A/N: Thanks as always for the wonderful feedback, Leya and Virtute! A short chapter to lead into what's coming next. We're getting close to the end, so the action will start to ramp up as the bad guys get a bit careless...and desperate.

Chapter 27

"Okay, so what we have so far is one murder victim with no apparent motive for the crime. One assault on Duncan with a deadly weapon and a smash and grab of museum artifacts. Plus, what appears to be a threatening note addressed to Duncan and left at the banquet. One case of arson and possible attempted murder on me. Three cases of ransacking, one breaking and entering, and one assault on Emily. And, two mysterious charmstones, at least one of them stolen from a museum in Edinburgh," Frank enumerated. "Oh, and zero clues."

Fenton sighed and thought for a moment. "I wouldn't say zero clues." He reached for a legal pad. "Tell me what you know so far."

"Okay." Frank perched on the edge of the desk. "Whoever committed the murder and the robbery at the museum is familiar with the security system. The cameras were turned off when Ayres' body was placed in that wheelbarrow of cement, and today I learned from Collig that the cameras were turned off during the party as well. I'm not sure if that was intentional or if it just happened because the electricity was shut off."

Fenton scribbled for a moment then looked up. "And they also somehow knew about the old staircase that led from the third floor to the basement. That pretty much tells me it's an inside job, son."

Frank nodded. "We also know that whoever is after Emily is after some sort of information. In her office and in her house, the perp was clearly searching for something on paper or something that would have been kept with papers. Her personal stuff wasn't really disturbed. And when the guy grabbed Emily, he asked her 'Where is it?'".

"And she really has no idea what he's talking about?"

Frank shook his head. "I think she somehow got something inadvertently. Something damaging to this guy."

"Makes me think he could be the murderer," Fenton mused.

"And we know that someone is trying to scare the pants off Duncan and he's doing a damn good job of it."

"Have you been able to talk to him about what happened that night at the dinner?"

"We were planning on it, but then Emily was attacked and we got a little sidetracked."

"Then why don't we do it now?" Fenton stood up. "Is he out of the hospital?"

"I think so."

"You know where he lives?"

"No, but I imagine Collig does."

Fenton reached for his phone. "I'll call him. You get ready."

"Thanks, Dad. I really appreciate your help." Frank headed out of the office to grab his car keys and wallet while Fenton called the police chief at home.

OOOOOoooooOOOOO

Emily led Joe down the third floor hallway to a sequestered bedroom tucked under the eaves of the old house. "Watch your head," she warned as they entered. "This is my bedroom, although Lizzie has taken it over completely."

"It's very pink." Joe said with a smile as he looked around.

She giggled. "My mom brought out all of our old toys and set them up in here. Lizzie wanted the 'fairy tale room' to be hers when she visits."

"Fairy tale room?"

"She thinks it's like being in a castle tower."

He nodded as Lizzie came rushing over to them. She grabbed Joe's hand and tugged. "Come on. Let's play."

"Are you sure this is okay?" Emily whispered as they knelt down in front of Lizzie's giant pile of fashion dolls.

"Yeah. I've...uh...never played with dolls before." Joe hesitated as he picked up a tiny tulle skirt. "Wait, I take that back. In second grade, Chet and I stole one of Callie's dolls and strapped her to a rocket for a test run. We didn't want to mess up his GI Joe if the rocket blew up."

Emily raised her eyebrows. "And did it?"

"No, but it burned off all the doll's hair." Joe grinned. "I don't think Callie has ever forgiven me for that."

"Here." Lizzie handed Joe a male fashion doll. "You can be Ken." She gave Emily a female doll with long, dark hair. "This is my Emily doll," she explained to Joe. "You're going to a party."

Joe turned to look at Emily's doll who was wearing thigh-high blue lamé boots, a matching trench coat with a fur collar and...nothing else. He gave her a wicked grin. "Is that your usual date night ensemble?"

Emily shook her head and laughed. "Um, Lizzie? Don't you think my doll needs more clothes?"

Lizzie shook her head. "They won't fit with her coat and she needs to wear that. It's cold outside."

"Honey, she's going to be freezing if she just wears a coat, boots and nothing else."

"I'll keep you warm," Joe said in a deep voice, as he walked his doll along the floor toward Emily's.

She dissolved into giggles as Lizzie pushed a pink convertible alongside them. "They have to drive in this."

Joe looked down. "My car is pink?"

"No silly, that's the girl's car." Lizzie took Joe's doll and shoved him in the front seat. "You don't have a car."

"I don't have a car?"

"You don't even have shoes," Emily pointed out, gesturing to the bare, plastic feet of his doll.

"This guy's a loser," Joe commented. "If I'm playing with dolls, it has to be one who's a real man. Don't you have any GI Joes around here?"

Emily laughed. "No. I come from a family of girls. GI Joe wasn't allowed in this house."

Joe grinned. "Not even on leave?"

Emily laughed as she tried to pull her doll's coat closed across her plastic buxom chest and failed. "No, although I can see why you'd think that."

Lizzie sighed and put her tiny hands on her hips as she turned her green eyes on Joe. "You have to play with this doll. He's the only daddy doll I have. And you need to drive the car. It's time for the dance."

"The dance?" Joe grinned. "We're going to a dance? Maybe we'd better stop someplace on the way so I can buy her flowers."

Emily laughed out loud. "Where on earth are you going to pin my corsage?"

Joe appeared to consider the question seriously. "Hmm, I guess you'll have to take off your coat when we get to the dance, won't you? How about the top of one of your boots?"

Emily fell over, laughing. "Holy cow, can you picture this at a school dance? Thigh-high boots and nothing else?"

"With a corsage," Joe reminded her. "You do have some class."

Sarah appeared at the bedroom doorway with a smile on her face. "What on earth is going on up here?"

"Your daughter is having us play dolls." She pointed to the convertible. "We're on our way to the prom."

Sarah burst out laughing. "Wow, Em, you're a tramp."

"I didn't dress myself."

Sarah nodded. "I know. Her fingers are too small to get the clothes on the right way." She moved across the room. "And really, I'm not sure I even want her playing with these, but she saw the piles of them we had in the attic and...well...I caved."

"She'll be fine. We did the same thing and none of us ever went on a date dressed like this." Emily waved the fashion doll in the air.

"Darn," Joe said.

Emily smiled at him as Sarah leaned down and scooped up her daughter who was already rubbing her eyes. "Time for your nap, munchkin. You can play with Emily and Joe later, when you wake up."

Lizzie let out a loud yawn as she laid her head down on her mother's shoulder. "Promise you won't play without me," she mumbled sleepily back at Emily.

"I promise." Emily stood up and crossed the room to give her niece a kiss on the cheek. "We'll leave everything just the way it is, okay?"

Lizzie nodded and stuck her thumb in her mouth as she was carried out of the room.

Emily turned to Joe as she set her doll on the bed. "Thanks for doing that."

"I had fun," Joe said.

"You're a good sport."

A voice was heard from the top of the stairs. "Em, is Joe up there? Dad wants him to play volleyball."

She flashed him a grin as she exited the room. "This is your test. I hope you're ready."

Joe's laugh had a bit of a nervous edge to it. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Emily gave him a quick, impromptu hug. "Don't worry. It'll be fine."

Yeah, Joe thought. As long as I don't make a giant fool out of myself.

OOOOOoooooOOOOO

*Barbie and Ken are trademarks of Mattel, Inc. GI Joe is owned by Hasbro, Inc.*