Chapter Text
“Five years, Carson.” Ryan flopped down onto the couch in the Drew household. “It’s been five years since we’ve seen our daughter.”
“Trust me,” Carson handed Ryan a mug of coffee. “I’ve been counting every minute she’s been away. But we got her note. Our lives, and her life would be in danger if we followed her. We have to trust that she knew what she was doing.”
A knock sounded from the door.
“I’ll get it.” Carson sat up. He opened the door.
“Hey Mr. D.” Ace held a container full of cookies. Carson invited him in. “Thought you guys might be together today. My mom made you a little something.”
“Thank you, Ace.” Carson managed a smile.
“How are you, man? ” Ryan asked him with concern.
“Holding up.” Ace flopped down into an armchair. “I miss her so much.”
“Some days I think that all of Horseshoe Bay misses her.” Carson sat down next to Ryan and took out a cookie.
Ace frowned. “I just wish we knew why she left. I tried going to the station again today. I know Tamura knows something.”
“Of course he does.” Carson said. “He was the one on the case with Nancy. But even he looks terrified every time that case is brought up. He said he almost put Nancy in witness protection, remember?”
“But it’s been so long.” Ace put his face in his hands. “Why can’t she come home yet? Tamura keeps asking us to trust him. To trust her. And I do, but what if Nancy never comes home?”
“Don’t say that, Ace.” Ryan sniffed. “ Please don’t say that.”
“But what if we have to go to her?” Ace insisted. “What if she can’t solve this on her own? What if she needs us? Who’s keeping her safe ?”
“Ace, I don’t know.” Carson shook his head. “But we’ve talked about this. Tamura said that her life would be in even more danger if we tried to find her. We have to respect her space.”
Another knock sounded from the door. “I got it.” Carson got up again. He was surprised, but not too surprised, to see the rest of Nancy’s crew.
“Hey guys, come on in.” Bess, George, Nick, and even Addy joined the annual should we go and find Nancy this year? talk. The crew had done their best protecting the town in Nancy’s absence, but the hole their missing friend had left could never be filled.
“That’s it!” Bess snatched a cookie. “I’m not spending another day like this! I say we go right up to Tamura, and give him a truth spell. Then, he’ll have to tell us what happened to Nancy. Then we can judge whether or not lives are in danger. Who’s with me?”
“I’m so in.” Ace grinned.
“So am I.” George nodded.
“Count me in!” Nick put a hand on her shoulder.
“I hate to say this,” Carson said. “But I think you're right Bess. If we can’t see Nancy, I believe we have a right to know why.”
“Are you giving me permission to put a truth spell on the new police chief, Mr. Drew?” Bess smirked.
“I am.” Ryan raised his hand.
“Good enough for me!” Bess reached into her bag and pulled out a candle. “Let’s do this.”
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“What supernatural thingy did you guys just do to me?” Tamura had to get used to the Drew Crew and their antics, but this was a little much. “I literally just told you my computer password. Why did I do that?”
“Actually,” Bess closed the door to Tamura’s office dramatically. The Drew Crew and Nancy’s dads stood around his desk. “We want to know why Nancy left Horseshoe Bay. Now talk!”
“Bess, tone it down a little.” George said.
“Sir, we deserve to know.” Carson insisted.
“I can’t- Gah! What is this?” Tamura put a hand over his mouth.
“The lasso of Hestia compels you to reveal the truth!”
“Bess, what is with you and the Wonder Woman references lately?”
“Sorry.”
“Nancy got too deep into a case with the Road Back!” Tamura admitted. “I tried to warn her, but by the time I did it was too late. Nancy didn’t realize it was the Road Back that she was investigating, but they knew about her. They threatened the life of her loved ones, you guys, if she continued to investigate them. So she left Horseshoe Bay so she wouldn’t be associated with you. I helped her cover her tracks. I wanted to put her in witness protection, but there wasn’t enough evidence. So she did the only thing she could. The Road Back hasn’t bothered her since she left Horseshoe Bay and started a new life, and they haven’t bothered any of you either, and that's what she wanted.”
“Why haven’t they killed Nancy?” Ace asked.
“It would cause too much attention to kill her. She’s Nancy Drew! But they threatened all of you. And she would never risk your life. So she shut down Nancy Drew Investigations and moved away to divert their attention away from you. If you go looking for her now, your lives could be in danger! And so could the lives of those she cares for in her new home.”
“We can’t spend our whole lives being afraid!” Ryan insisted. “There’s no way the Road Back is watching us twenty-four-seven.”
“Ryan and I are going to find Nancy,” Carson said. “But clearly there is a great risk in doing this. We will not ask any of you to come with us.”
“Are you kidding me?” Ace sat up. “I am so going. And you can’t make me stay.”
“I had a feeling, Ace.” Carson smiled at him.
“There’s no way I’m letting my platanchor go on a dangerous mission alone!” Bess hugged Ace. “I’m coming too!”
“I’ll drive.” Nick flipped his keys in his hand. “Addy, can you look after the youth center while I’m gone?”
“You got it boss.” Addy said.
George rolled her eyes. “I reserve the right to punch Drew when we see her.”
“Absolutely not!” Tamura waved his hands. “You aren’t going any-”
“We aren’t doing anything against the law Tamura.” Carson said. “You can’t keep us here. We will be going now.”
“ Please.” Tamura pleaded. “ Listen.”
“We did listen!” Ryan said. “Our lives are in danger, we get it!“
“Not just your lives!” Tamura stopped them before they could reach the door. “Weren’t you listening? I said, looking for her will catch attention. You’ll put the lives of Nancy’s new loved ones in danger too. You think she’s all alone? She isn’t. As a parent, I think you’d understand.” He looked pointedly at Ryan and Carson.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Nick and the crew shoved past Tamura and out of the station. “Quit speaking in riddles. Where does Nancy live now?”
“River Heights, Illinois.”
“She lives where?!”
Carson and Ryan looked at each other. It’s been five years. They finally got the answers they wanted. They were going to see their daughter again. But would she be the daughter they remember?