A US Marshal, an FBI Agent, and a Private Investigator: Chapter One

Author's Note: Long title, no?

Disclaimer: The author of this story (me) does not own the respective characters. She intends no copyright infringement.

-NDHB-

Frank sat down beside Nancy on her couch. Nancy was still sore and Frank could clearly see it. In the last week they had spent every waking second together. Bess had moved in with Joe, so Frank didn't feel comfortable there. He had accepted Nancy's offer of a room.

The only condition was he did the housework. Frank didn't really care; Nan couldn't do anything herself at the moment and it was only supposed to be for a week. Right now, Nancy was taking over some of the chores and they had worked out the perfect schedule. It felt so right to Frank. He realized he wanted this to go on forever.

Nancy had been watching Frank as he selected a book. For the last week things had worked perfectly, better than they had when she lived alone. I want him to stay. "Good morning, Frank," she greeted him.

"Hey," he replied, handing her a cup of coffee.

Passing him the French toast, she spoke again, "When do you leave?"

"I have a twelve o'clock flight," he answered. Frank quickly decided it was as good as any time to broach the subject. "There's actually a position here I was thinking of taking. I'd supervise a team. You think I could handle it?"

"You can handle Joe; you can handle anybody," she joked.

"Would you mind a houseguest for a few more days?" he asked somewhat tentatively.

"Frank," Nancy stated, "I do have an extra room. You can have it." Nancy understood how he couldn't ask her to move in. That would be weird.

He grinned, "Thanks. How much is rent?"

"Frank, you…" she was silenced as his finger pressed against her lips.

"Nan, I'm not staying here unless I can help out."

-NDHB-

Bess watched Joe with her hand loosely held over her stomach. I can't believe I'm having his baby! Joe and I are strong; we can pull through this. Bess was glad Joe had asked her to move in.

At this moment, Joe was antsy. He needed a case. He needed something to do other than sit around his office all day. "Bess, what room will the baby have?" he asked.

"I don't know. I was thinking the one across from ours. Why?"

"I'm bored," he answered, "come on." Joe grabbed Bess's hand and pulled her up the stairs. "How should we makeover this room?"

"Joe, don't you think…" Bess started. It was too early in the pregnancy to be decorating the room.

"I'm bored. I need a project. Please," he said, giving her the most irresistible puppy-dog eyes.

"Okay, I've been thinking about it anyway." Bess moved to show him her ideas.

-NDHB-

The heat was becoming suffocating. But, the pay-off would be worth it. After all, the parents were loaded.

The young woman had done her research. She had picked babies because she loved them and they were less suspicious. They were easier to deal with. She made sure the parents had access to over one-million dollars; she didn't want them to be poor when she asked for their money. She had generated an untraceable account for them to pace the money in. She would transfer the money from there.

She could get away with it.

It was the perfect plan.

-NDHB-

Frank looked around his new office. I have an office! I live with Nancy, and I have my own office, Frank thought. He had flown back to New York two days ago. He had then ordered movers, packed up, and drove in to Chicago. He had moved in with Nancy.

Frank watched as one of the agents under his command wondered into his office. "Sir," she said, "new case."

Frank picked up the file she had thrown on his desk and said a quick, "Thanks."

At the same time, one block down the street, Nancy Drew was handed a file by her boss.

"The FBI will fly you out to Vegas with their agent. I think they put a supervisor with you. You'll set up at a very nice house to play pretend until we catch this guy," he explained.

"Yes, sir," replied Drew.

"Get ready to go." That said, Nancy walked toward her desk.

I need to call Frank and let him know I won't be back tonight. I should call Bess too. When Nancy finished this thought her cell started to play "Bring on the Day". She pulled it out to see Frank Hardy displayed on the screen. "Hey, Frank, I was just about to call you," she answered.

"Really, well, I needed to let you know I won't…"

As he was saying this, the light in Nancy's head clicked on, "…be home tonight," she finished. "So, I guess I'll see you in thirty…"

Now, Frank's own light bulb switched on and he was able to finish, "…minutes at the airstrip?"

"Well, this should be interesting, Hardy. I have to go," Nancy said.

"'Bye," Frank replied to be met with silence.

-NDHB-

Bess looked up from her psychological case notes to watch Joe walk through the door. "What's wrong?" she questioned, her psychiatrist mask slipping on.

"I have a new case."

"Well, that's great! You've been driving me insane here all day," Bess said, relaxing.

"It's in Vegas," Joe deadpanned.

Bess kept a smile on her face, "Oh, that's not too bad. Anything you can discuss?"

"Not right now. I leave today at three. I'll call you when I get in?" he asked.

"Yeah," Bess pulled herself from the chair, "I'll help you pack." The second Bess reached their bedroom the phone rang. "Hello," she greeted.

"Bess, Nancy. I'm going to Vegas on a case. I don't know when I'll be back and I was wondering…would you mind watering my plants and getting my mail?" Nancy stated on the other end.

"No, I don't mind. Joe has a case in Las Vegas too," Bess admitted. "Watch him while you're there?"

"I will. Frank will do a better job, though," predicted Nancy.

Bess latched onto that, "Frank's going?"

"We're living together," Nancy disclosed.

"Here or there," Bess demanded.

Laughing, Nancy replied, "Both. Bye, Bess."

Bess looked up from the conversation to see Joe blatantly staring. "Your brother and Nancy live together."

"You're kidding," Joe exclaimed.

"No. They have a case in Vegas too," she added.

-NDHB-

Nancy walked onto the FBI's only private jet. She had just finished her call to Bess. in Vegas on a case worried Nancy. These people were rich enough to afford a private investigator. If the kidnapper found out…No, I won't go there. It'll work out. We'll get the babies back, Nancy thought.

Frank watched Nancy walk onto the plane. He smiled uncontrollably. "Hey. What's up?" he asked, noticing the look on her face.

"Joe has a case in Vegas too," she told him. "My gut says these parents hired Joe as a PI."

Frank clarified, "You don't believe in coincidence."

"You know me too well, Hardy," she joked. But it was the truth. They could read each other like a book. "So, you know what's going on yet?"

"Not every detail. I was told…" Frank didn't finish as another agent walked on.

"Hey, I'm Agent DeLauro. Information," she said handing them each a file and walking off. Nancy and Frank glanced at each other and bent to read their file.

The file in question gave their basic "life" to them. That is, it told them how they had to act. Being two entirely different people, they noticed different things. There was thing that caught both people's attention. They reached the part at the same time and uneasily peeked at each other over the folders. "I guess it makes sense. It being a set-up and all," Nancy stated.

"Yeah, it makes sense." Frank looked back at the paper. "A child will be fostered with you as bait" he reread Nan and I have to take care of a baby. I wonder what our…no, don't go there.

Nancy watched Frank: he seemed okay with the surprise. It won't be that bad. It's not like I haven't taken care of children before. I wonder what our…no, don't go there. Nancy looked up to see Agent DeLauro standing in the doorway to the cockpit.

"Mr. and Mrs. Olson? Have you read the files?" she began and at their nod, continued. "Then there is some information that might not have been clear. It is not a secret that you are fostering the little girl. Nancy was diagnosed with an ovulatory disorder-that causes infertility-and neither or you wanted to go through trying drugs and invetro. You decided to foster children. You're a happy, extremely wealthy family. Lawyer and pediatrician. Frank and Nancy Olson. We'll land in an hour," she turned on her spiky heel and marched back into the cockpit.

"Well that's ironic," Nancy finally spoke, "I get infertility in both lives."

Frank asked, "Nan, so you think we can handle this?"

-NDHB-

Edited: 27 December 2008…ladybug1115