Chromde: Your reviews make me laugh, thanks. :)

frankette: Actually I agree with you. I suppose I was focusing so much on Frank and Nancy that my Joe character slipped. I understand what you mean, I don't care for this Joe I am writing. Humph. Thanks for pointing it out to me. Let me know if he's any better in this chapter, okay?

A/N: Ok. Here's the next chapter. Heh heh. No threats to my well being until you read the rest of the story okay? ;) Runs and hides.

Kenny's News Station was bustling; reporters ran from one end of the building to the other, newscasters were being prepped for the noon report, and equipment handlers were busy screaming at one another from across the large hallways, and rooms, frantically trying to set up before they aired.

Lieutenant Riley watched all this happen from under his glasses. In one hand he held a report, where he tapped it impatiently against his folded arms, resisting the urge to scowl, and yell at the person closest to him.

"We've been here for ten minutes now," he said, trying to regain his nearly lost composure, "Where is she?"

Joe let out an exasperated sigh, "I don't know, but this place is a mess."

"You could say that again," Riley muttered under his breath, before calling out at a passing security guard. "Sir, we are trying to find Mrs. Cole, can you tell us where we can find her?"

The large man only shrugged, "If you want autographs, come back at a different time, if you want to report a story, check our phone number. We're too busy to take anything in person right now."

"Actually, my name is Conrad Riley, this is Joseph Hardy, we're with the Bayport Police, and we need to speak to Mrs. Cole now, if you don't mind."

The guard nodded, "Why didn't you say anything earlier?" the man asked, unaware that they had done so already. "I'll show you in, this way."

Finally, Riley thought, following the uniformed guard. His patience had clean run out hours ago. The chances of finding Nancy and Frank alive were slimming by the minute; Chief Collig had a full squad out searching for any signs of Nancy's car, or any possible lead to where the two may be. And he was stuck in a news room, waiting to talk to some reporter who wasn't probably going to tell them anything anyways.

The bulky guard knocked on a door before pushing it open, and poking his head in. He talked with someone for a moment before stepping back, and allowing the two to enter.

"Mrs. Cole," Riley nodded as he came in. The blonde woman, no more than thirty years of age, looked up from the small hand mirror she held.

"Police right? What are you here for?"

So much for courtesy, Riley thought. But it was best to cut straight to the point anyways.

"We want to know where you got the report about the two missing detectives," Joe asked pointedly from behind him.

The lady laughed, picking up a pair of tweezers to pluck free some eyebrow hairs. "You're kidding right?"

After a moment of silence, she risked glancing up at them. Seeing that they were serious she set her stuff down. "Look," she stated with a sigh, "If you want to know that kind of stuff, go see my manager, Stanley. He'll tell you."

"It would be easier if you just told us," Riley interjected.

She only sighed again, picking up the mirror again. "I can't do that."

"Why is that?" Joe asked her angrily, coming up to the desk.

The lady slammed her stuff down, causing the two to jump slightly. "Because I don't get the reports," she cursed, leaning back in her chair. "I'm not a reporter, I'm a damn newscaster, the only thing I do in here is read the white print that comes up on that little blue screen over there," she pointed over in the corner. "Stanley is the one who chooses what I read and what I don't read. When the white words come up, that's what I say."

Joe nodded, starting to understand now, but was evidently still annoyed. "Where is Stanley now?"

Mrs. Cole laughed irritably, "At the moment, probably getting drunk off his ass celebrating like he usually does when he gets a big news breaker."

"It would really help," Riley intervened before Joe could say anything. "The report you gave earlier contained more information than we had."

He watched as she raised an eyebrow, looking up at them. "You're kidding? Stanley said he got it from an inside source. I figured you two were trying to alert the town to be on the look out for them."

"Unfortunately, it may have put them in more danger," Joe told her, seething at the woman's audacity.

She shook her head. "I don't get paid enough to do this damn job," she rubbed her head. "Um, he could be anywhere, I really have no idea…" she pulled open her top drawer of her desk, sorting through a few papers. "Here, this may help, I don't know what you people do, or what you use, but…here, just take this."

She handed them a business card, complete with her manager's phone and address. Joe flipped it over, nodding as he examined it. "Thanks for your time," he turned abruptly, eager to get back to the station.

"Look, for what it's worth, I'm sorry. If I had known, I would have refused to read it. I'm sorry."

Con Riley was nearly out of the room, but he stopped at that statement, turning back. "It's okay," he answered, "You had no way of knowing. You were just doing your job."

She nodded, "Then you better get out there and do yours."

Riley nodded in return, closing the door behind him.

***

Frank was awake. In fact, he had never gone to sleep. Nancy however, was fast asleep, and had been so for what seemed like hours. She was resting against his chest, and even though her weight was putting pressure on his already sore torso, Frank made no move to pull away. He had spent most of the time trying to control his labored breathing, trying not to wake her up.

There had been no sign of their kidnappers; Frank wondered dully if they were still around even, or if they had left them here to die. Lifting up his arms, Frank examined the chains through the dim light. He doubted he could break them in his condition; doubted he could even break them when he was one hundred percent.

He set them back down, holding his breath as Nancy shifted under his hold. When he was certain she had not awakened, he let it out. She was not as bad off as he was, that was for certain. But still, she looked horrible. A black eye, a swollen lip…and Frank could see some bruising start just above the line of her shirt. Dried blood matted the top of her head, and he could see a small cut that looked as though it was infected. More in likely she had a concussion…maybe that was why she was so tired.

And all this time she hadn't complained about being in pain. It was amazing. He rested his head against the wall, glancing around the abandoned shack, wondering dimly if this was to be their grave site. His thoughts drifted to the team, the same people he had been friends with practically his whole life, the same people that were family to him.

There was his brother, Joe, the kid in him never really seemed to have left. The quirkiness he carried, and the way he stood up for Frank when anyone tried to challenge him, even though Joe often left him with the most tantalizing of tasks, trying to convince Frank that it was a good learning experience.

George was kind but strict, perhaps more strict than his boss was, but it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. George had chosen odd times to be honest with him, not that he believed she ever lied to him, but there came matters that George came to him and him alone to resolve. That showed extraordinary trust, in his opinion at least.

Tony, his best friend since they were young. He was more of a quiet, withdrawn guy. Frank had wondered what went on in that head of his half the time. He had learned some useful hints from Tony though; he always had his back.

Then there was Con Riley. How could he describe Con? The man certainly made sure his team was secure; watched over. He was a damn good cop and overall, Frank wouldn't choose anyone else to be his boss. No, Con did that job just fine. The thought of having someone like Chief Collig as his boss…Frank shivered. One Collig was enough.

"You okay?" Nancy asked suddenly. Frank glanced down at her, surprised to find her eyes still closed.

"Yeah," he nodded, "just thinking about what life would be like if Con was like Collig."

"Frank, we're in enough of a nightmare as it is, don't make it worse," Nancy warned him, opening her eyes.

Frank laughed, "Sorry," he muttered, "sleep well?"

Nancy shrugged, sighing a little. "As well as I could I guess."

Both were startled as the door swung open, leaving them blinking in the bright sunlight. When the door closed again, both Mando and Stitch stood in front of them, watching the pair.

"Any thoughts yet?" Stitch asked, looking up at the taller man.

Mando rubbed his chin, as Frank looked away, trying his hardest not to feel like some specimen under a microscope. After what seemed like an eternity, the older of the two finally spoke.

"The guy will never last that long. He'll only slow us down, waste him now, we'll still get a good enough price off the girl."

Frank felt the fear rise in his chest as Nancy clung onto him tightly. "No," she whispered, bringing her arms over his neck as if hoping to hold him down there with her.

Frank kicked out as Mando came near him, but the older man easily sidestepped it, grabbing Frank's hair and dragging him sideways, trying to shake Nancy off. It only served her to hang on tighter, as Mando grabbed the two by the arms, forcefully yanking the two apart, throwing Nancy against the wall hard. Frank winced at the impact, calling her name as she lay there stunned for a moment.

Frank was fighting fiercely now, trying anything to pull free as Mando undid the chains around his arms. A swift blow to the back of his head dropped Frank to his knees, dazed.

By this time, Nancy was already on her knees, slowly crawling towards Frank, calling his name, but the chain would only allow her to go so far, and she watched sickened as Mando passed a dazed Frank off to Stitch, who in turn half drug and half pushed the young detective out the door.

She was still fighting against her restraints, crying out for them to stop when a series of gun shots silenced her. For the first time ever, Nancy felt as though she was choking, as she heard another shot being fired. Mando only smiled at her, but she paid no heed as her head came to rest on the ground, as the sobs racked her body.

When Stitch came back in, she didn't even look up as he nodded in confirmation that the job was indeed done. She could no longer see, no longer think. Frank was dead…and it was her fault…all her fault.

"Don't worry honey," Mando told her, laughing at her state, "Yours won't be long in coming either."