A/N: Thanks so much Caranath, max2013, Lady Emily, zenfrodo, Jackie, Stork Hardy, ILoveMom, Guest, bhar, Vinsmouse and Leya for reviewing! You're the best! Time for some revelations...and maybe an answer to one case. ;) Thanks to those reading!

Chapter 12

The next day, Nancy and Emily were poring over documents in the monastery library with Guillaume assisting them by retrieving books and articles from the shelves and files.

"Okay, so what's this about a fire?" Nancy asked. "My French just isn't that great."

Emily leaned over to the book Nancy was reading. "Um, this is talking about the first chapel that the Madonna statue and the monstrance were in. It was almost destroyed by a fire in the thirteen hundreds."

"And they survived?"

Emily continued reading. "Yes. And the church members considered that to be a miracle. The monstrance had been removed earlier that day, taken by the priest who was saying Mass in a neighboring village. The statue remained in the chapel and the fire left her quite charred, but the local population didn't want anything about her changed or restored. They wanted to remember what they felt was a miracle."

"But the church suffered a lot of damage. Is that why they brought the statue here?"

"I don't know," Emily replied. "This article doesn't explain how or why the statue got here. I need to do more research on that angle."

Nancy nodded, and looked up as the library doors flew open. Bess stood there, waving an envelope, an excited grin on her face. "Guess what?"

"Um, you just met a celebrity? A hunky, male celebrity?" Nancy offered.

"No. Unfortunately." Bess pulled a thick piece of vellum paper out of the envelope. "But this is just as good, because I think it will lead to that. The famous annual Winter Ball of St. Sylvie."

"The what?" Nancy asked, only half listening to her friend as she flipped through another voluminous tome on church history.

"A ball. A dance. Fancy dresses. Handsome men." Bess stood at the table, opposite Nancy and Emily.

"A pumpkin. Four white mice. A fairy godmother. A glass slipper," Nancy said with a smile as she looked up at her. "We all know the story, Bess."

Bess slapped the invitation on the table and tapped it dramatically with her index finger. "The St. Sylvie Winter Ball. It's this weekend, and I think we should go."

Emily picked up the invitation and read it. "Bess, we need dates for this."

Bess waved her hand. "Minor detail."

"Really?" Nancy asked. "In case you've forgotten, Frank and Joe are working undercover here."

"So? Go with Marco and Matteo." Bess gave them a sly grin. "Lars has already asked me, and he mentioned that the two hunky Italian men would be interested in accompanying both of you."

"I wouldn't be comfortable doing that," Emily said.

"Then go with him." Bess pointed to Guillaume, who looked up questioningly.

"Oh yeah, that'll work." Emily giggled. "Me in an evening gown. Him in his monk robes."

"Well, Joe couldn't possibly object to that," Bess pointed out.

"Wanna bet?" Emily said.

Bess perched on the edge of the table, a gleam in her eye. "Fine. I just thought that maybe you two would want to make an appearance...seeing as Joe and Frank are going to be there. With dates. That aren't you."

Nancy was startled. And felt a twinge of something very similar to jealousy. But how could that be? She wasn't the jealous type. She was calm, rational and understanding. Especially where detective work was concerned. And Frank was on assignment. So clearly, she wasn't jealous.

"How do you know they're going?"

"Overheard the bratty princesses in the lobby squealing about it." She smiled in Nancy's direction. "Oh, and Frank has two dates. Both of Kathy's little friends are taking him as their escort."

Nancy's eyes widened. Okay, now that was a bit much. Two dates? She definitely wasn't jealous though. Just curious.

"Yeah," Bess said. "So, if you want to kind of keep an eye on Frank and Joe, and check out the little teeny boppers hanging all over them..."

"Fine," Nancy said. "Get us dates. As long as they understand that we're only going as friends. Otherwise, no deal."

Bess waved her hand through the air. "No problem. Besides, this might help you with your case. Everyone who's anyone in this town will be there. Maybe you can pick up a clue about the monastery."

"That's true," Nancy agreed. "I'll ask Father Bertrand who might be worth talking to."

Bess clapped her hands together. "Now, it's time to shop for ball gowns. I'll pick up something for you two as well. Just leave it all to me," she crooned in a sing-song voice.

"That's kind of what I'm afraid of," Emily said, as Bess skipped through the library doors.

OOOoooOOO

Joe attempted again to get his bowtie to look right, then undid it and threw it on the dresser. "I hate these things."

Frank chuckled. "Here, I'll do it." He put it under Joe's collar and deftly tied it. "There. Now leave it alone or you'll mess it up."

Joe tugged at his collar. "I don't see why we have to go to this stupid dance anyway."

"Because your girlfriend wants to," Frank explained as he slid on his tuxedo jacket. "And her father is paying us big bucks to watch her."

"She's not my girlfriend. My girlfriend is three floors down trying to work on some case with Nancy, which I don't like, and having to pretend I don't exist."

Joe sat on the bed, grabbed his shoes and jammed his feet into them. He had reached his limit, and it was going to take every ounce of charm and skill he had to pull off this assignment. Knowing Emily was here and that she was working with Nancy on a case was driving him crazy. Nancy had gotten Emily into some serious situations in the past that Joe still hadn't completely recovered from, and while he knew Nancy had definitely learned her lesson, he was under no delusions about the inherent dangers of detective work. Sometimes you just couldn't prevent bad stuff from happening, no matter how good or careful you were.

"Hey, I heard from Dad earlier," Frank said, changing the subject. "The agent checked out, and Dad also said that Senator Martin has three other agents here as well."

"Swell." Joe tied his shoelaces rapidly and stood, reaching for his tuxedo jacket. "So we really are just her babysitters."

Frank grinned. "Very well paid baby sitters." He slipped his wallet into his pants pocket. "And I don't care how many agents he has tailing her...we're going to be the ones to solve this case."

"Well, I don't know how, if we're always busy skiing, shopping or going to some damn ball," Joe replied, frustration evident in his voice.

"Dad said the senator seems to think the harassment is the result of some legislation he's trying to push through the senate at the moment," Frank explained. "He's gotten some threats at his office, and the feds seem to think that whoever is threatening Kathy is in D.C., not here."

"That doesn't make sense, Frank." Joe walked toward the bedroom door. "How do you explain the local phone calls, the notes, the ransacking? Unless this guy has figured out how teleportation works, he's not in D.C."

Frank grinned. "I didn't say it made sense, I said it was the government's theory."

"That explains it, then." Joe sighed and opened the bedroom door. "Okay, let's get this nightmare over with."

"Brace yourself for the mauling," Frank teased.

"Shut up," Joe responded, ignoring Frank's laughter as he stepped into the living room, Kathy's squeals already grating on his nerves.

"Oh, honey, you look so handsome!" Kathy ran to him and hugged him tightly.

"Thanks. You look very nice, too," Joe said.

He was trying. It was hard, but he wasn't going to blow his cover.

"We need a picture." She looked around. "Louis? Where are you?"

He moved from his position at the bar, taking the camera Kathy shoved at him.

"Oh goodie. Prom pictures." He snapped on the flash cube. "Too bad we don't have one of those gosh awful plastic arches or something for you to stand under. Make it look official."

"Just take the photo, please," Kathy ordered.

She and Joe stood by the fireplace. Kathy with an ear-splitting grin on her face and Joe with an expression slightly more pleasant than a grimace. Louis snapped several photos then gestured for Frank to take Joe's place with Tammy and Lauren at his side.

Frank posed willingly for a few silly shots, including one with both girls kissing him on either cheek, and then said, "We'd better get going if we don't want to be late."

Louis waved the camera and smirked at Frank and Joe. "I'll make sure to get plenty of copies of the prints for you. I've no doubt you'll want to frame them all."

OOOoooOOO

Emily held up the evening gown Bess has purchased for her the previous afternoon.

"What on earth is this made of?" she exclaimed, touching the filmy material. "Gauze?"

"It's diaphanous chiffon," Bess said. "Isn't it dreamy?"

"I can't wear this in public," Emily protested. "Good grief, you can see right through it."

"It's lined. No one will be able to see anything. I promise," Bess insisted. "This will look spectacular on you. Trust me. I know these things."

"She does," Nancy admitted. "The only reason I've ever looked decent at any formal event in my life is because Bess dressed me."

Emily was doubtful. The material seemed to be completely transparent, and she wasn't interested in making a spectacle out of herself or giving the entire room a free peep show, but maybe Bess really did know what she was doing.

"All right, I'll try it on."

Bess gave her a dimpled smile. "Don't worry Emily, you have an amazing figure. You will make jaws drop in that. Especially Joe's."

Nancy burst out laughing. "She'll be lucky if he doesn't fly across the room and throw a tablecloth over her."

Emily slipped the gown on and turned toward Bess. "Help zip me up, please."

"Oh my gosh, that is stunning!"

Bess stepped back and took in the silvery fabric that went from the halter neck at the top to the draping of her v-neck bodice, to a cinched in waist and a flowing skirt.

"It's gorgeous, Em," Nancy agreed.

Emily turned and surveyed herself in the full-length mirror attached to the bathroom door. The dress was incredible…and not transparent. It was flowing, ethereal and beautiful. The perfect gown for a winter ball.

"You are amazing, Bess. I never would have picked this off the rack. But I like it." She gave a half turn. "A lot."

Bess beamed as she helped Nancy tug up her gown. "It's nothing. I just love playing dress-up."

"Am I supposed to be able to breathe in this?" Nancy asked as Bess zipped up her strapless, form-fitting, taffeta gown.

"That's not important," Bess said as she turned her around.

"I beg to differ," Nancy protested.

"Look." Bess shoved her in the direction of the mirror.

Nancy's jaw went slack. "Is that really me?"

Bess had an ear to ear grin. "I just knew this indigo color would be perfect on you. It makes your eye color pop, and really goes with your hair."

"And wow, Nance, what a body," Emily said. "Frank won't be able to keep his eyes off you."

Emily watched as Nancy gazed thoughtfully at her reflection. The diagonal pleating of the fabric did put curves in all the right places on Nancy's athletic frame, and the slit up her thigh made her legs look a million miles long. Frank's jaw would be scraping the floor.

"Another gold star for you, Bess," Nancy said. "I love it."

Bess bowed dramatically, then moved a chair in front of the bathroom sink. "Okay, ladies, we're not finished. Time to do your hair."

OOOoooOOO

Joe glanced at his watch. "Isn't it time we got this show on the road?"

Louis had gone to the restaurant downstairs, so Kathy had snatched the camera to take photos with her girlfriends. Joe didn't think he could stand one more second of the giggling and squealing.

"Of course, honey. I know how you hate to be late." Kathy paused and glanced at her reflection in the mirror above the bar. "Oh my gosh, I forgot my earrings! I can't leave without those. They're the diamond ones Daddy got me for my eighteenth birthday."

Joe sighed heavily. "Fine, go put them on. I'll wait. But if you take more than five minutes, you'll have to go yourself." He really hoped he could hold her to that, but he knew it was just wishful thinking.

Kathy leaned in and kissed his cheek, while Joe tried hard not to flinch.

"I'll be back in two minutes," she said.

Frank nodded his head at Joe from the front door to the suite. "We'll meet you in the ballroom."

"Yeah, fine."

Joe flopped down on the couch and Kathy hurried back to her bedroom to get her earrings. He noticed her evening bag lying beside him.

Glancing back over his shoulder, he reached for it and peered inside. Two envelopes were tucked into a pocket in the lining, along with the tickets for tonight's ball. Carefully sliding one out, he noticed it wasn't sealed. He quickly removed the note card inside and read it. You'll never escape from me, Kathy. I'll find you anywhere.

Joe replaced the note and reached for the other envelope. It, too, was not sealed. He slipped out the card inside. I saw you at the ball tonight. Did you see me? You were the most beautiful woman in the room.

Fury began boiling up inside of Joe as he realized what was going on. He had been played. Kathy was her own damned stalker.

Joe carefully put her bag back where he had found it, then stood and moved over to the bar. He paced back and forth thinking. He had to have this right before he accused her of anything. Could someone else have put those notes in her purse hoping she'd find them tonight? That was a possibility. If he accused her now, that's certainly what she'd claim. He had no proof that she was behind any of this. He felt it in his gut though, and that feeling was never wrong.

Kathy's voice echoed from the bedroom interrupting his thoughts. "I'll be right there. I'm just putting the last earring in."

"Fine," Joe called to her.

He needed to talk to Frank about this. If his theory was right, then Kathy was never in any real danger. It also explained why he hadn't been able to uncover any legitimate clues in this case. There weren't any.

He shook his head. If Kathy was behind all this nonsense, then she had some serious mental problems. Problems he thought they might need to consult a professional about. He decided he'd better call his father and ask him to check with a psychiatrist on how to handle the whole thing. He wasn't sure that openly confronting her would be the best way to go.

Kathy strode into the room, beaming. "Okay, now I'm ready. Aren't the earrings beautiful? I'll bet you don't know too many girls like me who get two carat diamond studs for their birthday."

Joe watched as Kathy picked up her evening bag and searched through her purse. She would not be able to get the tickets to the ball without seeing the notes. If she said something, then maybe his theory was wrong. If she didn't, Joe knew for sure that she was behind this whole mess.

Kathy pulled the tickets from the side pocket with a smile on her face and no mention of the notes that Joe knew she'd just pushed aside. She was guilty as hell.

"No, Kathy, I can say for certain that I don't know any girls like you at all."

She strolled over to Joe, linked her arm through his and handed him the tickets to the dance and they left the suite. "And I doubt you ever will. I'm one of a kind."

Thank goodness for that, Joe thought as they left the suite.

When they arrived in the lobby, Joe spotted Frank outside of the ballroom, handing his tickets to the attendant at the door. Joe needed to talk to him before this shindig began. He turned to Kathy. "Why don't you let me have our tickets and I'll check us in."

Kathy pressed them into Joe's hand and called for Tammy and Lauren, who were already headed for the ballroom doors. "Let's go to the restroom first."

Perfect, Joe thought. Girls took forever when they went to the bathroom in a pack. That should give him just enough time to explain things to Frank. He hurried up to his brother. "I need to talk to you. Now."

Frank took his ticket stubs from the attendant. "One moment," he said with a smile, then looked at Joe. "What it is?"

Joe glanced at the attendant, then tugged on Frank's arm. "Not here."

They walked over to a corner of the lobby and Joe peered at the ladies' room door to make sure Kathy hadn't emerged yet. "I've solved the case."

"What?"

"Our case. I know who the stalker is, and you're never going to believe it."

Frank crossed his arms in front of him. "Try me."

"It's Kathy. She's behind all of this. When she went to get her earrings in the hotel room, I saw her purse on the couch and checked it out."

"And?"

"She put two notes from her so-called stalker in there. Both of them to be delivered tonight. One at the ball, and then one in the hotel room, based on what they said."

"How do you know she put them in there? Maybe someone else did and she just hadn't seen them before you left the room."

Joe shook his head. "No. They were tucked in a pocket with the tickets to the ball. I left them there to test that theory. If she didn't plant the notes herself, she would have seen them when she got the tickets and freaked out. She didn't. She's the stalker, Frank. This is just some kind of sick game she's playing."

Frank rubbed his hand over his chin. "Well, that explains a lot. But you know, Kathy would just deny everything if we accused her of writing those notes, and since we don't have the evidence in our possession, we don't even have any proof they exist. And accusing a very powerful senator's daughter of a crime without the evidence in hand would destroy our reputations in ten seconds flat."

"We have to set a trap," Joe said. And the sooner, the better. He was done with this nutcase chick.

"Yeah, but what kind of trap?" Frank asked. "It would help if we knew her motivation for doing this."

"Her glaring need to be the constant center of attention?"

"I think it's more than that, Joe. I think this is about you."

"Swell. So what you're really saying is that she's my stalker?"

Frank chuckled. "Interesting twist in the case, huh?"

Joe rolled his eyes, then stiffened as Kathy's shrill voice called to him from across the lobby.

"Honey! I'm ready to dance the night away!"

"And I'm ready to jump off a bridge," Joe muttered, as Frank laughed out loud.

"Try not to look like you're on your way to the guillotine," Frank said, as the girls hurried toward them. "You've solved it, Joe. It's almost over."

Then why do I feel like nothing could be further from the truth? Joe thought as Kathy flung her arms around his waist and dragged him through the ballroom door.