As she went inside, she thought how perfect the house was. It was a small two-story house. On the first floor there was the kitchen with adjoining dining room, a living room and a den. The second floor housed three bedrooms and a full bath.

She went into the kitchen. She planned to make Ned a special dinner. She wanted the night to be perfect. They hadn’t been spending a lot of time together. Ned had been working hard since they returned from their honeymoon. All the work he was doing was exhausting him. She had also been busy on a couple cases, which ended up limiting their time together.

Nancy sighed as she prepared dinner. She thought about Ned. Every night when he came home, he would sit down on the couch and fall asleep. He’d get up, go to work, come home and the pattern would continue. Sometimes getting in a little work around the house.

Nancy wanted everything to be perfect. She figured it would be a nice change for them to sit down and enjoy a meal together. She was deep in thought when the phone rang. She grabbed the extension in the kitchen and said, "Hello?"

"Hello? Is this Nancy Drew?" a male voice asked.

"Yes," Nancy said slowly.

"My name is Nathaniel Smith. I’m an old friend of your father, Carson Drew."

"It’s nice to meet you, but how did you get this number?"

"I asked Carson for the number when I called him because I need your assistance."

As Nancy turned away from the stove, she asked, "Why do you need my help?"

"I know you do detective work and I need your help," Nathaniel said. "My daughter and I live in Kansas and she is in high school. She’s being threatened. She finds notes in her locked and doesn’t know who is sending them. The notes threaten her life."

"The notes may be a joke," Nancy suggested.

"This is no joke. She had recently been at rehearsal for the school play. She has the lead. She was almost hit by a piece of scenery. The back drop fell and missed her by inches." He took a breath. "I need to know who is threatening her. I’d like you to look into it and find the individuals involved."

Nancy remained quiet. She wanted to help find out who was involved. She didn’t to see people threatened. Nancy said, "I’ll let you know. I’ll call you later."

"All right." Nathaniel left his number before hanging up.

Nancy put the phone down and went back to getting dinner ready for Ned. As she worked, she thought about Nathaniel’s problem. Someone at the school must really dislike his daughter. But the scenery falling could’ve been an accident. Finding threatening notes doesn’t prove anything.

She knew Nathaniel was worried about his daughter. She knew he wanted help. She knew it was tough to ask for help.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and quickly turned around to find Ned standing there. He was wearing a suit as usual, but his tie was loosened around his neck and the top two buttons of his dress shirt were undone.

"Nancy, what’s with this mess?" Ned asked.

Nancy looked around the kitchen. She didn’t realize she had made such a mess. Dishes were stacked in the sink. Empty pots were on the counter. There were also little pieces of food that had fallen onto the counter scattered about. She hadn’t had a chance to clean up the mess before he got home.

She looked back at Ned. "I was making dinner for us."

"I’m not hungry." Ned moved over to the refrigerator, pulled out a bottle of soda and left the kitchen.

Nancy stood there shocked. She couldn’t believe Ned. She had spent time making them a nice dinner and he wasn’t hungry. I can’t believe him. I thought he would enjoy the meal. I thought he’d want to sit down to a nice meal with me after all the work I’d put into it. I thought he would have been a little more appreciative. I guess I was wrong.

Nancy spent the next hour cleaning up the kitchen. She put the food into containers and then into the refrigerator. A she worked, the angrier she became. She was angry for the way Ned ignored her gesture. It wasn’t the first time.

Once the kitchen was in order, she went into the living room. She stood in the doorway and saw that Ned had changed into jeans and a T-shirt and was sitting in the armchair, watching one of the sports channels.

As she left the living room and went up to the bedroom, she realized this wasn’t how she pictured their marriage. She sat down on the bed. She had pictured the two of them sitting down to dinner every night, talking about their day and then sometimes, sitting on the couch together afterwards, just enjoying one another’s company. But that didn’t seem to be happening.

Without thinking, Nancy picked up the phone and dialed Nathaniel’s number. Nancy figured Ned wouldn’t miss her if she was working on a case. He doesn’t seem to notice when I’m here either.

"Smith residence, Nathaniel speaking."

"Hello, Mr. Smith. This is Nancy."

"I’m surprised you called back so soon."

"Well, I wanted you to know I was coming."

"That’s wonderful," Nathaniel said. "I’m glad you’re coming to help us. You can stay with us."

"I’ll need to go undercover. That’s the only way I’ll be able to investigate."

"That’s fine."

"I’ll let you know when I’ll be arriving."

"I’ll be waiting for your call, Nancy. And, Nancy, thank you."

"You’re welcome," Nancy put the phone down.

She was staring at the phone when she heard a creak on the wood floor. She turned and saw Ned standing in the doorway. Ned asked, "What’s going on?"

"I’ve got a case. I need to get ready." Nancy got to her feet.

Ned came into the room and asked, "Where are you going?"

"Kansas."

"Why Kansas?"

"That’s where the case was." Nancy left the room and went downstairs. She didn’t want to be vague with Ned, but she didn’t want to have a long, drawn out discussion. His behavior earlier had told her that he didn’t care and she didn’t think this would make any difference.

She could hear Ned following her. She went into the den and sat down at the desk.

As she looked for the phonebook, Ned asked, "Why do you have to go now?"

"The case just came up." She pulled the phone book out She called the airport and reserved a seat on the earliest flight to Kansas, which to her luck, was that evening.

Ned moved to the desk as she talked on the phone. When she set the phone down, he asked, "When do you leave?"

"Plane leaves in two hours." Nancy got to her feet, left the den and went back upstairs.

Once in the bedroom, she pulled her suitcase out of the closet and set it on the bed. She knew she had to hurry if she wanted to make her flight. She started grabbing clothes and setting them on the bed beside her suitcase.

As she packed, she heard Ned say, "I don’t want you to go."

"I already agreed to help. I have to go." She turned back to her suitcase as Ned sat down on the bed.

"Will you take a later flight?"

"I need to go now," Nancy said, putting her clothes in the suitcase.

She watched Ned take hold of her hand. He spoke softly. "Nancy, look at me." She looked at his face. "Why are you so eager to go?"

"I’m not eager. I don’t want to go."

"Then why are you going?"

Nancy looked back at her suitcase. She knew she needed to be honest with Ned. "I need to get away. That’s why I have to go."

"What’s so wrong that you have to leave?" Ned asked.

"A lot." She looked pointedly at Ned. "Things have changed."

"Things are supposed to change. We’re married now."

"You’ve changed," Nancy stated.

"How have I changed?"

"Mostly your behavior. Before we were married, I always looked forward to seeing you. But now, the feeling is gone. The spark we had is gone." She looked down at her suitcase. "I honestly feel left out."

There was no response from Ned.

She looked up at the clock on the wall by the door. She said as she zipped her suitcase closed, "I need to get to the airport."

"I’ll drive you."

"Okay," Nancy said and Ned grabbed her suitcase.

* * * * *

When they arrived at the airport, Nancy picked up her ticket and checked her suitcase in. She called Nathaniel Smith to inform him of when she would be arriving. He agreed to meet her at the airport.

All of a sudden her flight was called over the loud speakers. Nancy looked at Ned. She could see Ned was unhappy. Through the entire ride to the airport, Ned tried to convince her to give up the case.

Ned reached over and touched her face. Ned asked, "Will you please be careful?"

"I promise."

"I’d like you to call me when you land so I know you arrived safely. I’ll wait up for your call."

Nancy nodded. They were both quiet for a moment. Ned broke the silence. "I love you, Nancy."

Nancy saw sadness in Ned’s eyes. She said, "I love you, too."

Ned leaned down and they kissed.

"Flight 403 is now boarding."

Nancy and Ned pulled apart. Nancy said, "I have to go."

Ned nodded.

Nancy boarded the plane. Her seat was by the window. She looked out the window toward the terminal. She could see Ned watching the plane. Part of her wished Ned was with her, but another part told her she needed this time away from Ned to figure things out.

She felt the plane move. The plane moved away from the terminal. She looked away from the window and knew she was on her way.