A/N Just when you think you're going to get back on track and complete a story, your computer gets hijacked by a family member. Such is life. Hope you guys enjoy and I apologize for the slow updates.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Nancy's POV

Even though Frank didn't want me to come along with them while they looked into the delivery truck that took the controlled products to the disposal plant, I refused to stay behind and do nothing.

After I watched their car drive off from one of the windows in the front of the house, I waited ten minutes or so for them to get a decent distance from the house. Then, I went off in search of the one person in this house that would probably be up for some sleuthing.

I found him spread out along a sofa in the library reading a comic book.

"Hey Jake," I greeted.

Jake put the comic book down and looked over. "Hey Nancy. What's up?"

"I was wondering if you might be up for a little sleuthing?" I asked.

Jake's eyes widened and he sat up quickly. "I'd do anything to get out of this house. As much as I love the way everyone's being so nice to me, I still feel like I'm in prison. What exactly did you have in mind?"

"Well, Frank and Joe went out to follow a lead on the disposal company that Volturi Pharmaceuticals uses. I thought that while they were out doing that, maybe we could do something constructive for the case as well," I replied.

"Such as?" Jake prodded.

"Well, I'm pretty sure that Frank and Joe suspect that the product on the truck isn't making it to the final location at the disposal company. While they might be right, I thought we could get ahead of the game by also looking at where the product might go if it does get to the disposal company," I explained.

"It would have to be transferred somewhere else," Jake said. "There's too many witnesses that would see if it wasn't actually getting destroyed."

"So since you know this town better, where do you think it would go?" I asked.

"Well, from working in the security department at the plant, I know that the disposal company is outside the city limits in a more rural setting. I've actually met a couple of the drivers for the company before and none of them strike me as the shady type. I hate to make assumptions, but if I went along with your theory, then my bet would be they would transfer the shipment back into town," Jake answered.

"Where in town?" I asked.

"If it were me, I would hide it in one of the abandoned warehouses near the edge of town," Jake said. "There's still just enough businesses open in that section for delivery trucks to go unnoticed, but not so much traffic that something illegal would be caught."

"Well, then I'd say we have a heading," I replied with a smile.

I went to grab my keys and bag while Jake went downstairs to wait for me. A few minutes later, we were out the door and driving down the road in my car in the direction of the warehouse district. Since it was on the far edge of town in comparison with the Cullen's house, it took us a while before we reached it.

"So what do you want to do now?" Jake asked as we entered the warehouse district.

"I guess we can just drive around the area and look to see if we notice anything," I mused.

After driving around a few blocks and not seeing anything suspicious, I began wondering what Frank and Joe might have come up with. I pulled out my phone and dialed Frank's number.

"Hey Nan, everything okay?" Frank asked in a concerned voice.

I didn't want to give anything away about what I was doing, so I kept my answer generic. "Everything's fine here," I answered. "I was just checking in on you. Hope it's not a bad time."

Frank didn't question my response at all, which made me grin. "Well, the transfer of product to the disposal company seems okay, but shortly after that truck left, another one arrived and loaded the same drugs into it," Frank responded. "Joe and I are following that truck right now."
I perked up at that. Maybe I was on the right track after all if another truck picked up the product from the disposal company. I looked over at Jake, who was giving me a questioning look. I gave him a thumbs-up sign to indicate to him that we were going in the right direction.

"Where's the truck headed?" I asked hoping to get a better idea of the location since I was still driving around various portions of the warehouse district.

"We're not sure of the final destination yet, but we're currently driving through the warehouse district," Frank answered.

There was a slight pause in the conversation before Frank came back, "Hey Nan, I'm going to let you go," he said. "The truck pulled into an alleyway, so Joe and I are going to go check it out."

"Be careful," I replied.

"Don't worry, we'll be careful," Frank replied before hanging up the phone.

I put my phone on the console near me as I continued driving down the streets.

"What did you find out?" Jake asked.

"Well, another truck picked up the delivery from the disposal company while Frank and Joe was there scouting the place out. They've followed the truck to an alleyway somewhere around here, so we need to figure out where exactly they are," I told him.

"I guess you couldn't exactly ask for some street names, could you?" Jake asked with a wry grin.

I looked over and grimaced. "Yeah, that probably wouldn't be conducive to me staying put and out of any possible danger."

"So, since you're from around here, do you know of any good places we should drive around to search?" I asked Jake.

"Well, about three more blocks over, this area becomes a higher mix of abandoned warehouses instead of businesses. The traffic is also lighter because of that, so it might be a good start," Jake mused.

I drove in the direction Jake pointed out and we both began looking around the area closely. I was hoping to see the alleyway Frank had mentioned that held the delivery truck. The next best thing would probably be to see any sign of Frank or Joe.

Of course, that did pose the problem of them seeing me out and about when I was supposed to be back at the Cullen's house. Joe wouldn't have a problem with it, but Frank would most likely be irritated that I didn't listen to him. Although, really he should know me better than that by now. I will always go chasing after a good mystery instead of sitting at home with nothing to do.

I had driven around several blocks and neither of us had spotted anything of interest. I was beginning to think that we wouldn't be able to find them within the city maze of streets and alleys.

"Wait!" Jake exclaimed.

I slowed down and looked at him. "You saw something?" I asked.

"Yeah, go around the corner and we'll backtrack on foot," Jake told me.

I pulled the car around the nearest corner and parked it on the side of the street. It was looking a little out of place in this area because the streets were more deserted. Jake and I got out of the car and I locked it while following behind him.

"I saw the guys heading down this alley up here," Jake told me quietly.

I looked around the area, but didn't see any signs of living people around. Granted, I knew that within these warehouses, there could be anyone observing us from a location we couldn't spot easily. I was hoping that Jake and I would just look like a couple having a stroll down the street even if the street was in an area of town that you wouldn't find many people just walking around in their free time.

We were just a few feet away from an alleyway when Jake signaled with his hand that it was the one he had seen Frank and Joe head down. The two of us slowed even further before turning the corner and peering down the alleyway to see what was going on.

I covered my mouth and held in the gasp as I saw a man holding a gun come up behind Frank and Joe. I couldn't hear what was said, but soon I witnessed both of them being herded into the building by the armed man.

"I think we need to call the police," Jake whispered to me once everyone had disappeared from our view.

I nodded silently and pulled out my cell phone. I dialed the number and held it to my ear waiting for the line to be answered.

"Officer Turner," the man answered.

"I think we need your help," I spoke.