Carolyn Keene - Nancy Drew Read Online Free Page B

Bess and George to do the same.
    “If only one of these gowns turned up in my closet, I’d be thrilled!” Bess said, as their taxi halted in front of a seemingly deserted store. “Is this the studio?”
    “Guess so,” Nancy said as they stepped out.
    The chill in the air had left a thin layer of frost on the window, so the visitors could not see inside. The door was open, though, and they entered.
    “Anybody home?” Nancy called out across the empty foyer.
    No one answered.
    At the end of the hall was another door and an unshaded lamp shone brightly.
    “Somebody must be here,” Bess commented, walking forward. Nancy and George followed.
    Suddenly, two voices rose in argument and the hall door slammed shut!

5
    The Lion’s Message
    Nancy and the cousins listened to the angry voices behind the closed door.
    “Ted Henri can take care of himself,” the man, apparently Chris, was saying to someone.
    He must be talking about Jacqueline’s brother! Nancy thought, and knocked on the door.
    Bess was apprehensive. “Shall we wait for you outside?” she whispered to her friend, not wishing to get caught in the middle of the strangers’ argument.
    To her chagrin, however, Nancy shook her head. “I might need your help.”
    “But—” Bess mumbled as the voices subsided and the door opened, revealing an unexpected surprise. A young woman stood before them with Chris Chavez, who was looking over her shoulder.
    “Jacqueline!” Nancy exclaimed.
    “Oh, so you know each other,” Chris interposed.
    “We met last evening,” Nancy said, adding pointedly, “When you didn’t come back, Jackie, we were worried.”
    “I’m terribly sorry,” the model apologized. “I was so tired that I left the hotel after I took my message.” She paused, turning to Chris. “Nancy is a detective, you know.”
    “Yes, I do,” the photographer said. He kept his eyes evenly fixed on Nancy. “I imagine Jackie has told you about her brother.”
    “Not really,” Nancy said. “Who is your brother?” the girl detective went on.
    “Ted’s a journalist—an investigative reporter,” Jacqueline said, then stopped as if wondering how much to reveal.
    “Go ahead,” Chris urged her. “Tell Nancy everything. She may be able to help you.”
    The young woman’s cheeks flushed. “I don’t really know where to begin,” she said. “As I told you last night, I believe my brother may have been kidnapped.”
    “But you’re not sure,” Nancy said.
    “I’m almost sure. It’s not the first time he’s been threatened. In the course of his job, he has exposed numerous undercover schemes and stepped on lots of toes.”
    “But what makes you think he was kidnapped?” Nancy questioned.
    “For one thing, he was supposed to arrive on a charter flight from Singapore yesterday evening. I got a cable to meet him at Kennedy Airport. That’s why I couldn’t be in the fashion show. Anyway, when I reached the airport, I couldn’t find him.”
    “Was he on the passenger list?” Nancy asked.
    “As far as I know.”
    “Then, are you suggesting he may have been abducted from the airport?”
    Jacqueline shook her head. “I don’t know what to think,” she said. “When I went home, I found this in my mailbox.” She dug into her purse and produced a piece of paper.
    On it was written a message with some scribbling at the bottom that resembled a lion’s crest. Nancy read the message aloud:
    IF YOU DON’T HEAR FROM ME IN A FEW DAYS, CALL THE POLICE. DON’T TRY TO CONTACT ME BEFORE THEN. T.
    The girl glanced at Jacqueline. “Is this your brother’s handwriting?”
    “I’m not sure. It may be a good imitation. That’s why I’m so afraid he might have been kidnapped.”
    “Suppose he did write the note,” Nancy said. “I assume the ‘T’ stands for Ted. But what’s this funny symbol next to it? It looks like the head of a lion.”
    “I don’t know,” Jackie said.
    “You see,” Chris spoke up, “Ted’s been working on an