A/N: Thanks so much to Caranath, centaurdy jackson007, Guest, max2013, zenfrodo, pen4lew, Future Animator, BurnedSpy, Jackie, Stork Hardy, Guest, Lady Emily, Vinsmouse, ILoveMom, Leya, and bhar for reviewing. You are awesome! And of course, thanks to anyone reading! I appreciate it!

Chapter 31

"Your what?" Frank asked Louis. "What did you say is missing?"

"My handgun. I keep it in the night table drawer. For protection." Louis began to pace back and forth. "I came back to the suite and went into my bedroom, and I noticed the drawer was slightly open, so I checked it. It's gone."

Shit. Things just got a lot more serious.

Emily clutched Frank's arm. "Joe."

"Yeah, I'm headed down there right now."

"Not without me you're not," Nancy said.

"Me either," Emily insisted.

"Well, why don't we make it party?" Bess suggested.

Frank glanced at the determined faces surrounding him. He didn't want to waste time protesting.

"Fine. Just stay behind me, and don't do anything until I can figure out what's going on."

As they all moved toward the door of the suite, Nancy turned to Louis.

"Does Kathy know how to shoot?"

Louis's face was grim. "Yes, her father thought it would be prudent to teach her how to protect herself with all the threats that have been going on."

"Swell."

OOOoooOOO

"Kathy, put that gun away," Joe said firmly.

Why did these things always happen to him? Why didn't crazy chicks ever pull a gun on Frank? First his nutty ex-girlfriend, Wendy Chase, and now Kathy. It was getting old.

"No, Joe. I told you. We're going to be married."

"That's not possible. It's six-thirty at night. We're in a foreign country. We don't have a license. It can't happen."

"Oh, but that's where being the daughter of a powerful U.S. senator pays off." She smiled sweetly. "It can happen. It already has. I got a special dispensation license right after I saw you in the library. It's waiting at the monastery. Along with a priest who will officiate at our ceremony."

"Are you telling me you had your father call to get a marriage license for us? And he agreed?"

"No, silly. I just paid someone to do it. Just like I paid someone to hit me over the head in the locker room, trash our suite, and make those phone calls." Kathy sighed. "You're so naïve, Joe. Most people can be bought if the price is right."

"Well, I'm not one of them, and I'm not marrying you." Joe held out his hand. "Now give me the gun."

Kathy shook her head. "No. I can't do that. It'll mess everything up."

"You're not going to hurt me, Kathy. I know you're not."

"You're right, Joe. I'm not."

She turned the gun slightly so that it was aimed at her chin, and stared at him with a look that chilled him to the bone.

"If you won't marry me, I'll pull the trigger."

OOOoooOOO

As Frank, the girls, and Louis headed downstairs, Nancy filled in the senator's aide on what had happened with Kathy. Louis shook his head.

"Well, this is the most ridiculous nonsense I've ever heard. She's pretending to have a stalker so her dad will buy her a boyfriend?"

"She's mentally ill, Louis," Nancy said.

"No kidding." He stared at the ceiling. "Don't think I didn't tell Senator Martin this years ago. But did he listen? No."

"All that matters right now is that we get both Kathy and Joe back upstairs without anyone getting hurt," Nancy continued. "She's very unstable."

"Yeah." Louis paused in the lobby. "Look, maybe I'd better get her father on the phone. He needs to be here. This is one parental duty I'm not going to allow him to delegate."

As Louis headed toward the elevators, Frank turned to Nancy.

"I'm going into the restaurant. If I'm not back in a couple of minutes, come in behind me. But stay out of sight. If there's a problem, call the police."

"Frank?" Emily spoke up. "Can I come?"

"Joe will kill me if I bring you in there." Frank patted her on the back reassuringly and turned to kiss Nancy. "Stay here."

Nancy watched as Frank disappeared into the restaurant. She was letting him have his way because the situation was urgent, but she was not going to be left behind on this, no matter what her "alpha male" boyfriend had decreed.

"I hate this," Emily hissed. "I hate not knowing what's happening. Can't we follow him?"

"Yes, in exactly fifteen seconds," Nancy said.

"Nancy's definition of a 'couple of minutes' is a loose one," Bess said.

Nancy kept her eye on the second hand of her watch. "We can go in...now."

She started to march toward the restaurant entrance and ran right into Frank.

"They're not in there."

OOOoooOOO

"Kathy, be reasonable," Joe said, as they crossed the town square toward the monastery.

"I am being reasonable."

Well, that was rich, Joe thought. If being kidnapped late at night and forced into a marriage at gunpoint was reasonable, then he was Miss America.

As the doors of the monastery came into view, Kathy picked up the pace.

"Stay in front of me," she warned Joe, motioning him ahead of her.

Joe sighed. If he could just get her to let down her guard a little, maybe he could get the gun away from her.

"Okay, Kathy."

"It has to be this way, you'll see," she insisted. "Go up and knock on the door. And don't make any sudden moves. This gun will go off faster than you can turn around."

Joe knew she meant it by the tone of her voice. He picked up the ancient doorknocker and rapped three times. The door was opened by a young candidate.

"Oui?"

"Hi." Kathy took a step forward and clutched Joe's arm. "I'm Senator Martin's daughter. I spoke with someone earlier this evening. We're here to be married."

OOOoooOOO

"What do you mean they're not in there?" Nancy asked Frank.

"Just what I said, they're not in the restaurant."

Frank was furious with himself. He'd made a horrible miscalculation. He should have just confronted Kathy in the suite in front of everyone. She may have gone ballistic, but at least she wouldn't have been armed.

"Well, maybe somebody saw them." Nancy grabbed onto the shirt sleeve of a passing waiter. "Excuse me? Did you see two young people in here a few minutes ago having dinner? Young, blond, good looking, both Americans?"

The man's voice was tinged with a heavy French accent. "Yes, mademoiselle. They left in a hurry though. They didn't even wait for their food."

"Do you know where they went?"

The waiter shook his head. "I'm sorry, I don't."

Frank swore. "I shouldn't have let him come down here alone. I should have followed him."

Emily's eyes were welling with tears. "Where could they be?"

"Excusez-moi?" A busboy approached them. "The young American couple? Is this who you are looking for?"

"Oui," Emily replied.

"I think they went across the square. I heard the girl say they had to go to la cathedrale. I think they want to...how do you say it in English? Mariez?"

"Get married?" Emily's voice rose an octave.

"Oui, elope."

"Thank you, you've been very helpful," Frank said.

"De rien," he responded as he walked off.

Frank turned to Emily and noticed the color had completely drained from her face.

"Don't worry. It's going to be okay."

Emily nodded mutely as Bess slipped her arm around her.

"How do we do this?" Nancy asked. "She's obviously got the gun on him."

Frank took her hand and headed for the door.

"Let's just get over there. We'll figure it out on the way."

OOOoooOOO

Joe stood with Kathy in the candlelit cathedral, shadows dancing off the statues and sculptures, as the flames on the votive candles flickered in their holders.

"It's a pity I don't have a wedding gown," Kathy said. "But I have you, so it doesn't matter."

Joe didn't respond. He was trying too hard to figure out how on earth he was going to stop this farce of a ceremony and keep Kathy from hurting herself. Having the client of a powerful public figure kill herself right in front of him, when he was supposed to be guarding her, would ensure that he never worked as a detective again. He looked up at the domed ceiling and let out a deep breath.

Come on, Frank. Where the hell are you?

OOOoooOOO

In the foyer of the monastery, Nancy quickly summoned Father Xavier and explained the situation. He nodded gravely.

"Yes, my clerk explained what was going on. We received a license about an hour ago by courier. That's not unusual…they're sent all the time prior to marriages, but the instructions were explicit with it. This ceremony is to take place tonight."

"She's mentally ill, Father," Frank explained. "And we have every reason to believe she's armed and holding the gun on my brother. We have to be very careful."

"Yes, of course." Father Xavier frowned. "They are waiting in the cathedral right now. Do you think you could talk her out of it?"

Frank snorted. "All she's been doing for the past two weeks is trying to snag my brother. If she's got him in front of an altar with a priest on the way, she's not going to change her mind."

An idea was forming in Nancy's head. Maybe they could turn the tables on Kathy, and stall her long enough for the police to arrive.

"What if we just go through with the ceremony?" Nancy suggested.

"What?" Emily said. "I don't like that option."

Nancy rested her hand on Emily's arm.

"Not with a real priest. With someone else. Who could pretend to perform a marriage?"

"Guillaume," Bess offered. "He's not a real monk, right?"

"Right!" Nancy exclaimed. "Does Kathy know that?"

"No," Emily said. "I mean, she's seen him before, but she doesn't know he's only a candidate. That he hasn't taken any vows."

"Then we could have Guillaume take the place of the priest," Nancy said. "He could pretend to start the ceremony, and that way Kathy will think she's getting what she wants."

"Which would buy us some time and give the police a chance to arrive and get in position, without anyone getting hurt," Frank finished.

"Exactly," Nancy said.

Frank pulled her into him and dropped a kiss on the top of her head.

"Now who's the genius?"

"Well, what are we standing around for?" Bess asked. "We have a wedding to attend."

OOOoooOOO

Joe looked up as Father Xavier stepped into the cathedral with Guillaume. The priest paused by the front pew where Joe and Kathy were seated.

"Your license seems to be in order, so I believe we can begin the ceremony."

Kathy squealed with delight and Joe felt like a man condemned to the gallows. He glanced at Guillaume. He's probably here so he can go after Emily as soon as the vows are exchanged.

"I do have a special request to make of you," Father Xavier continued. "Your brother and your friends are here. We need witnesses and they would like to participate in the ceremony."

Joe tried to keep his expression neutral and not breathe out a sigh of relief. Frank was here. Which meant there was a plan to end this mess. Joe just had to go with the flow for a little while longer and stay cool.

Kathy's eyes narrowed. "Can't you just be the witness, Father?"

"Non, mademoiselle. It is not legal for a member of the clergy to sign the marriage certificate as a witness. It must be a layman."

"Fine. But they have to stay back. I get nervous if people are too close to me."

"Very well."

Father Xavier nodded, and Frank, Nancy, Emily and Bess stepped through the side door and approached the altar.

Joe's stomach twisted as he spotted Emily. Her eyes were huge, and he could tell she was frightened for him. I'm so sorry to put you through this, baby.

"That's far enough," Kathy called out as soon as they were twenty feet away.

"I want my brother to stand up for me," Joe whispered. "We've planned it this way our whole lives."

Kathy paused. "Okay, but he takes the long way around to get to you."

Frank nodded and began to walk through the pews behind them.

"Where I can see you," Kathy insisted, and Frank redirected his steps to pass in front of the altar.

"Do you wish to have one of these young women to be the second witness?" Father Xavier asked Kathy.

Shit. Why the hell did the priest have to ask that? Joe knew what Kathy's next move was going to be, and it was exactly what he didn't want.

A wicked smile spread over Kathy's face. "Yes. Her." She pointed at Emily.

"No," Joe said firmly.

"I say, 'yes.'" Kathy leaned into him. "She's not out of range where she's standing, if you get my drift."

Joe noticed the calculating look in her icy eyes and nodded. "Stand behind her, Em."

"Oh, no, Emily," Kathy said, reaching out for Emily with her left hand as she approached. "You stand right here close to me. I don't want you to miss a minute of the ceremony."

Joe caught Frank's eye when he reached his side and made a gun sign with his thumb and forefinger, then touched his side pocket. Frank nodded.

"All right then, if everyone is in place, the ceremony can begin," Father Xavier said, casting a look toward Frank and Joe.

The priest motioned for Guillaume to stand next to him at the altar.

"I have some urgent business to attend to in my office, but I leave you in the very capable hands of...er...Father Guillaume."

"Wait," Kathy said. "Why can't you perform the ceremony?"

"I'm a visiting priest from France. I'm not allowed to perform marriages in Switzerland until my transfer papers are complete," Father Xavier said. "You do want this ceremony to be legal, do you not?"

"Yes." Kathy waved at Guillaume. "Go ahead. But I don't want you to leave the cathedral, Father."

Father Xavier nodded. "I'll stand with the girls," he said, moving over to Bess and Nancy.

OOO

Father Xavier paused at Nancy's side and leaned in to whisper to her. "I'm going to need to go to confession. That was a complete lie."

And it was a great one, Nancy thought. This priest was a quick thinker.

"It was for a good cause, Father," Nancy assured him. "The Lord will understand."

"And I'm about to lie again, because I'm slipping out of the cathedral to meet the police and direct them here the moment they arrive. There's a 'priests only' entrance right behind this statue of St. Bernadette." Father Xavier stepped backwards. "Bless you, my children. I'm praying for your safety."

He made the sign of the cross over Bess and Nancy as he turned away.

"Think that counts if none of us are Catholic?" Bess asked.

"Guess we'll find out," Nancy said.

OOOoooOOO

Guillaume stepped nervously to the front of the altar and addressed Emily. "Parle-t-elle francais?"

"Non," she whispered.

Emily was terrified. The senator's daughter was flat-out crazy, and nothing was more dangerous than crazy. She sneaked a glance at Kathy. Her eyes were glassy and bright as they flitted around the cathedral. Emily knew she was nervous. And that meant the slightest thing could set her…and the gun…off.

Calm. Emily needed to stay calm. Kathy's grip on her arm was painful and she could feel her trembling. If only she didn't have that weapon. She glanced down and saw that Kathy was holding the gun in her right coat pocket. She had pushed it forward and was now aiming it across her body at Emily. If only Joe weren't on the other side of her. She thought Kathy could very easily be one of those "if I can't have him, nobody can" kind of girls and shoot Joe right on the spot, just for spite. She closed her eyes for a moment and prayed.

Guillaume smiled and opened his book to begin the ceremony. As soon as he began to speak in French, Kathy protested.

"Hey, I don't know what he's saying."

"He doesn't speak English," Joe said, his gaze firmly fixed on Kathy's pocket...and the gun.

"But I'm not going to understand him."

"We're in a foreign country," Frank reminded her. "I think you have to take what you can get."

"Fine. The license is legal. That's what important." Kathy waved her hand at Guillaume. "Go on."

Guillaume paused as he looked at his book. Then his gaze turned to Kathy and he spoke a flurry of French.

Emily's eyes grew wide. Guillaume wasn't reading the wedding ceremony, he was reciting a French nursery rhyme. She glanced up at him sharply and he gave her a subtle wink. Emily relaxed slightly as she heard Guillaume call Kathy a fat, red hen.

She heard Frank cough, and knew he understood what was going on, too. Guillaume finished speaking and looked at Kathy expectantly.

"Um, is this where I say, 'I do?'" she asked.

Guillaume nodded, waited for her affirmative answer, then turned to Joe, and recited a rhyme about a farmer and his missing donkey.

OOO

Joe shuffled his feet and looked at Emily. He knew this ceremony was a farce and that whatever happened here he would have annulled within the hour, but the pain he saw in Emily's eyes was overwhelming to him, nonetheless. He hated repeating this kind of vow to anyone else but her, even if it wasn't his choice. He swallowed hard and looked down at the pocket of Kathy's coat. The gun was pointed in Emily's direction.

"The priest is waiting, Joe," Kathy said.

Joe cleared his throat. "I–I do."

Guillaume nodded, then said something else in French and looked at both of them. Kathy turned to Emily.

"What did he say?"

"He wants you to hold hands," she whispered. "He has to pronounce a blessing on you to seal the marriage vows."

Frank gave Joe a warning nudge in his back to be ready.

Kathy released her grip on Emily's arm and faced Joe and, placing her left hand in his. Guillaume said something else in French.

"Both hands," Emily translated.

"I can't do that."

Emily repeated this to Guillaume, who shook his head.

"It has to be both hands," Emily insisted.

Kathy appeared flustered, and Joe took that second to seize her right arm.

"Emily, move!" he ordered.

Kathy struggled against Joe's grip as Frank rushed forward to try and restrain her.

Guillaume shoved Emily to the ground and fell on top of her just as the gun went off.