnesia is odd like that." Frank answered. "Sometimes you get your memory back quickly, and sometimes it can take a few hours or longer."
"Well, I am going to call the radio station and see if I can get some answers from them." Joe announced as he climbed out of the car. The others followed suit.
The group walked up to the porch and sat down. Joe continued into the house to make his call. He also promised to bring cocoa and cookies out when he returned.
"It feels so good to be back." Nancy murmured happily as she settled back against a post. "I was beginning to feel trapped in that hospital room."
Everyone had just settled down to relax when an old beat up car pulled into the driveway and parked. "Who is that?" Bess asked.
"Gabriel Drew." Frank answered as the young man climbed out of the driver's seat.
"Nan's cousin?" Bess gasped.
Frank nodded in response. He could tell from the way Gabriel rushed up to the porch that something was wrong. Gabriel seemed tense, as if he was worried. And his movements seemed strained.
"Frank, I'm glad I caught you. And you must be Nancy. You look just like the portrait of Lady Drew." Introductions were quickly made.
"What's wrong Gabriel?" Frank asked.
"The portrait of Lady Drew is gone! I stayed a little longer after you left. I was just poking around. Anyway, I heard the stairs creak behind me. I crouched and turned just as I was hit on the side of the head." Gabriel explained, pulling off the cap and glasses he had been wearing.
Bess gasped. The side of Gabriel's face, from just above his left eye to his left temple, was swollen. The skin was beginning to turn an ugly deep purple. "I was able to get a quick glance at the person who hit me."
"Are you all right? Do you need to go to the hospital?" Bess asked with concern.
"I'm fine." Gabriel smiled at Bess. "But I do want to catch this guy."
"How can you be sure it was a guy?" George questioned.
"I can't be completely sure, of course. But judging from the angle of the blow, the person who delivered it would have had to have been about my height, close to six feet tall. And there was a great amount of force used, by either a man or an extremely strong woman."
"Makes sense." Frank said.
The door opened and Joe stepped out onto the porch. "What makes sense? Hey Gabriel what's going on?"
Gabriel showed Joe the marks from his encounter, then briefly recapped everything he had just told Frank and the others. He also explained how the portrait was gone when he woke.
"Did you notice anything?" Joe questioned.
"The guy that did it was wearing contact lenses. He was muscular, too, like he worked out a lot."
"How do you know he was wearing contacts?" Nancy wondered.
"How many people do you know with ice blue eyes? My flashlight beam caught his eyes for a few seconds. He looked like he only had pupils. It was weird."
"The news anchor said she saw the same person!" Joe exclaimed.