Chapter 10: Clarity and Confusion

A/N: Thank you to all my reviewers. You all are too kind and you make my day every time you post.

Tuesday morning, Nancy was going through more of Rowena's computer files when Chet called. He didn't even let Nancy say "hello" before he was talking, loud and fast, his words spilling into each other in an incomprehensible tangle.

"Chet, slow down!" Nancy said, channeling what George called Bess's "teacher voice." On the other end, Chet stopped mid-word and sucked in a long breath.

"Damn it!" he said, slowly and clearly. Nancy's eyebrows shot up. Profanity? That was unlike Chet.

"That's better," she said, keeping her voice very calm. "Now start from the beginning, please."

"The beginning?" Chet echoed, his voice rising in what could either have been panic or anger. "I almost die and she wants me to start from the goddamn beginning!"

"Chet, where are you?"

"I'm at the fucking hospital, that's where I am."

It was Nancy's turn to gasp for air. "Are you all right? What happened? I'll be right over. Which hospital?"

"Nah, nah, nah," Chet said, slurring a bit. "Don't need you. Tony's comin' to pick me up. Mostly okay, hit my head is all, fucking doctor says I got a concussion. Car's totaled, that should make you happy."

"The Escort?" Nancy said, catching on. The concussion and the ensuing pain pills explained Chet's slurred voice and colorful vocabulary. Nancy had never heard him curse with such unrestrained fluency- had not, in all honesty, really thought he had it in him. She suppressed a nervous giggle, imagining the horror on righteous Mrs. Morton's face if she could hear her straight-arrow boy now.

"Yeah, yeah, that one," Chet said.

"I told you it was a piece of junk," Nancy said, trying to interject some lightness into the conversation.

"Dammit, Nancy, you don't understand. Nothin' wrong with that car. Some asshole tampered with the brake lines."

Nancy's blood ran cold. "The same method of sabotage as Sebastian's car. Chet, somebody was trying to kill me!"

"Somebody very nearly killed me," Chet said testily. "Fucking asshole!"

"I am so sorry," Nancy said shakily. "The brakes were working fine when I dropped it off yesterday."

"I'm not saying you gave me a death car on purpose, I'm just saying you better watch your freakin' back or they'll try it again. Bastard criminals. They never stop, they never leave anybody alone. My whole fuckin' life I've been watching it happen."

Realizing he was gearing up for a long tirade on crime and crime-solving, with possible detours into his lifelong friendship with Frank and Joe and the loss of his sister Iola, Nancy interrupted. "What happened? With the car, I mean."

"The car?"

"The Escort?" Nancy prompted.

"Oh, yeah, that one. I took the damn thing out this morning to see if the squeaking and windshield wipers were as bad as you said. Brakes went, I ran the stoplight just outside River Heights an' got clipped by some kid in a minivan. He's okay. But we could both have fucking died. Dead, Nancy. What the hell are you mixed up in?"

Nancy had a sudden, vivid flashback of the look on Amber's face when she'd overheard Bess and Nancy talking about Sebastian, and it suddenly clicked. Amber. Amber is Sebastian's ex. Amber must have tampered with my brakes as she was leaving yesterday afternoon. "The usual," she told Chet. "Look, I've got to go. I'm so sorry and I'm so glad you're okay and I'll reimburse you for the car and everything later, just right now I-"

Chet, wise to the ways of detectives, interrupted her. "Go get 'em, Nance. Just don't fucking die."

Nancy loved this point in a case, the pivot point, the kaleidoscopic rush of emerging from confusion and chaos into a perfect, tidy pattern. She was in charge, she was confident, she was surveying the Promised Land from the top of a mountain- and then bang, dead end. Deciding that Amber must be behind Sebastian's death and the disappearance of Sir Morgan's letter was the easy part; finding Amber (and more importantly, finding proof to back Nancy's hunch) proved much more difficult.

To begin with, Bess called before Nancy could even leave the house. She was babbling almost as incoherently as Chet had been. Nancy sighed.

"Bess. Sweetie. Slow down."

"Amber never came back for Ryan and she won't answer her phone and he won't stop crying!" Bess wailed. "I know you're on a case already but please, Nancy, I need help!"

"You've had him ever since she dropped him off yesterday afternoon?"

"Yes." Bess sobbed audibly. "I've been trying not to freak out, because if she was on a date maybe things just went really well and she isn't awake yet. Or m-maybe she got really drunk. But maybe she's d-dead in a ditch somewhere and"-here her voice rose again-"how am I going to explain that to a two-and-a-half-year-old?"

"Just hold it together for a little while longer, Bess," Nancy said over her friend's sobbing. "Take the babies out for an ice cream cone and then to the park to tire them out. When they go down for their nap, then you can freak out. I'll come by this afternoon to check on you. Do you happen to know Amber's address?"

"I- I never asked. She didn't tell me and I didn't want to embarrass her by prying."

"Okay. What about her phone number?"

Bess blew her nose. Sniffed. "She's not answering-"

"I know that, but it's a start."

"I'll text it to you." Bess sniffed again. "I just know something bad is going on."

"It's going to be okay," Nancy said firmly. "Have I ever let you down?"

"N-no."

"And I'm not going to let you down this time either. Now go fix your makeup and put on a happy face for that little boy."

"I can do that," Bess said, sounding a little steadier. "Thanks, Nancy."

Nancy hung up feeling determined. So apprehending Amber wasn't going to be as straightforward as she'd anticipated. She could handle that. She hesitated for a moment, planning her course of action: Ned's office first, both to get an awkward situation out of the way and to confirm her suspicion that Amber was the mother of Sebastian's child. Then she'd try the River Heights Pharmacy, Amber's employer. They ought to have her address on file.

Ned still worked at the same law firm as Carson Drew. Nancy poked her head into her father's office to wave hello on her way through and Carson cupped a hand over his phone receiver and mouthed "Come in" to her. She perched on a corner of his desk and waited while he wrapped up his phone call.

"I wasn't expecting to see you here," he said, setting the phone down.

"All in the line of duty. I'm here to talk to Ned about a case."

Carson nodded, seeing the unhappiness on his daughter's face. "It was bound to happen sooner or later."

"I was hoping for later. We- well, we haven't exactly been friends since I broke up with him," Nancy admitted. And in a town this size he's bound to have heard about me and Joe.

"Ned's a good man," Carson said mildly. "And the Nickersons don't have the temperament to hold a grudge. I'm sure you'll be fine."

"I suppose."

"He's been seeing someone, you know, so you don't need to worry about whatever it is you're doing with Joe Hardy."

Nancy blushed. "Dating, Dad. And thanks."

"While I have you," Carson said, "are you free for dinner tonight? I have reservations at La Maisonette."

"For father-daughter bonding purposes, or does the handsome lawyer have an ulterior motive?" Nancy said, peering at him through the magnifying glass he kept in his top desk drawer.

"I'm sure I didn't raise you to have such a suspicious mind."

"No, that must have been Hannah's influence."

Carson laughed. "Yes, doubtless."

"Nice evasion, by the way. What's up? Am I finally going to meet the mythical Camille Bradley?" Nancy teased. Her father had taken Camille out several times but had never introduced them.

"Mythical? I assumed that by now you'd be qualified to write the woman's biography."

Nancy grinned. "Well, yes, but it isn't polite to let on that you know so much about a person. It makes people a bit uncomfortable."

"I'm not sure it's possible to make Camille feel uncomfortable. I've never met a more poised individual," Carson said thoughtfully.

"Sounds formidable," Nancy said, hopping to her feet. "I'd better get on with it. I'll meet you at the restaurant, though. What time?"

"7:30. Bring Joe, if you'd like."

"He goes bowling with Frank on Tuesdays, I think. But I'll see you then."

Ned, anticlimactically, was out to lunch.

"He's been gone about 45 minutes," his secretary, Lacie, said helpfully.

"Then he should be back soon. I'll wait." Nancy settled into one of the upholstered chairs in front of Lacie's desk, pulling out her phone to check for texts. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Lacie staring at her, obviously recognizing her as Ned's ex-fiancee and hungry for gossip. Nancy lifted her head and stared back until the woman blushed and turned away, pretending to be very busy all of a sudden with paperwork. Finally Nancy heard the elevator doors open and firm footsteps approach.

"Nancy?" Ned paused in the doorway, eyebrows raised.

"Ned. Hi." Nancy stood, offering him her hand. She hadn't meant to disconcert him, but a small, mean part of her took pleasure in his confused fumbling as he juggled his keys and a takeout container and a to-go cup and finally freed his hand to shake hers.

"Do you have a moment?" she asked, grabbing his dangerously-tilting drink.

"I'm still on my lunch break," he said, taking it back and heading into his office. Nancy followed, closing the door on Lacie's curiosity.

"Please," she said. "It's for a case."

"No surprise there," Ned said slowly. "Everything is always about a case with you."

Nancy looked at him, surprised. "Are you still angry with me?"

"I guess so. The minute I saw you it all came flooding right back." Ned looked annoyed. He plunked his food down on his desk and sat down, frowning at her. "Why would you think it's okay to come waltzing in here asking for information when we haven't spoken in a year? All that talk about independence and respect...what a joke. The fact is you are using me and you always used me and I don't have to let you do it."

Bewildered, Nancy took a step closer to his desk. "I never used you, Ned."

"That's how it feels to me. All those years you let me give you my time, my help, everything. And when you got tired of me you just walked away."

"All those years," she repeated. "I was with you all those years because I liked you. We were friends! You gave to me, I gave to you, that's how friendship works. I went to your football games. I stayed up all night with you when your grandma passed away. I loved you. And I'm sorry we haven't talked. Honestly, I wasn't sure how to reach out to you."

"I didn't want to talk to you. You broke my heart." Ned's jaw was clenched in that old familiar expression and he would not look her in the eyes. Nancy hesitated.

"Do you still..."

"What? Do I still want you back? No."

"Dad says you're dating someone."

"Yes. And I hear you're screwing Joe." He was trying to be crude, trying to goad her into fighting back. Nancy didn't take the bait.

"Joe and I are dating," she said.

"Congratulations," Ned said flatly.

"I'm not sure what you want me to say, Ned."

Ned sighed. "I'm not sure either. I'm sorry, Nancy. Maybe I need to run off to Europe too and get some perspective. I understand why you did what you did. And Emily, Emily wants the kind of life I want and my family likes her and I can see a future with her. I should be grateful. But I'm having trouble letting go of my resentment toward you, my resentment of all those wasted years."

"Were they wasted?" Nancy said, finally locking eyes with him. "We were happy together. We had some good times. I understand, though. Be angry with me if you need to. It was the right choice and we are both on better paths now. Maybe someday we can be friends again, but I'm not going to pressure you."

"Someday," Ned said. Though a bit more relaxed, he looked as drained as she felt. "Just call before you show up next time, all right?"

"Deal," said Nancy. She hesitated again. "Personal feelings aside, I really do need some information."

"About?" he asked with resignation.

"Sebastian Walker. He was consulting you about a child custody case before he died."

Ned blinked. "Yes."

"I need to know the name of the child's mother."

"That's not really ethical-"

"Sebastian Walker is dead. So is his mother. Sebastian's half-sister has been abducted and his son has been abandoned. The only unethical action here would be withholding information I need to positively identify my suspect and apprehend her."

"Amber something," Ned said slowly. "Catalano? No. Caivano. Amber Caivano."

"Thank you," Nancy said. "One more thing. Do you have her address on record?"

"No," Ned said positively.

"You're not even going to check?"

"Nan, the case never progressed that far. We met once. Sebastian expressed his concerns for his son's welfare and his desire for sole custody of the child. He believed his ex-girlfriend was using drugs and neglecting his son. We had a follow-up appointment scheduled to really get things underway, but as you know, he died. I'm sorry. That's all the information I have."

"That's helpful. Thank you." Nancy turned to go. "I'll see you around, Ned. Don't be a stranger." She was almost out the door when he called her name. She turned.

"Good luck," he said simply.

Next up was the River Heights Pharmacy. Nancy drove the few blocks quickly and found a parking spot right outside the building. This conversation would be leaps and bounds easier than her last one. Harry Wainwright, the pharmacist, was an old friend.

"Amber Caivano?" the balding man repeated, looking as though the name left a sour taste in his mouth. "She was supposed to work today. This isn't the first time she's missed a shift, either. What do you need to see her for?"

"She misses shifts?" Nancy said, surprised. According to Bess, Amber had worked hard, even picking up extra shifts when she could.

"I try to give her some leeway. I know she's raising a little boy all on her own. But it's getting worse and worse," Harry said.

"I need her address, if it's not too much trouble," Nancy told him.

"It's here in her paperwork somewhere. Lynn, where's Amber's file?"

"In the cabinet, alphabetically," Lynn said patiently. Harry pulled out a drawer and started digging. Lynn, a pleasant-faced middle-aged woman, joined him and deftly pulled out the correct file.

"What do you need to know, dear?" she asked Nancy.

"She needs her address," Harry said.

"Let's see. Oh, that can't be right," Lynn said, frowning.

"Why's that?" Harry asked, crowding in to look.

"That's Sir Morgan Davis's address. That's Idlewild Manor," Lynn said, puzzled. "Who processed this paperwork?"

"Probably me," Harry said. "You were out sick the day I hired the girl."

Lynn closed the folder with a snap, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, Nancy."

"Thanks anyway," Nancy said. She purchased a package of almonds and some gum while she was there and headed out, lost in thought. Amber was a newcomer and as such stood out in town. It shouldn't be too difficult to pick up a new lead on where she spent her time. Nancy checked in with Bess, who was doing much better; she texted Joe and confirmed that he was indeed bowling with Frank that evening; she ate her almonds and pretended they were a proper lunch; and she sleuthed until she felt like an overworked bloodhound. She barely had time to stop in and give Bess a hug between changing her clothes and meeting her father and Camille at the restaurant.

Carson and Camille were already seated when she arrived. Nancy's father stood to welcome her and pulled out her chair for her.

"Nancy, I'd like you to meet Camille Bradley. Camille, this is my daughter."

"I'm pleased to meet you," Camille said, reaching for Nancy's hand. She was a petite, dark-haired woman with frank green eyes. Nancy liked her immediately.

"Likewise," she said, smiling. "I've heard a lot about you."

"Nothing too boring, I hope," Camille said. "And of course I've heard all about you. Your father thinks you hung the moon."

"Ladies, shall we order?" Carson suggested, beckoning to the waiter. After they had all made their requests he looked to Nancy.

"How was your day? Did you wrap up your case?"

"I'm afraid things just got more complicated," Nancy told him, reaching for her water glass. She summarized the day's activities, beginning with Chet's mishap and ending with her failure to track down Amber.

"I even called Helen Corning- my friend who works at the local airport," she explained for Camille's benefit. "No luck. It's like she evaporated."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Carson said.

"You said she gave the address of Idlewild Manor. Did you check there?" Camille asked.

"I did think about it. But the manor house is never completely empty. Sir Morgan has a housekeeper and some other staff who are on the premises daily," Nancy said wearily. "I'm not sure how Amber could get away with squatting there, especially with a toddler."

"She'll slip up sooner or later. They always do," Carson said encouragingly.

"Thanks, Dad." The conversation turned to other things; Nancy made herself concentrate on the good food and the company, allowing her mind to rest. Bess is coping well. Chet is going to be fine. The police are still working to locate Glenna. Everything will come together in time.

Her phone buzzed with a text from Joe as she got into bed a few hours later. Thinking about you, gorgeous.

Nancy smiled in the dark, typed out a reply. Thinking about you, too, in those sexy bowling shoes.

Bowled a 250 tonight. Does that turn you on?

You know it.

Got your bad guy yet?

Closing in. Should have her soon.

Awesome. A pause, then a second message. Looking forward to tomorrow night. The dance! Nancy groaned. She hadn't forgotten about it, exactly, but time had slipped away faster than she'd realized.

Me too, she sent back, and fell asleep puzzling over what she was going to wear.