Mean Accusation

Through her rearview mirror, Nancy watched Lisa and the policeman step off the bus without the Indian. The girl detective immediately switched on her hazard lights, leaving the car double-parked, and leaped out.

“What happened? ” she asked, hurrying toward them.

“I don’t know. He must have sneaked off without our seeing him, ” Lisa replied.

The officer listened to the girls’ story while Nancy displayed Cliffs ring. “Lucky you were on the scene, Nancy Drew, ” he complimented her.

Nancy’s reputation as a keen detective was well-known to the police of River Heights.

“I was planning to see Chief McGinnis tomorrow, ” Nancy said. “But maybe Lisa and I ought to go to headquarters now.”

“Good idea, ” the policeman grinned, “especially since I don’t want to tow your car away.”

The girls glanced in the direction of Nancy’s flashing rear lights. She suddenly realized she had double-parked next to a patrol car!

“Sorry, ” she said sheepishly.

When the pair reached the station, Nancy explained that she had two important matters to discuss with the chief. One related to the identity of a local amnesia patient who had been assaulted in the hospital. The other had to do with the driver of a car that had nearly run down Tommy Johnson.

“I know about both cases, ” Chief McGinnis said, “but I have no lead on the first and only a very slim one on the second.”

Nancy gave a description of the bearded man.

“I’ve seen him twice now, ” she said. “The first time he took off in a tan-colored car with a blue racing stripe on the trunk.”

“What’s the license number? ”

Nancy shrugged. “I couldn’t see it.”

The chief hunched forward on his elbows and shook his head thoughtfully.

“Do you have any idea whom it belongs to? ” Nancy asked.

“Yes, I think so. Of course, I can’t be absolutely positive, but—”

“But what? ”

“It sounds like the same car that caused the Johnson boy’s accident.”

Nancy was stunned into silence as her mind raced over the events of the afternoon. What was the connection between the Indian businessman and the bearded stranger?

“I have a hunch the bearded man may be the driver we’re looking for! ” Nancy exclaimed.

“You could be right, ” Chief McGinnis said. “I’ll let you know if anything definite turns up on either of those men.”

Nancy promised to reciprocate and said good-bye. As the girls headed for Lisa’s house, the young nurse suggested that Nancy keep the ring.

“It’ll be safer with you, ” Lisa insisted, adding an apology for what had occurred earlier. “I should have put it in the hospital safe.”

“Just be glad we have it, ” Nancy smiled. “Besides, your visit to the jewelry shop turned up an interesting character.”

“And some interesting information, ” Lisa said. “This is the first chance I’ve had to tell you what Mr. Jhaveri, the jeweler, said about the ring. He’s quite an expert on foreign jewelry, and he believes the design is Asiatic.

“The other man disagreed, however. He kept saying the ring was Middle Eastern. That’s when Mr. Jhaveri said he would show me some pictures as proof.”

“And that’s when the Indian businessman tried to steal the ring, ” Nancy put in.

“Exactly.”

“He didn’t count on Nancy Drew, ” Lisa added, causing a blush of crimson to cross her friend’s face.

They pulled up in front of the Scotti home and Lisa opened the car door instantly.

“I promised Mom I’d cook dinner tonight, so I’d better run, ” she said. “Thanks a lot. See you tomorrow.”

Nancy said good-bye, all the while thinking about the scene in the jewelry shop. She was tempted to return there, but a glance at her watch told her she was more than an hour late for dinner.

Hannah is probably worried about me, Nancy thought. I can just imagine the phone calls she must have made to the hospital.

The girl pressed down on the accelerator, watching the speedometer needle waver just under the speed limit. Rush-hour traffic had eased up, and she found herself in the driveway of the Drew home within fifteen minutes. Mrs. Gruen opened the door with a mixture of disapproval and relief on her face.

“I’m sorry, ” Nancy said, hugging the woman. “I was on my way home when—”

“You caught two robbers, found three clues, and went to see Chief McGinnis, ” Hannah replied, unable to keep from smiling.

“How did you guess? ”

“Because I know you. That’s how.” The housekeeper grinned.

Before Nancy said another word, she raced upstairs to freshen up. The aroma of home-baked peach pie trailed after her, speeding her back to the dining room table where her father was already seated.

“Do I have lots of news! ” Nancy said excitedly.

Carson Drew, a distinguished-looking man in his forties, did not respond immediately. Nancy thought he seemed disturbed.

“Is something wrong, Dad? ”

“Oh, no, ” he answered quickly.

“Sure? ”

“Sure.”

“I really am sorry about being late.”

Her father merely nodded as he took a sip of water. “Bring me up to date on what happened today, ” he said at last.

Despite her eagerness to tell him, she could not help being distracted by Mr. Drew’s sullen manner. Nonetheless, she revealed her encounters at the hospital, the discovery of the ring, and Tommy Johnson’s accident.

“How terrible! ” Hannah commented when the girl finished speaking.

For the first time since dinner began, Mr. Drew’s expression was also animated. He asked several questions, then lapsed into silence until he rose from the table.

“Let’s go into the living room, Nancy, ” he said.

What was on her father’s mind? Nancy wondered in puzzlement. She sank into the deep, soft cushions of the chair by the fireplace and waited anxiously.

“I really don’t know how to say this, ” Mr. Drew said slowly.

“Does it have to do with the music festival? ”

“In a way, yes.” Her father paused. “You’ll have to stop doing your detective work for a while.”

Nancy blinked in disbelief. “But why? What have I done? ”

“Oh, you haven’t done anything wrong. The townspeople of Castleton think I have.”

“You’ve lost me, Dad.”

“As I told you yesterday, I’ve been handling negotiations for the River Heights festival on behalf of River Heights.”

“Negotiations between the city and the different performing groups who are appearing here this summer, ” Nancy put in.

“That’s right, ” her father replied. “Well, I’ve been accused of theft.”

“Theft? ” Nancy repeated in utter astonishment. “That’s absolutely crazy.”

“Castleton claims that River Heights has deliberately stolen one of the theater companies it booked for its own outdoor pavilion.”

“I still don’t understand.”

“It’s very simple, dear. The Jansen Music Theater Company was scheduled to perform at the Castleton Theater, but Jansen canceled out on Castleton in favor of River Heights. The town council of Castleton thinks I’m responsible for the last-minute switch.” Mr. Drew interrupted himself, laughing nervously. “It just isn’t true, but I can’t seem to convince anyone, including the mayor of River Heights! ”

“But he’s your friend, Dad.”

“He is, but he’s also in an awkward situation with Castleton, since both communities have been working together on some environmental issues.”

Nancy took a deep breath. “I’ll help you, ” she said.

“No, Nancy, I think it’s better if you don’t. A number of unexplained things have happened to the Jansen troupe, and I’m afraid something could happen to you.”

“You know I can take care of myself, ” Nancy pleaded.

“I would feel better if you just contented yourself with the amnesia patient.”

The firmness in his voice told Nancy she ought not to push him on the subject.

It’s the first time Dad has ever told me to quit on something before I even started, Nancy said to herself.

Worse than that, her own father needed her help, but would not accept it!