Chapter Text
Frank looked down the aisle, trying to catch any indication of the person who handed him the letter. Nancy turned her head in that moment, catching the black seal in her peripheral vision.
"What is that?" Before he could respond she'd snatched it up, already tracing the seal. When Clues were involved Nancy was a regular steamroller.
Joe, having finally woken up, turned his head to inspect the envelope as well.
"Nance, it calls you Infamous." Joe smirked, his tone in the air of teasing. A puff of air blew past his lips, blowing some blonde hair from his eyes. "Infamous". The younger Hardy chuckled.
Nancy elbowed him and passed it to the blonde. "What does the seal say? I only know Soldi."
Joe took the envelope and rubbed at his face, trying to focus on the task at hand. Meanwhile people from their section were standing and getting their luggage from the overhead containers, soft chatter and instructions from the cockpit filled the silence as he inspected it.
"Guerra..? Okay that's uh.. That's War, I'm pretty sure. And soldi, well, that's money. So..." He traced a nimble finger over the wax ridges. "It's either War and Money or War for Money? I don't know, I'm a little rusty on my Italian. " He passed the envelope back. "Either way, It doesn't look good."
Nancy nodded, looking past their seats, seeing the flight attendants reaching their row to get the laggers up and out of their seats to move off the plane and into the airport so they could go about their duties.
Nancy huffed out a breath, seeing as that couldn't deal with the issue at this present time, shoved the letter into her pocket and undid her seatbelt.
-----
Once leaving the airport, getting the rest of their bags, now squished in the taxi, Nancy pulled out the letter. Tired of waiting for the answers the letter may have. She couldn't get the dark seal and the crisp paper off her mind. It festered there like a fresh scab, desperately waiting to be picked.
Frank's hand on the letter stopped her. "Maybe we should wait till we're back at the hotel."
Joe on her right shook his head. "What's more private than a cab? Well, other than Anton here." He nodded to the Taxi driver. "Just open it, Nance. It's a creepy letter. Like, Bond villain type shit. I need to know what it says."
She looked up to Frank. Wanting the permission from both the Hardy's. Frank rolled his eyes lightly and nodded. His head bumbled a few times on its axis.
"Okay. Yeah sure. Let's open it."
From there Nancy didn't hesitate. Pulling out and up on the wax seal to release it. In the envelope was just a simple piece of paper. Folded like any letter would be.
The trio watched with bated breath as she carefully unfolded it. The letter wasn't very long, A simple page with neat writing. The letters swooping, written with ink instead of being printed out from a desktop. This extravagance and the care being taken into the letter was a simple warning to them. That they are untouchable, whoever it is, that wrote this message to them.
It read,
To the Infamous Nancy Drew.
Welcome to Rome. I'm sure you will like your stay. Though I regret to inform you that to others, you and your Hardy Boys will not be as welcome as I. I recommend leaving this case alone. Enjoy the architecture, food and simple settings Rome has to offer. Do not waste your time on something so out of your wheelhouse. I offer this letter to you as a warning. And unlike your beloved american pastime, I do not offer three strikes. This will be your only warning. I have eyes everywhere Miss Drew. I tell you this not to scare you, but to make you aware. Aware of the danger that you and your young group is getting themselves in if you choose to continue.
Speaking of your companions, They should check their belongings for a gift. From Me to you. The package contained with the letter is your gift.
I warn you Drew, this will be a case you will be begging to forget, so keep your nose out of it.
Signed, E.
She pulled the small package out from the envelope, about the size of her thumb, its packaging, opaque white so the contents couldn't be revealed without opening it.
Joe scoffed. "What a prick."
Frank just nodded, moving the letter out of her hands and reading it himself, checking for anything more that the message may have.
Nancy's sole focus was on the package. it had some weight to it. Not a drastic weight, it wasn't even a pound, but it wasn't something as simple as mere paper. She tucked her hair away from her face and carefully opened it. the contents falling into her lap.
It was just a small vial. A vial of clear liquid. Looked to be water. and a Euro. Simply just a vial, and a coin. The sight itself made her eyebrows knit together.
"It's just.. this." She held the 'gift' up to the boys who took their turns inspecting it.
They shrugged. "Maybe we need to get to our own packages before it all clicks together, y'know?" Frank said, passing the Euro back.
Soon they arrived at their destination. The police station, sitting just a few streets down from the heart of Rome. A tall man with dark skin and even darker hair greeted them. He had a small mustache above his lip, his hair greying near the temples. He smiled tightly at them.
"Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. Welcome to Rome."
Joe huffed under his breath, quipping to Frank. "I think The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew have a better ring to it." Frank in turn, nudged his brother and chuckled.
The trio each took turns shaking his hand. Nancy, inspecting the officer, piped up.
"You must be Detective Russo."
The man nodded, wiping some sweat off of his brow, the sun beating down on all of them, especially for a man in uniform.
"I'll fill you in on the details then you can go and sightsee, yes?"
The teens nodded tiredly, moving into the police station with him. Once in, they were filled in on what the police have found so far on the case and their possible conclusions.
Detective Russo sat at his desk, the trio across from him as he pulled up picture after picture of the crime scene.
"We have reason to believe that it is a suicide given the poison in her system that could have been self inflicted. But we continually receive confirmation from her family that she had no history of mental illness that they were aware of. The family is urging us to get a second opinion. Well, second, third and fourth opinion of course." He chuckled a bit, sliding the photos across to the trio, pointing at each teen as he spoke.
"I'm sorry to send you all this way for this, but once this is ruled a suicide, you can be dealing with a vacation instead of a case. So once we get your consulting work done, We can give the information back to her family and you three may enjoy Rome. Sounds good, no?"
Nancy's eyebrows furrowed. They brought them here just to give their opinion? To consult on her death and then just brush it under the rug? Just to keep the family at bay? She couldn't help the scoff that she let out.
Frank, beside her, cleared his throat, speaking up for the group.
"While many options point to a suicide... Don't you think this all seems a little...dismissive?"
Frank, once his thoughts were brought to the group, glanced at Nancy who was now leaning back in her chair, her eyes glaring a hole through Detective Russos head.
"Well.." Detective Russo chuckled a little. "It's only protocol really, the family just wants another opinion and then the case will be put to rest."
"To fill a quota?" Nancy piped up, The two detectives beside her turned their heads sharply towards her.
"No, no I assure you, I am not simply 'filling a quota'." Russo started, trying to ease the tension that he could see starting to strain in the teen girl. "We have already done the work. Why make you three find the same answers all over again, that we have already found. I'd prefer to not waste your time." The detective said simply, folding his hands on his desk, giving the same tight smile to the teens.
Though there was one problem...Nancy's father is an attorney. And a good one at that. She knew the law had loopholes. While she wasn't versed in what the laws were. Especially in a foreign country. She knew that words could be twisted and intentions could be placed to win a case. Guilty or not. And something about the detective's dismissal stunk of a loophole.She squinted her eyes towards the older man.
"And you're not investigating this case for possible homicide?"
"Nance-" Joe and Frank started but she just stared forward at the other detective.
Russo held up a hand to the boys. "We've already ruled that out as an option at the present time, seeing as the only evidence that we have of it being a murder is that it is, a death. Which we have no grounds to carry a passing fancy to something with no actual evidence."
She was quick to act, speaking over him in his last few syllables. "What about the gangs in Rome? And the connection she may or may not have with them."
Russo laughed. "Again, that is all gossip. We have found no evidence that she is actually affiliated with either gang." Finishing his sentence he gave the girl an incredulous look.
Nancy scoffed as both the brothers leaned forward, prepping for her to start to get mouthy.
"That's bullshit. If you check on her Facebook she posted a photo back in 2019 with-"
He cut her off. "Miss Drew, You do not have to involve yourself in this case if you will not be cooperating with what the police department has to offer, since the case is practically deemed closed."
She scoffed. "Are you kidding me?"
Frank spoke up between the two. "Detective Russo, if the case isn't fully closed yet then can't we offer some consulting advice?"
"We should show him the letter." Joe opened his hand to Nancy who in turn crossed her arms over her pocket. "Nance let's show him the-"
"What letter?" The Detective spoke up, looking to Nancy for confirmation. She glared at Russo.
"Just a letter from my dad filling me in on this case. It's nothing really." She lied, standing up from her chair.
"Nancy, really this could keep the case open-" Frank started but was cut off.
"Pleasure to meet you Detective Russo but I'm afraid I won't be cooperating on closing your case. Find another Detective gullible enough to provide you your paycheck. "
She started to walk down the hall, the brothers protested saying their sorrys to the older, now angry, Detective. While Joe smoothed some ruffled feathers, Frank followed Nancy out of the department.
She was moving down the steps when he opened the door calling out to her.
"Nancy! What the hell was that about?"
The sun immediately beat down on the both of them. Rome's heat was unforgiving especially in the summer season.
"What do you mean? He was closing the case just to brush it away and get his paycheck." Nancy scoffed. Her feet moving along the cobblestones.
"Even so, we had the chance to possibly open the investigation but you decided to withhold evidence!"
She crossed her arms again, turning to face him. " I... have a bad feeling about it. I don't think Detective Russo was working in the interest of her and her family. I don't trust him."
Frank rolled his eyes, leaning against a nearby building, his angle providing him some much needed shade. "Is it because he works for the police? I know you don't like cops-"
Her eyebrows knit together. The sweat on her back made her shirt stick uncomfortably to her skin. The heat further drives her irritation. "No it's not just that. Did you not hear him in there? He just wants to close the case. And I don't want to work with someone who just cares about their paycheck at the end of the day, especially when it comes to someone's life and getting her and her family justice. It's not right. I can't do that to her."
Frank would rather punch himself than admit that he was absolutely mooning over Nancy at this moment. Maybe it was the heat getting to him... But Nancy was just so.. Nancy. So passionate and stubborn. Just flicking over the determination in her eyes, would have made him smile. But the fact that she wrecked this, irritated him under his collar. His nose wrinkled, pushing down the admiration he felt for her and instead replaced it with whatever logical thinking he had left, He chuckled harshly looking down at her.
"Well we definitely won't be able to work with him now. Not after that little stunt. Great job, you just got rid of any potential protection we needed in Rome. You got what you wanted, Nancy." Maybe he acted a little too harshly. Maybe he really needed to get out of the sun.
Nancy in turn scoffed, running her hand through her hair, pushing it out of her face. "We don't need their 'protection'." She said the last bit like a dirty word, her nostrils flaring at the implication that the department would even offer such 'protection'." I hardly work with the police during my cases as it is."
"That's not the point." He fired back. "The letter said that we're biting off more than we can chew, in a foreign country, with possible Gang violence. All we had to do was play nice but you let your personal vendetta take over instead of thinking logically. You're smarter than that, Nance." He scolded, pointing a finger at her. Almost as if he was scolding a child. He knew immediately he shouldn't have done that.
Her eyebrows raised, immediate defense coming into her tone. "Don't fucking say that."
"Am I wrong?" His eyes leveled with hers. Both frozen for a second, in whatever eye to eye combat that they had at the moment. Neither wanting to back down. She blinked a few times and looked away, down to the cobblestones. She'd conceded. But this victory didn't feel sweet. it felt rotten. Like his skin was crawling at the evidence that he was right, and Nancy really did just pull the safety that the police department offered out from under them. He rubbed the sweat off his forehead and looked at his shoes, trying to soften his tone.
"We've got options now. We can go in and apologize or try to do this case without his help..." He licked his lips thinking over what to say next. "It's up to you."
Nancy huffed and looked in turn to his shoes. On one hand she could just go and apologize and they continue as they did, under the thumb of the law. Or they abandon it completely. Just do the case like they know how to. Like they've always had to.
Unlike Frank, She never followed 'protocol'. She couldn't even count on one hand how many times she'd broken in entering all for the sake of a case. But ATAC worked differently. Frank had a protocol to follow and they tried their hardest to abide by the law and wait for permits. Nancy didn't have the means or the time to wait for permits. She traced the laces of his shoes with her eyes deciding stubbornly to stick to what she does best. Having the freedom to do what she needs to in a case, even if it is desperately illegal. And when she met Frank's eye, She knew he knew what her choice was.
"I think if the case is as dangerous as the letter says... we don't have the time to depend on the police."
Frank nodded. A little stung that Nancy didn't take longer to consider safety, but at the end of the day, he gave her two options and she did in fact, take one. Even if one didn't make him jump for joy...At least a choice was made.
"Okay. Then let's go get Joe and.. figure this whole thing out."
Nancy nodded, and from that prompting they both walked back up to the department. Before they went through the doors, Nancy stopped him.
"I know that wasn't the choice you would have made. But you gave the option to me... so, Thanks." It was a sheepish apology really. It wasn't so much of an apology, as it was a verification of his own opinion. But he appreciated it nonetheless.
He just nodded. "Anytime, Nance."
When they entered back to the department Nancy nodded to the Detective, Frank brought Joe to him and the trio made their way out.
Russo stopped Frank on the way out. Nancy and Joe were a few feet ahead of him.
"I know your friend there isn't being very... helpful. But you seem like a smart kid with a good head on his shoulders. If you change your mind about the case, if you're ready to close it and just, enjoy your vacation... come back anytime. I told your brother the same thing. You kids are just going to be searching in circles if you keep poking your nose around."
Frank locked eyes with the man, his words struck him, the promise of help. To him and his brother. The invitation, not given to Nancy...But, it was an easy out, to end the case when it got bad. It was risky, it really was. It felt like a game of poker, gambling with the law this way. But he nodded, sincerely looking at the older Detective.
"I will keep that in mind... Thank you."
His mind was spinning as he thought over the detective's words, walking up to meet the other two.
"What took so long?" Nancy asked, looking behind Frank's shoulder. Frank, in that time, looked to Joe who had that same look of guilt that he knew mirrored his own face. He exhaled, calming his nerves.
"Just had to tie my shoes." He lied, glancing away from both of them.
He stepped forward calling for a taxi. Nancy's eyes fell on his shoes. Just as they did in their conversation prior. The laces looked the same. And Frank, double knotted his laces so that he didn't have to tie and retie them. But what reason would he have to lie?
She glanced towards the police department again. Detective Russo was looking out the window, watching the teens depart. They locked eyes and he nodded, his brow lifting at her. A silent challenge in his eyes. Joe called to Nancy, telling her the taxi was here. Breaking her from the odd fight for power between her and Detective Russo. She got into the taxi, closing the door behind her. When she glanced back at the station, he was no longer looking through the glass... Nowhere to be seen.
....
They were sitting in a cafe after exploring the city, seeing the famous Trevi fountain and a few cathedrals. Nancy slumped into her chair.
Frank handed her a water bottle, offering her a soft smile. She nodded to Frank and took the water, their hands brushing softly as it transferred to her. She watched a dark curl fall against his forehead. Joe cleared his throat, getting the pairs attention.
"Okay, now that we're disconnected from the Police department... What do we do now? Like what are the first steps?"
Frank shrugged. "I guess go to the scene of the crime... Which would have been easier if we had police access but-"
Nancy let out an audible scowl.
"But- I'm sure we can sneak through. Clearly, It's not like the police department is worried about this case anymore." Frank said pointedly at an obviously, still miffed, Nancy Drew.
Joe nodded. Clearly Nancy needed some grumpy time. She silently sipped from her water and seemed overall okay? So Joe turned his focus to his brother.
"Okay, okay. So we will go there tomorrow, find some clues. But what about the gangs? How do we go about that?"
Frank shrugged, tapping his finger thoughtfully against the table.
"Maybe we need to make some connections. Figure out who this 'E' person is and find some way in. To find the motive of who attacked Nora..."
The three, well two, because one was in her own world, mulling over something in her head, sipping absentmindedly at her water, talked on, making a game plan for the next day and planning possibilities for the case.
After a while, Joe tilted his head to Nancy. Trying to include their friend. "Hey Nance, what are you thinking?"
She blinked. A little distant for a second but looked back to the brothers.
Really, in the moment she was thinking of the look that Detective Russo gave her. The look reading like he had an upper hand over her. If he was about to close the case, why gloat? The look was a gloating one... She could have said it to the boys but after Frank had possibly lied to them, she didn't really feel like telling more.
"I'm thinking over the case. The little thing of water and Euro I got. I'm trying to connect it all to what we know so far... I'm drawing a blank so hard that I'm getting a headache." She forced a chuckle, taking the last few sips of her water. Joe and Frank looked unconvinced but they didn't push. They knew when to push Nancy. But with case themed things, she'd tell them her own thoughts in their own time.
Almost like godsend, her phone rang. It was Ned, checking to see if the flight went well. She excused herself from the table and walked out of the cafe, greeting her boyfriend on the other line.
Joe looked to Frank. Now alone, he could ask him. "Did Russo talk to you?"
Frank nodded, rubbing his palms on his jeans watching Nancy go. " I really don't know if this should be talked about right here."
"So he did talk to you."
Frank glanced back at his brother, obviously caught. His jaw tightened and he nodded. "He obviously saw some sort of…understanding in us...Maybe because he can tell we're not completely sold on this being a murder."
Joe glanced behind his shoulder, out the window to Nancy, she was smiling laughing at something Ned had said. "Are we going to tell her about it?"
Frank followed the line of sight, seeing that smile. That smile, not gifted towards him, but at Ned. Something rotted twisted in his gut and he shrugged. "I uh, I don't know.." And just like that he had two choices in front of him. Willingly given. Tell Nancy or don't tell Nancy. He glanced back to her, her red hair shining under the light of the sun, looking so beautiful and untouchable, even if he stretched for all his might, he'd never reach her. That rotted feeling increased. He'd never reach her. So why would he need to share everything with her? He rubbed against the denim of his jeans, caught on thinking about it. Slowly, he shook his head.
"No, We, uh, We don't need to tell her. It's not like we'll act on what Detective Russo offered."
He looked back at Nancy who smiled and then glanced at Frank, tilting her head at him while she still spoke into her phone. He nervously bit the inside of his cheek, but he'd stay steadfast with his choice.
"She doesn't need to know. She'd only get mad."
Joe nodded. "Okay. We won't tell her."
------
"God. I'm so tired." Joe mumbled into the mattress. His suitcase forgotten, Frank moving it the rest of the way into their room. It was a regular sized room. Two queen beds, tans and maroons and reds decorated the walls. They had a little balcony and a side table between the two beds. Frank and Joe would be sharing one while Nancy had the other to herself. Nancy kicked off her shoes, sitting on her own bed.
"Tell me about it." She snorted as she emptied the pockets of her jacket. Pulling out the letter, the vial and the euro.
Frank meanwhile, when they'd got to the room, beelined it to the bathroom. Joe kept a constant string of chatter, making some good background noise for Nancy. She'd respond with little ‘uh huhs’, and ‘yeah’, throwing in some 'reallys?' to add a little spice for the Hardy Boy. But she wasn't mentally there after the long day they'd had. Instead she just scoured the letter.
Frank returned from the bathroom kicking off his own shoes. Frank's chatter with Joe fell further into the background. The boys started to bicker back and forth about space on the bed. Frank preferring to sleep on the left, but Joe also sleeps on the left and they can't both sleep on the left and then Frank wanted to watch some Tv but Joe can't sleep in the tv is on and he moves too much in his sleep to have a sleeping mask, It was always like this when doing a case with the Hardy boys, but usually Nancy had her own hotel room...
She reached the end of the letter, her eyes landing on one part, her eyes widening. How could she forget that?
"-No. I slept on the right side last case because I'm such a good older brother." Frank held a pillow over his head. Joe fired back.
"But I didn't even sleep last case! We were too busy scouring over reports so technically, I haven't slept on the left side."
"Boys-"
They didn't even hear her. Too focused on figuring out the end of the problem.
"That doesn't even count!"
"Yes it does. You have to be fair!"
"I am being fair. You had the left side last time and now its my turn. Simple as that."
"Boys." Nancy's voice raised a bit. They still didn't hear her.
"Who's been keeping count?" Joe pressed, sitting up on the bed.
"Me."
"But you'd lie just to get your way."
"No I wouldn't. I'm trustworthy. I'm the Oldest." Frank smiled smugly, crossing his arms over his chest.
"That's a load of shit-"
"Boys!" Their heads turned towards Nancy, who was holding the letter still in her hand. She waved her hand trying to get their attention. "Check your bags real quick."
Joe tilted his head confused looking at the letter in Nancy's hand.
"My bags?" -It clicked. They had a package in their luggage from the mysterious 'E'. "Ohhhh. Yeah okay."
Frank meanwhile was already digging through his suitcase, snagging his own opaque white package. Waiting till Joe got up off the bed to claim the left side spot. Joe grabbed his own package, focused on that task at hand, given the size of the package. Bed sides forgotten.
Joe brushed the hair out of his eyes, starting to open the package and Frank shook the contents of his into his hand. His package only being as big as a halloween candy. Nancy moved over to the two, peering to see the contents.
Two small pills fell into his hands. dark purple, almost black. His brows furrowed, lifting his head to catch eyes with Nancy.
"You think it's nightshade?"
Nancy shrugged. "I definitely wouldn't test it."
"Uh guys?" Joe spoke up. His tone was nervous and shaky. " I think I got something worse than Nightshade."
He lifted up the opaque package. Just a little bigger than his hand. He reached in, pulling out a large metal object. The barrel pointing down at the carpet. The gun hanging loosely in his fingers.
"Why would 'E' send this?"