Nancy Drew Mystery Stories: Volume Seventy-Six 4 страница

“Lured from the house by a phone call, then I was knocked out. Anyway, one minute I was sitting in my car waiting to talk to someone about the Tundra, and the next minute I woke up in the hold of an old boat. I never saw anyone or heard anything. There were no portholes in the boat and the door was barred. There was food and water. I don’t even know how long I was locked in.”

“How terrible.” Nancy shivered. “How did you escape?”

“That’s where Ben comes in,” Alana said.

The Eskimo smiled shyly. “I fish at dawn most days,” he said. “I’d noticed the old boat anchored near the island and I was curious. The fish weren’t biting, so I went closer for a look. I heard someone beating on the hull and screaming for help. It was Alana.”

“And you rescued her.” It wasn’t a question. Hope flooded through Nancy. If one kidnap victim had been placed in a boat, why not a second? “Where is this boat?” Nancy asked. “Whom does it belong to?”

Ben looked startled. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know where it is?”

He shook his head. “I went back to check it once Alana was safely hidden here with my friends, but it was gone.”

“They must have gone out to get me,” Alana said, smiling. “I’ll bet they were surprised to find the cabin empty.”

“Who are they?” Nancy asked.

“Cole and Borge,” Alana answered without hesitation.

“If you know, why haven’t you gone to the authorities?” Nancy demanded.

“I can’t do that to Uncle Clement,” Alana answered.

“What does he have to do with it?” Nancy asked.

“When I got here, the TV and the papers were full of details of the robbery,” Alana said.

“That’s when I knew what the kidnappers had demanded as the ransom for me—the Tundra.” Her smile was sad. “Uncle Clement gave it to them in exchange for my life.”

“Well, if that’s true, why can’t you go to the authorities? Once they know the whole story, your uncle won’t be blamed.”

“Without proof?” Alana asked. “Do you think they would believe me?”

“Well, Ben would tell them about finding you,” Nancy reminded her.

Alana considered, then shook her head. “I don’t think they would believe us,” she said. “And even if they do, do you think any collector would ever trust the Steele Gallery again? My uncle would be ruined and it would be all my fault.”

“It wasn’t your fault you were kidnapped,” Nancy protested. “Besides, none of this makes any sense, Alana. If those men were Franklin Cole’s partners, why didn’t they just buy the Tundra from his widow? Why would they steal it?”

“That’s the piece of the puzzle that Ben gave me,” Alana said. “Will you explain it to her?”

Ben sighed. “The Tundra, beautiful as it is, has a value beyond itself. The legend is true. The secret that gives the location of the treasures my grandfather took from Seal Bay is concealed within that sculpture. That’s why those two were so anxious to have it.”

“But how did they know?” Nancy asked.

“Franklin Cole probably,” Ben answered. “I imagine he knew the story well, since he was a part of it in the beginning. That’s why he never would show the Tundra. I guess he always believed he’d figure it out someday.”

“But he didn’t, did he?” Nancy said.

“No, and so his partners are trying to complete Franklin Cole’s dream,” Ben agreed.

Nancy nodded. “But where do you fit in, Ben?” she asked.

“I came to Victoria for the same reason,” Ben replied. “Only I was just going to look at the Tundra while it was on display.”

“Do you know the secret of the sculpture?” Nancy gasped.

“According to the old men of Seal Bay, I do,” he answered. “They gave me a message from my grandfather, words he told them when he knew he was dying. You see, he’d never told anyone where the treasures were hidden. That was his punishment to them for having sold his treasures—that and the fact that he told them the Tundra was the key. Unfortunately, what he told them makes no sense at all to me. I came here hoping that if I studied the Tundra carefully, I could figure out what his words mean.”

“And now it’s gone and Ben won’t have the chance,” Alana said. “Again, it’s all my fault, Nancy.”

“Do you think Cole and Borge can find the treasure now that they have the Tundra?” Nancy asked.

Alana shrugged, then looked to Ben for the answer.

He shook his head. “I doubt it. Franklin Cole had years to study it. Without the secret my grandfather knew, it is just a beautiful master-piece—a priceless collection of his carvings.”

“I guess that explains something else,” Nancy said.

“What do you mean?” Alana said.

Nancy took a deep breath and explained about her father’s disappearance and the call she’d received at the hotel.

“You mean they want me?” Alana gasped.

Nancy nodded. “They seem to think you know the secret of the sculpture.”

Alana closed her eyes as though in pain. “They’re wrong, of course.”

“But they have my father.”

“Even I couldn’t help them solve it,” Ben said.

“What are we going to do?” Alana asked. “I don’t know anyone to ask for help. I tried to call Tod to ask him to tell my uncle I’m all right, but there was no answer at his apartment.”

“Tod is in the hospital,” Nancy interrupted. “Besides, I think his phone may be tapped.” She quickly explained about Tod’s accident and the break-in that had occurred that afternoon. Alana was even more upset by this news.

“I know how they got into the house,” Alana said sadly. “They took my keys when they kidnapped me.” She sighed. “But why would they do that? Why search the house?”

“They were evidently looking for your notebook.” Nancy explained how she had found it in Alana’s room.

“But it wouldn’t have helped them to solve anything,” Alana protested.

“I’m sure they know that now,” Nancy told her. “They didn’t get it the first time because I had it in my purse, but they did get it the second time. I left it in the room when I went to visit Tod.”

“These people are so desperate now,” Ben said. “I wonder why they didn’t just buy the piece from the widow. Surely she would have let them have it since they were her husband’s former partners.”

Alana shook her head. “I don’t think so. She was very adamant about the sale of the Tundra. She told Uncle Clement that it wasn’t to be sold to anyone who wouldn’t display it. I got the feeling that it was something she and her husband had quarreled about for years.”

“I’m surprised they didn’t have someone else make an offer for them,” Nancy said. “A slightly fraudulent purchase would certainly have been less risky than an out-and-out theft, even with your uncle forced into helping them.”

“They probably did,” Alana said. “Mrs. Cole warned Uncle Clement to check out every prospective buyer very carefully.”

Nancy sighed wearily. “We have to stop them,” she said. “And we have to get Dad back.”

“But how?” Alana asked.

The sound of a car door loudly slamming out in front of the lodge interrupted her.

“Could that be the men who were chasing you earlier?” Ben remarked, his gaze going to Nancy.

She could only shrug as he flipped off the overhead lamp and moved on tiptoe to the window. The light from the flickering fireplace made eerie shadows and they could all hear the sounds of footsteps on the creaking boards of the wide front porch.

12. Uncertain Flight

Nancy got to her feet and joined Ben at the window. The car was parked in a patch of moonlight bright enough to show the marks of mud that had dried nearly halfway up the sides.

“It’s those men,” she whispered.

“What’ll we do?” Alana gasped.

“You two go out the back door and circle around to the front,” Ben ordered. “They don’t know me, so I’ll talk to them.”

“We’ll stay near my car,” Nancy said, “in case we have to leave in a hurry.”

The girls nodded, and Nancy followed Alana toward the rear of the old lodge. Once they left the lobby, the darkness was so complete she could see nothing but the pale blur of her friend’s blouse. The halls were uncluttered and Alana moved with confidence until they reached the dimly lit kitchen. Here Alana paused for a moment.

Nancy slipped by her and peered out the kitchen window. The area beyond was dark, and tall evergreens shadowed the house. There was no sign of movement there. “I think it’s safe,” she whispered, even as the pounding sounds came from the front of the house.

Alana opened the door and the two of them stepped out into the cool darkness. The sound of the pounding was still audible. A man’s voice shouted for admittance. Then abruptly the sounds ceased. Nancy followed around the crossed-log corners of the house toward the front.

“What do you want?” Ben asked, somehow managing to sound both angry and sleepy.

“We’re here to see Nancy Drew,” one of the men said.

“There’s no one here by that name,” Ben told them calmly.

“Her car is out in your lot,” the man grumbled, not giving up.

“I can’t help that. She’s not here.” Ben didn’t yield an inch.

“I don’t believe you.”

“I don’t really care whether you do or not. Now if you’ll just get on your way, I’d appreciate it. All this noise will disturb the people who live here. We—” Ben’s words were interrupted by the sounds of a scuffle, then the door slammed. Nancy peeked in the living room window and saw two men standing in the lobby with Ben.

“Are those two Cole and Borge?” Nancy whispered to Alana.

Alana peeked in, and then shook her head. “I’ve never seen them before, but that voice is familiar. I heard it once when I met with Cole and Borge to discuss the history of the Tundra. I’m sure he works for them, so they probably both do.”

“Out of our way,” the bigger man snarled, shoving Ben to one side. “We’re going to find the girl.”

Ben started to swing, then seemed to think better of it. “Search if you like,” he said. “Just try not to disturb any of the people upstairs. They might call the police about burglars like you.”

The other man chuckled evilly. “Not on your phone lines,” he said.

Alana and Nancy gasped and looked around. It took only a moment to spot the cut lines.

“What are we going to do, Nancy?” Alana whispered.

“We’re going to get out of here,” Nancy replied. “Come on.”

They left the protection of the log structure and made their way through the trees to where the cars were parked. Nancy studied them, then grinned. “Let’s let the air out of two tires on every car,” she said. “Except for mine, of course.”

Alana started to protest, then she giggled. “Even my car?” she asked.

Nancy considered for a moment, aware that Alana’s car was bigger and more powerful, then she nodded. “The authorities must be looking for your car,” she said. “We’ll be much safer in my rental.”

“Okay, Nancy,” Alana agreed.

There were some angry shouts from inside the lodge. Nancy looked up as lights went on behind some of the windows. “I hope they don’t hurt anyone,” she murmured, feeling guilty for having led the men to this refuge.

“Don’t worry about the people who live at the Firebird,” Alana said. “They’re well able to take care of themselves. Those two may find themselves tossed out, if they get too pushy.”

The girls moved from car to car leaving a trail of flat tires behind them. They’d just finished the last car when a dark form detached itself from the shadows. “What are you two doing?” Ben asked.

“Just slowing down the enemy,” Nancy said.

“How about letting me put the finishing touches on their car,” Ben said, releasing the hood of the big, mud-caked sedan. “You get your car started, Nancy. We don’t want to be here when they come out.”

Nancy did as he suggested, feeling better than she had since the phone call about her father. She was really no closer to rescuing him, but at least she had gained some information as well as Alana’s and Ben’s help.

“Let’s go,” Ben said, getting into the backseat.

Nancy swung the small car around and headed down the rutted road just as the door of the lodge opened and the two men came racing out. Their shouts range in her ears.

“What about your friends at the lodge?’ Nancy asked. “How will they manage with their cars disabled and the phone lines out?”

“When they get ready to leave, they’ll just hike down to the harbor and take their fishing boats out,” Ben said. “Your playmates are the only ones who are going to be stuck at the lodge for a while.”

“What a shame,” Nancy said, laughing.

Alana sighed. “So what do we do now?” she asked.

Nancy’s high spirits dropped. “I really don’t know,” she admitted.

“I still can’t go to the authorities,” Alana said. “I couldn’t let you, anyway, not while they have my dad,” Nancy reminded her.

“We need to come up with a plan,” Ben said. “A way to get your father back, Nancy, and to trick those crooks into giving up the Tundra. If we could do that, we could clear up everything.”

Nancy nodded. “Sounds like the perfect solution. Do you have a plan?”

“Not a hint of one,” he admitted.

“How about you, Nancy?” Alana asked.

Nancy bit her lip. “I don’t have any ideas either,” she said. “I just know we have to be very careful. I don’t want Dad to get hurt.”

“Don’t even think about that,” Alana said. “They’re not going to do anything to him, not when they think they can trade him for me.”

“I wouldn’t do that, Alana,” Nancy told her. “You know I wouldn’t. No matter what they say.”

“I think we have a more immediate problem,” Ben interrupted.

“What’s that?” Nancy asked.

“Where to go now. Those two are going to be stuck at the Firebird for a while, but once they get away, they’ll look for us again and I don’t know of any other place to hide Alana.”

“I wish we could go to my uncle,” Alan said, “but I’m sure he’s being watched and I can’t bring him any more trouble.”

“Well, you know, the kidnappers were kind enough to reserve two rooms at the hotel for my father and me, so I suggest we use them,” Nancy said. “What do you think?”

“You mean stay at your hotel?” Alana and Ben chorused.

“Well, they’ve been watching it pretty closely but since they obviously followed me when I left earlier, there’s probably no one watching now.”

“That’s crazy,” Alana protested.

“Why?” Nancy asked. “I have to be there so they can contact me about Dad.”

“You’re right,” Alana admitted. “I’m sorry, Nancy. I guess I’ve been thinking of my own problems so long that I’d forgotten other people have trouble, too.”

“Anyway, think about it, you two. I can go in first and pick up Dad’s key, then I’ll go to the fire door and let you in so no one will see you.” Nancy grinned at them. “Don’t you think the hotel will be the last place that anyone would look for you, Alana?”

Ben and Alana exchanged glances, then shrugged. “I guess we really don’t have much choice,” Alana said. “I just don’t want to put you in any more danger, Nancy. What’s happened to you and your father is all my fault.”

“I called you, Alana,” Nancy reminded her.

“But I asked you to help me,” Alana said.

“And warned me to leave before I got too involved. Besides, I have a feeling that we still don’t have the whole story.”

“But what else could there be?” Ben asked.

“My father was kidnapped before I came to Victoria,” Nancy said. “I mean he must have been, because he left the hotel in Seattle hours before I did and he never reached the Haggler estate.”

“The Haggler estate?” Alana said. “You mean the Haggler that has all those terrific import shops?”

“You’ve heard of them?” Nancy was a little surprised.

“You can’t be interested in art and not know about Haggler International Imports,” Alana declared. “Miss Haggler has imported some really fabulous things and she does occasionally handle Northern Indian or Eskimo art, too, you know. Everything in her shops doesn’t come from Japan or China or Europe or South America.”

“Sounds like you’ve checked them out pretty carefully,” Ben teased.

“When your uncle runs a gallery and eats, sleeps, and breathes art, you get to see a lot of import shops,” Alana replied with a small giggle. “Was your father working for Miss Haggler?”

Nancy nodded. ‘That’s why we were in Seattle.”

“I just wish you hadn’t been,” Alana said, her good spirits fading as quickly as they’d come. “I wanted to see you, but not like this.”

“This will be cleared up soon,” Nancy told her as she turned in to the hotel parking lot. “And after it is, we’ll have a real visit.”

“I’ll even take you and your father out fishing, if you like,” Ben said.

Nancy gave him a grateful smile, aware that he, too, was trying to remain optimistic. “Now,” she said. “You two say in the car for a while, then just casually make your way around to the far side there. The fire door opens just past that flowerbed. I’ll get there as soon as I can.”

“We’ll be there,” Ben promised. “You be careful.”

Nancy nodded. “After all that’s happened, I will be,” she said.

The hotel lobby was nearly empty when she entered, reminding her for the first time of the lateness of the hour. Though she still had her own room key, she headed directly for the desk. There was a different clerk on duty, so she simply asked about a reservation for Carson Drew, signing her father’s name to the register.

“Oh, Miss Drew, you have some messages,” the clerk said when he handed her the key.

“Messages?” Nancy swallowed hard.

“There have been a number of calls.” The clerk handed her the list.

“Thank you,” Nancy said. There was only one name on the list, but the messages had become increasingly urgent. Helen Haggler was desperately trying to reach Carson Drew and she wanted him to call—no matter what time it was. If she did not hear from him by morning, she would contact the police!

13. Stalling for Time

Nancy started toward the elevators, then hesitated, suddenly remembering what had happened to Tod after her telephone conversation with him. The men had been in her hotel room; the missing notebook was proof of that. She had no way of knowing if they’d bugged the telephone while she was away.

Nancy headed for the public telephones, closing herself in a booth and placing a call to Miss Haggler.

“Carson?” Helen Haggler began as soon as she’d accepted the collect call.

“No, Miss Haggler, it’s Nancy,” the girl said.

“Where’s your father?” Miss Haggler asked. “Has he arrived there?”

“He’s in Victoria,” Nancy began, “but he isn’t at the hotel.”

“Have you talked to him?”

“I’ve heard from him,” Nancy replied, choosing her words carefully, trying to avoid an outright lie, yet also wanting to keep the real situation from the woman.

“Nancy, give me a straight answer,” Helena snapped. “Have you seen your father?”

“No.” Nancy couldn’t keep her tone from showing her desperation.

“Has he been kidnapped?”

“Kidnapped?” Nancy swallowed hard. “What makes you think that, Miss Haggler?”

“So something has happened to him.” The woman sounded as weary and discouraged as Nancy felt.

“They warned me,” Miss Haggler said. “They said to drop the investigation or accept the consequences. I expected maybe another warehouse fire or an interruption in a shipment from a foreign port. I never dreamed they would strike so close to home.”

“Who?” Nancy demanded, recovering her senses. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about the men behind Investors, Inc., of course. Why do you think I told your father that I wanted to call off the investigation. I was trying to buy some time, time to build up my security at all the shops, time to warn all my import people, my foreign buyers. I just wanted time to set up some sort of trap.”

“Is that what you and Dad were going to discuss?” Nancy asked. “Had you told him?”

“I was going to tell him when he got here,” Helen Haggler answered. “I don’t ordinarily discuss things like that over the telephone.”

“Did anyone else know what you were planning?” Nancy asked, her frown deepening.

“Just my board of directors. I had to tell them about the new threat, but surely none of them would betray me.” Her tone had changed to one of speculation.

Nancy hesitated for a moment, her mind whirling. She didn’t know what to say.

“Where is your father?” Miss Haggler asked again.

“He’s being held somewhere,” Nancy replied, making her decision. “He’s safe as long as I don’t call in the authorities and do what his kidnappers want.”

“What do they want?” Helen asked. “Is it my corporation?”

“No, no, it has nothing to do with you,” Nancy answered. “It’s another matter entirely, something that I was working on here in Victoria. I’m making ransom arrangements now, so please, Miss Haggler, for Dad’s sake, don’t do anything to jeopardize them. Just wait and he’ll be calling you himself.”

“You can’t deal with that sort of person,” Miss Haggler warned. “You can’t trust them, Nancy. You need help.”

“I have it,” Nancy replied, stretching the truth a little. “I have friends with me now, some of the people involved in the case, so it will be all right. Please trust me.”

There was a long moment of silence and Nancy held her breath, well aware that her father’s safety could depend on Helen Haggler’s cooperation. Finally the woman sighed. “I’ll give you until this time tomorrow night,” she said. “If I don’t hear from Carson by then, I’m going to report his disappearance and stir up a manhunt that will put all these crooks out of business for good.”

“Midnight tomorrow night,” Nancy murmured, closing her eyes for a moment to offer a silent prayer that it would be long enough. “I’ll be in touch before then.”

“Not you, Nancy,” Miss Haggler corrected. “I want to talk to Carson before that. Understand? I don’t care what other cases he’s working on. He was on his way to talk to me and I feel responsible for his disappearance.”

“He’ll call you,” Nancy promised, hoping she was telling the truth.

“You take care of yourself, too,” Miss Haggler continued. “I know how much confidence your father has in your abilities, but this must be a dreadful time for you. If there is anything I can do, just let me know—day or night.”

“Thank you,” Nancy replied, “and thank you for caring.”

“Just get Carson back.”

“I’ll do my best.” Nancy replaced the receiver, feeling drained. She leaned against the cool metal for a moment, then she remembered that Alana and Ben would be waiting for her. In spite of her exhaustion, the night was not yet over.

She took the elevator to her floor, then hurried along the hall to the stairs. Once there she took a bandage from her purse and used it to keep the door to the stairway from locking. The doors to the stairs, which were meant only as a fire exit, had no knobs on the inside, so they couldn’t be opened except from the hall or with a key. Once she was sure she could get back into the hall, she hurried down to the first floor and cautiously opened the exit door.

“Where have you been?” Alana demanded. “We’ve been waiting forever.”

“I’m sorry, but I had to take care of something,” Nancy said, then explained about Miss Haggler’s call, finishing, “I couldn’t risk her calling the police in Seattle and I was afraid the phone in my room might have been bugged.”

Alana nodded. “We have to keep anyone else from knowing what is going on.”

“Anyway, let’s get back upstairs and out of sight,” Nancy said.

“This really is very kind of you,” Ben commented.

“You’re a part of this, too,” Nancy reminded him. “After all, the Tundra is your heritage.”

“And the treasures could give my people a real chance,” Ben agreed. “If they had those carvings back, they could sell some and build the school and the other things they need in Seal Bay. The settlement never really recovered from what Cole did to it when he was trying to force the artists to sell him their works.”

“What do you mean?” Nancy asked, stopping for a moment to catch her breath on the long climb.

“There’s nothing there for the young people. I left as soon as I could and so do many of the others. It’s a town without a future, unless something is done. I think my grandfather was beginning to realize that and to feel guilty toward the end. I just wish he’d entrusted the secret to someone else—someone who could solve the riddle of the Tundra.”

“We’ll solve it,” Nancy assured him with more confidence than she truly felt. “Just as soon as we get it back.”

“That’s what I like,” Alana said. “Confidence!”

They waited while Nancy peeled the tape off the door, then followed her down the hall to her room. Nancy handed Ben the key she’d just gotten from the desk clerk. “Your room is right there,” she said, indicating the door next to hers, “but why don’t you come in with us first. Maybe we can come up with a plan.”

“I hope you have some ideas,” Alana said as Nancy unlocked the door. “I, for one, have just about run out.” She stopped as Nancy grabbed her arm. “What is it?”

“I’m sure I turned off the lights when I left,” Nancy said, looking around. Then she saw it—a small tape player resting on the dresser, waiting for them.

14. A Puzzling Code

“Let me check,” Ben said, moving past the two girls to look in the bath and closet. “There’s no one here,” he told them. “Maybe you just forgot about the lights.”

Nancy shook her head. “They’ve been here,” she said. “They just made a delivery.”

“What do you mean?” Alana asked.

Nancy crossed to the dresser and looked down at the tape player. “They brought this,” she replied.

“A message?” Ben asked.

“Or instructions,” Nancy suggested.

“For what?” Alana looked pale. “Do you think they know you’ve found me?”

Nancy shrugged. “Your car was at the lodge,” she reminded her. “I’m sure they saw it after we left, even if they didn’t notice it before.”

“What are we going to do?” Ben inquired.

“I guess the only way we’ll know for sure what’s going on is to play this,” Nancy said. “We might as well sit down and relax.”

They settled themselves about the room, but no one was relaxed. Nancy pressed the button with a real feeling of fear—for her father and for her friends.

“Nancy.” The voice was her father’s and she felt a quick swelling of relief just hearing it. “I’ve explained to these... gentlemen that they must allow you to make some business calls for me. The various cases I was handling in Seattle all included appointments I either missed today or will miss tomorrow.

“These matters are crucial to the clients and if they cannot reach me by telephone for an explanation, several of them will be angry enough to call the police and institute a manhunt. My kidnappers have no desire for the spotlight at this time. I will give you a list of clients, phone numbers, and messages to be delivered.”

“Clients?” Nancy whispered. “We were working on one case, and I’ve already talked to her.”

“It is imperative, Nancy, that you spread oil on the waters with these people and convince them that I am working on their cases. Just be sure you don’t tell one about the others. Let each one think I’m working exclusively for him or her.”

The tone and voice were smooth and businesslike, the instructions given as concisely as though her father were sitting at the desk before her. All that was wrong was that the instructions concentrated on clients and cases that didn’t exist.

The list of names, numbers, and messages went on for several minutes, then her father sighed, “That’s it, Nancy, if you can handle the ACB’s of my clients, we can progress with what has to be done to win my freedom.” The tape ended.

“What’s wrong, Nancy?” Alana asked.

Nancy shook her head and laughed, rewinding the tape. “Nothing is wrong,” she said. “In fact something is very right, if I can just make sense of this.”

“What is there to mike sense of?” Ben asked. “It sounded pretty routine to me.”

“Oh, it is,” Nancy agreed. “Except that most of these clients and cases exist only in my father’s mind or in our history. We were in Seattle working on the Haggler case, period.”

Alana frowned, then her expression cleared and she laughed. “It’s a code, right?”

“It’s a message,” Nancy said, “but not in any kind of code that’s easy to decipher. He obviously had no time to work out any precise system. I’m going to have to take all this down and try to reason out his message with each name, number, and message.”

Ben whistled. “That sounds very difficult.”

“It’s our best chance yet,” Nancy said. “If I can figure our what he means, I’ll bet it will tell us where he is, who is holding him, and how we can rescue him.” She got a small notebook and pen from her purse and started the tape again. “I have to take this down word for word.”

The telephone stopped her. Nancy shut off the tape player and, after a nervous look at Ben and Alana, picked up the receiver. Her hello sounded a great deal more confident than she felt.

Дата добавления: 2017-01-14