“What’s your name, miss?” he asked.
“Nancy Drew,” she replied.
“And what is this in connection with?” he asked.
“I may have some information for the lieutenant,” Nancy explained. “It’s about the robbery at the museum.”
The sergeant raised an eyebrow. “Just a moment, Miss Drew.” He picked up the phone on his desk, punched a button on the console, and gave her message to Lieutenant Higgins. A few moments later he replaced the receiver. “Down the corridor, Miss Drew,” he said finally. “It’s the third door on the left.”
Nancy knocked on the lieutenant’s open door, and he motioned her inside the office. “Have a seat, Miss Drew,” he said. Then he leaned across the desk. “I happened to speak with Chief McGinnis over in River Heights last night. He spoke very highly of you.”
Nancy held back a smile. “We’ve worked together a few times,” she said.
“So he told me,” Higgins replied. “In fact, he seems to think that if anyone can solve this case, it’s you.”
“So, how are things going with the case?” Nancy asked, glancing around the sparsely furnished room. The pale green walls were filled with posters of suspects and missing persons and several framed newspaper clippings.
“Not too well,” Lieutenant Higgins admitted, looking at his cluttered desk. He clasped his hands together. “So what is this information you have for me?”
“It’s about the threatening letter Nelson Stone received,” Nancy told him. “I’d like to take another look at it, if you don’t mind.”
“I thought you came here to give me information,” Lieutenant Higgins told her. “We’ve already determined that there’s no link between the letter and the robbery.”
“I don’t think we should close the door on that possibility,” Nancy told him. “But, anyway, Mr. Stone wanted me to find out who had sent him the threatening letter.” She had already made up her mind not to reveal her theory that Stone had been staging the attempts on his own life. “If the letter isn’t part of your investigation,” Nancy added, “would you mind if I had a copy of it?”
A sour expression spread across the lieutenant’s face. But he took the letter from the file cabinet and made her a photocopy.
As Nancy thanked him and started out the door, Lieutenant Higgins called, “Remember to let me know if you come across any information on the robbery.”
“Sure thing,” Nancy promised, tucking the letter into her bag.
Rejoining Bess on the steps of the police station, Nancy said, “I’ve got it.”
Inside the car Nancy unfolded the typed letter and read it out loud. “ ‘To Nelson Stone,’ ” it began. “ ‘This letter is not a joke, but it is written by someone who will take pleasure in destroying you. The way you run the museum and treat your staff is disgusting,’ ” Nancy continued reading. “ ‘You are a bully and a snob. We don’t need you in Clinton Park. Get out of town if you value your life.’ ” Nancy put the letter down on her lap, wondering what had been going on in Nelson Stone’s mind when he composed the letter.
“So, what do you think?” Bess asked.
“Well, there’s a lot of evidence that indicates that Stone wrote this letter himself,” Nancy said slowly. “For some reason, he wants us to think that someone’s out to kill him.”
Nancy sighed. Why had Nelson Stone dragged her into this dead-end case? She studied the type of the letter carefully.
“Look at this,” she said, frowning. “All the t’s are marked by a distinctive break. If I could get my hands on this typewriter, I could prove that Stone wrote this letter to himself. I’m going to outsmart Nelson Stone at his own game!”
8
A Gala Event
“It’s time Nelson Stone and I had a talk,” Nancy said grimly.
“Are we heading out to the museum?” Bess asked as they left the police station parking lot.
“No,” Nancy said. “I think I’d rather catch Stone off-guard at the dog show tomorrow.”
“He’s sure to be there,” Bess said, nodding. “It’s one of the biggest social events of the year.”
• • •
The next day the girls drove out to Hillary Lane’s estate. Nancy and Bess filled George in on the case’s new developments.
“I can’t believe it,” George said. “Stone sure has gone to a lot of trouble to keep you busy, Nancy. What is he up to?”
“I’m not quite sure,” Nancy admitted. “But he’s been making me look like a fool, and I’m determined to find out the truth about him.”
When Nancy turned into Hillary Lane’s driveway a few minutes later, a man wearing a red blazer collected their tickets and directed them to the crowded parking area ahead.
“They’re certainly getting a good turnout,” George remarked.
In the distance Nancy saw the large green and white striped refreshment tent. Beside it, a wide expanse of lawn was roped off for the arena. And all around there were well-dressed people milling about, some with dogs on leashes.
“It looks as though everyone in town is here,” Bess remarked as they searched for a parking space.
“Everyone and his dog,” George quipped.
At the far end of the gravel parking area, Nancy finally found an empty space. “I just hope Nelson Stone is here,” she said.
George frowned as she got out of the car. “I hope I’m wearing the right thing.”
Bess giggled. “For a rodeo, maybe.”
