038 The Final Scene Read Online Free

reflecting his remorse. “It’s just that we’re trying to save the theater from being torn down, you know.”
    “We know,” George spoke up. “I mean, I’ve seen your picture in the paper, and we know about Bart Anderson.”
    “Anderson! When I think of what he’ll do to this place.” A fiery light appeared in Nicholas’s eyes again. “My great-grandfather and my grandfather, as a young apprentice, helped tobuild this theater. Most of the ornate plaster-work on the ceilings and around the stage is theirs. I can’t bear to think of it all being destroyed.”
    “I don’t blame you,” Nancy said, her feelings toward him softening. “I hope you win your fight.”
    “And I hope your friend is found safe,” Nicholas answered.
    Nancy was about to thank him when Simon Mueller came out of the inner office. He looked awfully pleased with himself, and Nancy found herself resenting him. One of her best friends had been kidnapped, and this man was using her misfortune to promote his star.
    “Any word yet?” Mueller asked.
    “No. But the police are on their way,” Nancy answered as she headed to the door. “I’m going to start looking for Bess. If the two of you,” she said, indicating Falcone and Mueller, “want to join us, we could use the help. After all, that person in the ski mask was trying to kidnap your star.”
    “I . . . ah . . . have things to do here,” Simon said. “I’m expecting several phone calls, and—”
    “I’ll help,” Nicholas said, “but first I have to try to call my grandfather again. He was supposed to meet me here, and I’m a littleworried that he hasn’t shown up. I tried to reach him, but there’s no answer.”
    “I’m sure Joseph wouldn’t mind if you want to use this phone,” George said to Nicholas. “We’ll meet you in the lobby.”
    As they were on their way out the phone rang and Simon rushed back into the inner office to pick it up. Nancy waited with her heart in her throat, hoping that it might be some news. But from Simon’s side of the conversation, she could tell it was only another reporter.
    She put her arm around George. “Come on. Think of it as a treasure hunt, with Bess waiting for us at the end.” George didn’t answer, but gave Nancy a weak smile in return.
    As they left the office, it occurred to Nancy that for right now, Simon Mueller had to be her prime suspect. He was the only one really benefiting from this ordeal.
    Moments later Nancy, George, and Nicholas met in the lobby near the refreshment counter to plan their search of the building.
    Nancy was acutely aware of every passing minute. Time was running out. The movie would be over soon, and then the theater would be so full of screaming teenagers that it would be impossible to search the main areas.
    As they were ready to start looking, Joseph came running down the stairs from the projection booth overhead. He had been running the film. His wrinkled face was flushed with excitement.
    “I just got a phone call from the kidnapper!” he said. “It came through on the house phone in the projection room.”
    Nancy’s heart leapt into her throat. “The kidnapper!” So the man in the ski mask really was a kidnapper. But what did he want with Bess?
    “What did he say? What does he want?” George grabbed Joseph’s sleeve.
    “Well, he isn’t asking for money like most kidnappers,” Joseph said, rubbing his chin.
    “What did he want, Joseph?” Nancy asked.
    “It was really very strange.____” Joseph said slowly.
    “What was?” From the abrupt way she asked the question, Nancy saw that George was getting impatient.
    Joseph met Nancy’s eye. “What he said.” He paused.
    “Which is?” Nancy prodded. The old man seemed to need to have his memory jarred.
    “He said, ‘I have the girl, and she’s safe for now.’ ” George sighed with relief, and Nancy waited for Joseph to go on.
    “And?”
    “Then he told me . . . let me make sure I have this right” He paused