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

-NDHB-

Traffic was slowly moving out of Vegas. Michaela fell asleep as soon as Nancy secured her in the car seat. "Do you really think we should send Joe to talk to Melinda?" Nancy asked.

"Kip'll be there. I'm hoping to shake her up. If Ross was poisoned, it's because Melinda thought she was killing Joe," Frank replied. "When did you realize my brother had married Bess?"

Nancy laughed, "When I saw the ring at the hospital. So, you think Melinda is responsible?"

"She's defiantly at the top of my list. She'd have records through the insurance company. The type that have things like if there is a security system: means. And money is always a motive," Frank explained. "We just need opportunity."

"Well she would have the address through the insurance records. If she watched the house," Nancy walked through it, "even for a day, she could see the schedule. It wouldn't be that hard to show up in the middle of the night. None of the victims had a security system."

"Nan, you might be heading toward Melinda getting lucky. I though you were against luck," Frank joked.

"Well, hopefully we're luckier," Nancy stated. "Bess and Joe. I think it's a good thing. They always seemed perfect for each other," Nancy changed the subject. And Bess would say the same thing about us. Could she be right? Are Frank and I perfect for each other?

"I always thought so too. They were both outrageous flirts though," Frank commented thinking, Joe always said you and I would end up together first. Well, he was wrong about that. Maybe it will be our turn after Joe and Bess.

Frank looked at Nancy, who had taken out a pen and paper and was writing. She was drumming her fingers along the armrest unconsciously. The ring she wore for the assignment caught the light every once in a while. It was a nice ring. Not the ring I would give Nancy. It's too flashy for a US Marshal. Frank didn't give a second thought to reaching over and grabbing her tapping hand.

Nancy felt Frank's hand close over hers. Without thinking, she turned her hand over and linked their fingers. All too suddenly, she became aware of what she had done. Nancy kept her face blank. It feels so right to just hold his hand. I wasn't thinking. Nancy quickly decided she would just continue holding his hand as she scribbled down their ideas on the case.

Nancy had always been a more visual learner. She could see the connections if they were on paper. And, surprisingly, Frank's warm, strong hand in hers wasn't distracting but incredibly helpful.

Frank first became aware he had taken Nancy's hand when her hand turned to hold his. He couldn't tell if she was even aware of what she was doing. But, why would she complain? As long as I'm not distracting her from her notes there is no problem. I should hold her hand more often; it's very relaxing. Frank didn't let Nancy's hand go until he parked in the garage.

Nancy led the way into the kitchen. Frank followed with Michaela. Nancy paused in the middle of the kitchen: she could tell something was wrong.

Frank sensed it behind her and helpfully pulled her weapon for her. He handed it to Nancy, gesturing for her to be careful. Frank then walked to the panic room-a door that was made to look like it lead to a basement except people in Vegas don't usually have basements-and laid Michaela down on the bed.

Nancy followed Frank breaking off at the staircase to clear the upstairs. She carefully checked and cleared each room, noting how barely anything was disturbed. Something's wrong. Someone's been here I can feel it, she thought heading back down the stairs.

Nancy met Frank, who had drawn his own gun, at the bottom of the staircase. Both noticed the all clear look in each others eyes.

-NDHB-

Minutes before, Melinda heard the garage door open. She had frozen for only a split second; then scurried to the nearest window. She knew she couldn't go down the stairs because they led to the kitchen. Melinda knew her only option was to climb out of a window. So, out she went.

-NDHB-

Nancy and Frank slipped back into the panic room, Nancy with a bottle for Michaela. Frank pulled up the security footage file.

The footage was displayed on three screens, one for each door. Frank knew they would be there forever if he didn't, so he fast-forwarded until when they left. It was only seventeen minutes later when they saw a figure at the back door.

Nancy hit the FF button this time. "Whoa, pause and zoom in," she commanded, burping Michaela. "I think we caught our intruder."

"Yeah. Think we're looking at Melinda Thackerson?" Frank questioned.

Nancy shrugged, "Why don't we pull Melinda's DMV photo up and compare?"

Frank just rolled his eyes, his expression clearly saying, Duh! Frank pulled up her lovely license picture, because those are always the best pictures to use. "Well. Ms. Melinda Thackerson is about to learn about the FBI's wonderful interrogation techniques. I'll call."

Nancy stared at the pictures. "Don't forget to mention the possible poisoning," she added.

Frank quickly made the call then came to sit beside Nancy. "Are you okay, Nan?"

"I'm fine. Joe and Bess should be back at the hotel. We should call them," she said.

"Yeah. Hey, we forgot to congratulate them on their marriage."

-NDHB-

Joe walked into the hotel room just as his cell started to ring. Bess came in behind him and locked the door. She then collapsed on the bed from exhaustion. "Hardy," Joe said into the phone.

"Joe, Frank and Nancy. Melinda will be spending the night in lockup for breaking and entering," Frank said on the pother end. "We caught her on our surveillance system."

"So, no need to try to talk to her tomorrow?" Joe clarified.

"That's right. Congratulations, by the way," Nancy said.

"Uh…thanks. What for?"

Nancy and Frank both laughed on their end. "Your marriage, brother. Though I would have appreciated an invitation," Frank answered.

Joe, surprised, just snapped his phone closed. "Frank and Nancy know we're married," he told Bess.

"Oh, well. That's fine," Bess placed her hands on the slight swell of her stomach, "we would have had to let them know eventually."

-NDHB-

Nancy and Frank celebrated the successful, albeit uneventful, closure of a string of kidnappings in the Vegas area.

Michaela was back at the group home Bess and Joe had flown back yesterday. George would fly home with Ross's body in a few days. Nancy and Frank will leave at 1700 (5:00 PM) tomorrow. They had to fly commercial.

Melinda was in a maximum-security lockup. And, Kip had decided to visit Chicago for a few days. He felt somewhat responsible for Ross's death and wanted to pay his respects.

But, now was a time for celebration.

Nancy and Frank were celebrating with a competition, a little too much. What with the many shot glasses and empty beer bottles, it was a miracle they were still breathing and not dead from alcohol poisoning.

When the passed the Grand Hotel's chapel, was when they had their biggest problem.

-NDHB-

Edited: 27 December 2008…ladybug1115