038 The Final Scene Read Free

shocked.
    “Missing?”
    Nancy nodded and went over to Brady to put a comforting hand on his arm. “Brady, can you tell us exactly what happened?”
    Before Brady could begin his story, the man in the burgundy sports coat cleared his throat and pointedly addressed Nancy. “I’m Simon Mueller,” he said. “Brady’s and Deirdre’s manager. Not that it’s actually any of your business. Now, what I want to know is, who are you and why are you asking all these questions?”
    “This is Nancy Drew,” Joseph said, coming to the girls’ assistance, “and her friend, George Fayne. You may have heard of Nancy. She’s River Heights’s best-known detective.”
    Simon didn’t seem impressed. He ignored Nancy and turned to Brady. “Okay, Brady. What you’re saying is that while I was escorting those local dignitaries to their seats for the movie, someone in a ski mask tried to kidnap you?”
    Nancy caught Deirdre looking at Simon quizzically.
    Brady nodded. Nancy was about to ask another question when Simon interrupted her again.
    “And just how did that happen?” Before Brady could answer, Simon went on. “Well? Let’s get this story over with.”
    Nancy couldn’t believe the way Brady’s manager was talking to him as if he were a kid. And Brady was letting him! Also Simon wasn’t taking any of it the least bit seriously—and Bess was missing. Not able to wait any longer, Nancy spoke up impatiently.
    “What happened when you got to the theater?” she asked.
    Deirdre stepped forward and put a hand on Brady’s shoulder. “We came inside with a lot of local politicians and dignitaries. We stood around and chatted, then Brady said he had to change. I escorted our guests to their seats. Simon was outside still,” she said pointedly, looking at Simon.
    So that was it. Simon hadn’t been with them, Nancy thought, filing away the information. “And when you let yourself into your room, exactly what did you see, Brady?” she asked.
    “The lights were off, so I turned them on. And that’s when I saw her—the blond girl—sitting over there on the sofa. She had a gag in her mouth.”
    Out of the corner of her eye Nancy saw George shudder slightly. Bess’s situation was even worse than she imagined.
    “I think I asked her something, like what was she doing here,” Brady continued. “That was when the man in the ski mask attacked me.”
    “Was this person a man?” Nancy asked.
    “Well, no . . . I mean, I don’t know, actually,” Brady said after considering. “With that mask on I didn’t see a face, but I thought it was a man.
    “He grabbed me around the throat, but I pushed him back and he lost his balance. Then I ran into the hall to get help.”
    Brady shook his head and dragged his fingers through his thick black hair. “I wish I had done something to help that poor girl. She looked so scared. But I thought I needed help.” He gave Nancy and George a long look. “You don’t know how rotten I feel about this.”
    Nancy found herself staring into Brady’s green eyes. He really did look upset.
    “So this person in a ski mask still has your friend?” Deirdre asked. Tears glittered on herlong lashes. Her famous green eyes were wide with concern as she patted Brady with a perfectly manicured hand.
    “It looks that way,” Nancy said. “And who knows where he’s got her!”
    “We’ve got to do something, Nan,” George said.
    Joseph shook his gray head. “She’s such a sweet child. Worked here one summer, you know. I got to be really fond of her—”
    Nancy cut him off. “I know, Joseph, but just standing here isn’t going to get her back. Every minute counts in a kidnapping case.”
    “So what’s the plan?” George asked. She looked at her friend expectantly.
    “Well, there’s only one door leading out of this room and no windows,” Nancy observed. “First we have to figure out how they left this room.”
    “Well, actually . . . ” Joseph walked over to the large closet and