A/N: Thank you so much, Caranath, max2013, Lady Emily, zenfrodo, BurnedSpy, catlover1033, ILoveMom, Stork Hardy, bhar, Jackie, Vinsmouse, Future Animator, Guest, Guest, and Leya for your reviews! You're the best!The same goes for those reading!

Chapter 24

"Joe, wait," Frank called out. He eased himself into the hallway and down to the private elevator that served the penthouse floor.

Joe sighed and turned around. "What?"

"You know what." Frank limped toward him.

"You should probably swallow a handful of those pills, too," Joe said. "You look like hell."

"Thanks." Frank put his hand on his brother's shoulder. "I'm sorry. I know how hard that was."

Joe shook his head. "I can't take much more of this, Frank. Kathy is driving me nuts. I'm trying to be understanding. Clearly the girl has enough issues to keep her flat on a psychiatrist's couch for the next twenty years. But I've about had it."

He began pacing back and forth.

"Now, in addition to fighting Kathy off constantly, I need to be worried that every time Emily leaves this hotel, she'll end up hurt...or worse."

He turned back to Frank.

"And what the hell is up with 'Friar Tuck' in there? He was all over my girlfriend! What kind of religious order allows you to openly leer at a woman's breasts? He's lucky he's still conscious." Joe jabbed Frank in the chest with his finger. "In fact, I want you to go back in there right now and throw him out the door on his ass. Or I will."

Frank grabbed Joe's hand. "I'm sorry about that. It seems as though Guillaume has a bit of a…crush…on Emily."

"Well, isn't that just the cherry on the sundae?" Joe snorted, throwing his hands in the air. "I can't believe how messed up everything is. We have two cases that are floundering. Some idiot is trying to kill our girlfriends. And we can't do anything about that until we solve the first case we're being paid to work on. Also, I'm getting damn sick and tired of pretending to be in love with someone I can hardly stand to be in the same room with." Joe looked at Frank. "Do I really need to keep up this charade?"

"I think you do," Frank said. "Those were the conditions we were hired under. You play her boyfriend. The easiest way to keep an eye on her."

"Yeah, but why can't her friends and Simone know that I'm not? What difference does it make, really?"

"Kathy isn't doing this alone, Joe. You and I both know that. So for now, I think this is one game we have to keep playing. Until we find out who's doing all her dirty work for her."

"Fine," Joe said angrily. "I'm headed back to that restaurant to pretend to solve this case some more."

"Want some help?"

"No. You need to rest. Go get some sleep," Joe ordered, stepping into the elevator car.

"Yes, sir." Frank grinned. "Be careful. Emily will want you back in one piece."

Joe waved his hand dismissively as the elevator doors closed.

OOOoooOOO

Joe burst through the door of the restaurant he and Kathy had dined in earlier and scanned the crowd at the bar. The federal agent assigned to Kathy waved him over. Joe took the barstool next to him.

"She saw me, huh?" the agent asked, handing Joe the scarf Kathy had left behind earlier.

"Yeah," Joe replied.

"Good."

The agent motioned for the bartender who came over and stood in front of them.

"What can I get you, monsieur?" he asked Joe.

"I'll have a beer." He sighed deeply as the bartender nodded and stepped away. "I can definitely use one."

The agent grinned. "Yeah, I don't envy you one bit. Nobody in the bureau wants to get assigned to 'Kathy Martin detail.'"

"Well, hopefully we can wrap this mess up soon."

Joe smiled his thanks as the bartender handed him a full glass of the amber fluid.

"You think seeing me threw her off?" the agent asked, popping a handful of pretzels in his mouth.

"Definitely. I think she was even a little scared. Like someone might really be after her." Joe took a sip of his drink. "At the very least she'll think my brother and I are on the wrong trail."

"That'll make her careless."

"If we're lucky." Joe took a larger swallow of beer. "We just need to find some proof she's involved in this."

The agent nodded. "Wish I could help you with that."

"Me, too." Joe shook his head. "I can't handle much more of her. I'm going to have Frank work on it tomorrow while I take her skiing or something."

"Yeah, I'd appreciate it if you could wrap this up, too," the agent said with a grin. "I'd like to get some serious skiing in myself before I head home."

"I'll do my best," Joe said dryly, as he finished off his beer.

OOOoooOOO

Frank awoke from his drug induced sleep the next morning feeling very foggy. He lay there for a moment with his eyes closed, trying to recollect the events of the previous twenty-four hours. Oh, yeah, the marble statue. That would explain the searing pain in his hip and thigh, as well as the agonizing stiffness. He tried to move and grimaced.

He felt a weight lying across his stomach. Hmmm, what's this? Did the ice bag slip? He reached out with his hand to touch it. It was an arm. He slid his hand up further. And it was attached to a woman. He moved his hand a bit more. A woman in a tiny pair of panties and a tight tank top.

Frank's eyes flew open and he saw Nancy cuddled into him. He wondered exactly what had happened. Because he couldn't remember much of anything after he'd swallowed those pain pills. He grinned. Hopefully she'd taken advantage of him.

He reached over and brushed her hair back from her face. She sighed in her sleep, and her hand dropped to his hip. Frank sucked in his breath with pain as she grazed his bruise. Nancy stirred at the sound.

"Wh-what's the matter, honey?" she whispered.

"Nothing," Frank replied, moving her hand upwards. "I'm just a little sore this morning."

Nancy sat up and the sheet slipped, leaving her cleavage exposed. She bent forward to examine his injury, while Frank tugged the sheet up around her. "Don't tempt me, baby. I can't even move without wanting to scream."

"Who says you have to move?" Nancy gave him a seductive smile as she examined his hip and thigh.

Frank groaned. "Drew..."

Nancy ran her fingers lightly over the bruised area. "This is awful, Frank. Do you think you'll be able to walk?"

"I'll be happy if I can stand," he muttered. "Hey, how did you get in here anyway? And where's Joe?"

"Emily cried out in her sleep last night, and Joe heard it. He insisted on staying with her."

"He what?" Frank struggled to sit and collapsed back down to the bed. "Is he crazy? What if Kathy sees him? I think she's already suspicious."

"Frank, I couldn't have pulled him away from her if I'd wanted to."

"Yeah, I'm sure. Okay, well, let's get up and going, before we're caught, too."

"Doesn't matter if we get caught," Nancy teased. "They already know we're a couple."

"Behave," Frank warned with a grin. "And help me up. There's no way I can do this on my own."

"Maybe you should stay in bed."

"If I do, the muscles will only get more stiff and sore and I won't be able to move for a week."

Nancy sighed. "Fine, but I think I'm right on this one."

She pulled on the robe she'd left puddled on the floor the night before, and walked around to Frank's side of the bed. "Can you sit?"

"I think so," he said with a wince.

She helped him to a sitting position. Frank paused and took a deep breath. "Geez, this almost feels as bad as getting shot."

Nancy's brow furrowed. "Honey, I want the doctor to look at you again. Maybe he'll come over here if I call."

"Nan, he already looked at me. He said it would, to use his exact words, 'hurt like hell' for a few days."

She draped her arm over his shoulders, and with her hand around his waist, helped him up. Frank grimaced and tried to walk a few steps with her supporting him.

"Let's try to make it to the couch," he said. "Then you go get Joe out of your room."

Nancy opened Frank's bedroom door and the two of them stepped into the living room.

"Hi," Kathy greeted them from behind the bar. "Is Joe awake?"

Frank froze as he saw Kathy standing at the bar making a cup of tea. Shit.

"Um, yeah," Frank answered quickly. "He went to help Emily out of her room."

"Help Emily?" Kathy frowned as she dunked her tea bag rapidly up and down in her cup. "Why?"

"She's in pain." Nancy walked Frank over to the couch and helped him sit.

Kathy gave Nancy a look. "I didn't think anything was wrong with her legs. Can't she walk out here by herself?"

Nancy shook her head. "Geez, Kathy, can't you work up a little sympathy? She was seriously injured yesterday."

Kathy shrugged as she reached for the sugar bowl. Nancy headed for her own bedroom as she exchanged glances with Frank. He rolled his eyes in response.

OOO

Joe exited Emily's bedroom with her cradled in his arms. He looked up as Nancy hurried toward him. She touched him on the hand.

"Kathy's already out there," Nancy whispered. "Frank told her you came in here to help Emily."

Joe nodded as he proceeded down the hallway and into the living room. He placed Emily on the opposite end of the couch from Frank and stood as Lauren and Tammy entered the room. Lauren gave a wolf whistle as she surveyed Joe, clad only in his sweat pants. Kathy skipped over toward him.

"Isn't he handsome?" she cooed as she ran her hands over his bare chest. "And he's all mine, girls, so don't get any ideas."

Kathy's gaze dropped to Emily, who was staring at the floor.

It was all Joe could do not to shove Kathy across the room. He closed his eyes momentarily and took a deep breath while he reminded himself that he was a professional….and he had to maintain his cover.

"No crime to look, is it?" Lauren strolled over to the bar to turn on the coffee maker. "Hey, Bess, shall we go see if Lars and the Italian Stallions are back from that ski competition thingy yet?"

Bess gave her a dimpled smile as she entered the room.

"I would love nothing more. Nancy and I are going to get some breakfast downstairs and then bring some back for the invalids." She gestured toward Frank and Emily. "But after that, I'm free."

Lauren turned to Kathy. "What are your plans for the day?"

Kathy slipped both her arms around Joe's waist. "Oh, whatever my wonderful boyfriend has planned. Right, honey?"

"Yeah," Joe said, not able to completely keep the note of irritation out of his voice. "Listen, I need to talk to Frank about the case, so why don't you go get dressed or something?"

Kathy leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. "Perfect. Then we can go out to breakfast together." She bounced out of the room with Lauren and Tammy following behind.

"Good grief, how do you stand it?" Nancy whispered.

Before he could reply, Bess skipped toward Joe in a perfect imitation of Kathy. She linked her arm through his and looked up adoringly.

"Oh, my little snuggle bunny, I'm just going to miss you ever so much while I get dressed. Promise me you won't go anywhere. Or kill yourself to get away from me."

Frank and Nancy started to laugh, and even Emily smiled.

Joe untangled himself from Bess.

"I will get all of you back for this someday. You know that, don't you?"

Bess waved her hand as she walked away. "Yeah, yeah. I'm getting in the shower. See you all later."

Joe turned his attention back to his brother. "How's your leg?"

"Hurts like hell," Frank said. "Thanks for asking." He smiled at Emily. "How about your shoulder?"

"Feels the same as your leg," she replied. She looked toward Nancy. "I'm so sorry. I don't think I'll be much help to you today."

"Don't worry about it. I just want you two to get better." She glanced in Joe's direction. "Looks like you and I will be partners for now."

"Yeah," Joe agreed. "I want both of these cases wrapped up as soon as possible."

He checked to make sure they were still alone in the room. "But there is something Emily and Frank can do."

Joe dashed into his room to retrieve his notebook out of his locked suitcase. He quietly explained what he'd seen happen with Simone the other day in the town square.

"Now, because the novel was in French, I have no idea what any of this means."

He handed the notebook to Emily.

"Do you think you could translate it?"

"Of course."

"And then, maybe you and Frank could try and figure out what it all means," Joe continued.

"Do you think Simone is involved in this stalking thing?" Frank asked.

"No idea," Joe said honestly. "I just know that she seemed very nervous in the town square. And this book thing is weird."

"Agreed," Frank said. "We'll definitely check it out. What will you be doing?"

Joe sighed. "Trying to keep the princess off my back."

"Don't you mean out of your pants?" Nancy grinned.

"She's awfully aggressive, isn't she?" Emily observed.

Joe reached down and squeezed her hand. "You have nothing to worry about."

"I know," she whispered. "But it doesn't mean I want to watch."

As if on cue, Kathy burst out of her bedroom. "Ready for breakfast, honey?"

"Almost." Joe dodged her and headed for his bedroom. "I'll be out in a minute."

OOO

Kathy deposited herself in the arm chair across from Frank and Emily.

"So," she began, looking at Emily. "What are you still doing here? If you're injured, you can't really help on Nancy's case, can you?" She made air-quotes around the word, 'case.'

"Like I told you before, I'm a researcher. I don't use my shoulder to translate Latin and French."

This chick was working Emily's last nerve. She couldn't wait until Joe was finally finished with her. Because Emily wanted to be the one to tell her who Joe's real girlfriend was. Maybe she'd just show her. With a nice big, juicy, kiss planted right on Joe's mouth. Yep, revenge was going to be sweet.

"How'd you meet Nancy?"

Emily was jarred out of her little fantasy.

"Um, through Frank. I went to Bayport University."

Kathy's eyes narrowed. "Fascinating."

Joe stepped back into the room. "Okay, I'm ready." He looked at Kathy. "I'll take you to breakfast, and then I need to do some work on your case."

"Meaning?" Kathy stood and walked over to Joe, positioning herself so that Emily was no longer in his line of vision.

"Meaning that you might have to hang out in the suite for a while," Joe finished.

"That's boring." Kathy pouted. "Can't we go skiing instead?"

"Not if I can't be there with you."

Kathy slid her arms around Joe's waist and snuggled into him. "Oh, that's so cute that you're so protective of me. You are the sweetest boyfriend ever."

Nancy rolled her eyes at Kathy then said to Joe, "Listen, I want to go over to the monastery. We obviously hit a nerve there and I want to poke around a little more. Do you want to meet me there after you eat?"

"Yeah, sure," Joe readily agreed.

"Um, hang on a minute," Frank interrupted. "I don't think I want you over there by yourself."

She glared at Frank. "Okay, fine. I'll go to breakfast with Bess, then wait here for Joe.

"That would be acceptable," Frank agreed.

"You know you're only getting away with this because you're injured," Nancy said as she turned to go to her bedroom.

Frank smirked. "Whatever works."

OOO

Kathy gave Joe one last squeeze then said, "I forgot something in my room. I'll be right back, okay?"

Joe nodded and watched as she disappeared into her bedroom. He knelt down in front of the couch.

"Listen, Frank," he whispered. "I also need you to search for the proof we need for our own case while Kathy and I are gone. Can you do that?"

"I'll try, but it might be slow going with this leg. Can you take your time at breakfast?"

Joe rolled his eyes. "That's the last thing I want to do, but yes. Just promise me you'll find something."

"Don't worry. We'll get this taken care of," Frank said.

Joe watched Emily shift against the couch and stiffen from the pain in her shoulder. He rested his hand on her leg.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded and gave him a tiny smile. "Frank and I had pain pills for breakfast. We'll be feeling much better in about thirty minutes."

"Or else we'll be so high, we won't care," Frank said with a grin.

"Just find the evidence we need," Joe reminded him. "High or not."

"Will do," Frank assured him.

"Thanks." Joe patted Emily's leg and blew her a quick kiss before Kathy came bounding into the room.