A US Marshal and FBI Supermystery: Chapter Four

-NDHB-

"Are you sure, Bess?" Nancy asked after a few tense minutes of silence. The news of Bess's pregnancy certainly was surprising.

"Yes," Bess replied, "I'm pregnant."

"Does Joe know?" George had her input.

Bess sighed, "No…I just don't know how to tell him."

"But…" Nancy and George started together.

"I will tell him. I mean, he needs to know," Bess informed them. "I just don't know how to say it. God, he's going to freak out."

"Do you want him to marry you?" George asked.

Bess shrugged, "I don't know. I mean, none of this was in my immediate plan. It has always been marriage then kids, but I'm not ready yet. I guess the only thing I do know is I want him involved in the baby's life." She paused, "I want you guys to be the godmothers."

Nancy and George laughed, but the tension still hung in the air.

-NDHB-

Yulia walked down the hallway to the morgue. She had always been creeped out by the silence in this hallway. "I have a job for you, if you're interested," the voice whispered from the shadows.

"What?" Yulia spun to face the mysterious voice.

The voice spoke again, "The FBI agent and Drew are in the way. You must eliminate them."

Finally, Yulia recognized the voice, "Are you sure, Sophia?"

"Yes," replied the US Marshal. I don't know why he added Frank. I don't know why I'm still doing this.

"I'll take it," Yulia proclaimed.

-NDHB-

"So what happened in the first case," Joe wanted all the information as fast as Nancy and Frank could tell him.

As Nancy looked over at Joe all she could see was him and Bess on vacation with millions of children. It was all she could do not to burst out laughing.

"Okay," she said gaining control, "Jane Cross: she claimed Adam McDermott raped her. There was no DNA in the case; the only commonality was MO. Jane picked him out of a lineup. Reinfield assigned my new partner and me to protect her. I took days and Sophia Lang, my partner," she added for Joe's benefit, "took nights. Jane was about to testify. She ended up dead."

"On Sophia's shift?" Joe questioned for clarification.

"Yeah. Sophia called me the next day; said she had been hit over the head and had no idea where she was. I don't buy into it," added Drew.

"You think she's involved?" questioned the younger brother.

"Yeah, Joe." Nancy admitted, "I also think Mr. McDermott is innocent."

"So what is going on?" Frank asked just as the door to the conference room flew open.

"Nancy, Frank, Sophia just put a hit on you!" Yulia cried as the door slammed shut.

She was met by complete silence then. The young adults blinked at each other for a few seconds. "How much?" Frank finally asked.

"One million dollars each."

-NDHB-

"Sir, I sent out the hit. I'm going after them," Sophia confidently told her boss. My love, she finished to herself.

"Good," he said, oblivious to any advances.

Sophia stepped closer, "Sir, is it true you loved her?"

"That is not important, Sophia," the man firmly stated.

"Okay, sir…"

"Sir," a young woman, about Sophia's age, interrupted from the door, "You put a hit on Frank?"

"Sophia, dismissed," he said, and when she left continued. "Yes, I had to. Don't need him or Nan figuring this out, do we?"

She sighed and shrugged her petite shoulders helplessly, "Well, no. But, Ned, you love Nancy. Now, I don't mind her dead, but you… anyway. You needed to see me?"

"Yeah. When do you think we'll be ready? I want this to be soon," Ned commented.

"We're almost ready. Do you think Frank or Nancy, or maybe, Joe knows about the plan?" she questioned.

Ned answered, "No…Cal, I can't take the hit off. I can't risk the failure of this mission. They know too much and must be eliminated. I wish there was another way, but there is none."

"I know how sorry you are," replied the woman. "This is really something horrible."

-NDHB-

"How do you know about this?" Joe demanded standing from his seat.

"Sophia Lang told me. She got the hit from whomever her boss is and just gave it out," Yulia explained. "I've been working for a while with DEA to figure this out. They suspect her in gang activity. So far there hasn't been a break."

"Do you think they know Joe's involved now?" Frank questioned.

"No. But, the heads of the DEA, the FBI, and the Marshals want guards for all of us. They think these guys will come after us. Hey, do any of your friends need protection too? Is there anyone these guys would come after to get to you?" Yulia further explained.

"George Fayne and her fiancé, then Bess Marvin," Nancy answered for everyone, "That's all I can think of."

"I'll find them and bring them in. You guys will be put in a safe house," Yulia answered.

The entire group waited for Yulia to leave before they discussed this, "We won't get anywhere suck in some stupid safe house. And George is getting married?" Joe asked.

"We'll get work done," Frank started.

"Not much," scoffed Joe.

And Nancy finished it, "She's marrying Ross Yeager, a professor from college. George told Bess and me last night at dinner."

"Well, that's nice. What's our next step?" Joe questioned.

"I want to meet McDermott," Frank answered.

Nancy added, "That's what I was thinking."

"I have some friends I can get to research Sophia Lang and Yulia Sarrasi," Joe voiced.

"I guess Nan and I'll see you at the safe house for dinner?" Frank asked

"Sounds good," Joe replied and everyone filed out of the conference room.

-NDHB-

It's weird I don't even know his name, but I love him. Well I know his first name is Ned and that he knows Nancy, Sophia thought as she walked over to the computer.

I'll cross-reference Nan's cases with the name Ned. I must find out more about him.

Hmmm…Nancy dated a Ned. Ned Nickerson. He looks kind of like my love! Well Nancy won't get to keep him.

She'll die; Ned is mine.

He will be mine alone. I wonder if that other girl likes my Neddy-weddy too. I'll have to deal with her.

-NDHB-

Nancy and Frank had taken Frank's rental car and were on their way to visit Adam McDermott at the local maximum-security prison. "Hey, Nan, I'm sorry if you feel like I stepped on your feet inviting Joe to help," Frank apologized.

"I don't feel like you did. It's always good to have Joe around to help out. It's just like old times." Nancy wondered, "Is he serious about Bess?"

"Yeah, he says they're going to move in together. There a reason you sound so concerned?" Frank asked glancing over at Nancy.

"No…well, yes," Nancy couldn't lie to him, but she couldn't tell him the entire truth.

"What?" Frank demanded somewhat teasingly.

"Joe isn't supposed to know, so I can't trust you with this kind of information. You'd tell him," Nancy said in the same tone even though she felt Joe should know.

Frank grinned, "Oh, come on, Nan, I won't say a word. I'm very trustworthy."

"No, this is something you would tell Joe," Nancy commented before they lapsed into silence.

-NDHB-

"Hey, Bess," Joe greeted as he stepped into her office. "I'm here to pick you up. We need to get to a safe house."

"What? Who did you tick off, Joseph Hardy?" Bess demanded.

"It wasn't me! Nancy and Frank are the ones with the hits on their heads," Joe defended himself. "I'm just along for the ride."

"What!…Oh, God…" Bess hadn't finished that thought as she raced down the hallway to the bathroom with Joe on her heels.

"Bess, what's wrong?" Joe asked as he held her hair off her face. "are you okay?"

"No," Bess managed before her head disappeared down the toilet again.

Shock registered on Joe's face, "What's wrong?"

Bess's eyes met Joe's as she quietly admitted, "Joe, I'm pregnant. You're going to be a father."

-NDHB-

Edited: 27December 2008…ladybug1115