A US Marshal and FBI Supermystery: Chapter Six

-NDHB-

"What! How could you be so stupid?" Ned exclaimed. If they know about her, it's only a matter of time before they…God, they're going to find me. "Get them. Use Sophia. I want to see them."

"Sir, what are you considering?" Callie asked, concern rising in her voice.

"I'm going to kill them, personally."

-NDBH-

Joe and Bess heard the phone ring and went to find out what was going on. "What's going on," Bess asked.

"Well," Nancy started, watching everyone gather, "Yulia from the forensics department called. A hair at the crime scene matched Callie's DNA. Yulia's pulling her military file as we speak."

"Callie? As in Frank's ex-girlfriend?" Joe questioned

"Yes, Callie, as in my ex-girlfriend," Frank answered.

"Are you okay with this, Frank? I mean…God!" George asked, plopping down on the stairs by Ross who immediately placed his arm around her shoulders.

Bess placed herself beside Joe in the chair that matched his exactly. Nancy moved next to Frank on the love seat.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Frank replied. "We need to find out who she's working for. Callie doesn't have the connections to do this by herself." At that moment, Frank's silent hopes for help were answered as the fax machine announced and incoming fax.

Joe stood up and walked over.

Joe examined the documents coming out of the machine. "It's Callie's records from the army," he announced, picking up the entire twenty pages. "Oh…I want to be in charge of her psych evaluations." This should be interesting.

"Split it up evenly, Joe," Nancy said, clearly not in the mood for jokes.

"Yeah, Joe, just hand them out," George agreed.

Joe cut the stack into six sections and handed them out. Everyone in the room focused on the reading material. There was not much for them to read: about three pages each.

-NDHB-

Sophia stared at Callie. "You want me to help you kidnap them," she said with disgust.

"Look, you know all the hide-outs; where are they?" Callie demanded. I need help in this. Ned trusts me to clean my mess up. What will I do if I can't? I need to this brainless sociopath's help.

"Fine, but I want to know why Ned is so upset by this detective wannabe."

Callie thought for a few minutes, then gave up and answered, "Ned used to date Nancy. Nancy was always this 'detective wannabe' and when she met Frank, sure it was before Ned but…

The sun was shining, but none of the young people in the warehouse could see it. Callie was standing behind a twelve year-old Frank Hardy. They-meaning Callie, Frank, and Joe-were there looking for clues to solve the latest mystery. Across the building, a similar case had brought Nancy Drew and her best friends to the warehouse. As the young children continued to snoop, Nancy and Frank received a feeling that someone else was there. While looking behind some crates, Callie's ear-piercing screech caught Frank's attention. Joe and Frank met up with her staring into the eyes of three other girls about their age…

…well; Ned always felt Frank was trying to take Nancy. He wasn't, of course, he had me. They split up when Nancy went to college. Ned was still in love with her. He's scared because Nancy always solves her cases."

"She has to have lost some," Sophia said, showing the green monster of jealousy. "It's not humanly possible to solve every mystery."

"Well, Frank and Joe solved everything too. And when they got together…they were the best; probably still are," replied Callie.

-NDHB-

"I may have something you guys," Nancy spoke up. Everyone's heads slowly came out of their papers.

"Who?" Frank's voice rang out sharply.

"Sergeant Ned Nickerson. He worked with her for four years before he retired. Was forced to retire. The army, apparently, didn't want to waste money on a court-marshal."

"Ned?" Bess questioned, "Wow, getting you guys back aren't they?"

Joe hopped out of his seat. "I'll go call Yulia and request his file be sent over. You really think Ned is our guy?"

"Yeah," Nancy explained, "he has the connections to start this."

Joe finished his call and stepped back into the room. "Yulia said she'd pull a few strings and get his file to us in the morning." Joe was interrupted by a big yawn, "Now, I'm going to bed." Bess took the hand he offered her and they practically floated up the stairs. Ross threw a look at George then they too said their goodnights to Frank and Nancy.

Before Frank or Nancy could say their goodnights, the front door burst open and gunfire erupted.

Frank hit Nancy and they both tumbled to the ground. The gas was released. Upstairs, Joe had pulled his weapon out of the holster after telling Bess to stay hidden. George and Ross had grabbed clothing and slipped in with Joe. The gas crept silently up the stairs. They didn't even see it coming.

-NDHB-

Ned stood behind the glass. He enjoyed watching Nancy sleep, even if it was courtesy of him. Ned peered in on her as she slowly woke from the forced slumber. I have to talk to her. What do I say to her? I wish Frank had never gotten in my way. Callie can defend him all she wants; he stole my Nancy. Sophia joined him at that exact moment.

"Sir, can I finish out the hit?" she asked. "They don't need to be kept alive."

"I want to talk to her. Start with George's fiancé; keep Frank alive. As a matter of fact," he paused, considering, before he finished, "move him in with Nancy." He's in love with her, as much as I hate it.

Nancy was aware of the pain. Her head was killing her. The very next thing she noticed was the feeling of someone watching her. She slowly glanced around. The mirror. It wasn't real. Ned was behind it. My head; it feels so heavy.

An hour later, Nancy awoke again. This time she wasn't alone. Frank was sitting beside her. Her head rested in his lap.

"Hey, Nan," he whispered.

She blinked at him a few times then tried to say hi. She could barley get her voice to work. Her head hurt. I don't want to move, I just want to lie like this forever. But, Nancy knew she had to move. Regaining her voice she spoke again, "Ned's here."

Frank looked down at her. Nancy couldn't bring herself to move the aforementioned head off his lap. Frank didn't know why or how it got there but his hand was gently combing Nancy's long hair. "Did you see him?" he asked.

"No, but I can feel it. He's here."

Frank trusted Nancy's instincts. "Is it possible he's obsessed with you?"

"I don't know," she said. Frank looked at her again. She had a headache. He was startled when her eyes opened and she continued. "Where is everyone else?"

"Another room. I was with them until Sophia came in." Frank explained, "She took me here, said her boss wanted to have some fun. Nan, Ned is sick and possibly a little crazy."

Per usual, her thoughts followed his exactly. She knew what he thought would happen. She agreed and that's what scared her. Looking up at Frank she could tell he was just as worried. "It'll be okay, Frank."

"Nan…" he started; then when nothing else came out he bent in half and met his lips to hers. The door flew open. Ned stepped in. Frank wanted to jump in front of Nancy and guard her body with his; he knew he couldn't.

Ned advanced on Nancy and Frank unknowingly placed himself in front of her. "Ah…Frank. This entire thing here is for your entertainment. You see I have never been able to get over you stealing my Nancy from me. No don't start with the whole 'I didn't steal her' thing; I get enough of that from Callie. You did, and you Nancy went willingly, for that you must be punished."

Frank could feel Nancy trembling behind him. Sure he had seen Nancy scared, but not so much that she would hide behind a man; would tremble.

Frank couldn't stand the thought of him hurting her. If he does anything to her, I swear to God, I will kill the bastard! Reaching his hand back to Nancy Frank demanded "What do you want, Ned."

Frank felt Nancy grab his hand as though he were a lifeline. Right now he probably was.

"I just want to have a little fun with Nancy. You need to move now, Frank," now Ned was the one making demands.

"I'm not going anywhere," Frank asserted, squeezing Nancy's hand.

"I don't have time right now to argue," Ned said, producing a gun.

Nancy saw the gun and all she could think about was Ned shooting Frank. Nancy couldn't lose Frank. So, she worked up her courage, "What do you want, Ned?"

"Ah…so you're done hiding. You would never hide behind me. Well, that's in the past. And, to answer your question, I think you know what I want, my dear." Nancy hated what he was doing with his eyes, but that wasn't her biggest problem.

Frank was praying. Praying harder than he ever had; ever would. And his prays were answered as Joe and the rest of the gang burst in. "Ned put down the gun," Joe said. "We called the cops they're on their way. If they find you holding us here it will only be worse." Now Joe pulled his borrowed weapon on Ned.

They heard sirens in the distance. Seeing his plan falling to pieces, Ned took aim at Nancy and fired. That was the only way left to get back at Frank and hurt Nancy in the process.

-NDHB-

It was only a week later that Nancy was released from the hospital, everyone was there to take her home.

Right now George and Bess helped her pack everything up. "So, Nan, any plans on your time off from work? I hear Frank's boss gave him a few days off," Bess teased.

Little did Bess know, Nancy would be spending time with Frank this week.

-NDHB-

Edited: 27 December 2008…ladybug1115