Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

STRANDED WITNESS

msnancydrew

Chapter 15

THE CHAPTERS

“Don’t say a word.” Eric hissed into Nancy ’s ear. He had her pinned with her back against the wall.

Nancy nodded. She tried to divert her gaze from him, but she couldn’t get over the hatred that she saw in them.

“Why are the police still investigating this?” He asked. “Don’t you remember what I told you would happen if you kept them involved?”

“I told them to drop it.” Nancy said. “They wouldn’t believe me especially when that missing persons came in.”

“You didn’t try hard enough.” Eric said.

“I did.” Nancy said. “I promise you.”

“Your promises mean nothing to me!” Eric said. He pushed her roughly to the floor.

Nancy grunted in pain and began to look around for something to use as a weapon.

“Why did you go talk to my sister?” Eric asked, advancing on her.

“How did you know that?” Nancy asked.

“I followed you.” Eric said. “Why did you go see her?”

“We found out about your arrest record up in Maine .” Nancy said.

“What do you mean we?” Eric asked. Then he nodded his head. “Oh, yes. Your two little friends that were with you.” He took another slow step towards her.

Nancy scooted back, feeling around blindly for something to use as a weapon. Her hand finally found her cane and that fallen when Eric had grabbed her. She grasped it tightly in her hand.

“How did you get in here?” Nancy asked.

Eric gave her a cold smile. “You know, you really should have Luke do something about that window of yours. You never know when someone can come in uninvited.”

“The police will find you.” Nancy said.

“I really hope they do.” Eric said. “Now, I think we’ve chatted long enough, don’t you?”

As Eric walked towards her, Nancy grabbed her cane and hit him in the legs with it as hard as she could. He fell to the ground, cursing. Nancy quickly got up and stepped over him. She was about to make it to the door when he grabbed her from behind.

“That was stupid, Nancy .” He whispered harshly into her ear.

Nancy rammed her elbow into his stomach and he let go of her, gasping for air. Nancy then grabbed her small bedside lamp and crashed it over his head. He fell to the floor, unconscious. Nancy used the cord from the lamp, and tied his hands tightly behind his back. She then grabbed her cell phone off of her bed and called Frank.

“Frank, where are you?” Nancy asked as soon as he answered.

“We’re on our way back.” Frank answered.

“How far?” Nancy persisted.

“Five minutes.” Frank said.

“Make it two.” Nancy said and hung up before he could say anything else. She then dialed Sheriff Vaughn.

“He’s here.” Nancy said.

“Who?” Sheriff Vaughn asked.

“Eric. He’s in my room.” Nancy said.

“I’ll be right there.” Vaughn said.

Nancy snapped her phone shut and sat down on her bed. She needed t catch her breath. She finally had Eric–the man that had terrorized her for the past few days. He would finally be arrested and pay for his crimes.

Nancy let out a huge sigh of relief. She felt as if a huge burden had been lifted off her shoulders.

Luke, she thought. I need to tell Luke.

Nancy opened her door and yelled for Luke. He came rushing up the stairs in a panic.

“What is it, Nancy ?” He asked, holding her by the shoulders.

“In my room.” Nancy said.

Luke let go of her and walked into the room. He stopped short when he saw Eric lying on the floor with his hands tied behind him.

“What is he doing here?” Luke asked. “What happened?”

“He snuck up here.” Nancy said. “He was trying to kill me. You didn’t hear all of the noise up here?”

“No. But I had to go outside and get something out of the shed.” Luke said. He enveloped Nancy in a hug. “Are you okay?”

Nancy nodded her head. “I’m fine.”

Luke looked back down at Eric and Nancy saw a look of panic and hatred pass through his eyes at the same time. But before she could say anything to him, Frank and Joe rushed into the room, followed by the sheriff.

“ Nancy !” Frank said, rushing over to her. “Are you all

right? What happened?”

“Look.” Nancy said, pointing to the floor.

Eric was just beginning to stir. Nancy reflexively took a step back and Frank draped a protective arm over her shoulders. Eric looked around the room at everyone staring at him and began to struggle with his bonds.

“Just stay right where you are, Mr. Warren.” Sheriff Vaughn said. “The only place you’re going to is jail.”

Sheriff Vaughn pulled out a pair of handcuffs and hauled Eric up to his feet.

“Eric Warren, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand these right as I have stated them to you?”

“Yes.” Eric said tersely.

Sheriff Vaughn grabbed him by the upper arm and started to escort him out the door. She looked at Nancy . “We’ll need you to come down to the station to give us you statement.”

“Of course.” Nancy said.

Eric turned to look at Nancy . “You have no idea what you’re doing. You’re making and mistake and you don’t even realize it.”

“That’s enough, Mr. Warren.” Vaughn said and escorted him out of the room.

For the first time, Nancy realized that she was shaking. She felt Frank giver her should a reassuring squeeze.

“You okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine. Let’s just go down to the station so I can get this over with.” Nancy said.

“Okay.” Frank said and Nancy let him lead her out the door.

*****

When they arrived at the police station, the station was jumping with the news of the capture of Eric Warren. Joe and Luke had decided to stay at the house while Frank went with Nancy to giver her statement to the sheriff. Nancy and Frank made their way into Sheriff Vaughn’s office and within five minutes, Sheriff Vaughn was sitting at her desk.

“Have you questioned him yet?” Nancy asked.

“Not yet.” Sheriff Vaughn said. ‘We were waiting to get your statement first.”

She pulled out a form from her desk and wrote down Nancy ’s statement as she gave it to her. Thirty minutes later, Nancy had giver her every single detail.

“Are you sure that’s everything?” Sheriff Vaughn asked.

“Yes. Positive.” Nancy said.

“All right.” Vaughn said. She stood up and held out her hand to Nancy . “We’ll call you as soon as we find out anything from Eric.”

“Actually, I was wondering if I could stick around while you question Eric.” Nancy said.

Sheriff Vaughn hesitated. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

“I agree with the sheriff, Nancy.” Frank said.

“I’ll stay out of the way.” Nancy promised. “I just need to hear what he has to say.”

“Fine.” Sheriff Vaughn said. “But stay out of the way.”

She led the way to the interrogation room and had Nancy and Frank sit on the other side of the two-way mirror where Eric couldn’t see them.

Nancy looked into the room and saw Eric sitting with a man who she assumed to be his lawyer. He was middle-aged with dirty blonde hair. She watched as Vaughn sat opposite them and turned on a tape recorder.

“Today is March 21, 2005 . This is Sheriff Bethanie Vaughn questioning murder suspect Eric Warren. He has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of Madelyn Fields and the attempted murder of Nancy Drew. He has been read his rights and he does have a lawyer present, Bryan Hodges.”

“First off, let me say that you do not have enough evidence to hold my client for these crimes, not to mention the fact that you haven’t even found Ms. Fields’ body. So there is no proof that a murder has even been committed.” Bryan said.

“And now that you have made your point perfectly clear, Mr. Hodges,” Vaughn said, smiling sweetly at him.”How about you let me whether we have enough evidence or not.”

Bryan gave her a look but didn’t say anything. Nancy could see it was clear that they had a history together.

“Good.” Vaughn said. “Now, Eric, what were you doing the night of March 18 at around one in the morning?”

“What any other normal person was doing at that hour–sleeping.” Eric said.

“Can anyone verify this?” Vaughn asked.

“Do you mean, was anyone sleeping with me at the time–no.” Eric said, smugly.

“Quit screwing around with me, Eric.” Vaughn said. You’re only making it worse on yourself.”

She opened the folder that she had brought into the room with her and spread it out in front of her. “Do you want to tell me why you felt the need to sneak into Ms. Drew’s room the night after the murder and threaten her as she slept?”

“I didn’t want her talking to you.” Eric said.

“Why not?” Vaughn asked.

“Because I couldn’t afford to get arrested again.” Eric said.

“Because of the arrests in Maine .” Vaughn said.

“Yeah.” Eric grumbled.

“Did you know Madelyn Fields?” Vaughn asked.

“She’s my sister’s best friend and she used to go out with my best friend.” Eric said.

“Did you know her personally, though?” Sheriff Vaughn asked.

“We hung out a few times.” Eric said.

“Why did you try to kill Ms. Drew?” Vaughn asked.

Frank felt Nancy tense next to him and he gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

“I followed her over to my sister’s house. I didn’t like her talk to Veronica.” Eric said. “And then Ronnie called me and told me that Nancy was saying things that weren’t true.”

“Like what?” Vaughn asked

“That Maddie was dead.” Eric said.

“But that is true.” Vaughn said.

Eric just looked at her and gave her a small smile.

“So, that was reason enough for you to try to kill Nancy .” Vaughn said.

“Seemed like a god enough reason for me.” Eric said.

“Anything else you would like to tell me, Mr. Warren? Like, perhaps, where Maddie’s body is?” Vaughn asked.

Eric just looked at her again and remained silent. Sheriff Vaughn sighed, pushed her chair back, and went to where Nancy and Frank were sitting.

“It’s like trying to drive a nail through a brick wall.” Vaughn said, flustered.

“It’s almost as if he’s hiding something else.” Nancy said.

“Whatever it is, he’s not chomping at the bits to tell me what it is.” Vaughn said. “Look, it doesn’t seem like he’s going to tell me anything else, so why don’t you two get back to Luke’s. I’ll call you as soon as we know anything.”

“But–“ Nancy began.

Frank interrupted her. “She’s right, Nan . You really should get some rest.”

“You have nothing to worry about, Nancy .” Vaughn said. “I have no intention of releasing him.”

There was a knock at the door and Deputy Andrews came into the room.

“What is it, Deputy?” Vaughn asked.

“Sheriff, there’s something out here you should really see.” Deputy Andrews said.

“Well, what is it?” Vaughn asked, impatiently.

“There’s a woman out here claiming to be Madelyn Fields.” Andrews said.

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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.