rank checked his watch for about the tenth time in as many minutes. Nervously, he sat on the couch in the lobby of the restaurant, waiting for Nancy and Ned to arrive. Inside, Callie, Joe, and Vanessa were sitting together at a table in the corner overlooking the water, a table that Frank had worked hard to reserve in advance. Knowing how Bayport was famous for its lake views, he had wanted to reunite with Nancy and Ned, and have everyone become re-acquainted in the best way he saw possible. For some reason, it had become very important to him that everything go well tonight.

For some reason; for some reason. Glancing at his watch again, Frank sighed inwardly and adjusted his tie. Tonight was a night that was sure to be interesting, to say the least. On a professional level, he knew that this evening could lead to a break in the case of the men who had wreaked havoc on Vanessa and Callie's mindsets. There was no limit to what he would go through to ease their minds, and to make sure that the culprits would soon be brought to justice.

It was not the professional level, though, that really concerned him. Tonight he would see Nancy again for the first time in just over four years. Although they kept in touch on a fairly regular basis, they hadn't been able to get together – purposefully, he sometimes wondered? – in a long time. He was both anxious and excited to see her again.

"Frank?"

He had been so deep in thought he almost jumped out of his skin when he heard his brother's voice behind him.

Whirling around, he felt his heart start to beat again. "Since when do you go sneaking up on people like that?" he snapped, immediately disliking the tone of his voice when he heard it. Instantly, he struggled to regain composure. "Sorry. It's just that I wasn't expecting you."

"Uh-huh," Joe replied, dryly. "It's not like you're at a restaurant with me or anything." He took a seat next to his brother.

Feeling the color rise to his cheeks, he scrambled for a reply. "Uh…how are Vanessa and Callie?" he asked.

"Oh, they're fine." Joe eyed his brother suspiciously. Joe knew Frank better than Frank knew himself sometimes, and this was one of those moments. He continued. "Which, big brother, is more than I can say about you at the moment. Are you okay?"

Defensive, but trying to give a calm facade, he answered, "Yeah, sure. I mean, why wouldn't I be? They're just late, that's all."

Joe shook his head and decided to confront Frank directly. There wasn't a lot he could say, but he could let his brother know that he was being obvious and that he'd be watching him.

"Frank?"

"Yeah?" Frank met his brother's eyes, and adjusted his tie again.

"Quit it."

Frank stopped, then let out a sigh. "I'm sorry. I'm just a little nervous, I guess. I haven't seen Nancy…and Ned," he quickly added, "in a long time. And it's an important case and all."

Joe held up a hand before speaking again. "Listen, big brother. I'm not going to say anything because there's nothing for me to say now, right?" He met his brother's eyes head on.

"I don't know what you're..." Frank began, but when he saw that Joe was about to cut through his excuse with a knife, he stopped and said "Right," snapping his jaw shut.

"Listen," Joe began, more gently this time. "You know you don't need to explain yourself to me, but you seriously have to calm down. They're old friends, right? Specifically, I'm referring to Nancy," he added, pointedly. "So what's the big deal? It'll be nice to see her, get her help, and have a nice evening." Joe chose his next words carefully, knowing he was walking a fine line. "Your fiancée is waiting inside for you, and I am more than sure that she'd like the pleasure of your company."

That seemed to snap Frank back to reality. He found himself looking at Joe, and a sheepish grin appeared on his face. Joe had grown up so much. At times, like this one, Frank even felt like he was the younger brother. Anytime there was any issue at all to do with girls, there was a strange role reversal – there had always been. Just as Frank was about to comment on Joe's insight and maturity, he heard his brother quip, "Did you see our waitress? She was pretty hot."

Frank choked.

"You all right? What's so funny?" Joe asked.

Frank chuckled. "Nothing. I was about to say something – but I just took it back."

"Huh?"

"Never mind," Frank said with a smile, and patted Joe on the back. He felt a lot better and more in control now that the subject had changed, and he was squarely back in the big brother position.

"You're right, you know," Frank went on.

"I'm always right," Joe responded with a smile. "About what specifically, though?"

"About the fact that I have my fiancée inside right now, and I should be spending some time with her," Frank answered, choosing to ignore Joe's comment.

Just as they got up to go back to the table, they both heard a familiar voice. "Hey you two! Leaving so soon?"

Joe was the first to turn around, and, despite everything, he found himself smiling. "Nancy Drew!" he exclaimed, lifting her off the floor in a big bear hug. "Long time no see!"

Pulling back, Nancy smiled widely. "Hey, Joe. It's good to see you. You look good."

"So do you," Joe replied, sincerely. Nancy looked more than good, actually. At a bit over 5'8", her blue-green eyes were set off by a green wrap dress that also complimented her strawberry blonde hair. Although she'd always been attractive, she seemed even more lovely now. Something was different about her, but he couldn't quite place it. The only thing that he knew for sure was that, beneath her stunning good looks, lay a cool, organized and collected mind. Overall, she was a person who had seen as much excitement in her life as he had.

"And you remember Ned?" she went on, holding onto his hand tightly.

"Of course," Joe responded, reaching out to shake Ned's hand. Ned stood about Joe's height, with dark hair and dark eyes, similar in coloring to his brother. But even Ned looked a bit different. His hair was streaked blonde by the sun, and he smiled happily, open and warm.

"How are you, Joe?" he asked.

As the two made small talk, Nancy turned to Frank, ignoring the racing in her own heart which she had expected, but hoped not to feel. Frank stood before her, more handsome than ever, and she was unsure of what to say after their initial greeting.

Then, though, something strange happened. As she heard Ned's laughter presumably at one of Joe's quips, she felt herself relax, and her face suddenly didn't seem as beet-red as it had felt only a moment before. Ned – her Ned – was here with her, and that was really all that mattered. Seeing her calm a bit must have had a similar effect on Frank, because, in an instant, that one illusory moment of awkwardness had disappeared. Had it been there at all? Had she made it up? Looking at Frank's sincere, bright smile, she honestly couldn't decide.

She only knew one thing – it was nice to see him again.

As Joe lead the procession into the dining room, still talking to Ned, Nancy finally was able to focus on what Frank was saying. As they all were introduced, Nancy watched Frank wrap an arm securely around a beautiful blonde girl. It took Nancy an instant to recognize her.

"And my fiancée, Callie?" she heard him say.

Callie greeted her warmly, extending her hand. "Pleased to meet you – again." She laughed. "Wow, it's been a lot of years."

"It has," Nancy agreed. She had only met Callie once- briefly – but she remembered her as quiet. And, although Nancy remembered her as pretty, she didn't really stand out. But she did stand out now. She really was lovely.

Stop checking her out! Nancy scolded herself mentally. Taking a step back to assess the situation, as she always did, she laughed inwardly and finally let herself relax and enjoy the evening. Joe was cracking everyone up with some story of a college fraternity party. Vanessa, whom she'd just met, was listening with a look on her face somewhere between mortification and adoration. Right away, Nancy knew that she'd like her. Ned was laughing, taking a moment to wink at Nancy and to squeeze her hand, and she felt herself assured once again. Callie was teasing Joe about the veracity of his tale, while Frank was looking at Callie with…love? Yeah, love.

And she knew things were as they should be – for the moment, anyway.

As the evening was coming to a close, Frank, Joe and Nancy made plans to meet at the hotel where she was staying with Ned to "discuss the case." Instinctively,, Nancy knew that Frank and Joe were going out of their way to NOT mention the case. She couldn't blame them. What had happened to that poor girl...and to Vanessa's friend...and to Callie and Vanessa, for Pete's sake, sounded awful, and, if she were in the reverse position, she didn't know if she would have liked to have a terrific evening ruined by those memories.

As they were finishing dessert, Vanessa's cell phone went off. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "Sorry. I always hate it when phones go off during dinner. Sorry," she said again, glancing down into her purse to check the number.

"Is that your other boyfriend?" Joe teased her.

"Which one?" Vanessa replied with a straight face, getting a chorus of laughter all around.

Joe shrugged and smiled, knowing he'd been outshined by Vanessa. He kind of liked it.

"Actually, it's my mom," Vanessa apologized. "Would you all excuse me for a moment?"

She got up quickly and left the room to take the call.

Throughout dinner, Nancy found herself feeling more and more like normal. Frank really was a dear friend to her, and he really did look happy. She also found herself inexplicably drawn to Callie as well. She was smart, funny, and considerate – and very warm. You did well, Frank, she mused to herself. Yes, she still thought Frank was handsome. Yes, he still made her heart beat faster. Yes, she was still – maybe a little bit – in serious "like" with him. She couldn't bear to even think the other word, not with Ned there, and knowing that both she and Frank were off the market.

And happy to be off the market, she reminded herself.

It was the end of a perfect evening.

Almost.

Until Vanessa came into the room with a look of utter horror on her now pale face.

Joe stood up at once and rushed over to her, helping her to sit down at the table.

"Van?! What is it? What's wrong?"

Shaking her head for a moment to collect herself, she managed to choke out, "Mandy."

"What?" Joe asked.

"Mandy," she repeated, referring to their friend who had been present at the time of the assault.

"The girl who's missing," Frank interrupted, trying to get her to speak.

"No," Vanessa said, quietly, a haunted look on her face. "The one who's beaten…and raped…" She paused, managing a shaky breath before she continued, "and who's now – dead."

In the opposite corner of the dining room, a man with light blue eyes smiled. One down; three to go. It had begun….

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Disclaimer

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The Hardy Boys Fan Fiction authors of the Hardy Detective Agency have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.