False Notes Read Free

less-than thrilled,” she said. “The last thing this city needs is some superrich corporate type like him swooping in and taking over.”
    “He probably only wants the job to make it easier to take over Rackham Industries,” George agreed, referring to the local computer company and the biggest employer in River Heights. “Then he’ll move the whole company to some kind of offshore tax haven and leave this place destitute.”
    I laughed. “Hold on,” I said. “You’re making him sound like some kind of dastardly deviant. Don’t forget, he’s already done some good things for the town.”
    George shrugged. “Yeah, yeah,” she said, kicking at a pebble on the sidewalk. “So he built a new public skating rink and a couple of playgrounds. Big deal. That’s chump change for a guy like him.”
    But Bess looked conflicted. “He’s starting work on the new Granger Children’s Hospital, too,” she reminded George. “Remember? It’s that new construction site over on Union Street.”
    Suddenly I stopped short, noticing a display in the art-store window we were passing. “Hey,” I said, pointing. “Do you think Dad might like somethinglike that? He likes modern art, right?”
    “You mean that painting of a big gray blob with purple polka dots?” George looked skeptical. “Let me guess, Nancy. This means you still don’t have any good ideas for a birthday present.”
    I grinned. “You got that right,” I admitted. “I’ve been walking all over town today in search of the perfect gift, but nothing seems quite right. He’s always hard to shop for, but for some reason this year it’s harder than ever.”
    Bess looked sympathetic. “Did you ask Hannah for help?”
    “Yep. No dice.” Hannah Gruen, our longtime housekeeper, knows Dad about as well as anyone. But she hadn’t had any brilliant ideas either. She was taking the easy way out herself—her gift to Dad was going to be fixing all his favorite foods for his party on Thursday night.
    “All right, what about asking Ned?” Bess suggested. “He’s a guy—he should be able to help you figure something out.”
    “I asked him,” I said. “The only thing he could come up with were golf clubs or CDs. But Dad just bought himself a new set of clubs a couple of months ago. And he has so many CDs, I wouldn’t even know where to start.”
    George’s eyes lit up. “I know!” she said. “Why notget him a gift certificate to the music store? Then he can pick out his own CDs.”
    “I guess,” I said without much enthusiasm. “If I can’t come up with anything else, I’ll probably do that. It just seems kind of impersonal, you know?”
    Bess looked over at me as we walked on. “Sounds like you’re getting pretty discouraged.”
    “Nancy Drew ‘discouraged’?” George exclaimed. “Never! I won’t believe it. Not the famous amateur sleuth who’s tracked down more criminals than the entire River Heights Police Department. Not the determined investigator who won’t rest until every single clue is uncovered. Not the girl who wouldn’t give up until she cracked the code of Bess’s diary.”
    I couldn’t help laughing. “Very funny,” I said, giving George a shove. “But you’re right. I’m not giving up. I’m going to find the perfect birthday gift for Dad if it kills me!”
    Unfortunately I still hadn’t solved the mystery of Dad’s birthday gift by the time I headed home for dinner. My head was spinning with all the possibilities I’d considered and rejected: designer clothing, tropical fish, sports memorabilia, electronic equipment.… While Dad’s many interests and hobbies provided numerous possibilities, nothing seemed original or special enough to make the perfect birthday gift from his only daughter.
    I let myself into my house. The dim coolness of the front hall was a welcome relief after being in the heat. “Hello, I’m home!” I called.
    “Hi, Nancy,” Hannah’s familiar voice returned from the direction of the