Nancy Clue Mysteries 3 - A Ghost in the Closet (3 page)

"Thank goodness that's all over," Cherry sighed in relief. "Has it just been a week since Nancy faced a certain jail sentence by bravely admitting that it was she who had murdered her father, only to be exonerated at the very last minute when Carson Clue's true nature was finally revealed?" Cherry wondered to herself. Why, if public sentiment hadn't been behind her, Nancy could very well be in prison this minute, Cherry realized with alarm as she clutched her chum's slender, white cotton-gloved hand.

Who would have guessed that just days before, the charmingly outfitted girl at Cherry's side had been locked in a damp, drab jail cell? Luckily, once the truth about her father had been revealed and people could see that Nancy had had no choice but to shoot him, the good citizens of River Depths had demanded she be let go and that all charges be dropped.

Nancy smiled and gave Cherry's hand a little squeeze. "Lucky for us, everything's back to normal," that confident squeeze said.

Cherry felt a sudden stab of guilt. All week she had been trying to get her feelings straight about Nancy. When they first met in San Francisco, they fell instantly and truly in love. But after two glorious weeks, their romance had soured, and Cherry had been forced to take a good long look at her idol. Not liking all she saw, the gentle nurse had since demurred whenever the subject of love came up. Cherry knew that since Nancy's release from prison, she had done all she could to rekindle their earlier love, but there was just one thing standing in the way.

"A great, big goodlooking girl with bulging biceps and the warmest smile I've ever seen," Cherry thought dreamily. San Francisco Detective Jackie Jones, a calm, capable girl with rich brown skin and large black eyes, had shown up at Nancy's door to help her chums solve their last case, and had stolen Cherry's heart in the process. "Maybe I was never really in love with Nancy to begin with," Cherry thought. "Could it be that I'm really, truly in love with Jackie, and my feelings for Nancy were merely a girl's first crush?" Still, Cherry felt a little tingle when she gazed at her attractive titian-haired chum, who had stooped to pet a frisky Scottish terrier, a plucky little breed whose independent spirit and reckless courage had long held it in good stead with the dog-loving public.

"Nancy has been awfully sweet to me since she was released from prison. And who could blame her for acting a little short-tempered during her murder trial?" Cherry asked herself. "After all, she was under an awful strain." The more Cherry pondered this, the more sense it made. Could it be her feelings for Jackie, a top notch detective with a steady gaze and a confident manner, were merely the admiration of one dedicated professional for another?

Cherry blushed. She always blushed when she thought of the strong, cocksure detective who had an uncanny habit of showing up just when Cherry needed her most. "Time will tell. Just be patient, and you'll see who's the right girl for you," Velma's sensible words rang in Cherry's ears. Since meeting the older, more sophisticated Velma Pierce, Cherry had, again and again, turned to her for guidance on matters of the heart, as well as for fashion and hairstyle tips.

"After ten years with Midge, Velma must know everything there is to know about romance," Cherry realized. She snuck a peek at her favorite couple, who were standing arm in arm whilst poring over the fascinating program. She was thrilled to see them happy and smiling again. Midge and Velma were true and devoted lovers, but a silly misunderstanding last week had almost pulled them asunder! Luckily, love had prevailed, and the two were wed in a lovely ceremony in Nancy's living room, attended by all of River Depth society.

Cherry puzzled her pretty brow. There was one thing she still didn't understand. If Midge was masquerading as Frank Hardly, and had married Velma while in disguise, was Velma Mrs. Midge Fontaine, or really Mrs. Frank Hardly? "Maybe now isn't the best time to bring that up," Cherry decided. "Since everyone's having such a swell time."

The chums had kept a low profile for days, waiting for the news to blow over that it had been Nancy who had murdered her father. "Not that it's been a dull period in the least," Cherry murmured to herself. Why, the house had been a whirlwind of activity!

Shortly after Nancy's release from jail, the president of the River Depths Bank had arrived with a briefcase stuffed with stocks and bonds and insurance policies for Nancy to peruse. There were numerous financial decisions for River Depth's newest heiress to mull over, for besides inheriting the comfortable three-story brick house and her father's considerable bank account, Nancy had come into a large trust left to her by her late mother, Rebecca Clue. Why, the interest alone would keep Nancy in fashionable frocks and necessary accessories for the rest of her days!

When Nancy had begged Cherry to be her date for the show, Jackie had suddenly announced that she had official work to do, strapped on her gun and left the house. Cherry was frankly relieved that she didn't have to choose between two escorts for that day!

"Although Jackie is missing all the fun," Cherry thought woefully as she followed the others through the crowd to the center arena where the Parade of Hounds was underway. Soon Cherry forgot all about her troubled romances as many delightful dogs, led by a handsome bloodhound, paraded about in a large circle.

"These can't all be hounds," Cherry exclaimed to Midge. "They look nothing alike." As she said this, she noticed a burly man clad in a tight-fitting shiny black suit prick up his ears and tilt his head so as to hear Midge's response. Cherry was glad she wasn't the only uninformed one in the crowd!

Midge quickly explained that all sorts of contrary-appearing dogs, from the merry beagle to the regal Afghan, were hounds. "There are two classifications of hounds: coursing hounds, which use their eyesight for tracking, and tracking hounds, which rely on their acute sense of smell," Midge explained earnestly, adding, "Dogs have a sense of smell three hundred times that of humans."

"Bloodhounds are often used by the police to solve crimes," Nancy interjected. "I had one with me when I cracked The Case of the Fetid Footwear."

"Goodness!" Cherry exclaimed. Before she could hear any more about Nancy's exciting case, a roar went up from the crowd. It was the Cavalcade of Collies! The crowd applauded in approval as the majestic looking, thick-coated herding dogs rounded up sheep, jumped over barriers, and saved a small boy from a simulated swimming accident. Cherry was not at all surprised to learn that the plucky dogs had long been used to aid mankind during times of national emergency.

"Aren't they the cleverest dogs you've ever seen?" Cherry cried to Nancy as she jumped to her feet and smoothed out the wrinkles in her skirt in preparation for a trip to the cafeteria.

"And so loyal, too," Nancy exclaimed. "Why, they're practically famous for their dutiful obedience to their masters!" Nancy put one arm on Cherry's shoulder and looked her straight in the eye. "Loyalty has always been one of my favorite characteristics in a girlfriend," she confided. "Don't you think it's one of the most important virtues ever?"

Cherry gulped. "Goodness, I'm starved!" she cried. "Is anyone else hungry?"

As they consumed a yummy luncheon of ham salad sand wiches, cabbage slaw and fruit compote, Midge happily read aloud more interesting things about the delightful dogs. She had taken copious notes in her program during the trials and declared herself quite taken with the handsome beasts. Next the girls browsed at a nearby booth offering good bargains on necessary items. Nancy purchased a cute tartan collar for her terrier, Gogo, and Midge picked up a handsome braided red leather collar and leash set for her own dog, Eleanor, a black and white cocker spaniel left at home in Warm Springs, Oregon with close chums.

"Attention ladies and gentlemen!" a voice blared out over the loudspeaker. "The Wiener Dog Races will begin in four minutes' time in Exhibition Hall C, followed shortly thereafter by the Pageant of Poodles in Exhibition Hall D!"

"I met two poodles who are going to compete," Midge told her chums. "I promised their owner we'd be there to cheer them on."

Cherry had to smile. Tough, sarcastic Midge always became a puddle when it came to pooches! The happy group was eagerly making its way down the long corridor connecting the exhibition halls when suddenly a tall, thin man in a darkcolored trenchcoat with an upturned collar stepped right in their path.

"Hey!" Midge cried as the man took an umbrella from under his arm and thoughtlessly shook it out, spraying the hapless girls with rain water before disappearing into the sea of dog lovers. "What the-!" she added as she felt someone jostle her from behind. Midge turned around to find a burly man in a shiny, tight-fitting black sharkskin suit behind her.

"Sorry, sonny," he grumbled as he slipped something into his jacket pocket and walked briskly away. Midge checked her pocket and was relieved to find her wallet still there.

"How discourteous that trenchcoat-clad man is!" Cherry exclaimed, realizing that he had gotten water on her new ballerina flats. Not only that, he had left a puddle that could prove dangerous on the slick, tile flooring! Cherry opened her purse and whipped out a clean handkerchief so she could mop up the mess, but stopped when she spied the look of astonishment on Midge's face. By now, Midge had had time to check all her pockets, and had discovered a queer thing.

"That man in the black suit stole my program!" Midge gasped angrily.

CHAPTER 2

Dog Gone!

"At first I thought he had taken my money," Midge explained. "I've got my wallet, all right, but my program's missing. Why would he steal a five-cent program?" she cried, more bewildered than angry.

"I'll bet you just dropped it, Midge," Cherry piped up. "What possible reason could someone have for stealing your program?"

"You're right, Cherry, I probably left it in the cafeteria," Midge sighed after a quick look around. "And it's got all my notes about my favorite dogs in it!" Midge looked decidedly downcast.

"I'll get you another," Cherry cried as she fished a nickel from her coin purse, walked over to a vendor and purchased a crisp new program.

"Thanks, Cherry," Midge grinned. Then an expression of alarm crossed her face. She checked her watch. "We've got just seconds to go before the Pageant of Poodles starts, and I promised Miss Pansy we'd be there!" Quick as a wink, the girls took off for Exhibition Hall D, but as they got close to the room they heard a terrible cry, one that sent a chill through the gay little group.

"Help! Help!" someone cried. "Someone's-kidnapped- the-miniature-poodles!"

They raced to the Petite Poodle Room, which proved a pan-demonious place indeed. People were milling about, talking excitedly. "That's the third dognapping this summer in Central Illinois!" they overheard one man exclaim.

"So that's why the police are here," Midge realized.

"They must have suspected something like this might happen," Nancy surmised.

Meanwhile, Cherry had begun fussing over Miss Pansy, who was lying flat on her back on the cold tile floor. Cherry noted with approval that the Veterinarian Nurse she had met earlier in the ladies' lounge had loosened the woman's garments and had made a pillow for her out of a pile of small woolen dog sweaters. The color was coming back in the elderly woman's face and soon she was able to sit up and tell the girls the dreadful details of the tragic event.

"It's the most awful thing," Miss Pansy said in a shaky voice. Tears welled in her soft brown eyes. "I left Pierre and Patsy alone in their stalls for just a moment so I could purchase a cucumber sandwich and a cup of coffee. In the excitement of the day, I had forgotten to have any breakfast," she explained weakly.

Cherry kept a cheery expression on her face, but inwardly she frowned. Of all people, a librarian should know that breakfast provides the fuel that powers the human engine! Cherry sent a bystander off for a cup of tea and some dry toast. As soon as Miss Pansy had had some nourishment and regained her strength, Cherry would set her straight about the most important meal of the day!

Miss Pansy continued her story. "When I came through these doors and looked over and saw this, why, I must have fainted," she said in a tremulous tone. She gestured limply toward a row of tiny stalls, each outfitted with a plush pillow, rubber toy, colorful ribbons, and a gay sign bearing the occupant's name.

But Tiny, Stella, Precious, Bubbles, Patsy and Pierre were gone!

Tears welled in Cherry's eyes. She had never seen a sadder sight than those six, small empty beds.

"Oh, Frank, you've simply got to do something," Miss Pansy begged Midge. "Oh, and Nancy Clue, you're here, too," the woman sighed in relief as she spotted the well-known girl detective.

Setting aside her own desire to frolic on this gay day, Nancy got right on the case. "Miss Pansy, was there anyone in here when you came through the door? Did you see anyone suspicious milling around earlier?"

But Miss Pansy was too perturbed to pay attention. "Pierre and Patsy have never spent the night away from me," she cried. "Why, they'll be petrified!"