4
A Startling Surprise
Nancy stood still for a moment, wondering whether the woman was alive. She motioned for the mechanic to come over, then pointed inside the car.
At that moment the woman lifted her head. Nancy noticed that she was holding a penlight. Even in the near-dark Nancy recognized Margaret Parker’s face from the graduation photo she had seen in her office earlier that day.
“Ms. Parker!” the mechanic said in surprise, looking over Nancy’s shoulder. “You still here? Did you find your earring yet?”
Margaret Parker sat up in the driver’s seat and pushed back her short blond hair. Then, with a curious glance at Nancy, she said, “No. Maybe I didn’t lose it here, after all. I was helping my boss carry some books out of his car this morning, and . . . oh, well, never mind,” she said, looking disappointed. “They were my favorite earrings.”
Nancy fingered the gold earring in her jacket pocket. Could it be the same one Margaret was looking for? She couldn’t be certain until she saw the mate, and she didn’t see Margaret wearing it now. For a moment Nancy wrestled with her conscience, wondering if she should show it to the assistant curator. But her better judgment told her to keep quiet and hold on to the earring for the time being, in case she needed it later for evidence.
Margaret climbed out of the car. She was of medium height, with a slim figure, dressed in a neat blue suit. Turning to the mechanic, Margaret said, “Well, thanks anyway.” Then she started to walk away, her high heels clicking against the asphalt like castanets.
“Just a minute, Ms. Parker!” Nancy called.
Margaret stopped and turned around. “Yes?” she asked.
“If you don’t mind,” Nancy said, “I’d like to ask you something.”
“Who are you?” Margaret said, frowning.
Nancy stepped toward her. “I’m Nancy Drew,” she explained, her hands still in her pockets. “You see, Mr. Stone is a family friend. I was with him today when the Golden Horse was stolen.”
“Oh, yes,” Margaret replied, her voice suddenly softer. “Wasn’t that terrible? I just heard about it a little while ago.”
Nancy studied Margaret’s large brown eyes, trying to read beneath the surface. The young woman seemed reserved and highly intelligent. Nancy sensed that she wouldn’t be rattled easily. But Margaret seemed more upset about the loss of her earring than she did over the theft of the Golden Horse. Or maybe, Nancy reasoned, the assistant curator might secretly be pleased that Nelson Stone had been placed in an embarrassing situation. After all, Hillary had mentioned that the curator didn’t treat his staff very well.
“Were you at the museum earlier today?” Nancy asked pointedly.
Margaret’s brown eyes gazed steadily at Nancy. “No,” she answered. “I was off today.”
Nancy wondered whether Margaret was lying. “So, you weren’t at the museum at all today?” she pressed. “Didn’t you just say that you helped your boss with some books this morning?”
Margaret bristled. “Mr. Stone dropped them by my house,” she said. “Why are you giving me the third degree?”
Nancy hesitated, not wanting to reveal that she was working for Nelson Stone. The less people knew, she figured, the better her chances of getting to the truth. “I was just interested,” Nancy said finally.
Margaret Parker turned on her high heels. “I see. Now, if you’ll excuse me . . .”
Before Nancy could say another word, the woman hurried off.
The mechanic chuckled. “Not too friendly, huh?” he remarked, wiping his hands on an oily rag. “Maybe she’s just upset about losing her earring. I wouldn’t take it too personally.”
“I’ll try not to lose any sleep over it,” Nancy quipped. “Thanks for your help,” she added, heading back toward her car.
• • •
Early the next morning Nancy phoned George and Bess and arranged to meet them downtown at Pancake City for breakfast.
Bess was already digging into a plate of blueberry pancakes when Nancy arrived.
“Hi, Bess,” Nancy greeted her friend, sliding into the opposite seat in the booth.
Bess took a gulp of water and swallowed hard. “Hi,” she said with a bright smile. “Sorry I couldn’t wait to order, but I was absolutely starving.” She smiled sheepishly. “You know me and my crash diets.”
“Sure,” Nancy said, chuckling. “You diet all week, then crash into Pancake City.”
A few minutes later a redheaded waitress appeared and took Nancy’s order for a toasted English muffin and a cup of black coffee.
“Is that all you’re having?” Bess blurted. “No wonder you stay so thin.”
“To tell you the truth,” Nancy said, “I’m too excited to eat.”
Bess looked at her with wide blue eyes. “Really? What happened?”
Just then Nancy saw George enter the restaurant and waved.
“Sorry, I’m late,” George said breathlessly. She slipped out of her windbreaker and took the seat next to Nancy. “I couldn’t get my car started, so I had to jog all the way here.”
The waitress returned with Nancy’s coffee and waited while George studied the menu.
“I’ll have the banana pancakes and a cup of tea, please,” George told her. Then, turning to Nancy, she asked, “So, what’s going on?”
Nancy took a sip of coffee. “Plenty,” she said. She told her friends about her visit to Rapid Repair the night before.
George frowned. “Do you think the person who cut Stone’s brake pipe is the same one who sent him the threatening letter?”
