“It certainly sounds as if you have evidence on both Stryker and Bremer,” she said. “I have to tell you, though, that I’m shocked. John Stryker has always been, in my experience, completely honest and straightforward. What could be making him behave this way?”
“I’m not sure,” Nancy said. “But what are we going to do about it?”
“I don’t know if I can help you,” Officer Spinetti said, “much as I’d like to. Why don’t you young ladies head back home? We can talk about it in the morning if you’re still suspicious.”
“Why wouldn’t she help us?” George asked after they’d left the police station.
“She’s loyal to her townspeople, I guess,” Nancy said. “She probably thinks we’re just a bunch of out-of-town teenagers with overactive imaginations.”
On the way back to Aunt Elizabeth’s, Nancy had a chance to mull over the mystery. Everything certainly was pointing to Mr. Stryker as the source of most of the trouble. But she couldn’t figure out what motive he had for threatening Aunt Elizabeth.
After dropping Sarah off at her house and promising to bring her bicycle back the next day, they drove to Aunt Elizabeth’s.
George was pulling the car into the driveway when Nancy noticed that even though it was dusk, the lights were off in the house.
“Curious,” Nancy murmured. She and George got out of the car.
When they arrived at the front door, Nancy noticed that it was open. A chill went down her spine. Something didn’t feel right.
When she pushed the door open farther and switched on the light, she realized why.
There, tied to a chair with a gag across her mouth, was Bess.
14
Aunt Elizabeth Disappears
Bess’s eyes were terrified as Nancy untied the gag.
“Where’s Aunt E.?” George asked anxiously.
Bess started to cry. “She’s gone!” she exclaimed. “I’ve never been so frightened in my life!” Nancy undid the ropes and helped Bess stand up and hobble over to the sofa. Bess sank down, and Nancy lifted her legs onto the sofa and plumped up a pillow behind her head.
“Aunt E. is gone?” George cried. “Where?”
Bess shook her head. “I don’t know. Some man took her away.”
“A man!” George exclaimed. “Bess, tell us what happened!”
Bess wiped her eyes. “I was keeping Aunt Elizabeth company in the kitchen while she made dinner,” Bess said. She started crying again.
“Bess, I know this has been awful for you, but you have to tell us what happened,” Nancy said gently to her friend. “Aunt Elizabeth’s life may be in danger.”
“I know,” Bess said, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “That’s why I’m so upset.”
“So, Aunt Elizabeth was making dinner,” George prompted her. “Then what?”
“This man appeared in the doorway,” Bess said. “He was dressed all in black, and he had a ski mask on so we couldn’t see who he was. He pointed a gun at Aunt Elizabeth. I think she thought he was a burglar.”
“What did he do?” Nancy asked, urging Bess along.
“He told me to get up and go into the hallway,” Bess said. “I told him I had a broken ankle, but he didn’t care. He told me to sit down, and then he tied and gagged me.”
“Could you recognize his voice?” Nancy asked.
Again, Bess shook her head. “He was trying to disguise it, I could tell.”
“Did he take Aunt Elizabeth with him?” George asked. Bess was beginning to shake—Nancy could see—imagining her aunt’s peril.
“Yes,” Bess said. “He said he was taking her away, and I’d better not try to find her or the same thing would happen to me.”
Nancy looked at George. Could it have been Mr. Stryker?
“Bess, do you think someone else might have been waiting for him outside?” Nancy asked.
Bess shook her head. “He left the front door open. I could see the car was empty.”
George patted Bess’s shoulder. “Are you okay?” she asked. “How’s the ankle?”
“I guess it’s okay,” Bess said, “but I’m still scared.”
“We all are,” Nancy said. She looked at George.
“What are you thinking?” George asked.
“That it had to be Mr. Stryker,” Nancy said. “But since he didn’t have his sidekick with him, I think we’d better track him down.”
“You mean Mr. Bremer?” Bess asked.
