038 The Final Scene Read Online Free Page B

searched and searched, but they had uncovered no sign of Bess.
    “Come on, girls, you have to eat something,” a tall, handsome police officer said as he shoved a bag of hamburgers and french fries under their noses. “Here, one of the guys brought these back for you.”
    “No, thank you,” Nancy said. Just looking at food made her think of Bess, who was constantly dieting to lose the same five pounds.
    “Come on,” the officer said, pulling a cheeseburger from the bag. “You two have been crawling through every nook and cranny of this place for hours. You’ve got to eat.”
    “He’s right,” George said, taking a burger from the bag and unwrapping it. “We’re not going to help Bess by starving.”
    Nancy absently took the bag from the officer, then handed it to George, who took out a bag of fries and began eating.
    “Have you found your friend?” a male voice asked.
    They turned around to see Nicholas standing behind them, a concerned look on his dark face.
    “No, I’m afraid not,” Nancy answered. “We’ve searched all evening, and the police are convinced that Bess isn’t here. They’re giving up the search for the night.”
    “And how about you, Nancy?” Nicholassaid, sitting down behind her. “Are you convinced that she isn’t here?”
    Nancy turned in her seat to face him. “Not at all. I’m sure she is here. There were too many people in and around the theater for them to get out of here. And no matter how much we’ve searched, there are still hundreds of cubbyholes in this old place that we haven’t checked yet. This has got to be the best hiding place in town.
    “Did you find your grandfather?” Nancy asked, changing the subject. Although her tone was casual, her blue eyes were searching Nicholas’s face intently. He loved the theater, and he wanted to preserve his great-grandfather’s and grandfather’s art. Did he kidnap Bess?
    Nicholas glanced away nervously. “I sure did,” he said. “You know, I was worried for nothing. He was home all the time.”
    “Did the police question you?” Nancy asked.
    “Yeah. When I got back, but I just told them I was outside protesting when she was taken. They’ll check on my story, they said. I had lots of witnesses.”
    “How come your grandfather didn’t answer the phone?” George wanted to know.
    “He didn’t hear the phone ringing because he was out in his studio.”
    “Your great-grandfather and grandfather did beautiful plasterwork.” Nancy pointed to the embossed designs that framed the stage and the ceiling. Cherubs with trumpets in their hands flew on either side of the red velvet curtains.
    “They don’t build places like this anymore,” Nicholas said sadly. “Artists like my grandfather aren’t interested in the work, and even if they were, no one would pay them to do it. People don’t want beauty and glamour anymore. Guys like Bart Anderson are only out for money.”
    They heard the side door of the theater open. Turning to see who it was, Nancy saw a large, beefy man with a bulldog face push his way past Joseph, who had opened the door.
    “Speak of the devil and he’ll appear,” Nicholas muttered under his breath. “That’s Bart Anderson himself.”
    The man walked straight over to Nicholas. Without glancing at Nancy or George, he stood and glowered at Nicholas, his hands on his thick waist.
    “Just what do you think you’re trying to pull, Falcone?” Anderson demanded.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Nicholas answered, meeting Anderson’s look.
    “The police called and told me that some idiot has kidnapped a young woman and won’t let her go until we promise not to demolish the theater.”
    “That’s right,” Nancy interrupted. “And that young woman is my friend, Bess Marvin. She’s still missing.”
    “Yeah, well, I’m sorry about your friend,” Anderson said with a feeble attempt at sympathy. “But I’m not going to have my project jeopardized.” He pointed to Nicholas