After thanking Tony, Nancy left his office. She braced herself as she drove over to Bess’s house. This part of her plan she was dreading.
• • •
“Nancy Drew, you’re trying to ruin everything!” Bess wailed. “Why can’t you just accept that Matt Glover really has come back? Give the guy a break, would you?”
Bess was wearing pink sweats, sitting on the exercise bike in her room.
Nancy sighed and plopped down on Bess’s bed. “Come on, Bess. You can’t ignore the evidence—”
“That’s what you keep telling me,” Bess retorted, pedaling furiously, “but I don’t see what’s so conclusive about it. There’s no proof that Matt cut those reins, and you said yourself you weren’t sure about his scar. If you want me to go along with some stupid plan to trap him, you can just forget it.” She crossed her arms over her chest and said defiantly, “In fact, I think as his friend —which you obviously aren’t—I should warn him.”
“You can’t!” Nancy sat up straight on Bess’s bed. She had to make her understand—and fast. In an urgent voice Nancy explained again about how Matt must have been the one to tell Loomis which charities were to receive money. “Don’t you see? Loomis lied to us when he said he hadn’t seen Matt since the interview. That means Loomis and Matt have to be working together. It’s the only answer.
“And it’s not just a matter of the charities who’ll be cheated,” Nancy continued. “What about Matt, the real Matt? What about his father? It would be an insult to their memories. I’m trying to protect them, too.”
Bess still didn’t look convinced, but Nancy saw her expression soften a little. “I don’t like it,” she said dubiously. “What if you’re wrong? I’d never be able to forgive myself for being so sneaky. Why do I have to be involved at all?”
“If I could do it, I would, but I can’t. Matt doesn’t trust me. He wouldn’t give me the time of day. He might let down his guard with you, though. Look at it this way, Bess. If he really is Matt Glover, isn’t it worth it to prove it beyond any doubt? That way we could all be happy for him.”
Bess sighed. “When you put it like that,” she said slowly, “it sort of makes sense.” She smiled shakily. “What is it I’m supposed to do?”
“I want you to catch him out in a lie, except it won’t be a lie he tells. It’ll have to be something he says he remembers. Something that never really happened. A lie in reverse.”
“What if he says he doesn’t remember it?”
“Then I guess we’ll know he’s the real Matt Glover,” Nancy replied. “I’ll apologize to you for all my doubts, and everyone will live happily ever after.”
Bess grinned. “That’s the version I like,” she said, “and I’ll bet you that’s what happens.” Her expression grew serious, and Nancy was afraid she might change her mind.
“What’s the matter?” Nancy asked.
Bess climbed down from the exercise bike and went over to her closet. “Well, I was just wondering. . . .” She threw open her closet door and started rummaging through her clothes. “What should I wear?”
Nancy grinned. “At least you haven’t lost sight of the really important things in life—like the perfect outfit!” She got up from Bess’s bed and helped go through her closet. “Whatever you wear should have deep pockets,” she said. “I want you to have my tape recorder going, so we’ll have proof.”
Bess’s eyes widened. “That’s the kind of thing you do,” she said.
Nancy pulled out an oversize red sweater with two big patch pockets. “This will be perfect, and you’ll look great!”
“Okay.” Bess sat down on the edge of her bed and asked, “So what kind of lie do you want me to catch him in?”
“It has to be something from a big event in his life,” Nancy said. “Something he’d remember because of when it happened. Nobody could have filled him in on every little detail, it just isn’t possible. You know, like his eighteenth birthday, when he got that great sports car— Hey, Loomis had left by then! Hold on, I think I’ve got it.”
She told Bess her plan and then called Mrs. Adams at Glover’s Corners. “Are you alone?” she asked. The housekeeper told her that Matt had gone downtown.
Nancy quickly told Mrs. Adams what she had figured out and what she planned to do about it. “Leave the side door open,” Nancy instructed after sketching out her scheme. “And when Bess and Matt are safely in the library, come and tell me.”
“This isn’t going to be dangerous for Bess, is it?” Mrs. Adams sounded concerned.
“No,” said Nancy. “Matt won’t even know he’s been trapped, but we’ll have it on tape. By the time I confront Loomis and Matt this evening, Bess will be long gone, and I’ll have the police with me. Once they hear the tape, I’m sure the authorities will be eager to take Matt into custody.”
The housekeeper promised to let them know the moment Matt returned to the house. When Nancy returned to Bess’s room, Bess was wearing the red sweater over a black knit skirt, red stockings, and black boots.
“You look great!” Nancy told her. Seeing Bess’s sad expression, she added softly, “I wouldn’t even ask if I didn’t think it was very important. I hope I’m wrong, Bess, really I do. But you’ve got to be prepared for the worst.”
Bess nodded shakily.
Nancy had just showed Bess how to use the minirecorder when Mrs. Adams called back and told them that Matt had returned to Glover’s Corners.
“This is it,” she told Bess, feeling a rush of energy flow through her. “We’re on!”
It was late in the afternoon when Nancy eased her Mustang through the gates of the Glover estate. The sun was setting, and the house and grounds were shrouded in dark gray shadows. Nancy was happy for the cover of darkness; Matt would be less likely to see her.
“We’d better park here so he doesn’t see my car,” she told Bess, stopping just inside the gates. “You can tell him you got dropped off. I’ll wait till you’re inside, then circle around by the trees to the side door.”
Nancy watched as Bess trudged up to the house. As soon as she was inside, Nancy made her way to the side door and flattened herself against the wall so no one could spot her from inside. She checked her watch. Five o’clock.
Twenty minutes later, Mrs. Adams appeared at the side door, opening it soundlessly. “They’re in the library now,” she whispered. “I’ll be in the kitchen.”
Nancy slipped inside and tiptoed up the two steps from the side door. Now she was in a hall, with the dining room to her left and the library to the right. The library door wasn’t closed, but Nancy was sure she couldn’t be seen from this angle.
Once more she flattened herself against the wall just a few feet from the door. If Matt came out for any reason, he would probably use the door that led to the back hall and the kitchen. And if he headed for the door where she was eavesdropping—well, Nancy had to hope that Bess would find some way to warn her so she could duck back to the outside door in time to avoid being seen.
Bess’s voice floated out from the library and Nancy heard her leading the conversation to the topic of parties. She said something about having to buy a present for her cousin Louise’s birthday party. Nancy grinned—she didn’t think Bess even had a cousin named Louise.
“I never seem to be able to choose just the right present,” Bess was saying. “When I was a kid I bought some aquarium gravel—you know, the kind that comes in rainbow colors—for a boy who had tropical fish. He started crying when he opened it, and when I asked him what was wrong, he told me all his fish had died the week before.”
Matt roared with laughter. “Poor Bess,” he said.
Nancy had to suppress her own laughter as she listened to the wild stories Bess was inventing about terrible gifts she had given. She sounded completely natural, and Matt was laughing and egging her on.
“Still,” Bess said, her voice dreamy now, “the best party ever was your eighteenth, Matt. It wasn’t just that gorgeous car your father gave you, it w
as—everything!”
“It was a spectacular party,” he agreed.
“I was only in junior high back then,” Bess went on, “and I remember my friends and I were completely amazed that you invited us. It was the high point of our entire year! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a cake as big as the one you had, not even at weddings.”
Nancy caught her breath. This was it.
There had been two cakes, one in the shape of the number one and the other, number eight. Both had been iced in mocha fudge, Matt’s favorite at the time.
“Was it your father who thought of having a cake the shape of a giant football, or was it you?” Bess was asking.
“It was me,” Matt said, without missing a beat. “I guess I wanted everyone to remember my shining career on the varsity team. Not very modest of me, was it?”
Nancy’s breath caught in her throat. He’d fallen for it! Now Bess would know for sure that the guy in there with her wasn’t Matt Glover.
Nancy knew she had to be devastated by the realization. Now Nancy listened even more attentively, hoping Bess wouldn’t give herself away.
“And iced in purple and white,” Bess said. Her voice was trembling now, but Matt didn’t seem to notice.
“The colors of River Heights High,” he said, chuckling.
Nancy silently urged Bess to make some kind of excuse and get out of there. She was sure Bess wouldn’t be able to keep up her facade much longer.
Suddenly a loud crack rang out from the library. Every muscle in Nancy’s body tensed. What was going on? Was Bess in trouble? She heard Matt give a grunt of surprise, then Bess said, “Who’s that?” Nancy heard panic in her friend’s voice.
A split second later, Bess let out a cry of alarm. Nancy gasped as she heard the sound of something metal clattering onto stone. The flagstone hearth?
The tape recorder! Matt must have found it—and that meant Bess was in danger!
Chapter
Fifteen
NANCY SPRANG for the doorway, her heart pounding. But just inside the room, she stopped short as her gaze fell on a second man. Jake Loomis!
Nancy realized with dismay that her plan had gotten totally fouled up. Loomis wasn’t supposed to arrive for about another hour. But there he was, holding both of Bess’s arms behind her in one of his huge hands. In his other hand he held the minirecorder. His face was twisted with fury, and just the sight of it made Nancy shiver.
He glanced at her, his eyes narrowing with recognition. “You!” he spat out. Turning to Matt, he muttered, “She’s the one who came snooping around my office. There was another girl with her but not this one.” He indicated Bess with his head.
Matt whirled around to face Nancy. “What are you doing here?” he asked.
Ignoring Matt, Nancy said to Jake Loomis, “Let Bess go.”
Bess’s eyes were wide with fear, and she was trembling. Her arm was twisted painfully behind her, but Loomis didn’t release his grip.
“Let her go,” Nancy said again, using as firm a voice as she could muster. “What are you afraid of? Do you really have to use all your strength to terrorize someone who’s one-third your size?”
Loomis dropped Bess’s arms and took a threatening step toward Nancy. “You’re a troublemaker,” he said. “I should have known—all that nonsense about Who’s Who.”
“What are you doing here?” Matt directed his curt question to Loomis, biting off each word.
Loomis glared at him. “You should know, you sent me a message to come.”
Matt looked surprised. “A message? I didn’t send any—” He broke off, staring at Nancy. “She tricked you, Jake.”
“Look who’s talking about being tricked,” Loomis said. “You’ve let these kids make a fool of you.”
“It wasn’t easy,” Nancy cut in. “He was very good, Mr. Loomis. Almost too good. You have great skills as a coach.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Matt said. “Nothing’s changed. Bess and I were just talking about parties—nothing heavy—and all of a sudden Jake comes in like a lunatic.”
“Come off it,” Nancy told him. “You don’t think we’ll still fall for your charade, do you?”
Unperturbed, Matt turned toward Bess and gave her one of his dazzling smiles. “You believe me, don’t you, Bess?”
Nancy watched Bess turn brick red with anger and humiliation. “No, I don’t! It so happens, Matt Glover, or whoever you really are,” Bess fumed, “that your birthday cake was nothing like the one I invented. A cake shaped like a football! A purple and white cake, for the high-school colors? I don’t think so.”
She gave a scornful laugh, but it turned into a cry of pain as Loomis grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back again.
“Okay, girls,” he said in a cold voice. “I didn’t want anything to happen to anyone, but you’ve brought it on yourselves. You”—he gestured to Nancy—”get over here with your friend. I think we’re going for a drive.”
Nancy stayed where she was, playing for time. “If Bess and I disappear, don’t you think it will make it harder for Matt to claim his legacy? After all, my father is the lawyer in question.”
“I don’t care if your father is the president,” Loomis snarled. “Get over here, you little—” He checked himself. “It must have been fun for you to come to my Chicago office and pass yourself off as a researcher for Who’s Who in Business. You really thought you were putting one over on me.”
“Not at all,” said Nancy. “I knew right away that you were a smart criminal, even if you are slimy. I’ll bet you’ve always been looking for the chance to pull off this kind of scam.”
Loomis smiled. “And my chance came, didn’t it? It came in the form of a reporter named Gary Page.” He turned toward Matt and said, “The second I saw you, you reminded me so much of Matt Glover I knew my time had come.”
“I’m warning you, Jake,” Matt barked. “Shut up.
“You’re warning me?” Loomis laughed. “Who do you think you are? Without me, you’d be nothing, a two-bit hack, a nobody!” He gave Matt a smug look. “I created you, and you’re throwing it all away over these—” He threw a look of loathing at Nancy and Bess.
“Stop running your mouth, Jake,” Matt said harshly.
As the two men argued, Nancy frantically looked around for a way to escape. There was no way she and Bess were a match for the two men, physically. If they ran, Matt and Loomis were sure to overpower them. She could only hope that Mrs. Adams had heard and called the police —if Loomis hadn’t already gotten to her. Nancy shuddered at the thought. For the moment, Nancy decided, all she could do was keep distracting them.
“How did you give yourself that scar on your wrist?” she asked Matt.
Matt glared at her but said nothing.
“Give the girl some credit,” Loomis said. “She’s on to you.”
“And I’m on to you, too,” she said, turning to Jake Loomis. “It wasn’t enough for you to succeed in the landscape gardening business, was it?” she asked Loomis. “When the Clarion sent Gary Page to interview you, it seemed like a perfect chance. He looks like Matt would have looked—he’s athletic and charming like Matt, and he’s even left-handed!”
Loomis shrugged. “Page was a natural. Had a memory like an elephant, too. I knew he could pull off acting like Matt.”
Nancy turned to Matt. “Tell me something,” she said. “What made you decide to go along with it? Did it take lots of persuasion, or did you agree immediately?”
He glared at her for a moment, before grumbling, “Oh, who cares if we tell you. Where you’re going, it won’t make any difference.” The grin on his face was smug. “It was the money, of course. I’d have been a fool to turn down a chance like this.”
“It must have been easy meeting every day,” Nancy said. “The Clarion is so close to Loomis Landscaping. You must have been awfully busy, Gary. Working full time as a reporter and then taking lessons from Loomis in your spare time. He must have drawn you a m
ap of Glover’s Corners. But you had to memorize all sorts of other details, too. You had to remember to call Mrs. Adams ’Addie,’ and to plaster mustard on your sandwiches. You had to learn all the little customs of life at Glover’s Corners, like bringing pies and cakes to Mrs. Adams so she wouldn’t spend her whole life baking.”
Nancy took a deep breath, then pressed on. “You made a terrible mistake with that chocolate cake. You didn’t know Mrs. Adams has a violent allergy to chocolate. The real Matt saw her nearly die from eating some by mistake. It’s not something he would have forgotten.”
Matt grimaced. “I think I can still finesse that one,” he said to Loomis.
“It was a class act, Gary,” Nancy said, “but you were bound to mess it up. Nobody could have learned all the little details that make up a person’s life.”
“Like two cakes in the shape of the number 18,” Bess piped up.
“I don’t see why you’re making such a big deal of this.” It was Gary Page speaking. “Who would have been hurt? I make a wonderful Matt.”
“Oh, brother, I’ve had enough of this,” said Loomis. “Get over here!” he shouted at Nancy. For emphasis, he twisted Bess’s arm viciously, making her shriek again.
Nancy had no choice but to do as he ordered. Her heart was beating hard as she went to stand next to Bess, but she was determined not to show either of the men that she was afraid.
“This is what we’re going to do. We’re going to drive out into the countryside. It’s a deep freeze out there.”
Bess started to cry, and Nancy saw that her whole body shook. Ignoring her, Loomis went on in an eerily calm voice. “I’m going to let you out of the car in a field somewhere, twenty miles from any town.”
Bess moaned and bit her lip.
“Mother Nature will do the rest,” Loomis said. “I won’t have to lay a hand on either of you.”
“No one will believe we died by accident,” Nancy said. “They’ll connect it to Gary, and he won’t go down without taking you. You played your game, and you lost. Why not just admit it?”
“I’m not a loser, kid.” Loomis sneered.
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