Author's Note:

Merry Christmas! I know it has been quite a while since I updated but I thought today would be a good day to do so. I officially finished my first semester and came out feeling good. I got As in both classes and I'm just ecstatic! I have the next three weeks off so I plan on getting as much done with this story as I can. I also have another one coming though I am not sure when it will be out. We'll see how it goes after this story is over. Today is also my youngest daughter's birthday. Hard to believe that she is now seven years old. I was writing one of my original stories when I was pregnant with her. My, how time flies when you're having fun! Thank you to all who continue to support me by reading and leaving reviews for this story and for several other stories I have written. Your continued support is so much appreciated and I love hearing your thoughts and theories on what will happen next! This chapter is rather short so I hope that you enjoy! Wishing you all many blessings upon you and your families this Christmas. Much love and God bless!

Chapter Twenty-Five

Nancy stood still, hearing Tannen's words echo in her mind. She could feel the stares of the others in the small room but didn't care. She just wanted to know why someone would want her dead. She felt a gentle touch on her arm and looked over to see Vanessa giving her a sad smile.

"Are you all right?" the young woman asked softly.

Nancy didn't know what to say and looked back at the other room through the two-way mirror. The Hardys were still listening to Tannen whom Nancy tuned out. She glanced at Frank, seeing his anger rising. Joe was also having trouble keeping his cool though Fenton remained calm.

"Nancy, dear?" Gertrude said.

"Excuse me for a moment," Nancy suddenly announced, her voice cracking. She swiftly left the room, leaving the others surprised.

The moment she was in the hallway, Nancy took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Why would someone want to hurt her? What did she do? Nancy wracked her brain, trying to remember every article she ever wrote, every case she ever had, every criminal she helped put away, but nothing came up.

Looking around the bullpen, she wondered what to do. Then she remembered there was one other person who probably knew more about who wanted her dead than Tannen. Nancy quickly walked along the wall, avoiding eye contact with any officer who went by. Thankfully, none of the officers seemed to pay her any attention making it easy for her to slip into the jail cell area. After slowly closing the door behind her, Nancy walked toward the darkened area of cells, her heels clacking loudly on the cement floor. Only one cell was occupied and its occupant watched her from the bench he sat on.

"Well, well," he replied. Angelo Biancci leaned forward in the dim light, a smirk smeared across his face. "To what do I owe the pleasure of such beauty?"

"Why do you want me dead?" Nancy bluntly asked.

"Right to the point," the man chuckled, rising from the bench. "And with spunk. I like that in a dame. Does...uh the others know you're here?"

"No," she shook her head, her voice cracking as she continued to speak. "I want answers and I wanted to be alone to hear them. What did I ever do to you?"

"You didn't do nothing, Dollface," Biancci stated. Nancy looked surprised and took a step back. "Why, you're too cute to kill. Why would I?"

"But you tried to kill me."

"True," he nodded. "But that wasn't because I ordered it."

"Was it Owen?"

"Ha! That's a laugh!" Biancci sniffed. "How could he? He's in jail, remember? Besides, Worley wanted you because of your father...and because you knew the Hardys. Nothing more."

"You...you knew who he was?" Nancy whispered, her eyes wide in alarm.

"Of course, I did!" he smirked. The mobster stepped closer to the bars, his eyes staring at her intently. "I was the one who got them out of New York after Benji shot Fen. I didn't know you knew the Hardys though until Worley told me. My uncle wanted them close to Chicago, in case we needed them again."

"Again?"

"I was helping Worley with the bootlegging behind Vinny's back," announced Biancci proudly. "I got a cut of it too and I made a lot of money for my family in Chicago. Vinny found out a year or so later and wanted me to, uh, 'relocate' to the Hudson with a shiny new pair of cement shoes. Fen intervened and asked I be spared. He's a good man but horrible judge of character. I'm surprised he never knew what I did. I left for Chicago not long after, banned from New York for life. I've been a part of my uncle's business dealings and I look to take over for him in a few years."

"Too bad you won't be able to do that now," Nancy spat angrily. "I'll make sure of that."

"I'm sure you will but I don't think you'll live to see it." He cocked his head, watching her then chuckled. "You have no idea, do you?"

"I don't know what you mean."

The mobster stepped forward, slowly grasping the bars between his large hands. "Who else would want you gone? Who would benefit from it? Think about that for a minute. This whole thing has been about those jewels."

"But I didn't know anything about them," Nancy stammered, her heart pounding.

"True, true," he nodded. "But you do know who the buyer is and I can bet that he ain't far from here looking for you and those jewels."

"Do you believe Tannen?" Joe scoffed walking into the hallway. "It sounds too far-fetched if you ask me."

"He's terrified, Joe," stated his father. "You saw his face. Why would he lie?"

"And Nancy?" he asked. "Why would this mysterious buyer want Nancy dead?"

"There has to be an answer,' Frank shook his head. "This is my fault. If I hadn't been so stupid and bought those jewels, this never would have happened."

"It's not your fault, Frank," replied his brother. Frank stared at him, dumbfounded. "I blamed you for everything that's happened, but we all need to get over it. What's important is making sure that nothing else happens. I promised Ned that I would watch over Nancy, and I've neglected that for a while now. Not anymore."

"Wow, Joe," Fenton replied. "I'm surprised to hear you say that. But I'm also proud." He looked up to see Chief Collig stepping out of the side room and made his way toward him. "We'll figure out the jewel situation but first we need to talk to Nancy and get some more answers from her. Tannen said that she wrote an article that exposed our buyer and only she knows who it is."

"Fenton," Collig said gruffly, approaching the trio, "Tannen seems like he somewhat knows what's going on. You think he's holding anything back?"

"No, Ezra," the detective shook his head. "I think he told us everything. We just need some answers from Nancy. Where is she?"

"Nancy walked out right after Tannen said she was a target," Gertrude butted in before Collig could answer. "Poor thing looked like she was going to throw up."

"And you let her leave?" Fenton cried incredulously.

"Well, what were we supposed to do, Fenton?" his sister huffed, placing her hands on her hips. "Tie her to a chair and wait for you?"

"She said she needed a moment," Collig replied, stepping between the siblings. "Nothing's going to happen to her here in the station."

"Where did she go then?" Frank inquired. He glanced around the room but did not see Nancy.

"I don't know," the chief answered, "but we'll search the premises."

"I'll go into the ladies' room," Vanessa suggested.

"I'll take you there," Joe announced. She nodded then the pair headed toward the front of the station.

"I doubt she left the building considering," Fenton stated, "but it wouldn't hurt to take a look just in case."

"I'll get a few of my men to go outside," Collig declared authoritatively. "That way none of you need to leave. We can't have anyone else go missing at a time like this."

"No one saw her leave?" Fenton asked, shaking his head.

"I'm sure someone did. I'll ask around." The chief walked over to the nearest desk and started barking orders to some of the officers standing around.

"Where do you think she went, Dad?" Frank asked softly once Collig was gone.

"I'm not sure," Fenton muttered, his gaze sweeping the room. His brow furrowed as realization struck, and he looked sharply at Frank.

"Biancci," Frank murmured, his expression grim as he moved.

"What?" Gertrude shrieked, her head moving back and forth as she looked at the men. "Do you know something?"

"We'll be right back, Trudy," he muttered, hurrying away to follow Frank.

"At least answer me, Fenton Hardy!" The woman scoffed, folding her arms across her chest. "Men!"

Nancy bit her lip, confused by what Biancci had said. "I...I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, I think you do, Dollface," the mobster smirked again. "You just don't know it. You met someone a few years ago, he told you a story."

Staring at the ground, Nancy thought about the articles she wrote. Again, nothing came to mind. Nothing about a set of jewels, anyway. She looked back at him, confusion written across her delicate face. Clearing her sore throat, Nancy shook her head. "I don't remember writing any story about jewels."

"You didn't write about that, Sweetheart," Biancci said knowingly. "You met a man in a hotel, you two hit it off real nice from what I heard. Say, weren't you married at the time? Pretty shady if you ask me."

"I never cheated on Ned!" Nancy angrily cried, moving closer to the bars. "And I never..." She suddenly stopped, her eyes going wide in alarm. "No, that can't be," she murmured, fragments of memory swirling like a storm she couldn't quite grasp.

The condemned man's smile broadened as he leaned toward her. "You sure about that?" he asked, tilting his head, his smirk sharpening like a blade.

"How did...how did you know about that?"

"You happened to be in a hotel my uncle runs, Doll. The moment you walked in, someone was watching you."

"But I didn't go in there to meet anyone on purpose," she defended, her voice shaking. "It was..."

"Raining," Biancci winked. Nancy gasped, putting her hand over her mouth. "Yeah, I know the whole story. Someone else was watching too. Didn't you ever wonder why he never contacted you again?"

"Henry..." whispered Nancy, taking a step back. She shook her head again, closing her eyes.

Biancci's laugh was low and guttural, his eyes gleaming with a predator's satisfaction. "You're as good as dead, Dollface."

She was shaken, unsure of what to do. Nancy spun around to flee, only to crash into something unyielding—a wall of muscle shrouded in shadow. Cold fingers seized her wrist with force, sending a jolt of panic through her body. A scream echoed in the air as she tried to get away.