Chapter 5
Nancy was frustrated with the case, but she couldn't help but feel ecstatic. Ned and she were becoming very good friends, if not something more, and Gabriella was out of the picture. Or so Nancy thought.
Ned picked Nancy up after his game glowing with excitement. He was the quarterback for the Chicago Bears and had thrown the game winning touchdown. Nancy was happy for him and suggested that they go out to the local diner to celebrate and discuss the case.
The pair had a great time at the diner and even made some progress on the case.
Missing Wedding Money
Taken on the first weekend of each month
The wedding that the money is stolen from is planned for a week later
(EXCEPT FOR NED AND GABRIELLA'S WEDDING!)
SUSPECTS:
All Clients
Employees
Maintenance Workers
Secretaries
Rival Companies (Weddings 'R Us)
So it wasn't much, but it was a start. Nancy was relieved that she had different angles to check out, and even happier that Ned was there to help her out.
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Ned snuck into Nancy's office after his morning practice to find her immersed in her work. It looked as though she putting finishing touches on a wedding, but Ned knew better. She was really trying to figure out the case.
Ned tiptoed behind Nancy and put his hands over her eyes. Nancy jumped and tried to pull his hands off, while Ned said "Guess who!"
Nancy laughed and relaxed. "Hmm, that's a hard one…Bess?" She teased.
"Guess again…think incredibly handsome, smart, and sweet…" he trailed off playfully.
"Gosh, I would say Ned, but he's none of those things…"
"What?" Ned exclaimed, taking his hands away. "Drew, you are not getting away with that one."
Nancy giggled and pecked his cheek. "Oh, really? Well, what are you going to do about it Nickerson?"
"I'm thinking…dinner tonight and a chat about…..stuff." Ned responded.
"You're on Nickerson, but first I need to work on this case. It's driving me crazy! Not only are my ideas not panning out, I can't concentrate." Nancy whined.
"Why can't you concentrate, Nan? Am I that handsome that you can't stop gazing at me?" Ned teased.
Nancy rolled her eyes. "Dream on, Ned. Now help me out here or neither of us are going to dinner tonight."
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5 hours later, Nancy and Ned were no closer to finding out who was behind the wedding money theft.
"Nan, can we please take a break?" Ned asked
"Ned, I can't stop now! I have to finish up this case soon! I don't have time for ….never mind" Nancy said looking down.
"You don't have time for me is what you meant, right? I get it Nancy." Ned said in a whisper. "You know, a few minutes ago I was wondering why we broke up in the first place, but I think I remember now."
Now Nancy felt horrible. Ned looked like he was really upset and turned around to leave Nancy's office. "Ned, I'm sorry. You know how I get when I'm on a case. I-"
"Nancy, I'm going to go home. Don't worry about it. Just work on the case, and if I think of anything, you'll be the first to know." Ned said softly. Just as he was about to walk through the door, he turned around and said "Nancy, I was starting to fall in love with you again, and you don't even seem interested."
"Ned, that's not true at all! I-"
Ned walked out of the room and Nancy fell back into her chair. "I love you." She whispered.
Knowing that she wasn't going out to dinner, Nancy decided to keep her mind occupied by working on the mystery. 10 minutes later the phone rang.
"Hello? Nikki Lester from Save the Date Wedding Planners speaking." Nancy said politely.
"If you want the stolen money, come to Sunset Avenue in Mapleton in a half hour. Know where that is?" A voice told Nancy roughly.
"Ye-yes." Nancy said in a surprised tone. She knew the address because Ned lived right around the corner from the meeting place.
The voice sounded like a woman who was trying to make her voice sound deeper. She didn't recognize it. "Good. Be there if you want the money." The voice said before the line went dead.
Nancy hung the phone up shakily. She knew she shouldn't meet the person alone from past experiences, but she couldn't think of anyone to ask to come with her. Ned was mad at her, Bess was out on a date with her fiancé, and George was skiing in Canada. Nancy had to go alone.
She cleaned up the office and locked the building up. Nancy hopped into her car and droved to Mapleton. She parked a block from the meeting place and walked down to where she was supposed to meet the theft.
"Hello?" Nancy called. "Is anyone he-"Nancy was cut off when something cold and had hit her head, and all she saw was black.
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"Nan, Nancy please wake up." Someone whispered, holding her hand.
Nancy slowly opened her eyes and saw Ned leaning over her with concern in his eyes.
"Ugh." Nancy said weakly. "Ned? What happened?"
"Shhh," Ned replied "Don't worry about it now. We need to get you to the hospital."
"But the voice-and the money…they got away…" Nancy whispered closing her eyes again."
"Nan, please stay awake. I'm going to drive you to the hospital-"
Nancy cut him off. "No! Please Ned. I'm fine really…" she said in a slightly stronger tone. "Do-do you still hate me?"
Ned pulled her closer in his arms. "Oh, no, no, no! I never hated you Nancy! I was just frustrated…you mean the world to me."
"I love you Ned." Nancy whispered, burying her face in his chest.
"I love you too, Nancy." Ned said gently. Then seeing that Nancy had passed out again, he gently placed her in the back seat of his car and drove her to the hospital. As he looked back to quickly check on her during the way there, Ned chuckled silently. Something's never change. He thought.
Author Note: I hope you like this chapter! I was pretty happy with how it turned out. Please review! Oh and just a reminder, I'm leaving for vacation on Friday, July 25, and won't have any internet access. I'll try to update again before then!