“Bess and Nancy?” he asked as he reached them. “Sorry I’m late. Parking is murder here in the Loop. How about a cup of coffee or something? I know a quiet place nearby where we can talk.”
Cody led them around the corner to a small self-service sandwich bar. They bought coffees at the counter and sat down at a round marble-topped table. Nancy immediately asked, “What about Cindy? Have you found out anything?”
Cody shook his head. Looking down at the table, he said, “It’s a total mystery. Cindy told me that you’re a detective, Nancy. I hope you can solve this one.”
Nancy gave him a puzzled look. Why had he asked for this meeting, if he didn’t have anything new to tell them?
“We hear that you didn’t want Cindy to take this Healthibits job,” Bess said bluntly. “Do you think she decided to take your advice?”
Cody gave Bess a narrow glance. “Who told you that—Ann Bowers?” he demanded. “That’s stupid. Okay, I’m not thrilled that Cindy will have to be away so much. But I know it’s a terrific chance for her, and she’s really looking forward to it. She wouldn’t mess it up, and I wouldn’t, either.”
“Then why didn’t she show up at the studio this morning?” Nancy asked.
Cody spread his hands wide. “That’s the question, isn’t it? I don’t know,” he admitted.
“When did you see Cindy last?” asked Bess.
“Last night,” he replied. “We met for pizza, then I dropped her at home about eight. I wanted to see a movie, too, but she said she wanted to get lots of rest before this morning.”
He paused, as if trying to make up his mind about something. Then, speaking so low that Nancy had to lean closer to hear him, he said: “I’m worried sick. Something’s happened to Cindy, I’m sure of it. An accident, maybe, or . . . ”
Cody swallowed unhappily and went on, “I don’t even want to think about it, but—I’m terrified that somebody’s kidnapped her!”
5
Friends and Enemies
“Kidnapped!” Bess echoed.
Cody met her eyes and nodded solemnly.
“Why do you say that?” Nancy asked. “Do you have any evidence?”
“No,” Cody admitted. “Not a bit. But I can’t imagine what else could have kept her from the studio, today of all days.”
“Why would someone kidnap Cindy?” Bess asked, puzzled. “Her family isn’t rich. I mean, they’re not the kind of people who could pay a big ransom to get her released.”
Cody frowned. “No, that’s true, but Cindy’s at the start of what could be a very big career,” he pointed out. “What if the kidnappers think she’s made a lot more money than she really has? Or what if they hope the Healthibits people would pay a big ransom to get her back?”
“That doesn’t make sense,” Nancy said. “Cindy isn’t known yet as the Healthibits spokesperson. Why would anyone think the company would pay to get her back at this point in the campaign? It would be a lot easier for them just to get someone else to take her place.”
Cody’s jaw dropped. “Then that must be it!” he exclaimed. “Somebody is trying to destroy Cindy’s career!”
“Can you think of anyone who hates her enough to do that?” Nancy asked. “She certainly never struck me as the kind of person who makes a lot of enemies.”
Cody hesitated. “I don’t want to accuse anybody,” he said finally. “But I’ll tell you this much. Cindy hasn’t been totally happy with the way Ann Bowers handled her deal with the Healthibits people. I looked over the contract later, and if you ask me, the terms are pretty one-sided. They can send her anywhere at any time, and if she refuses to go, she loses the whole job. When I pointed that out to Cindy, she was pretty annoyed. She started thinking about finding a new agent.”
“Why wouldn’t Ms. Bowers support Cindy?” Nancy asked. “I assume Ms. Bowers gets a percentage of the money. That alone should make her want the best deal for Cindy.”
Cody shrugged, toying with his coffee spoon. “I don’t know, but Cindy tried to talk to Ms. Bowers about it, and she didn’t get anywhere. Bowers even hinted that Cindy could be replaced by someone who was more cooperative.”
“You mean like Gayle, or one of the other teen models whom Bowers represents?” Bess asked shrewdly.
“I didn’t say that,” Cody replied quickly.
“But Cindy is already successful,” Nancy pointed out. “And well on her way to being a lot more successful. Why would her own agent want to ruin her career?”
“I’m not saying she does,” Cody said. He was starting to look as though he regretted having said anything at all. “I’m just thinking out loud, that’s all.”
Nancy looked carefully at Cody. “It’s funny that you think Ann Bowers might be have something to do with Cindy’s disappearance,” she said offhandedly. “Because Bowers thinks you might be behind it.”
Cody sat up in alarm. “Me? That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard!” he protested. “Why would I kidnap Cindy?”
Nancy was about to point out that no one had accused him of kidnapping her, only of being involved in her disappearance. But before she could, Cody pushed his chair back and stood up.
“Look, I can’t just sit here chatting,” he said brusquely. “Cindy’s in some kind of trouble and she needs me.”
“We’re trying to help, too,” Nancy told him, getting to her feet.
Cody looked away. “I know that, and I’m grateful for anything you can do,” he muttered. “Look, forget what I just said, okay? Knowing that Cindy may be in danger has me totally stressed out. I don’t really think Ann Bowers had her kidnapped. The truth is, I don’t know what to think. I’m sorry.”
Jamming his hands deep in his pants pockets, Cody strode out of the sandwich bar. Nancy and Bess followed him out onto the sidewalk. “How can we get in touch with you if we need to?” Nancy asked.
“Just phone me,” Cody told her. “If I’m not home, the calls are automatically forwarded to my car. I work part-time for a real estate agent in my hometown, and he installed the phone so that he can always reach me. Please, call me the minute you have any news about Cindy. And if I find out something, where will you be?”
“The rest of today, you can reach us at Carlo’s office,” Nancy replied. “If we’re not there, just leave word and we’ll call you as soon as we can. Tonight we’ll be going back to River Heights. I’ll give you my number there.” She scribbled it on a scrap of paper and handed it to him.
Cody went off to retrieve his car. Nancy and Bess decided to walk back to Carlo’s studio. Luckily, they’d planned to spend the whole day in Chicago, though they certainly couldn’t have predicted they’d spend it this way.
