Disclaimer: I do not own Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys and am making no money off of this fic. Thanks to Candylou for the review and as always all comments including constructive criticism continue to be welcome.

Each echoing footstep sounded like a thunderclap to Frank. His eyes roved frantically around the room, searching for a hiding place. Just then, he saw a closet on the other side of the room. Frank sprang across the room and yanked the door open. He slipped inside, closing the door softly behind him.

The closet was dark and something was poking into his back. But Frank didn't dare move into a more comfortable position in case he knocked into something and alerted whoever was on the other side of the door.

Just then, he heard the door to the office open and the footsteps echo closer. Frank held his breath, listening to see if he could tell who had just entered. He slowly began to realise just how dusty the closet was as he felt his nose itch.

Frank managed to keep a lid on his sneeze as he listened to the person on the other side of the door.

He heard them walk to roughly where the desk was and then the sound of the desk drawer being opened.

Frank heard whoever was in the room seemingly going through the drawer's contents before they closed it. He waited until he heard the door to the office open and close before he emerged from the closet.

Frank stood in the office, listening to the footsteps echo back down the hallway. Only when he couldn't hear them did he move to the door and inch it open.

Frank stepped out into the hall. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of his eye. He whirled round, ready to face any danger, dropping into a karate stance.

"Whoa, take it easy," Joe said, holding his hands close to his chest, palms out.

Frank felt himself relax, "Joe, what do you mean sneaking up on me like that?"

"I didn't know it was you," Joe protested.

"It's okay," Frank replied, "let's get out of here and show the girls what we found."

###

"So, what did you guys find out?" Nancy asked, leaning across the table. The four teens were in the same diner they'd been in earlier.

"Well, I ended up in a bathroom so I kind of struck out," Joe replied.

"What about you, Frank?" Bess asked.

Frank started to reply but was interrupted by the arrival of the waitress. After she had taken their orders and left, he said, "I think I've got something."

"C'mon, what did you find?" Joe's blue eyes glittered with anticipation.

Frank dug out his phone and showed the other three the photo.

"Larry?" Bess asked, "as in Larry O'Keefe?"

"That's the million dollar question," Joe answered.

"And one that we'd better find out," Frank said. "Speaking of cases how's yours going? Any new leads?"

"Right now most of our leads seem to be pointing to Angela," Nancy replied. She then told the brothers everything that had happened at the health club and at the talent agency.

"Talk about your close calls," Joe commented.

"So what's your next move?"Frank asked.

"We're going to carry out some surveillance on Ralph Devall," Nancy answered.

"That sounds like a plan," Frank said, "it seems like the person or people behind this have some kind of access to the agency's computer systems so Ralph Devall is a logical suspect."

"The only problem with that is that I can't put him at the scene of the crime when I was attacked or the incident at the health club," Nancy said.

"Yeah, but you can put Angela there," Joe responded, "she could be doing his dirty work. We heard from Callie that she's no stranger to underhanded tactics."

"That's true," Nancy said.

"Listen, why don't you girls come over to our place for dinner tonight?" Frank said, "I know Mom would love to have you and afterwards we can really kick ideas around on both our cases."

"That'd be great," Nancy replied.

"Speaking of food," Bess remarked, "here come our orders. Let's forget the sleuth talk and dig in!"

###

"Do you see anything yet?" Bess asked. She and Nancy were sat in their rental car in the parking lot near the talent agency. After finishing lunch, the girls had driven to Bayport.

"Not yet," Nancy replied.

"I hope Ralph Devall makes a move soon," Bess said, "after all, we still need to go back to Callie's and get dressed up for tonight."

Nancy turned to look at Bess, who was in the front passenger seat, "Why the rush? I thought things were going well with Biff?"

"They are," Bess replied, "I just haven't met the guys' mom or aunt yet and I want to make a good first impression."

"I know, Bess," Nancy said, "I was only kidding."

"Very funny," Bess said, rolling her eyes.

Nancy picked up a bottle of water from a cupholder in the car's central console. She unscrewed the lid and was about to take a sip when something she saw made her pause, "Bess, look."

Malcolm St Germain was getting out of a silver colored European sports car. "What on earth is he doing here?"Bess asked.

Nancy took a couple of sips from her water bottle before answering, "It's very strange, especially as he told Joe and Vanessa that he wasn't worried about competition from Bees' Knees." She peered through the windshield at the talent agency boss. He was leaning against the front of his car and seemed to be waiting for someone.

Nancy kept her eyes fixed on him. He kept staring at the door of the building that housed the agency as if waiting for someone to emerge.

"Wonder who he's waiting for?" Bess asked, slipping on a pair of sunglasses.

Nancy didn't answer but just put her water bottle back in the cupholder. She gripped the steering wheel with both hands, never taking her eyes off Malcolm St. Germain. He was looking at his watch which looked like the latest smart model.

"C'mon, show up already," Bess was now leaning forward, hands on her knees.

Nancy kept watching Malcolm St Germain. After a while, he got back in his car and drove out of the lot.

"He was obviously here to meet someone," Bess said, "wonder why they didn't show up?"

"Good question, Bess," Nancy replied, still staring at the spot where the silver car had been.

###

"Nancy! It's so good to see you again," Laura Hardy's face lit up as she opened the door to the Hardy home. "You must be Bess. I've heard lots about you from the boys."

"All good, I hope," Bess said, following Nancy into the house.

Laura led the way through the house into a spacious and well-lit living room that looked onto the back yard. "The boys are upstairs and Gertrude's out picking up a few things for dinner. Sit down and make yourselves comfortable. Can I get either of you a glass of sparkling apple cider?"

"That would be great," Nancy said.

"I'll have one as well," Bess replied.

"I'll just get your drinks," Laura said, "Frank and Joe should be down in a minute."

The two girls sat on a cosy, blue and white striped loveseat. "Hey," Frank said when he and Joe walked in a moment later.

"Hey yourself," Nancy responded.

"Mom's planned a great dinner for tonight," Frank said, sliding himself into an armchair opposite the girls.

"Now if only Aunt Gertrude would get home with the groceries, we might actually get to eat it," Joe chimed in.

"Oh, she probably got caught up in traffic," Laura said, coming back in with four glasses of sparkling cider.

Just then, the front door opened and a voice called out, "sorry I'm late."

"So what happened then?" Joe asked mischievously,"big snarl up in aisle eight?"

"No," Gertrude admitted, "I decided to have a browse in my favorite antiques store and I'm afraid I let time get away from me."

"Did you buy anything?" Bess asked.

"I just couldn't resist this charming little cuckoo clock," Gertrude answered, " and the moment I heard its sweet little cuckoo I knew it was perfect. Do you want to hear it? I know it's not anywhere near the top of the hour but I could move the hands if you'd like."

An odd look came over Frank's face, "What did you say?"

"Just that I could move the hands if you want to hear the cuckoo," Gertrude replied.

A satisfied smile crossed Frank's face. "I think I know who stole the bears," he announced.