A/N: After a very long hiatus, I present you all with the next chapter! I apologize for taking so long, but with classes and stuff it's so hard to find some time to update. I hope to get a couple of more chapters up this summer, but we'll see what happens. I appreciate everyone who continues to read and review!

Chapter 12

"Morning, sunshine," Joe greeted as Bess made an effort to mask the sound of closing her bedroom door.

"What are you doing up so early?" Bess gave him a suspicious look.

"I could ask you the same question because personally, you look good dripping wet," Joe said with a wink. Bess glared back at him and he laughed. "Actually, I guess I'm excited. It's been awhile since we've been a team working on a case."

"Speaking of teams," Bess said with a devilish grin as she took a seat at the dining room table across from Joe, "you know that Nancy and Frank slept together last night?"

"You mean they—"

"No!" Bess glared at him. "Seriously, I was in the room. They wouldn't do that! Get your mind outta the gutter Joe Hardy."           

"Hey, they've kept all their feelings and emotions bottled up for so long, I wouldn't have been surprised." Bess looked at Joe in disbelief. "Okay, okay. I guess I would've been surprised if they'd done it with you in the room."

"Anyway," Bess stressed with a pointed look at Joe, "they looked so cute. Frank had his arm around Nancy's waist and they were snuggled up looking so peaceful and happy. It's really nice to see Nancy this relaxed for once."

"No better time when some mysterious terrorists are trying to kill you either." Joe's sarcasm did not amuse Bess. "Alright, I'll stop talking. I can take a hint." Joe's look turned mischievous and playful. "Can you, Bess Marvin?" Bess looked over as Joe started rubbing the seat of the chair next him. Bess couldn't help but grin. Joe Hardy just had some spell over her that she was incapable of breaking, even if she wanted to.

12121212

            Nancy stretched as she rolled over and slowly opened her eyes surprised when her reaching arms connected with something fleshy. Her surroundings looked unfamiliar to her and it took a moment for her to register that whoever was next to her had their arm around her waist. She turned around underneath the arm that remained securely around her. Bits and pieces of yesterday's events came back to her in distorted sequences but half a minute later it registered that only one person could possibly be beside her. She rolled over so her blue eyes met a pair of warm brown ones that she was all too familiar with.

            "We've got to work on your morning greetings," Frank said, a playful grin on his face.

            "Why's that?" She snuggled up against him as he pulled her closer.

            "Well, most people don't wake people up by poking them in the forehead." Nancy blushed. "I mean, it's okay, I'm just worried that you might miss and, well, poke me in the eye or something and that might hurt." Nancy laughed.

            Frank feigned hurt. "I didn't know inflicting bodily harm upon me was so amusing."

            "Only if I do it," Nancy said seriously.

            "What if I do this?" Frank said leaning over as if to kiss her, but at the last moment removing his hand from her waist and placing his hands along her sides. Nancy began laughing and at the same time pleading.

            "Frank…please." It took a second for Frank to realize that her laughter was purely a result of his tickling and the tears that had started to form in her eyes were a result of pain. Frank stopped immediately and sat up looking at Nancy in concern. Nancy began taking deep breaths with her hands folded tightly under her chest as if the position helped to lessen the pain.

            "Nan…I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" He hovered over her as her breathing began to slow and she was finally able to answer.

            "It's alright. I'm fine," she answered, finally pulling her arms away from her body.

            "I can't believe I forgot," he said shaking his head. He pulled the sheets off himself and turned as if to step out of bed but Nancy grabbed his arm.

            "Hey, it's alright. I'm fine, I promise. No harm done." Nancy gave him a genuine smile. Frank's anger at himself began to dissipate as Nancy pulled him closer. He fell back in bed beside her and gently rolled Nancy closer to him. He looked into the depths of her eyes and wondered how he had survived the last three years without her because he couldn't imagine being anywhere else at the moment.

            He brought his lips to hers, relishing in their moistness before allowing their tongues to meet. They stayed that way for a few minutes before Nancy finally pulled away. "If there was anything to forgive, you're forgiven," Nancy murmured, her eyes still half-closed and lost in the emotions of the kiss.

            Frank chuckled and hugged her gently. "We should get up and get going."

            "Yeah, you're right," Nancy said with a groan as she opened her eyes fully and sat up. Frank looked on with continual concern, but he knew there'd been times when both of them had been in worse shape. For the moment there was nothing they could do, and for now, he had to deal with that.

            "We'll get through this." Frank looked up at Nancy, not realizing she'd noticed him watching her.

            "Shouldn't I be saying that?" Frank asked, amazed at her strength.

            "I don't think I'm the one who needs to hear it right now." Nancy's expression turned mischievous. "But you should actually be saying something about breakfast."

            Frank laughed and held his arm out for Nancy to join him at his side. She walked over to him and he placed his arm easily around her shoulders. Frank opened the bedroom and stepped into the living only to be pulled back when he realized Nancy wasn't moving.

            "Nan?" he glanced at her and then to where her eyes were focused.

            If Frank had been a cartoon, his jaw would have hit the floor. Nancy too, was in a state of shock. Both knew that one or the other had mentioned something about their friends, but whether it was because both of their personalities were naturally flirtatious or because there was actually something there; neither Frank nor Nancy could ever figure it out. Now, to find their friends actually kissing was just mind blowing.

            Frank cleared his throat and the two broke apart with Joe looking surprised and Bess looking guilty. "Morning," Nancy said with a grin.

            "Morning," Bess responded feebly. Frank and Nancy took a seat at the dining room table as Joe and Bess stood stock still, as if waiting to see what Frank and Nancy would do.

            "Sooo…" Nancy said giving them an opening to begin, but neither Bess nor Joe seemed capable of finding their voices. "When did this start?"

            "Uh well…really um…" Bess tried.

            "Officially, a few days ago," Joe answered for Bess. "But we've always found some chemistry between us." Bess nodded in agreement.

            Frank and Nancy looked at each other with a smile. "Is it serious?"

            "We're going to see what happens," Bess put in.

            "Now, that you two lovebirds are finally up we can get down to breakfast," Joe said changing the subject. Nancy however, sent a look at Bess across the table that said this discussion wasn't over.

            Frank took to placing the order of breakfast with room service so that twenty minutes the four of them were eating an array of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, fruit and juices. Nancy smiled along and chatted like old times with her friends, but despite her initial enthusiastic transition to the idea of breakfast much of her plate was left untouched. In the back of her mind was the subject that they were all avoiding; a subject that was harder for her to ignore, especially since she felt the pain every time she moved.

            Frank watched Nancy closely over breakfast. She was animated and enthusiastic, laughing and smiling at the right times, but it seemed well-practiced. The few pieces of fruit she'd picked out from the array of food remained mostly on her plate and as the meal went on, she seemed to fall more silent. It didn't take Bess and Joe long to catch on, though, and no one knew quite how to bring up the subject.

            Nancy had taken to thoroughly cutting her fruit with her fork so that now most of it looked mushy and unappetizing but she suddenly dropped her fork on her plate, her eyes showing complete seriousness and her mouth unsmiling.

            "I need to go back to my hotel room and grab a few things and then we should leave."

            "I'll go with you," Frank said. Nancy stood up and headed for the bedroom she shared with Bess as Frank and Joe headed to theirs to change.

            Nancy walked in and grabbed the bag she'd taken from the motel and pulled out a hairbrush. She ran the brush through her hair several times, waiting for Bess to enter the room. Bess closed the door behind her a minute later.

            "Okay, before you grill me, I just want to say that I really do think he's a great guy. We haven't really figured out anything yet, but we really want to give this a shot." Nancy gave Bess a weak smile.

            "Bess, that's great."

            Bess looked at Nancy searchingly. "But…?"

            "That's not what I was going to say. I mean I think it's great that you and Joe want to be together. I couldn't be happier for you, but Bess, I—I was thinking that it would be okay if you wanted to go."

            "Go?" Bess said the word with bewilderment. "Why would I go?"

            "Bess, you have a life to go back to. A magazine to run. I can't expect you to join me on a rogue mission to take down terrorists where you can possibly get yourself killed. We're not amateur detectives anymore. Frank, Joe and I are trained for this, but you're not. I just don't want to see you hurt," Nancy insisted.

            Bess gazed at Nancy with love as she sat on the bed beside her friend. "Nan, I appreciate your concern for me, but do you really expect me to walk away from this? Don't get me wrong, I love the magazine, but as you put it, we're on 'a rogue mission to take down terrorists,' potentially to save the world. I can't possibly even dream of sitting in my office talking about dress colors and accessories while the three of you are getting all the glory!" Bess joked.

            "You've jazzed up and glamorized our jobs a lot, Bess," Nancy responded seriously, "and I can promise you that it's not going to be so cinematic. These guys will kill you without a second thought."

            "I'm in it this far, Nan, I can hardly turn my back on you guys now. Even you know that if they've been keeping tabs on you, they know about me," Bess pointed out, "either way I might as well help out."

            Nancy nodded solemnly. On the one hand she was grateful for having such a loyal friend, but on the other hand she knew that Bess would have been less likely to have been dragged into this if Nancy hadn't disappeared causing Bess to worry and call the Hardys'. She would have been happy at her job and in less danger than she was now. Nancy realized that she wouldn't be able to convince her friend to leave, but she felt a great need to protect her now that she was here because if anything did happen to her, it would be all on Nancy.

            "Alright, Bess. You know I'm always glad to have you here," Nancy said. She wrapped her arms around her head and took her in a hug. The hug was interrupted by a knock at the door.

            "Nancy? You ready?" Frank's muffled voice called through the door.

            "Yeah, come in." Nancy pulled away from Bess and stood up as Frank opened the door.

            "Did either of you even try to get dressed?" Frank demanded as he walked in and saw both of them in their pajamas. "Women!"

            "Shut-up," Nancy said smiling at him. "We had something important to discuss."

            Frank grinned knowingly as he winked at Bess. "I gotcha."

            "Besides, I wasn't going to change anyway. Since the main reason we're going to my room is for a change of clothes, I figured why put on something else."

            "That's very logical, Agent Drew, and maybe for the sake of saving time and just being less risky, you stay in those pajamas?" Frank's suggestive words made Bess's cheeks blush, feeling as if she'd dropped in on a private conversation.

            "Okay, okay, enough flirting," Bess said pushing the two of them out of the room. "Go get Nancy some clothes and come right back." Bess's stern motherly warning resulted in an over-exaggerated expression of disappointment followed by a rolling of eyes on Frank's face before he grabbed Nancy's hand and left the room.

            "So, did Joe tell you anything?" Nancy asked with some hesitation as they walked towards the elevator.

Frank shook his head. "No, he kept putting it off. Any luck with Bess?"

"Not really, we didn't really talk about it though." Frank could sense the underlay of something bigger and waited for Nancy to continue.

            As the elevator doors closed Nancy began retelling the conversation between her and Bess. Frank wrapped his arm around Nancy's shoulders midway through her explanation so that he was holding her close to him as she finished. "Bess is just as stubborn as the rest of us when she wants to be and as long as she's here, you know we're not going to let anything happen to her." Frank paused for a moment then grinned. "Especially, Joe."

            Nancy laughed and turned around in his arms. "You're the best. You know that?"

            Frank shifted his eyes upward as if in thought before bringing them back onto Nancy's. "I had an inkling." She placed a gentle kiss onto his lips and pulled away just as the elevator door opened. They stepped out onto the floor and Nancy led the way to her room.

            "You bring the key?" Frank asked. Nancy reached into the front of her tank top and pulled the magnetic key from between her breasts. Frank raised an eyebrow and Nancy shook her head smiling as she inserted the key and put her weight onto the door.

            "Oh my gosh!" Nancy murmured as she looked around the room. Frank immediately pushed Nancy behind him and drew his gun from its holster, thankful that he'd remembered to bring it.

            "Frank, there's probably no one—"

            "Shh." Frank motioned for Nancy to stay where she was as he crept forward. Everything in the room was torn apart. The sofa and its cushions had been slashed so that white cotton stumbled out onto the floor like a thick fog. Chairs were overturned. The television was in two pieces with the screen facedown on the carpet. Every drawer and cabinet had been emptied so that all its contents covered the floor. Even the package of complimentary coffee had been sliced so that coffee grounds made the kitchen look like it was covered in dirt.

            Frank stepped slowly and carefully over the destroyed furniture as he went to one bedroom then the other before coming back and placing his gun back in the holster.

            "Satisfied?" Nancy was standing there with her arms crossed watching him.

            "It wasn't like this a couple days ago," Frank insisted.

            "What?" Frank quickly explained his visit to her hotel room. Nancy extended her step as she reached to step over one of the shredded cushions.

            "What do you think they were looking for?" Nancy surveyed the wreckage.

            "My guess is that someone found out that I downloaded that information." Frank looked over at Nancy, worried.

            "Not only that, but they knew where you were staying." Nancy didn't say anything, but continued on her path to the bedroom. She went straight to her closet and pulled out her suitcase before pushing it aside in dismay. Frank looked over and saw that the entire inside had been sliced opened. Frank shuddered slightly trying to avoid thinking of what Nancy would have come across if she'd been here while they'd been destroying her things.

            Nancy went searching around amongst her scattered clothing and overturned drawers till she came up with a simple blue grocery bag. Then she began salvaging any clothing articles that for whatever reason she deemed fit for what could only be considered a dangerous and indefinite amount of time.

            Frank tried to cover a grin when Nancy passed him mumbling something about housekeeping going to hate her. She disappeared into the bathroom, a pile of folded clothes in hand. It was amusing to think that during a time when terrorists were secretly plotting to commit murder and they were the only one who knew about it that she could worry about the condition of her hotel room.

            "I think I've got what I need," Nancy said as she stepped out of the bathroom. Frank smiled appreciatively at her simple blue jeans that fit her body with a bit of fabric to spare. She wore a plain green t-shirt that fell just enough to cover the top button of her jeans. Frank knew if she were to lift her arms, he would get to see her toned stomach. Her blond hair was up in a ponytail and Bess's pajamas were folded and tucked under one arm and the plastic bag was filled to the brim with clothes in her other hand.

            "Great," Frank said with a smile he was desperately trying to rid his face of.

            "What?"

            "Nothing. Sorry, it's nothing."

            "Frank Hardy—" Nancy threatened.

            "You look good as a civilian."

            "Jeans! Can you believe it! I get to wear jeans!" Nancy held up the pair of jeans she had from the suitcase of clothes underneath her bed. They had been given their first night off after four weeks of training to relax and do whatever they wanted. Nancy and Frank were preparing to take a night off and walk into town to catch dinner and a movie.

            "Yeah, it's great, Nan," Frank said looking at her like she was slightly crazy.

            "Don't humor me. It's not sweats or cameo or some other light weight, industrial strength, earth-toned material. They're jeans. Blue all-American stylish skin-tight jeans. Never thought I'd miss them."

            "Do you realize how much you sound like Bess right about now?" Frank grinned at her glare.

            "I don't even care." Nancy took her jeans and grabbed a shirt and disappeared into the bathroom she shared with the rest of the girls in her cabin. Frank couldn't help but smile at Nancy's enthusiasm. Sometimes it was the simplest things about her that made him love her even more. "Well?"

            Frank looked up from his thoughts and stared in awe at her. Though Frank had always approved of how Nancy looked in their daily work-out uniform, it never did her body justice. The skin-tight blue jeans she'd just talked about sent his heart thumping as he took in her long legs and shapely thighs. Her shirt was a simple light blue blouse that complimented her eyes and her freshly toned arms. A locket she'd once told him was her mother's rested lazily against her chest and towards her breasts that were slightly visible due to a couple of the top buttons she'd tactfully undone.

            "Amazing," Frank breathed. Nancy smiled in satisfaction as she went to his side.

            "Never thought I'd miss being a civilian." Frank walked over to her and slid his arms around her waist, his forearms resting on her sides.

            "I know I do." Nancy watched one side of his lips curl up in a half grin that was playful and mischievous.

            "What?"

            "You sure you don't want to stay in tonight?"

            Nancy's eyes widened and she shook her head in a vehement no. "Oh no, I didn't put on my jeans to just stay here."

            Frank pouted. "Are you going on a date with your jeans or me?"

            "The jeans of course! I see you all the time."

            Frank feigned hurt. "Now you're making me jealous. I guess you've got to take the jeans off."

            Nancy laughed as she pulled away from him and grabbed her jacket. "Not a chance. You have to deal with both of us. Now get your wallet, Hardy. You're treating us to a night on the town."

            "It feels like so long ago," Nancy whispered.

            "Three years is a pretty long time." Nancy nodded. She slowly turned her head to look at him. Gone was the hurt and anger from his eyes that was present when they had first entered the apartment. Frank stepped forward and placed his arms around her. He pulled her against his chest and her head fell against him.

            "We're going to get through this, Nan. We're going to figure out who's behind this and then get back to us." Nancy didn't say anything. She closed her eyes for a moment, relishing in the comfort of Frank's arms before pulling away.

            "We should hit the road." Nancy led the way through the bedroom and into the kitchen. As Nancy was stepping through shredded couch pillows towards the door, Frank's eye caught sight of the blinking light on the phone and suddenly remembered the phone messages he'd listened to. Frank called to Nancy and briefly summed up the messages he'd heard. She considered listening to them herself, but decided against it.

            "I'm not surprised," Nancy said in reference to her boss. "Going back and groveling for my job isn't going to do me a lick of good. As soon as I solve this thing, we'll see whose side he's on." Frank knew she was right. Sometimes people wanted all the results without the commitment.

            Nancy opened the door and made her way into the hallway, bag in hand. As they waited for the elevator Frank couldn't help but glance at her, an unasked question on his face. She caught him before he could turn away.

            "What?"

            "I was just—Are you—your partner?" Frank didn't know why he couldn't just say what he wanted to say. The elevator opened and they stepped in. Nancy looked at him grinning.

            "Well, you see, Peter and I, while on an Op in Vegas, did get really drunk, elope and we are now in a stage of separation, with casual flings now and then." The look of horror on Frank's face made Nancy burst out laughing. "I'm kidding," she soothed. "We're close as far as partners go, but it's strictly professional." She placed an arm around his lower back. "You're my guy, so don't worry about my partner. Okay?" Frank nodded, relieved. He bent down and placed an apologetic kiss on her forehead. They stood there, with Frank's gently rubbing her back, till the elevator doors opened onto their floor. A few moments later they were back in the room.

            "Took you long enough," Joe commented as he carried his medium size suitcase and computer case into the living room. Frank briefly described what they'd found and Joe whistled.

            "We really need to see what it is you downloaded," he said to Nancy.

            "I've only glanced through it, but it didn't seem significant enough to ransack my room."

            "Well there must be something they don't want you to find," Frank put in.

            "Where's Bess?" Nancy asked looking around the room and not seeing her friend.

            "I suggested she get a head start to packing," he leaned forward as if he was whispering a secret, except that he spoke intentionally loudly. "I started after her and I still finished first."

            Bess stepped out of her room and glared at Joe. "I brought one suitcase to make it easier on everybody, which means I have to be more practical about how I fit things it. A concept I'm sure you're not aware of."

            "I don't have the faintest idea what you're talking about."

            "You're wrinkled shirt for one," Bess scoffed. Joe looked down at his shirt.

            "Hey, I—"

            "Enough," Frank broke in. "Any more from either of you and I'll send you to your rooms." Nancy laughed.

            "Way to play the dad." She looked up at him. "We might as well get to packing ourselves." The guys and girls separated into their perspective rooms and gathered their things together. Fifteen minutes later, they all met back in the living room ready to go. They made their way down to the lobby. The boys insisted they would take care of the room bill as Frank tossed the keys to Nancy so they could put their stuff in the Explorer.

            They stepped out the doors of the Holiday Inn and Nancy was surprised at how beautiful it was outside. Sometimes it was hard to believe the world could keep up its mundane routine when there were people like her who knew how much their way of life was threatened on a daily basis. Ignorance is bliss.

As the two girls approached the vehicle, Nancy used the car remote to open the doors. She stopped for a moment to reach into her backpack and try and locate her sunglasses when the next thing she knew, a wave of heat and energy knocked her backwards off her feet. She felt air being forced out of her lungs as she landed. Her backpack provided some cushioning as she fell, but she still felt gravel tear into her lower back and arms as she skidded across the parking lot. She instinctively flipped over and covered her head with her arms. She could feel stray pieces of glass land on her back and hands. As soon as it stopped she rolled over onto her side so she could look around for her friend.

"Bess?" She called before breaking into a fit of coughing. The Explorer was in flames. From the looks of it, the explosion had originated near the engine, which meant it hadn't reached the gas tank yet. She needed to find Bess and get away from the vehicle.

She rolled to her other side and immediately found her by the yellow tank top she'd picked out this morning. Her suitcase went about half the distance she did as it lay on its side very close to the burning wreckage. Bess was on her back. Her head was tilted away from Nancy, but she guessed she was unconscious.

            "Nancy!" Nancy looked up and saw Frank's frantic eyes take in the wrecked car and their crumpled figures.

            "Bess!" Nancy choked out, her breath still not fully returned. She struggled to sit up and Frank was there in a second.

            "Nan, don't move!" Frank insisted. Nancy watched as Joe ran to Bess's side and began his attempts to wake her. He was very careful not to move her too much. "What hurts?" Nancy looked back at Frank blankly, unable to focus on his question as she waited for her friend to show any form of movement.

            "Bess was close to the blast, is she okay?" Nancy demanded. Frank looked down at her, terror seemed to resonant in his brown eyes.

            Realizing that Nancy wasn't going to cooperate till her questions were answered Frank looked over and called to Joe. "Joe?"

            "She's breathing, but looks like she might have hit her head," Joe called back, his voice tight. Frank looked back at Nancy. Sirens echoed in the distance.

            "Nan," Frank said sternly as Nancy once again tried to get up. "You need to stay still. Does anything hurt?"

            "I'm fine," Nancy answered through clenched teeth. Aside from having the wind knocked out of her and a scraped back, her ribs seemed to be pounding against her chest.

            "You're not fine," Frank insisted.

She looked back over at Bess who seemed to be awake now and talking to Joe.

            Joe caught Nancy's gaze. "I think she's okay. Just a little headache."

            Bess uttered an emphatic grown. "Little headache? Speak for yourself." Nancy couldn't manage a laugh but she did give her a small smile.

"Now will you lie down and relax, please?" Nancy picked up on the slight tremor in Frank's voice as he nervously liked his lips while his eyes continued to plead with her. Nancy consented, slightly relieved that she could just not move till the pain in her ribs became a dull pain. The next moment the ambulance arrived and paramedics surrounded the two girls. Joe and Frank were forced to the sides but they hovered close to hear what was being said.

"Anything hurt?" The paramedic asked as he listened to Nancy's chest.

"No, I just had the wind knocked out of me and scraped my back a little." He put his stethoscope around his neck and took a look at her back. It was bleeding somewhat but the wound seemed to be superficial and the paramedic cleaned and bandaged it easily. He then instructed her to lie back down as he gently applied pressure over vital organs around her stomach to check their sensitivity. Nancy hissed in pain as his movements caught a section of bruising from the accident. He looked at her sharply.

"Does that hurt?"

"Yes, but it's another injury from a car accident. It's nothing."

"I would like to take a look at it." He carefully pulled up her shirt and took in the glaring bruises. "Did you see a doctor about this?"

"Yes," Nancy lied as she pulled down her shirt. "Said I would just be sore for about week."

The paramedic looked at her doubtfully. "I would still like to take you in to make sure your lungs are all right and that you don't have any cracked ribs."

"Not necessary, but thank you," Nancy said as she stood up. Frank was at her side instantly.

"Nancy—" Frank started.

"No," Nancy murmured back. "I can't afford to be in the hospital. I'd be a sitting duck for whoever is after us."

"Nan, this could be serious. You don't know what's been injured and it could just get worse later!" Nancy understood Frank was worried about her, but she knew the detective side of him understood the risks as well.

"No," she emphasized to him while looking at the paramedic.

"Alright, ma'am. Then if you just sign this form that we treated you on-site and you refused to go to the hospital you can go." Nancy took the clipboard he offered her and skimmed the words briefly. "However, if you feel any shortness of breath, stomach pains, nausea, drowsiness or dizziness that you seek medical attention immediately."

"She will," Frank assured him. Nancy flashed him a look as she handed him the signed clipboard. Nancy and Frank walked in silence over to where Bess and Joe were sitting.

            "I really would feel better if you went to the hospital," Joe said to Bess as she hoped off the back of the truck.

            "I'll go when Nancy goes." Joe looked over at Nancy disapprovingly for a moment. "I'm fine really, Joe."

            "Fine is the worst adjective ever, I swear," Joe said shaking his head. "At the first sign of a concussion, you're going to the hospital."

            "Excuse me." The group of four all turned to see a police officer standing in front of them, pen in hand. "I need to get statements from those of you involved in the explosion.

            "Of course," Nancy said wearily. As the police officer pulled the girls aside to talk to them individually, Frank and Joe found themselves standing together.

            "This is bad," Frank spoke first staring at the remains of their vehicle. The firefighters had put it out while the paramedics had been looking for the girls. The Explorer was pretty much indistinguishable as a car.

            "No kidding, the rental agency's going to kill us," Joe mumbled.

            "I'm not sure who they were targeting."

            "Does it really matter?"

            "No, but this bothers me."

            "Really, the car exploding bothers you?"

            Frank ignored his brother's sarcastic comment. "I mean, they didn't rig the car to explode when the ignition was started, which would have guaranteed that we were in the car."

            Joe nodded slowly, understanding what his brother was getting at. "And they obviously didn't have someone with a remote on site, otherwise they would have made sure they could have done more damage."

            "A threat?"

            "Maybe." The two brothers pondered over the possibilities in silence for a moment before Frank spoke. "Either way, they're onto us."

            "They were lucky," Joe said gravely.

            "Yeah," Frank agreed. He couldn't help but wonder: Can we solve this before our luck runs out?