The Elusive Heiress

by Carolyn Keene

  “I always kind of wondered why I didn’t have any family besides Mom and Dad,” Lorna admitted. “I mean Pete and Diane Spencer are only honorary relatives—old friends of my parents.”

  “Well, you do have a family,” Nancy assured her. “A grandfather who wants very much to find you and your mother.”

  “Where do you think we should go?” Ned asked Nancy as they entered Cheyenne. He slowed a little as they merged with the still- heavy traffic. “I mean, where will they be safe?”

  “Grace’s house,” Nancy answered without hesitation. “We can drive directly into the garage there, so no one will see them in the car— just in case the house is being watched.” “Watched?” Lorna looked over her shoulder. “Why would you be watched? I mean, they think they have Jenny and me up at the cabin, so . . .” She stopped and then asked, “Do you know something about those men, Nancy?” Nancy nodded. “Unless I miss my guess, Barry and Fred Mathews are the sons of Tom Mathews—the man who works for your grandfather. Which probably makes them your cousins, Lorna.”

  “My cousins?” The disbelief was heavy in her voice. “But why . . .?”

  “Your grandfather is old and ill. Tom Mathews and his wife have taken care of him for years and I’m sure that Mr. Mathews always assumed that he would be Mr. Winthrop’s heir. Now Mr. Winthrop is trying to find his long-lost daughter Clarinda and if he does . . Nancy didn’t finish the sentence.

  “But why would they kidnap me and then Jennifer?” Lorna asked. “I mean, I’m still not sure that my mother is this Clarinda Winthrop you’re talking about.”

  “I don’t know for sure,” Nancy admitted, “but I suspect we’ll find out as soon as you call your mother. Now I think you two had better duck down, just in case.”

  Nancy turned back to the front, pretending no interest at all in the back seat of the car as they drove up the drive to Grace’s garage. “I’ll open the door,” she told Ned, getting out of the car before he could protest. As she did so, she noticed that an unfamiliar car was parked in front of the house.

  Once they were in the garage and she’d closed the door, Nancy started to ask Lorna and Jennifer to wait, but before she could say anything, Grace opened the door that led into the kitchen..

  “Nancy, Ned, is that you?” she asked, switching on the garage light. “Jennifer!” she shouted as she saw the little girl getting out of the car.

  In a moment, they were all in the big, friendly kitchen, sipping hot chocolate and talking to Mr. Westmorelin, who’d stayed with Grace after he drove her home. He was full of questions about Leroy and Lindy and delighted to tell Lorna anecdotes about her parents and their life in Cheyenne before they fled.

  Nancy leaned back with a sigh, relaxing a lit- tie for the first time since she’d heard Grace’s scream at the street dance. “It’s too bad it’s so late,” she said. “I really think we should call your mother, Lorna.”

  “It’s an hour earlier in California,” Ned reminded her. “Is ten-thirty too late to call your mother, Lorna?”

  Lorna stared at the pictures Nancy had given her, then shook her head. “I guess not,” she answered. “She doesn’t go to bed early and I suppose she might be kind of worried about me. I usually write or call once a week and lately . . .” She didn’t have to finish the thought.

  The call proved to be a long, joyous one, but it also presented some surprises both for Lorna and for Nancy. The events of the past had been much as Nancy had guessed, but Clarinda had one bit of news that had the young detective’s usually smooth brow furrowed with worry.

  “I tried to reach my father two years ago, Miss Drew,” she said. “I saw his name in a newspaper article and I thought that he might have mellowed through the years, so I wrote him a long letter. I told him all about my life and about his granddaughter and great- granddaughter.”

  “You contacted him?” Nancy gasped. “But he never said a word about it. Did you actually talk to him?”

  “I got a letter back, telling me that he wanted no part of me or my family. It was plain that he hadn’t forgiven me at all.” Clarinda’s voice betrayed her pain.

  “Mrs. Greenfield, your father had detectives searching for you less than six months ago and he hired my father to find you just last week. Why would he do that if he knew where you were?” Nancy asked. “Are you sure the letter was from him? Was it in his handwriting?”

  “It was typewritten,” Clarinda replied, her tone changing. “I thought it was strange at the time, but the signature looked like his, so . .

  Nancy sighed. “I doubt very much that your father ever saw that letter, Mrs. Greenfield. I have a feeling that the same people who have been holding your daughter prisoner here kept that letter from Mr. Winthrop. Tom Mathews handles all of Mr. Winthrop’s affairs, so that probably means he opens all his mail.”

  “What do you think I should do, Miss Drew?” Clarinda asked. “And what about Lorna and Jennifer? Are they still in danger?”

  “They’ll be safe enough here tonight,” Nancy said, her mind whirling with plans, “but I think your father might be in danger—especially once Barry and Fred discover that Lorna and Jennifer are gone from the cabin.”

  “You don’t really think they’d hurt him?” “Your father is a very wealthy man, Mrs. Greenfield,” Nancy reminded her, “and some people can be terribly greedy.”

  “How can I protect him?”

  “Well, I was planning to call the River Heights police to do that, but it might not be a bad idea for you all to fly back East together as well. I think it’s important for you to see your father soon. You could meet Lorna and Jennifer in Denver tomorrow, before anyone here knows what is going on. Could you do that?” “Of course.” There was no doubt in Clarinda Winthrop Greenfield’s voice now. “Leroy and I will make the calls right away and let you know as soon as we have reservations. But is it safe for Lorna and Jennifer to be seen leaving Cheyenne?”

  “That’s part of my plan,” Nancy continued. “Ned, my friend, will drive them to Denver while I stay here and pretend to keep looking for Jennifer. If we’re lucky, I’ll be able to keep them so busy following me, they won’t even think about checking the cabin. Once you and your father are all safe, the police can start hunting for Barry and Fred.”

  It was after midnight before the entire plan was completed and everyone could go to bed, but Nancy climbed the stairs feeling better than she had in days. Everything seemed to be working out just perfectly.

  “Nancy,” Grace called, stopping her halfway up the stairs.

  “Is something wrong?” Nancy said, noticing that Grace was frowning.

  “I forgot to tell you—there was a phone call earlier, from your housekeeper.” Grace sighed. “She called right after I got home and I made a note of it, but when you came here with Jennifer and her mother, well, I completely forgot to tell you.”

  “What did she say?” Nancy asked. “Has she heard from my father?”

  “Well, she didn’t go into detail, but that’s why she called. She said she’d received another letter from him and she wanted you to know about it. I told her that you’d call as soon as you got in.

  Nancy looked at her watch and swallowed a sigh. “It’s much too late to call her now,” she said. “I guess I’ll just wait and telephone her first thing in the morning.”

  “I’m sure that will be all right,” Grace said. “I mean, I did tell her that you were following a lead and might be very late getting home.”

  “As long as she’s heard from Dad, everything must be under control,” Nancy agreed. “Thanks for telling me.”

  “I’m just sorry I forgot until now.”

  “I’m so glad you weren’t hurt when they kidnapped Jennifer. We were worried about you,” Nancy told her.

  “They just took me by surprise,” Grace said. “One minute we were watching you dance, the next I was on the ground and they were running off with Jennifer.”

  “Well, it worked out for the best, anyway, since they led us to Lorna,” Nan
cy commented.

  “And now they’re safe and the mystery is solved, so you can sleep peacefully.” Grace smiled up at her.

  “That sounds like a very good idea,” Nancy agreed. “Good night and thanks for everything. You’ve really helped solve this mystery.”

  “I’m just glad it is going to have a happy ending,” Grace called as Nancy made her way along the hall to the smaller guest room where she’d moved her things so that Lorna could stay with Jennifer.

  “Me, too,” Nancy agreed, but her step was no longer light for she was sure that Hannah hadn’t called about an ordinary letter. She was very much afraid that something had happened to her father!

  19. Fake Message?

  Because of her worry, Nancy woke very early and went down to use the telephone in the kitchen to call River Heights. Hannah answered on the second ring, making it clear that Nancy hadn’t awakened her as the young sleuth feared that she might.

  “I’m so glad to hear from you,” Hannah said. “I was worried when you didn’t return my call last night. You aren’t doing anything dangerous, are you, Nancy?”

  Nancy thought momentarily of the careening, runaway stagecoach and the wicked horns of the bucking bull, then banished all such memories. That was over now.

  “Everything is very much under control here,” she assured the housekeeper. “I just got back to the house quite late and I didn’t want to wake you.”

  “You might as well have called for all the rest I’ve gotten since Chief McGinnis phoned here and the letter came,” Hannah told her.

  “What do you mean?” Nancy asked, her fears growing stronger than ever. “Has something happened to Dad?”

  Hannah sighed instead of answering right away. “I just don’t know,” she finally admitted. “The chief said he tried to reach you but when he couldn’t, he phoned me instead. It seems that the Canadian police told him Chain Creek Lodge has been closed for a couple of years.” “What?” Nancy gasped.

  “That’s not all. Let me read you the letter and see what you think I should do.” There were a few sounds of papers being moved, then Hannah began to read:

  Dear Hannah,

  I’m writing to ask you to do a favor for me. My lead here in Canada at Chain Creek has come to a sad end. Clarinda Winthrop is dead, leaving no heirs.

  I will have to stay a few more days to finish up all the details, but I’d like to ask you to contact Mr. Winthrop ana give him the news.

  The country up here is lovely and . . .

  “What?” Nancy broke in. “What did you say about Clarinda Winthrop?”

  “He said that she was dead,” Hannah replied. “That’s why I called you, Nancy. I just didn’t feel that I should be the one to talk to Mr. Winthrop about something like that.”

  “Oh, Hannah, I don’t understand,” Nancy murmured, her mind spinning.

  “It’s just that Mr. Winthrop isn’t at all well,” Hannah continued, not understanding Nancy’s confusion. “News like that could make him worse. I was going to call Mr. Mathews, but . . .” She paused. “Don’t you think the news could wait till you and your father get home?”

  “It can wait a lot longer than that,” Nancy snapped. “Thank heavens you didn’t call.” “What do you mean?” Hannah asked. “Hannah, I talked to Clarinda Winthrop on the telephone last night. Her daughter and granddaughter are here in this house right now. My little friend Jennifer is Arlo Winthrop’s great-granddaughter.”

  “But your father says . . .” Hannah protested, her tone telling that she was as confused as Nancy was.

  “What else is in the letter?” Nancy asked. “Did he say anything else about where he was or what he is doing up there?”

  “There is about a page of description of the mountains, the flowers, and a lake that is not far from the lodge. It sounds like he copied it from a travel brochure.” She paused, then added, “Nancy, he never even mentioned your name. Did he call you and tell you to stop your part of the investigation?”

  “I haven’t talked to him since that time I told you about,” Nancy answered, then asked, “Was it his handwriting?”

  “I’m pretty sure it is,” Hannah answered. “That was the first thing I thought of when I read the letter. I mean, it didn’t sound like anything he’d write, so I got out some of his old notes and things and compared them the way you do and it sure looks like his writing.” Nancy gnawed at her lip, fear twisting through her. “How long ago was the letter mailed?” she asked.

  “Three, no, four days now.”

  “And he said he was going to stay a few more days?”

  “That’s right,” the housekeeper confirmed, then asked, “What do you want me to do, Nancy?”

  Nancy thought for a second, then made her decision. “Absolutely nothing,” she replied firmly. “Pretend you never got that letter.” “You’re sure?” Hannah paused, then recalled what Nancy had said earlier in the conversation. “You’ve solved the case? You’ve really found Clarinda Winthrop?”

  Nancy explained quickly about Lorna’s imprisonment and their rescue the night before, ending, “That’s why I don’t want you to contact Mr. Mathews at all. I want Clarinda’s arrival to be a surprise to everyone.”

  “Her arrival?”

  Nancy outlined the plans they’d made, but her thoughts were still on her father. The fact that the man at the lodge had told her that her father had checked out, while the letter he’d written said he was staying on, made her shudder with fear.

  “What are you going to do?” Hannah asked when she finished.

  “As soon as Ned leaves to drive Lorna and Jennifer to Denver, I’m going to catch a plane for Canada. I’m going to Chain Creek Lodge and find out what has happened to my father.” “Oh, Nancy, I don’t think . . .” Hannah began.

  “I’ll call you from Canada tonight,” Nancy told her, “or tomorrow night at the latest.” Within an hour, Nancy had made her plans over the protests of both Grace and Ned, who didn’t like her doing things alone. Still, when she stated the urgency and the need for complete secrecy, they had to agree that, in many ways, it would be safer than if she waited.

  “Grace has a whole collection of wigs in the attic,” Nancy said, explaining her plan to everyone. “I saw them the other day when we were up there looking for a hat to go with the dress I wore in the parade. There’s one that

  Lorna can wear so she’ll look a little bit like me—at least from a distance.”

  Lorna frowned. “How will that help?” she asked.

  “The Mathews brothers won’t think it is odd if they see you and Ned going out in the car,” Nancy said. “Or rather they won’t think anything of it if they believe it’s me with Ned. Jennifer can lie down in the back seat till you get out of town.”

  “You’re sure they’re watching us?” Ned asked.

  Nancy nodded. “They always seem to be where we are,” she reminded him. “Anyway, I don’t think they’ll bother following you beyond the city limits. They’ll be sure you’ll come back here.”

  Ned and Grace nodded reluctantly. “What will you do?” Grace asked.

  “I’ll put on a long, dark wig and go next door anu can a taxi to taice me to tne airport to catch my plane. That way the Mathewses won’t suspect anything till it’s too late for them to cause any more trouble.”

  “But what about you?” Ned asked. “I know your father wouldn’t approve of you flying to Calgary all alone.”

  “Once you hear from Mrs. Greenfield that she is safely with her father, you can catch the next plane to Canada,” Nancy told him. “The important thing now is to make sure that no one hurts Mr. Winthrop and the only way we can be sure of protecting him is to keep the Mathewses from knowing that we’ve discovered their plot. I’ll call the River Heights police before I leave, and let them know exactly what’s going on. They’ll have to keep an eye on Mathews without making him suspect anything.”

  “Could I go with you to Calgary?” Grace offered.

  Nancy hugged her. “I’d love to have
your company, but you have to stay here and pretend that you still have two houseguests. Thank you for offering.”

  The plan went forward with apparent success. Nancy, watching from the attic, saw the pale car pull out of a nearby driveway and move behind Grace’s car into traffic.

  Once they were out of sight, Nancy took a deep breath and went downstairs. Hoping that she was doing the right thing, she donned the dark wig, put on a dress several sizes too large, and, carrying the small suitcase she’d packed for the trip north, went down to the main floor of the house.

  Grace had already called and arranged for a taxi to meet Nancy at the neighbor’s house. She had only to cross the rear yard and enter the back garden of the house next door. The lady who admitted her to the house gave her a rather odd look, Nancy thought, but wished her a cheerful, “Have a good day,” as she left for the airport. Grace had obviously asked the woman not to ask any questions.

  Nancy watched behind the cab all the way to the airport and lived in constant fear of discovery until the moment she boarded her plane. Only when the plane lifted off the runway did she feel she had escaped detection and was on her way.

  But to what? What would she find when she finally reached the lodge? Was her father still there? And what could she do if he wasn’t?

  The questions tormented her on the long, smooth flight north, but she’d found no answers. As the plane landed in Calgary, she could only hope that she was doing the right thing.

  She went directly from the plane to a car rental agency, secured a car for herself and gained her first bit of information. Her father had rented a car from the same agency when he landed—and he hadn’t returned it yet.

  The man behind the desk at the agency wrote out the license plate number of Mr. Drew’s car and also offered her a map of the area, tracing the route to Chain Creek Lodge for her. “I don’t know why you want to go out there,” he said, handing the map to her. “The place isn’t open.”