Chapter Twenty-Six

Nancy fell into Joe's outstretched arms. "You're back," he whispered into her hair and ear. "Aw, it feels good to have you back, Nan. Damn, I was worried about you."

In Nancy's opinion, Joe Hardy gave the best hugs. Hands down. No contest. When Joe hugged you he did it with his whole heart. Every fiber of his being went into the embrace. Not that Frank's hugs weren't great because they certainly were. It was just that Frank always held a little piece of himself back. Nancy often wondered if it was a form of self-protection. He'd been hurt before in matters of the heart and she thought maybe, he wanted to keep one small piece of his heart to himself, one little piece that no one could hurt.

Nancy felt truly blessed to have Joe and Frank in her life. "You give the best hugs, Joe."

Joe pulled back his head and, with an impish grin, peered down at Nancy. His direct blue gaze was a sweet shot straight to her heart. "I've been told my kisses aren't too bad either."

Nancy chuckled and the smile hurt her bruised mouth. "I'll have to take your word for it. Or I can ask Vanessa." Leave it to Joe to make her laugh, to make her feel that everything was going to be okay in spite of all she had endured the past two days. There had been moments when she doubted she would survive.

She stepped out of Joe's arms. A cool edged breeze tossed her red-gold hair about her face as she took in the activity happening around her. An ambulance was there, backed up to the cabin, and two medics were strapping Jimbo onto a stretcher being careful of the chair leg sticking out of the back of his thigh. Nancy spotted Frank striding purposefully toward the stretcher, his body rigid with tension. Nancy sensed he wanted to hurt Jimbo. Probably wanted to strangle the life out of him.

"Joe," Nancy said. "Frank. He's …" She nodded in Frank's direction.

Joe saw Frank, too. He held Nancy back, saying, "He's not going to do anything stupid."

Nancy wasn't sure. She thought Joe was just saying that to appease her. There was no way Joe could be one hundred percent positive of what he said.

One of the FBI agents, Kline (Nancy would learn his name shortly), stepped in front of Frank, put a hand on his chest and halted his advance upon Jimbo. Kline spoke to Frank calmly, explaining something. Frank shook his head and said something back. Kline reiterated whatever he'd already said. Frank shook his head again then held up his hands – okay, I'm backing off – and walked away, looking none too pleased.

Nancy would remember the next two hours as a kaleidoscope of scenes and emotions. Bright flashes of events punctuated by vivid emotions. Chief Brennan came over and asked how she was doing. Fine, all things considered. He told her he was going to escort the ambulance with Jimbo to the hospital and that he expected to see her at the hospital, too. Joe promised Brennan that he and Frank would get Nancy to the hospital, but first the FBI agents wanted to ask her a few questions.

Agent Kline interviewed her, asked about the chair leg and how it came to be stuck in Jimbo's thigh. She explained her plan to the agents and Frank and Joe. She explained how she had whittled down the splintered spikes and put the chair leg back together. How she didn't expect the plan to work as well as it had and once Jimbo was down, she'd kicked him in the jaw and the side of the head. That had given her the chance to escape.

She told Kline how Jimbo had beaten her, hit her hard enough to knock her out. She took Kline and the others inside the cabin and pointed to the hook in the ceiling. Told them about hanging from it, thinking her shoulders were being ripped from her body. She showed Kline her wrists and hands. Her fingers were still slightly swollen. Frank grimaced as she told her story and his eyes flickered with hostility. Good thing Jimbo and the ambulance were already gone.

The FBI agents complimented Nancy on her fighting skills and her escape. "You're freaking Wonder Woman," an impressed Womack had said.

Kline took pictures of her injuries with his phone and said they might need to talk to her again.

Frank told the agents that he and Nancy were spending the night in Oren. They would be available for questions tomorrow morning. He hoped to leave Oren by tomorrow afternoon. He knew Nancy wasn't up for a three hour drive home tonight. She needed to rest. Plus, she still had to get checked at the hospital and go through a rape kit. She'd agreed with Kline that every bit of evidence against Jimbo had to be documented, put on record, and that included a semen sample. With that evidence, Jimbo would never be able to deny what he had done to her.

It was noon when Nancy climbed into the back of Frank's SUV and buckled in. Her purse, jacket, and flannel shirt were on the seat beside her. She dug through the purse and found her wedding ring, cupped it in the palm of her hand, and examined it. Not a thing was wrong with it. All three diamonds were still there, sparkling in the sunlight slanting through the window. The band didn't even have a scratch on it. Nancy let out a sigh of relief and tucked the ring into a pocket of her purse.

She leaned her head against the headrest and got comfortable, laid her jacket over herself like a blanket. Her head throbbed faintly, but persistently. She chalked it up to dehydration, lack of food, adrenaline, and exhaustion.

Frank backed the SUV out of the cabin's driveway and drove along the dirt road, heading back to town. This would be the last time he, Joe, or Nancy ever set foot at the cabin. Not a one of them would miss the place.

# # # #

As a former police officer with the Chicago PD, Nancy had encountered many women – too many – who had been raped. She had stood in many of their hospital rooms and offered them comfort and sympathy. Now, she was the one on the exam table, draped in a flimsy paper gown. A very kind female nurse was doing the exam. The nurse wrote down all of Nancy's injuries; the puffy jaw turning a multitude of colors, the angry red lines around her wrists, the bruises on her arms and breasts, and the fact she had lost two pounds in the last two days.

The nurse took pictures of Nancy's face, chest, arms, wrists, and hands. It was invasive and uncomfortable, but necessary. As Nancy went through the exam she thought of Alison. Alison had been in here yesterday, going through the same procedures. Nancy made a mental note to check on Alison, if not today which looked highly doubtful, then tomorrow. Nancy wasn't going to leave Oren without speaking with her client. Yes, Alison was still her client and Nancy had many questions for her.

A lab tech settled Nancy into a wheelchair and rolled her to the X-ray lab. The doctor wanted X-rays of her ankle and foot. He wanted to rule out a broken bone. Luckily, all was well. Nancy only had a sprain. That meant rest, ice, and elevate the ankle for the next few days.

Nancy's final exam was an MRI. Since she'd had a concussion and had blacked out twice, the doctor felt an MRI was prudent. He wanted to check for bleeding on the brain. That was a scary thought. Nancy crossed her fingers and hoped for the best. Again, she was lucky. All looked well, no bleeding. However, the doctor said, her brain was most likely bruised. Two hard blows, how could it not be? The doctor prescribed plenty of rest, minimal reading, and limited TV and electronics usage for the next week. If she promised to follow those simple rules he would release her from the hospital today.

Nancy readily agreed. Getting to the hotel and taking a long, hot shower was becoming an obsession. Oh, and having a nice hot bowl of chicken noodle soup.

At five o'clock, (although, it felt much later to Nancy), she was officially released from the hospital. The ibuprofen she'd been given was working. Her headache was receding and her sprained ankle felt a little better.

She limped through the lobby, papers with doctor's instructions in one hand, an orthopedic boot on her foot – a precautionary measure, the doctor had said – and out the door, clutching Frank's arm for support.

Frank opened the SUV door for Nancy, took her by the elbow, and helped her up and onto the seat. He shut the door and she sat there, staring through the windshield at the dusky sky as he walked around the vehicle to the driver's side. Suddenly, she felt free. Truly free. She was no longer trapped in a cabin with bars on the windows and a padlock on the door. She was free from Jimbo and his wrath.

Her day had started with the whisper of a plan to bring down Jimbo. All of her hopes had gone into that plan and by the grace of God, or some higher being, or just plain luck, her plan had succeeded.

Frank climbed into the vehicle, buckled up, and started the engine. "I imagine you're hungry."

Nancy shifted her gaze away from the outside world and to Frank. "My priorities are shower, food, and sleep," she said. "In that order."

Frank pulled out of the parking spot and maneuvered through the hospital parking lot. "I think we can manage all of those. I brought you fresh clothes from home. Those flannel pajamas you like. A pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, a couple of t-shirts, socks, underwear, a bra, and your shampoo and crème rinse."

Nancy stared at Frank wide-eyed and blinking. "I'm amazed. Pleasantly amazed to be clear. You even brought my shampoo and crème rinse?"

Frank shrugged and Nancy saw the hint of a grin lift the corner of his mouth. "I've never seen you use the stuff hotels provide. I figured you must like having your own stuff. And," he cast her a long glance, "I like the way your hair smells when you use your own shampoo."

Nancy couldn't keep the pleased smile off her face. She slumped back against the seat, folded her hands in her lap, and relaxed. It felt blissful being here, with Frank, going to the hotel, going to get a shower and food, and a good night's sleep in a nice bed. A bed with pillows and sheets, and blankets. Small things, yet, oh-so important.

"Joe's already on his way back to River Heights," Frank said. "He was anxious to get back to Vanessa."

"I don't blame him." Nancy watched buildings and street signs flash past the window. "I'd feel the same."

"Yeah, me, too." An easy smile warmed Frank's eyes. "But Joe said something about not wanting to leave Vanessa in Boomer and BamBam's company any longer than necessary. Something about they're both good-looking and they were already spoiling his wife rotten."

"Really?" This was the kind of conversation Nancy needed. Something lighthearted and fun. "How, exactly, were they spoiling her?"

"They brought her dinner and a board game. Fed her well and kept her entertained last night. Joe found out this afternoon that they'd also brought a box of chocolates. Vanessa was raving about both guys to Joe. Apparently, they'd even cleaned up the dinner dishes and had breakfast ready when she got up this morning."

"Wow, they really went above and beyond their guard duties." Nancy sighed. "I see why Joe is hurrying home." She inhaled a deep breath and smiled. "I don't think Joe has to worry. Vanessa loves him with all her heart, anyone can see that. Although, as a woman, I can say with complete honesty that she probably enjoyed the attention of two handsome men." What woman wouldn't?

"I'm sure she did," Frank agreed. "Um, I hate to change the subject, but I thought you might like to know that I talked to Officer Turner while you were getting your X-rays and MRI."

"Oh? How's he doing?" Nancy remembered that Jimbo had targeted Turner, had fired shots at the young officer.

"He's fine. He's been by Alison's bedside most of the day."

Nancy didn't mind the change in subject since it involved Alison. "I'm glad to hear that. I feel better knowing Alison has had someone with her today. She was on my mind the whole time we were at the hospital. I thought about stopping in to see her and decided against it. I was too tired. I'm dying to get to the hotel and take a long shower. I feel so grubby and grimy. I cannot wait to wash my hair." She cast Frank a sideways glance. "With my own shampoo which my wonderful, magnificent husband was thoughtful enough to bring."

Frank smiled, a genuine smile that lit his face. "So, I don't have to worry about Boomer and BamBam sweeping you off your feet?"

Nancy returned the smile. "Not today, you don't."

"Ah, I'm safe for one day." Frank chuckled.

"If you get me chicken noodle soup for dinner, you'll be good for more than one day." Nancy was still smiling. She loved this easy banter with Frank, the carefree, loving feel of it. She wished it could last forever.

"Come hell or high water, you'll have your chicken noodle soup tonight." Frank winked at Nancy.

"Great," she said.

"Anyway," Frank steered the conversation back on topic, "Alison is recovering. The doctors wanted to keep her another night because she had some bleeding on the brain – Lewis beat her pretty badly. Plus she has splints in her nose and those come out tomorrow. I think the doctors are being extra cautious with her and I don't blame them. She almost died."

Nancy took a moment to digest all of this. It broke her heart to think of what Alison had gone through. "I bet she's in a lot of pain, too."

"Yeah, Turner said she was. He asked her about Jimbo and their relationship." Frank wheeled the SUV into the hotel parking lot.

"What'd she say? Was she working with Jimbo?" Nancy's shoulders went tight with apprehension.

Frank parked the vehicle, turned off the engine, and faced Nancy. "She kind of was. Her story is she and Jimbo hooked up again after his release from prison. He sold her a line about just wanting to scare you the night he kidnapped you. Alison claims she had no idea he was going to kidnap you. She thought he was going to release you an hour later or the next morning. When he didn't, she became frantic. Said she couldn't stop worrying about you. So she agreed to meet Jimbo here at a sleazy bungalow. She said she was going to confront him, demand he release you or at least, tell her where you were."

Nancy listened with rapt attention.

"However," Frank said, "Jimbo didn't show up at the bungalow. Lewis did. Alison said he told her that Jimbo had sent him .. with his blessing. Then he raped and beat her. Left her for dead." Frank breathed in deeply and exhaled slowly. "Lucky for her, Brennan, Turner, and I showed up shortly thereafter and found her lying on the bed."

Several seconds passed before Nancy said, "I believe her. Her story. I trust her. And I want to see her tomorrow."

"Figured you would. We'll go first thing in the morning."

# # # #

They got to the hotel room. Nancy laid her hospital papers on the desk and collapsed in a chair by the window. A tidal wave of exhaustion swamped her. Did she have the strength to manage a shower? To eat?

Frank locked the door and came over to her. "You look wiped out."

Nancy nodded slowly. "I am. I'm thinking I should call dad before I take a shower, while I still have the strength." And some of my wits about me.

"I think that's a good idea. I'll call him."

Frank dialed and put his phone on speaker mode.

The relief in Carson Drew's voice was palpable. "Nancy, how are you? Hannah and I have been worried."

"I'm so sorry, dad. They kept me at the hospital longer than expected. They wanted to do X-rays and an MRI. I, um, I was knocked out twice. The doctors wanted to check for bleeding on the brain. Good news, I didn't have any."

"Well, that is good news, Nancy. I mean about the bleeding, but not about being knocked out twice. That is certainly something you should try to avoid in the future." Before Nancy could respond, he asked, "What were the X-rays for?"

"I sprained my ankle. Completely my own fault. I leaped when I should've stepped over a log. The doctors gave me an orthopedic boot to wear. I should be good as new in a week or so." She was desperate to relieve her father's worries.

Carson went along with it. "Yes, I'm sure you will be. I always said you were practically indestructible." Nancy felt her father's smile through the line and it warmed her heart. "By the way, Hannah's been cooking all afternoon. We'll bring everything over to your apartment tomorrow. You won't have to cook for a month."

"No! No!" Hannah corrected from the background. "A week! I only cooked enough for a week. Believe me, I know how much the Hardy brothers eat."

Everyone laughed. Frank and Joe's appetites were legendary.

"I stand guilty as charged," Frank said, smiling broadly. "And I would never turn down one of Hannah's home cooked meals. You really didn't need to go to all the trouble though, Hannah. I can cook and I do know how to order take-out."

"Phish-posh," Hannah said, closer to the phone now. ""I love doing it – the cooking and taking care of others – it fulfills me, makes me feel needed. It's my way of showing you all how much I love you."

"Oh, Hannah," Nancy said, "we all love you so much, too. Thank you. Thank you for always being there for me, for dad, and now for Frank and Joe. Basically, for everyone."

"I strongly second that," Frank added.

"I don't know what I'd do without you, Hannah," Carson said and then to the group, "Hannah keeps the house so organized and clean I don't have to lift a finger around here."

Nancy smiled. This was another lighthearted conversation. One she needed so very much. It soothed her soul and renewed her spirit. Hannah had been like a surrogate mother to Nancy, filling the void left by Nancy's mother's untimely death. Now, twenty-eight years later, Hannah was still very much a part of the Drew family.

"You're all very welcome," Hannah was saying. "And all I want you doing, young lady, is resting and taking care of yourself."

"I think I can do that," Nancy said. "Although, I still have a client and she's here in the hospital. I have to speak to her tomorrow."

"I think you could take a few days off your job," Hannah said, her tone mildly scolding.

"I promise not to overexert myself." Fatigue was creeping into Nancy's voice.

"I'll make sure she doesn't," Frank put in. "And now it looks like my lovely wife needs a shower, some food, and to get to bed."

Nancy was thankful for Frank's intervention and the phone call was quickly wrapped up with good-nights, and I love yous.

With effort, Nancy leaned over, undid the orthopedic boot, and laid it aside. She held out a hand to Frank. "Help me up, please."

He helped her out of the chair and to the bathroom. "Your shampoo and crème rinse are already in the stall. I used them this morning." She looked so tired, Frank asked, "Should I stay? Do you need my help in the shower? I don't want you falling in there and spraining your other ankle."

Nancy shook her head. "I'll be fine. I've been looking forward to this shower for a long time. I might be in here a while just soaking up the soap, the warmth, and the glory of the water."

Frank ran a hand over her messy hair and down her arm. "Enjoy your shower. Yell if you need anything."

Nancy nodded, grateful. "I will."

"I'll order room service while you're taking a shower," Frank said.

# # # #

A few minutes later room service was ordered, the shower water was running, and Frank was about to call Joe and update him on Nancy when his phone pinged. Frank saw it was a text from Carson asking Frank to call him. Frank wondered what this was about. He punched in Carson's number.

The phone rang once and Carson answered. "Frank, thanks for calling me back so quickly."

"No problem, sir." Frank had no idea why his father-in-law wanted to speak to him, but he assumed it was important. Frank paced over to the window, pushed the curtains aside, and peered down at the parking lot. Night had fallen and the security lights were on casting glowing pools of light on the pavement.

"Is Nancy taking a shower? Are you free to talk without her in the room?"

Carson's question piqued Frank's curiosity even further. "Yes, she's in the shower. Said she might be in there a while."

"Good, that gives us time to talk," Carson said. "I, um, I'm worried about her. I feel she's putting on a good show for my sake. Frank, I want to know how she really is. How bad did this James Nettles beat her up?"

The question caught Frank by surprise. Not that it should have. Carson was worried as any father would be and he knew his daughter well enough to know that she was holding back information. Frank wondered if he should tell Carson the truth – the whole truth.

"Please," Carson said softly, "I need to know before I see her tomorrow. I want to be prepared and I want Hannah to be prepared." Before Frank could answer, Carson went on, "I know Nancy is strong – physically and mentally. I know that strength has gotten her through a lot of scrapes in the past. However, she's older now and this-this episode seemed particularly nasty. I've been watching the news and I've looked into this Nettles family. They're a nasty bunch. That one man, Lewis, raped and beat that poor woman."

"Alison," Frank said. "Alison Lipinski. She's Nancy's client. The one Nancy wants to see before we leave tomorrow."

"Ah, I see. And from what the five o'clock news said another woman was found today, also raped and beaten. I'm assuming this other woman was Nancy. Am I correct?"

The question hit Frank hard, stole his breath, and made his heart seize. He was suddenly in the untenable position of confirming Carson's suspicions. Now, he knew how Nancy must have felt when she'd told him about the rape.

"I know Nancy was beaten," Carson said. "She admitted that much. Beaten bad enough the doctors felt the need for an MRI. So, unless the news has their information wrong …"

A horrible, tense silence hung between the men. It stretched a bit too long, grew a bit too taut. Frank could sense Carson Drew's growing frustration.

Frank let the curtain fall into place at the window and turned toward the room. He'd come to a decision. "You're right, sir. She was raped."

For Frank, telling the truth was always the best policy. Hell, it was already on the news. Hard to deny it now. Frank hadn't known this information would be released, but he should have. In his defense, he'd been preoccupied with Nancy and her well-being. He hadn't had time to think about the media and their pursuit of the story. This was big news in the small town of Oren. Two women raped and beaten. Neither woman's name was released to the public which was good. And the story had a happy ending – sort of. The men responsible for the rapes and beatings were captured, taken into FBI custody and their names were made quite public.

"Thank you," Carson said, stoic. "Thank you for being honest with me."

"I don't think Nancy wanted you to know."

"I'm sure she didn't."

"It was hard enough for her to tell me what happened. I-I think she wanted to spare your feelings, sir. Spare you the heartache."

"I'm sure you're right, Frank. And I understand her feelings. Don't worry, I'll never tell her that we talked or that I know. I think it's best that way."

"I think so, too, sir."

# # # #

Nancy came out of the bathroom glowing, scrubbed clean, her hair wrapped in a towel, and another towel wrapped around her body. "I thought I heard you talking to someone," she said.

"I called Joe." Which was true. Frank had called Joe right after hanging up with Carson. "He'd just gotten home. Vanessa sends her love."

Nancy nodded as she searched through the clothes Frank had laid out on the bed for her. "She's sweet. Did you send her my love in return?"

"Of course." Frank stared at the bruises on Nancy's arms and the rather large one on her chest. It made him wonder what he couldn't see beneath the towel. The phrase, seeing red came to mind. He seemed to be doing exactly that.

"Did you order the food?"

Nancy's voice jerked him out of his rage. "Yes, it should be here soon."

When the food arrived, Nancy was dressed in her cozy flannel pajamas. Frank had set the desk up as a table and they ate there, mostly in silence. The renewed energy Nancy had shown after her shower was fading fast. Frank was tired himself. The past three days had been long, frustrating at times, and angst filled. He, too, felt himself coming down off an adrenaline high.

He focused on the positive. His wife was safe and he had been the one to find her. He remembered sweeping her into his arms and never wanting to let go. He watched her eat. The soup was gone and she was nibbling on the homemade buttered rolls. She appeared content, at peace. Still, he worried about her. He wondered how what she had experienced would affect her in the long-term. Tonight, however, was not the night to broach that subject. Tonight was for resting and recuperating.

An hour later the food trays were in the hall and Nancy was yawning. She took a dose of pain medicine while Frank turned down the bed. He got her nestled under the sheets and duvet and sat on the edge of the bed.

"I'm going to take a shower and then I'll come to bed." He leaned over and brushed a kiss on her mottled cheek. "I love you more than you'll ever know." His voice was low and rough, filled with raw emotion.

She reached out a hand and took his in hers. "I feel the same way." Her words were murmured, slow and sleepy, her eyes half-closed.

He stroked her damp hair. "Good-night."

By the time he came out of the bathroom, towel around his waist, Nancy was fast asleep. Curled up in the bed, one hand tucked under the pillow. She looked so comfortable, so peaceful. This was the way it should be, Nancy sleeping deeply and soundly.

Frank hung the towel in the bathroom, turned out the lights, and climbed into bed. Slid over and up against Nancy's warm body. She didn't move. He tenderly kissed her hair, her cheek, and her shoulder. He wanted to kiss her all over. Kiss away the pain and the memories. Kiss away the last three days. He wanted to hold her in his arms and never let go.

That would come later, after she'd had a chance to heal. He draped an arm over her waist and fell asleep.


A/N: As always, thank you very much for the reviews. I appreciate each and every one.