A US Marshal and FBI Supermystery: Chapter Five

-NDHB-

"I'm going to be a father," Joe hesitantly whispered. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, Joe. Look, you don't have to do anything. All I need is for you to be there with me. For me. And the baby. I'm not…asking for you to marry me," Bess explained.

"Oh."

Bess finally met his eyes, "Joe, are you okay? Joe?"

How could she be pregnant? What am I going to do? Joe thought. What would dad have done? What would Frank do? "I need time to think, Bess," he finally managed.

-NDHB-

"I wonder what's happening?" Nancy asked as the flashing lights of cop cars came into view. Frank slowed the car and pulled off to the side of the road. Nancy and Frank stepped out of the car as a uniformed officer came up.

"I'm sorry folks you need to keep…" he trailed off when both Nancy and Frank flashed their badges. "Sorry," he started again, "we had a prison break. We were told to look in the woods. I don't think they're here."

Nancy looked the officer over. He was obviously new to the job; he hadn't even looked over their information. If he knows anything about being a cop, he should know not to say anything, she thought. "Who escaped?"

"Well, ma'am, it was this murderer Jimmy Squire and some guy named Adam McDermott, then some other guy named Rod Knight. The people at the prison think the two guys forced McDermott along. So you guys are Feds? How did you get there?" he asked.

"Thanks for your help," Frank said as he slid back into the car. "Well you can tell he's green," he commented to Nancy.

"Or he's very stupid," she added. "Do you think he's telling the truth about Adam being forced out?"

Frank shrugged, "I don't know, but I think we should call the prison."

"Yeah," Nancy agreed as she pulled out her cell phone. Nancy listened to the phone ringing on the other end. What is going on? Who is doing all this? How do I stop them?

"Hello, this is the Illinois State Correctional Facility, how may I direct your call," a very bored secretary interrupted Nancy's thoughts.

"US Marshal Nancy Drew; I need to speak with the director," Nancy told her.

"Please hold," the bored secretary replied.

A few long seconds later the director of the prison picked up, "Deputy Drew, how may I help you?" he said with a surprisingly happy note in his voice for a man who had just lost three men.

"I met a Illinois State Trooper along the side of the highway. He told me you had three prisoners escape, including Adam McDermott. I want to know why I wasn't notified," Nancy complained.

"I'm sorry, Nancy, you should have been notified, it's right here in the file."

"Deputy Drew," she reminded him before continuing, "Is it true you think McDermott was forced out by the other two men?"

"Yes, it is. Are you on your way over, Nancy?" he inquired.

Nancy remembered the last time she had been to the prison. Ted Combs, the director, was probably the only man who could creep Nancy out. Most women who visited the prison agreed wholeheartedly with Nancy's assessment of Combs. He was worse than the men behind bars.

The way he looked at me, she thought. Glancing over at Frank, she knew he knew what was going through her head. At the slight shake of Frank's head, Nancy replied, "No I won't be stopping by. I will need you to keep me informed, Mr. Combs."

"Of course, Nancy." Ted Combs was met by silence as Nancy hung up.

"So, it's true Nancy?" Frank questioned.

"Yep. There's no reason to go to the prison now. So, we should probably head to the safe house," Nancy said.

"Okay," Frank agreed. "Maybe we could play a game of chess tonight. Relax."

"That sounds good," agreed Nancy. "Did Joe say he was going to cook?"

-NDHB-

When George walked into the safe house with Ross she noticed how, although Bess and Joe shared a sofa, they as sat far from each other r as possible. Adding in the look on Joe's face, she deduced Bess had told him. He obviously isn't taking it well, she thought. "Joe! Hey! You know it's weird; I haven't seen you in a while, considering you're dating my cousin." Uh-oh, not a good thing to remind him.

"Uh…" Joe said.

"George," Bess chirped, "do you want to help me with dinner?"

"Sure," George agreed and followed Bess into the kitchen. The door swung shut behind them. "So Joe didn't take it too well?"

Tears welled up in Bess's eyes, "No. God, George, what am I going to do? I can't do this by myself! I can't take care of a baby!"

"I'm sure it will work out, Bess. It usually does. Nancy and I are going to be here. And I'm sure Joe will come around. You'll see, Bess," George reassured Bess.

"Hey, Bess," Nancy said, coming in. "You told Joe?"

"Oh, God!" cried Bess.

"I'm sorry, Bess. It will be okay," Nancy apologized, rushing over to hug her.

"What if I can't do this? What if I can't take care of a baby?" worried Bess.

"You'll be a great mom, Bess," George assured her, "and Nan and I will be the best aunts/godmothers ever. We'll be here to help"

-NDHB-

In the living room Joe still sat on the couch; back straight, eyes forward. To Frank and Ross he looked shocked. And he was. How can Bess be pregnant? Joe thought, Maybe this is a test? A joke?

"Joe, what's wrong," Frank's voice pulled Joe from his troubling thoughts.

"It's nothing," Joe tried to assure Frank.

Frank glanced over at Ross, who got the message and disappeared into the kitchen to help the girls and give the brothers time alone. "Joe, I'm not stupid. Tell me what's going on," he demanded.

"Bess is pregnant," Joe simply stated.

"What! How did that happen…I mean," he interrupted himself, "I know how it happened. Didn't you guys use protection?"

"We did. Most of the time. God, what am I going to do?" Joe asked. "I can't have a baby!"

Frank sighed. He always has to be the levelheaded brother. "What did Bess want you to do?"

"Be there," he answered simply.

-NDHB-

After a dinner of barbeque chicken, baked beans, and potato salad. Bess cleaned the dinner dishes in the kitchen. "Bess, I don't think we should get married," Joe said appearing in the doorway.

Bess let the dish drop into the sink, "Joe I never said we need to get married. I just want you to be here for me. And for the baby."

"Okay," he accepted.

"Really! Thank you!" She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her head in his chest.

-NDHB-

Frank sat across from Nancy as they played a very intense game of chess. He noticed how she used only one arm to move the pieces. It happened to be the arm that hadn't been shot. "How's your arm, Nan?" he asked, concerned.

"Its fine, Frank." I know what's coming. Frank knows me too well. Why does he have to be so observant? she thought.

Frank narrowed his eyes, "You're not using that arm, Nan. Are you sure…"

"Frank," her voice was sharp, "my arm hurts. Okay? I was shot; it's going to hurt. But, I have to deal with that, now don't I."

"Nan…"

She laid a hand over his, "I'm sorry. This case is getting to me."

"Well, it has been four days and all we know is Adam McDermott was framed by some person who wants us dead and is connected to organized crime," Frank responded.

"Who is this guy?" Nancy wondered.

Frank was stopped from replying as the phone rang. Frank reached over and put it on speaker. "Hello," he answered.

"It's Yulia," the caller identified herself. "Sorry to call so late, but I got a big break in the case. You know that hair I pulled off Jane's clothes? I got a match. She's a sergeant in the army. I asked them to send me the file. Anyhow, her name is Callie Shaw; she lives at 220 Park Drive in River Heights," Yulia explained. "Okay, I have to go."

"Frank?"' Nancy hesitantly asked if he was okay.

"Well, that's interesting," was his only response.

-NDHB-

Ned looked down the table at all his men and women. He had come a long way in a short time.

And his ex-girlfriend was about to ruin it all.

And Sophia was attached to his arm.

Oh well, she would be good at killing off Nancy. The plan was going to pull through.

With the meeting over Callie was free to talk to Ned, "Sir, I may have made a mistake. I think I left a hair at Jane's crime scene."

-NDHB-

Edited: 27 December 2008…ladybug1115