Time Since Gone Missing: 19 hours

"She was supposed to come back to the school!" Kara spoke through her tears.

Chief McGinnis sighed. "Yes, you've told me this several times." The man was getting nowhere with Nancy's friends. They were all very hysterical over her disappearance. Though he hadn't seen Nancy for two years, he wasn't surprised so many people still admired her.

"What did she say over the phone?"

"I told her about the school, and she said she'd come right over, but she never showed up. I figured she was simply taking a cool-down drive, but that was hours ago. She should have returned!"

Sobbing and scribbling: Kara and Chief McGinnis. Once the two had finished, they both went their separate ways. The teenager to her friends, where they mourned and wondered, while the police officer joined his fellowmen.

Collin Henson, who had only recently joined the clan, stood by his boss. "What do you think, sir?"

"According to the kids, she was overly depressed. One saw her storming out of her room. Apparently, she had gotten into a fight with her boyfriend." The Chief put away his notepad, and continued. "We have anything on her car?"

"Nothing. It was still at the lodge. The hotel manager saw her leave at 5:57 am. No one has seen her since."

"Shoot." He rubbed his forehead in frustration. "Alright. Put her on Suicide Watch. Let's call up Carson and Hannah. Poor guys must be real worried."

OOOOO

"Another muffin, Chief?"

"Hannah! That is the fifteenth blueberry muffin you've stuffed down my throat!"

The maid paled. "I apologize. I just…"

"No, it's my fault. I didn't mean to be so harsh."

"We're all up in a panic about Nancy." Carson stated the obvious. "I can't believe we missed her. Our flight from Richmond was delayed because of the storms we've been having."

At that moment, a fox terrier pranced into the kitchen. He sat down below Chief McGinnis, and licked his fingers. The man smiled and rubbed behind his ears. "Hey Togo. I missed you, big fella. Did you enjoy your stay with the Harrisons?"

"Oh, I know he did." Hannah began picking up dishes. "A week with Diane and Mark's dog, Misty; I think our pup is in love!"

Carson went back to the previous conversation. "Is there anything we can do to help?"

"I don't think so. Just hang on for now. We all know Nancy. She'll disappear for a bit, then show right back up." It was good to be positive at this point, even if it was highly unlikely.

OOOOO

Ned Nickerson sipped his coffee, the vacuum noise louder then he would have wanted. Emerson's Cht Café was very uncrowded, which was the way he liked it. The interior design was, in one word, neon. Bright green walls, magenta pink cushion chairs. Though retro, it was a warm safe-heaven from all the college stress. However, what he saw next unraveled all he tried to forget.

Two beautiful women walked into the room; their only likeness the hasty look on their faces. They searched the room, till three sets of eyes reunited. It was awkward, at first, until the blonde girl smiled and rushed over to Ned.

"Wow. I'm feeling a bit of déjà vu, here. How've you been?" Her partner stood next to her, more sternly and thin.

"I'm moving along alright. I never thought I'd see Bess Marvin and George Fayne again. Where's your third half?"

A look exchange occurred, one Ned remembered as that of a bad-news-bearer. "Why don't you guys sit down? I'll get us some cappuccinos." The college student tossed his fingers to indicate want of service. He order three chocolate cap's, then waited till the waiter left before he spoke. "Okay, what's up?"

"Um, has Nancy tried to contact you recently?"

"No. Why?"

"Oh." No explanation came further.

"Has something happened that I'm not aware of?" Ned looked at Bess. He had spoken with her from time to time over the last few years, and knew that she hated keeping secrets. But it was no longer a bubbly attitude he foresaw, but a very grave, depressed one.

"Nobody has seen Nancy for the last 20 hours."

The old boyfriend was used to not overreacting, as a trait he had learned from dating the girl sleuth. "Could she be off taking a breather, or a road trip?"

"Without consulting with her friends? Besides, all her belongings and car are here. She doesn't even have her lock picking kit with her." This was something Nancy always carried with her.

"Without consulting her friends? Aren't you guys her friends?"

"Well, because we went to UCLA, it was hard keeping in touch. It was actually Mr. Drew who called us this morning. He still thought Nancy and us were in touch. It still really worried me, though." Bess paused as three coffees were placed in front of them.

Ned sighed. "What are you going to do now?"

"George, here, doesn't agree with me, but I think it's fair. We should help find Nancy. I know, we're no longer close, but she's saved us countless of times! She'd depend on us for help, and even after two years, we still owe her as much!"

The tomboy looked at her cousin with a glance of repeated use. "Bess, I want to help Nancy, really, I do. But how are we to help? We don't know her schedule, the people she hung… hangs (George didn't want to refer to her in past tense) out with, or anything about why she disappeared. It almost seems right to enjoy the memories we had and…"

"No!" The girl screamed louder then she intended. "We all love Nancy Drew, and I'm not giving up till I find her! Now, you guys can help me, or not. But either way, I'm on the case." Bess admitted to feeling a tad strange, being the detective of the group. Over the past two years, she had matured, and even though extremely girlish, she knew to appreciate what she was given.

Ned was entirely silent. He had spent the last two years trying to get rid of the heartbreak feelings and broken promises.

i Investigating the case may just be putting salt on the wound.

"I don't know if I can do this."

Silence once more. A very never-ending silence. Almost a half hour passed where nobody spoke. When someone finally did, it was an offer to pay for the check.

The girls stood up, and merely nodded good-bye to Ned. In a way, it was extremely sad to see their faces. He felt as though he were letting them down. But how could they ask him to do this! Nancy had destroyed his thoughts of love, and killed all he believed in. He couldn't possibly be expected to jump up and down, and be giddy, like he was two years past.

On the other hand, if Nancy were to get hurt, the guilt would surely increase to an unbearable level. And indeed, they had always been there for each other in deathly situations.

"George!" The brunette turned.

"I'm in." I hope you know what you're doing, Nickerson, his conscience recalled the stern warning he was dreading.