Chapter 2

Nancy drifted in and out of consciousness as the Tahoe bounced along the road, taking her to whatever destination awaited her. Every bump and pothole was like agony through her body, given the way she was trussed up and propped against the door. She'd tried to keep her moans to a minimum, not wanting to give her kidnappers any pleasure in her discomfort. They were going to learn quickly that they picked the wrong girl to go after. She hoped for their benefit, whoever had hired them was paying them well because there was no way she was about to make it easy for them.

Not that she wasn't freaked out about this whole ordeal. It would be a stupid mistake on her part to pretend that she wasn't afraid—a mistake that could get her quickly killed. Her self-preservation instinct was already kicking in and she was going to do anything possible to find a way out of her hopeless situation. Sure, she was hampered by the fact that she couldn't see a damn thing, not to mention she couldn't move a muscle without pain shooting through her arms and legs.

But that was just a couple of minor obstacles. After all, this wasn't her first time to be kidnapped and it certainly wouldn't be her last. She just needed to concentrate and come up with a good plan that would get her home before anyone ever noticed that she was missing. Though, now that she thought about it, her roommate would be the only one to notice her gone—and that was only if she even showed up at the dorm tonight, unless she'd decided to stay the night with her boyfriend.

Maybe her professors would think something was amiss, considering Nancy had never missed a day of class. But by then, it may be too late for her.

No! Don't think like that! Someone will notice you're missing and they'll find you. Don't you dare start thinking it's hopeless!

Nancy didn't realize she'd let out a soft whimper until she felt Max moving beside her.

"Let me help you sit up a little bit," he said softly, his hands grasping her arms.

Nancy jerked away from him with a grunt, not wanting him to touch her. No way in hell was she about to accept whatever kindness he had to offer her, especially since he had showed no compassion towards her when he'd grabbed her off the street.

"Suit yourself," he muttered.

She could have kicked herself for letting her guard down around him when he'd approached her on the sidewalk. Was she really that gullible or had college really made her forget everything she had learned from her detective work? Rule one: Trust no one. Yes, that made it sound like she watched way too many X-Files reruns, but that was the one rule that was never supposed to be broken. Everyone had something to hide and they would put up any front in order to protect themselves.

It was just how people were programmed.

And just because she had let herself be vulnerable, for just a few minutes, she was now in a very sticky situation. It also didn't help that she'd actually allowed herself to think Max was attractive—the devil in disguise and all that.

Nancy cringed at that thought. Here she was, trapped in a car going God knows where, and she was thinking about how nice Max looked. Yep, that settled it—Mrs. Perkins had been right. She was spending way too much time with her books.

Before she could berate herself any further, she felt the vehicle come to a stop before the engine cut off. Her senses were instantly on alert, her ears picking up the sounds of doors opening and closing and of a roaring engine in the distance. If she wasn't mistaken, that sounded almost like a—

Plane!

They've brought me to a friggin' airport! Oh, this is bad, Nancy—really, really bad.

She didn't have any more time to dwell on it as her door was opened, causing her to nearly fall out of the vehicle since she had been leaning against the door. She gave a little cry of surprise as she felt herself being deftly caught in a pair of strong arms before being lowered to the ground. Hope flared inside her, even though the bag still remained on her head. If Max cut her feet loose, then maybe, just maybe, she still had a chance to get away.

Unfortunately, luck was not on her side. She gave another grunt as she was picked up and tossed over someone's shoulder, her torso bobbing slightly as she was carried away. Nancy twisted her head, hoping to remove the sack, wanting nothing more than to take a deep breath of fresh air. Once again, luck eluded her and she soon felt her captor carrying her up a small flight of stairs before cool air caused goose bumps to trail up and down her body.

"Tell the captain we'll be ready to leave as soon as I get her settled in," Max's deep voice rumbled beneath Nancy. She felt herself being lowered until she was seated in a soft chair and a few seconds later, the bag was removed from her head.

Nancy blinked rapidly in the sudden bright light, giving her eyes some time to adjust. Max towered over her, but she ignored him as she took in her surroundings. She wasn't in just some ordinary plane—she was in a private jet. Decorated in soft ivory and black, the interior had a modern feel to it. Plasma screen televisions were scattered throughout while a small bar sat nestled in between two large sofas. Nancy saw she was sitting in a plush chair and there was another identical one right in front of her.

Basically, it came down to money and plenty of it. Whoever was behind this little operation was loaded and they were not afraid to flaunt it. For a fleeting moment, Nancy was a little flattered that someone was going to this much trouble for her. But that quickly passed when reality set in and she was certain that there wouldn't be a happy ending for her once the plane landed.

She was snapped out of her reverie as Max leaned forward, taking each end of her seatbelt. She tried not to flinch, but failed miserably as her heart pounded in her chest.

"Relax," Max said with a sigh. "I'm just getting you buckled in. If I wanted to hurt you, I would have done it already."

Nancy willed herself to calm down as he locked the two ends together, cinching it tightly around her waist. She kept her eyes on him as he took the chair across from her and fastened his own seatbelt.

"Once we get into the air, I'll make you a little more comfortable."

Leaning her head against the seat, Nancy closed her eyes as she felt the jet begin to taxi down the runway. The beginning stages of panic were threatening to take over, but she somehow managed to push it down. She couldn't afford to lose it now, to let Max see her weak. She would only be hurting herself if she did that. She had to stay calm and somehow collect as much information as she could so she could find a way out of her situation.

Nancy tuned out everything around her as she tried to find her so-called happy place. She was vaguely aware of the captain coming over the loudspeaker, but she couldn't begin to register what he was actually saying. The only thing she did notice was that he didn't give away where they were headed.

They really thought of everything, didn't they? Nancy thought, annoyed.

Nancy opened her eyes as a chime filled the air, signaling that it was safe to unbuckle their seatbelts.

"Can I get you anything, Mr. Grey?"

A stewardess appeared out of nowhere, barely glancing at Nancy as if a woman tied up on a plane was a common occurrence. Maybe it is around here…what the hell do I know?

Max smiled up at the woman. "I'll just have a scotch. Would you mind also bringing me a bottle of water?"

"Not at all," she said, returning his smile. "I'll be right back."

"Thanks, Olivia." Standing up, Max reached into his pocket and pulled out a pocketknife, flipping it open, its blade glinting in the soft light. He took a couple of steps until he was standing in front of Nancy, looking down at her. "Lean forward."

Glaring up at him, Nancy shook her head.

"You really are going to make this as difficult as possible, aren't you?" Max rolled his eyes as Nancy continued to glare. "Look, you have a choice—you can either remain tied up for the entire flight or I can free you. Which will it be?"

Nancy had no idea what kind of game Max was trying to play. Was he really trying to fool her into thinking he was nice or did he just enjoy screwing with her? Part of her wanted to refuse his offer, simply out of spite and pride. But the other part of her—the sensible part that was screaming at her—wanted relief from her bonds. As it was, she could barely feel her arms and legs and it would be nice to be able to stretch them out again.

Max continued to stand there and stare at her. Finally, Nancy leaned forward in her seat, allowing him access to her wrists.

"Fair warning—my generosity only goes so far. If you attempt to attack me, then I tie you right back up and throw you in the cargo hold. Understand?"

Glancing up, Nancy nodded her head.

"Good." Leaning forward, Max severed the cable around her hands.

Nancy let out a soft cry as they snapped apart, her skin tingling from the sudden release as her blood worked double time to return the circulation there. She sat back, rubbing her wrists as he cut away the ties at her feet. Folding the knife and putting it back into his pocket, he pulled the gag out of her mouth and Nancy blinked as she felt a small spark as his fingers brushed against her skin.

Oh, no…that is just so wrong! No way are you about to sit here and feel attracted to your kidnapper!

Max caught her reaction and smirked as he again took his seat in front of her.

Taking a few deep breaths, Nancy rotated her jaw as she tried to get the feeling in her face once more. It was like a tidal wave washing through her body as her blood rushed back to her neglected limbs. Max continued to stare at her, even as Olivia stopped returned with the drinks.

"Will you be needing anything else, Mr. Grey?"

"Not at the moment. Thank you, Olivia."

Olivia let out a small huff of annoyance at the dismissal, moving away from them. Nancy felt slightly uncomfortable under his scrutiny and wished he would turn his eyes away from her. Any normal man she knew would be checking out Olivia's ass as she walked away, but not Max. He only seemed completely interested in Nancy.

"Stop staring at me," Nancy said, her voice scratchy.

"Am I making you uncomfortable?" Max asked, amused.

"Yes."

Max continued to stare at her as he held out the water bottle. "Water?"

Nancy eyed the water bottle warily, her mouth practically salivating. Her throat was beyond dry, craving anything that would give it some sort of relief.

"I didn't do anything to it, if that's what you're worried about." He thrust it towards her. "See? The seal hasn't been broken yet."

She still didn't make a move to grab it.

"Miss Drew, I won't beg you to take it. Honestly, I am trying to give you what little comfort I can, considering you may very well be walking into your worst nightmare once we land." Max leaned forward once more, holding the bottle out to her. "Take it."

Reaching out, Nancy was surprised to find her hand shaking as she took the bottle from him. She wasn't sure if it was out of fear or the fact she was dehydrated—maybe a combination of both. Opening it, she drank from it greedily, the cool liquid instantly soothing her parched throat.

Max smiled as he leaned back in his chair, taking a sip of his scotch.

"Why did you untie me?" Nancy asked after a few minutes of silence. "Usually when I'm kidnapped, I'm left to fend for myself while the monster of the week gloats about how wonderful he is."

"You sound as if this happens to you often."

"More than the average person, I would say. I guess you could call it an occupational hazard."

Max let out a chuckle as he looked at her. "I untied you because I have a feeling you aren't suicidal. We're on a plane, meaning there really isn't anywhere you can escape, unless you plan on jumping out of the plane and sending all of us to a fiery death."

"It's tempting." Nancy shrugged. "I guess it depends on where you're taking me."

"I'm afraid I'm not allowed to give you that information."

"Why not?"

"Because I was paid very well not to tell you. The first thing you should know about me, Miss Drew, is that I am a businessman. My clients expect me to give them high quality work and I expect to get paid what I'm promised."

"How much am I worth?"

Max gave her a crooked smile. "Let's just say with you I hit the jackpot."

"I'm not sure if I should be flattered or not."

"You should be. You've taken the coveted number one spot on my payday list."

"Yay, me," Nancy muttered. She took another sip of water, letting her eyes roam around the interior of the plane once more. There had to be some kind of weapon she could use against Max. While he didn't seem all that bad on the surface, she wasn't about to let her guard down with him again. For all she knew, he wasn't bringing her to anyone—this could all be some elaborate ploy and he meant to keep her for himself.

Nothing stood out to her as a weapon at first. She couldn't very well overpower him with her plastic water bottle. Maybe jab him in the eye with the top, but then what? No, she needed something a little better. Something she could hide and use once they landed—that would be her safest bet because he was right when he said she wasn't suicidal. Killing Max may be acceptable, but not the others on the plane.

She glanced up as Olivia returned, this time with a tray with two plates covered by silver tops. Lifting the lids up with a flourish, Nancy's stomach growled loudly as the smell of chicken fettuccine filled the air.

Max smiled. "Hungry?"

Nancy shook her head in frustration as Olivia left them alone once more. "I don't understand what you're doing. Do you always wine and dine your victims after you kidnap them?"

"What makes you think I do this often?"

"Fine. What do you do?"

"Many things—basically whatever my client pays me to do." Max picked up a napkin and placed it on his lap before picking up his fork. "And to answer your question—no, I don't wine and dine my victims."

"Then why me?" Nancy tried to ignore the food, even as her stomach continued to rumble loudly.

"Would you prefer I didn't?"

"I don't care what you do."

Max's eyes darkened slightly. "Be careful what you say, Miss Drew. You have no idea what I'm capable of."

Nancy met his stare head-on. "The same goes for me."

"Yes, I'm beginning to realize that." Max took a bite of his food. "You really should eat something."

"I'm not hungry."

"So, your stomach just makes that noise for kicks?"

Nancy rolled her eyes, grabbed the plastic fork—friggin' bad luck!—and took a bite of the food, surprised when it actually tasted really good. In fact, it was better than any fettuccine she'd had in a while. She ignored Max when he gave her a satisfied smile. "So, I guess you can't tell me where you're taking me?"

"San Diego."

"San Diego?" Nancy nearly choked on a piece of chicken as how easily he revealed her destination. "What's in San Diego?"

"Comic Con," Max answered, not missing a beat.

"Funny."

Max pushed his tray out of the way and leaned back in his chair, nursing his scotch. "So, Miss Drew…I'm curious."

"About what?"

"You? What exactly do you do?"

"I'm a college student."

"For a college student, you sure managed to piss someone off enough to send me after you." He frowned. "There's something more about you."

"You're just now figuring that out?" Wiping her mouth with the napkin, Nancy set it on the plate before moving her own tray out of the way. "Obviously your client left out some vital information about me."

"Enlighten me."

"Why would I want to do that?"

"Because it provides us with some running conversation to pass the time. We still have at least another hour to kill before we arrive in San Diego."

Nancy wasn't about to divulge any information about herself, especially since Max wasn't willing to reveal anything about himself. "I think I would just prefer to take a nap if you don't mind."

"How can you be sure I won't try anything while you sleep?"

"I can't," Nancy said, sliding down in her seat to get comfortable. "But anything is better than listening to you try to get information out of me."

Max actually chuckled at her. "Fair enough."

Nancy closed her eyes, crossing her arms protectively over her chest. "I would prefer if you didn't stare at me the entire time I slept."

"What would you suggest I look at?"

"Olivia's ass would be a start. I'm sure she wouldn't mind it one bit, considering she's practically itching at the chance for you to hop into bed with her."

Max smiled softly as he watched Nancy as she settled against the seat before her breathing evened out. She was an unbelievably frustrating woman and he had to admire her for her tenacity and they way she refused to take any crap from him. He'd never before encountered a mark that stood up to him; every single one in the past had been terrified of him, begging for their lives.

But not Nancy.

She had to be afraid, especially faced with the unknown. Yet, somehow, she managed to hide it very well. Maybe she was used to these situations. After all, she'd admitted she'd been kidnapped before. Given her career choice before college, it was a wonder she was even still alive.

He knew everything about her, down to the very last detail. He'd done his research, reading for hours upon hours about her experience as an amateur detective. Max couldn't help but admire her for her courage, especially being so young and having the nerve to face down hardened criminals.

But her past was exactly why he had been hired to grab her. It looked like it was finally catching up to her and she had no idea what was awaiting her. Of course, Max really didn't have a clue, either. He never asked questions—he just did what he was paid to do.

Part of him wished he could just turn around and bring her back home. Hell, it's what he should be doing as a human being. He shouldn't be so willing to turn her over to some whack job and leaving her to fend for herself. It worried Max that he was letting this bother him so much, that he was even feeling sorry for this young woman. Never before had that happened to him.

So, why the hell was it happening now?

Maybe I'm just getting soft. Or I'm letting the fact that she's beautiful sway me from what I'm supposed to be doing.

If this was any other job, he would have left her tied up and alone. So, what had changed from his past jobs to this one?

Max shook his head, feeling frustrated. He just had to put his walls back up and pretend she was just another mark, another paycheck. Once they landed, he would deliver Nancy and that would be it. He would move on to the next job and refuse to look back.

That may be easier said than done this time around, Max.

So, after much deliberation with myself, I have decided to make this a standalone Nancy Drew story. It doesn't tie in to any of my other stories so there won't be any continuation going on. I know this is going to alienate a lot of readers, but I always go into every single story with the same mindset: I'm not out to please everyone.

There are plenty of standalone Hardy Boys mysteries on this site. I could have easily let opinions sway me to include the brothers in this one, but in the end, it just wasn't going to work out. And I felt that if I did have the brothers in this one, it would feel too forced and I would lose some of my integrity as a writer because I was letting opinions dictate how I write.

I only hope you can understand my reasoning. I realize I won't have the amount of readers and reviewers for this story, but I'm okay with that. As long as one person is reading it, then I'm happy.

That being said, I would like to thank the following for their wonderful reviews: Huka, Mrs. Frank Hardy, Angelvie S, Michelle Gallichio, and Guest.

I apologize in advance for any mistakes!

Until next time!