When they broke apart, Nancy said, "Good morning to you too."

"Are you ready?" Ned asked closing the door.

"Almost," Nancy said pulling her hair into a ponytail. She moved over to the mirror. "How did you sleep?"

"Pretty well," Ned replied. "Especially after I got the desk clerk to unlock my door."

"Why did you need your door unlocked?" She looked at him in the mirror. "Did you lose your key?"

"My key is in my clothes that are still at the Hardys."

She looked at him and started to laugh. She couldn’t believe Ned had left his key there. She realized he wasn’t laughing and tried to stop herself. "I’m sorry. But it’s hard to believe you didn’t empty your pockets."

"Believe me, when I realized I left my key at the Hardys, I felt like a complete idiot."

Nancy turned around and gave Ned a kiss. She said when she pulled away, "Come on, let’s go. Joe should be waiting for us."

"Okay."

*****

As they walked out the front door of the hotel, Joe pulled up. They got in the van and saw Joe smiling. As Joe headed for the hospital, he said, "Frank woke up last night. He is going to be fine."

"That’s wonderful," Nancy said.

"Dad was there when he came to," Joe said. "Frank was a little confused, but the doctor’s think he should be fine in a few days."

"Is he ready for visitors?" Ned asked.

"He was asking for us last night. Dad told him we were finishing the investigation and would stop by today."

When they arrived at the hospital, they noticed there were still a lot of reporters and camera crews hanging around the emergency entrance. Ned asked, "How do we get in?"

Joe parked the van and said, "We go in the visitor’s entrance. That’s out of the reporters view."

"Then let’s go," Nancy said getting out of the van.

Once inside the hospital, they made their way up to the third floor where Frank’s room was located. They stopped at the nurse’s desk and were directed to a room at the end of the hall. Joe knocked gently on the closed door. "Frank?"

"Come in," a weak voice answered.

Joe pushed the door open and went into the room followed closely by Nancy and Ned. They saw Frank was slightly propped up in bed. He was wearing a blue hospital gown that contrasted starkly with the yellow sheets and green blanket. He looked pale and tired. A large bandage was wrapped around his forehead.

Joe smiled at Frank and asked, "How are you feeling?"

"I’ve felt better," Frank said quietly. "I’m still a little groggy, but the doctor’s said that should be expected."

"We’re glad you’re awake," Nancy said as she and Ned went to the far side of the bed.

"You had us worried for a while," Ned said.

"Did you catch the people who grabbed me?"

"They’re in police custody," Joe said. "They were the ones that led up to your hiding place."

"Frank, did you have any idea who your kidnappers were?" Ned asked.

"No," Frank said. "They only showed up once and I think it was Tuesday night. They had me secured to the cot so I could barely move. I knew they were involved in the vandalism, but since they were wearing ski masks, I was in the dark about their identity." He looked at each one of them in turn. "Who was it?"

"Nathan Miles and Debbie Stellar," Nancy said and explained what had gone on since he disappeared. Joe and Ned jumped in to help explain. She finished by saying, "When we gave our statements last night, Debbie admitted to stealing the chloroform from her dad’s office and using it on you. They had only planned to keep you out of sight until they had all the tests. No one was supposed to get hurt."

"They deserve everything they get," Frank said.

At that moment there as a knock on the door as it slowly opened. Callie stepped into the room. She asked, "Can you handle one more visitor?"

"Sure," Frank said reaching out his left hand.

Callie moved over to the bed, took Frank’s left hand in hers and gave him a kiss. "I’m so glad you are all right. We were all so worried."

"How did you know I was here?"

"I stopped by and let her know this morning before coming here," Joe explained.

It was then that Callie noticed Nancy standing on the other side of the bed and asked, "What is she doing here?"

"Callie," Frank said pulling her over to the bed with the little strength he had and having her sit down beside him. "You need to know something."

"That you’re in love with Nancy?" Callie asked.

"No. Nancy is a detective friend of mine. She was working undercover to find out who was behind the vandalism. Her real name is Nancy Drew and that’s her fiance’, Ned Nickerson."

Callie looked at Nancy and could feel her face turning red. Callie said, "I’m sorry, but I thought you were trying to steal Frank away from me."

"Frank and I are just friends," Nancy said leaning against Ned as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "I didn’t mean to upset you, but we couldn’t tell you the reason I was here. We couldn’t risk my cover being blown."

"It was good she didn’t know," Frank said.

"And why is that?" Callie asked turning back to him.

"Because, if you knew, you wouldn’t have reacted the way you did."

"I guess you’re right," Callie said. "But I still think you should have said something."

"Sure," Frank said deciding to change the subject. "Dad told me there was a hurricane. Is there a lot of damage?"

"Not really," Joe said. "But we probably won’t have to go to school until Monday. There are some broken windows there."

"Hopefully I can make up that lit test I missed on Wednesday."

"I would give you my grade if I passed," Nancy said. "But I only answered one questions out of thirty."

"Only one?" Frank asked.

"I was a little preoccupied," Nancy laughed. "Besides, I’ve already graduated from high school."

"When are you getting out of here?" Ned asked.

"Probably Sunday, if I’m lucky. The doctor’s will probably let me out with the promise that I get plenty of rest." He looked at Nancy. "When are you guys heading back to River Heights?"

"Tomorrow night," Nancy said.

"I need to head back to college on Sunday," Ned said.

"It’s too bad you have to leave," Frank said. "We didn’t get to spend any time having fun."

"We might have had time for fun if you hadn’t allowed yourself to be kidnapped," Nancy teased.

"I deserve that," Frank said.

At that moment a nurse walked in and said, "You kids are going to have to leave. He needs his rest."

"All right," Joe said. "We’ll see you later Frank."

"Bye, guys," Frank said.

"Bye," they chorused.

*****

That evening, Nancy and Ned were parked on the cliff overlooking the bay where Nathan had taken her. Ned parked the car and they sat there. Nancy thought about how lucky they were. They had lived through a hurricane, solved the case, and the rental car didn’t suffer any damage from the fallen tree.

She got out of the car and went around to the front and looked into the bay. She watched the sun set as it slowly slid into the water like a snail moves across the ground. She felt Ned put an arm around her waist and she leaned against him.

Nancy said, "It’s a shame we have to leave tomorrow."

"I know, but we can always come back for a visit," Ned said. "Besides, I’ll be graduating in a few months and we can start planning the wedding."

"I can’t wait until we’re married," Nancy said looking up at Ned and back out to the setting sun. "It’s long overdue."

"It sure is," Ned said lifting Nancy’s chin and turning her face so he could look into her eyes. "I love you."

"I love you, too," Nancy said and kissed Ned.

When they broke apart, Ned reached under his shirt collar and lifted the chain that had Nancy’s engagement ring over his head. He unclasped the chain and pulled her ring off. Ned took her left hand and slid the ring on. He kissed her left hand and said, "This ring will never come off again."

"It’ll be on that finger for all eternity." Nancy gave Ned a kiss.

Nancy leaned against Ned as she looked at the sun which had set behind the horizon. The sky was a combination of colors and she felt very good about herself because she was with the man she loved and had just solved a case for her friends. She couldn’t think of a better place to be, than in the arms of the man she was going to marry in just over a year.

-The End-