A US Marshal and FBI Supermystery: Chapter Two

-NDHB-

The drive to Flack's house was mostly silent. Every once in a while, the scanner would chirp; however, neither federal agent spoke.

"So, Frank, how's Joe been?" Nancy asked as they surveyed their suspect's home.

"Um…fine," Frank finally replied. They exited the car and walked to the front door. Nancy knocked.

"I guess you know he's dating Bess. George and I agreed it was about time they started dating." Before Frank could reply the door opened. Nancy introduced them, "US Marshal Nancy Drew and this is Special Agent Frank Hardy, may we come in?"

"Uh…sure…," the man behind the door said. "I don't know what this could be about."

Frank had to collect himself. He had not talked about Joe since their fight. He thought it might make it easier if Nancy knew how mad Joe had been with him. About the rift Frank had caused.

"Are you sure, Mr. Flack?" Frank questioned as he came back to earth.

"Yes, I'm sure. I've never done anything wrong!"

"No, Mr. Flack. What about that count of armed robbery?" This was fired from Nancy's direction.

Flack sighed, "Look I did my time."

"You're still doing it. You're on parole. So it might make life easier if you were known for helping law enforcement," Frank recommended.

"I confessed. I did my time. And now I report to my parole officer, I'm not lying."

"Good, Mr. Flack, so tell me how your print got on the knife that killed this woman," and Nancy shoved the picture of Jane into his face.

"Look, I know it wasn't smart. I lent that knife to a friend of mine," he explained.

"Who?" they both demanded.

Flack glanced between them, "I don't know if I want to say."

"We could haul you in," Frank threatened. He heard a car drive down the street and looked up and over at it.

"I'm more afraid of…" gunshots rang through the house. Frank hit Nancy as she dove for him. They collided and toppled to the ground.

Nancy pulled herself up. "Are you okay?" she asked moving to check Flack.

"Fine," Frank answered. "How's Flack?"

Nancy pulled out her phone, "Dead."

"You're bleeding," Frank pointed out.

-NDHB-

Joe was visiting Bess. Well to be fair, it was more like he was still there after last night. He and Bess had gone on their date after Bess had drinks with Nancy and George. Bess said Nancy had run off per usual. She and George were mad at Nancy for always abandoning them. Still, they understood their friend's reasoningsreasoning. It was how Joe felt about Frank. Joe could clearly remember the last time he had seen Frank…

Frank stood in his graduation gown. It was almost time for him to be done with college. Before the ceremony, Joe had been trying to find out Frank's "big news". He bet Frank was finally announcing he was going to take over their dad's business.

"Congratulations, Frank," Joe said as he stepped forward, "So are you going to take over dad's business?"

"Uh…I'll talk to you later."

That night after Frank and Joe had arrived home Joe decided to try again. "So, Frank, are you going to take over dad's business?"

"No."

"What!"

"I made a decision to join the FBI."

The worst fight they had ever participated in then began.

Joe snapped out of the memory when Bess plopped down next to him. "What's wrong, Joe?" Bess asked, somehow starting the psychiatrist voice she would use later that day at her job.

"Nothing," he was quick to answer. Bess eyed him. "Well," he admitted, "I was thinking about Frank."

Bess nodded, "About the fight?"

"Yeah," Joe said thinking, Damn; you can't keep anything from her when she uses that voice!

"Joe, why did you react the way you did?" Bess knew Joe hated himself for the fight. He wanted his brother back.

Joe shrugged, "I…I don't know. I've always been the hotheaded brother."

"Were you mad at Frank or his actions?"

"His actions," Joe uttered. He and Bess had already discussed this. If he could go back and erase the fighting, he would.

"What about his actions exactly?" questioned Bess.

"He wouldn't take over the business." Joe was now a little worried about where Bess was going they had never gone this far in their discussions. He couldn't keep anything from her when she used that voice.

Bess nodded, understanding, "Joe, did you feel you had to take over the business?"

"A little," the younger Hardy admitted.

"But you enjoy the work," her face crinkled as she tried to grasp.

"It was more fun with Frank," Joe explained.

-NDHB-

"Nan, are you sure you don't need to go the hospital?" Frank asked a little concerned after the bullet she had taken. He had been trying to get her in an ambulance since he realized she was shot.

Nancy groaned, "Yes, Frank. It's just a little scratch."

"Okay…" he said. Nancy's phone interrupted any further concerns. Nancy held up her finger and walked a short distance away.

"Drew," she answered pacing back and forth.

"Nancy, it's Sophia." She sounded frantic on the other end.

Nancy spun to face Frank and continued her pacing, "Where are you?"

"I'm so sorry. Someone hit me over the head. I just regained consciousness," was her only response.

"Sophia, where are you?" Nancy was met by only silence. She pulled the phone away from her ear. Sophia had hung up.

"Who was that?" Frank questioned noticing Nancy's face.

Nancy replied, "Sophia Lang, my partner. She was the one who was on watch last night."

Frank easily read her facial expression. He could always read her easily. "Why don't you trust her?"

"What makes you think I don't?" demanded the Marshal.

Frank scoffed at the ridiculousness, "Nan, come on I know you."

"It's instincts. I can't really explain it," she sighed.

"That's fine. I trust your instincts," Frank reassured her.

"Well, I'm glad to hear it. She knows where she is but, she won't tell me."

"You think she left last night on purpose," Frank spoke quietly, filling in her thought.

"Yes. I don't want it going around that I accuse my partners of endangering witnesses," Nancy warned.

"I won't tell anyone, Nan," Frank said, picking up on the subtle threat. He changed the subject, "So, Nan any idea who the guy that ordered the hit on Flack could be?"

"No. And I'm starting to think this has nothing to do with the man on trial. It's what Flack said 'I'm more afraid of'. That makes it seem the guy I put away is innocent."

"So who is this guy she was supposed to testify against, anyway?"

"His name is Adam McDermott. I…she testified but, I don't know…it never felt right," explained Drew.

"You don't think he did it?" Frank told her.

"At first it fit so perfectly. But, my gut kept screaming he was innocent. I don't know." Frank glanced over at Nancy he was concerned she had lost too much blood when she was hit by that bullet. "I'm fine, Frank!"

"Sorry, Nan, but, you do look a bit pale."

Frank practically growled at him, "I'm fine. Frank, I swear!"

"If you stop feeling 'fine' let me know, okay?"

-NDHB-

"Well, sir, I called Nancy," Sophia Lang spoke to her employer on the other end of her cell phone.

"Good. And…?"

"She doesn't believe I'm the innocent I claim to be. She may be a problem"

"Well, then you have to eliminate her too," he said with a tinge of regret.

-NDHB-

Edited: 27 December 2008…ladybug1115