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An Inside Job?






 

Mrs. Palmer stared fiercely at Nancy for a long time, but the girl met her look and did not blanch. Then, slowly, the woman permitted herself a smile.

" Well, Nancy Drew, you really aren't afraid of me, are you? That's good. I can't bear people who are scared of me." She walked up and down, gesturing with her cane like a field marshal reviewing troops.

" No, " she said, " I don't know what it is they are after. Money, silver, jewels, some pieces of paper they feel are valuable? I have no idea. I think they're just crazy."

" Or, " Nancy said, " it could be that someone is trying to drive you crazy."

" Me! " Mrs. Palmer cried, laughing heartily.

" Drive me crazy? Oh, my. Half of Fort Lauderdale thinks I’m crazy already. Oh, no, I don't believe that."

Nancy tapped her pencil on the table and frowned.

" Maybe, " Bess put in, " Mrs. Palmer's dismissal of the police guard was a good move after all."

The old woman turned to look at the girl, who sat back, a little abashed at having spoken up. But Mrs. Palmer motioned for her to continue.

" Well, " Bess went on, " with no police, the crooks may try to get in the house again. We know they'll do it at night, because that's how they've always done it. It seems to me that all we have to do is to lay one of the famous Nancy Drew ambush scenes."

Mrs. Palmer walked over to Bess and raised her chin with one hand. " You are too pretty to be looking down so much. Don't be so shy. I admit it's refreshing to see a girl with downcast eyes. But save that for the boys. Among us girls, keep your head up, because you just had a very good idea."

Bess smiled, relieved and feeling good under the praise.

Nancy nodded. " That was a good idea, Bess. We'll start tonight."

''No, " Mrs. Palmer objected. 'Tm having company for dinner. But I shall let you know about tomorrow. Perhaps we can plan it then." She indicated that the interview was at an end. But Nancy did not get up.

" Mrs. Palmer, " she said, " we haven't quite finished yet. There is still the matter of your servants and their reliability."

Mrs. Palmer snorted. " Really, Nancy. I won't discuss that because, as I said before, my servants are beyond reproach. Now that settles it."

Nancy shook her head. " You are too smart a woman to believe that. If you were in my place, you know very well that you would insist on knowing everything about everyone. It would be unforgivably sloppy detective work to ignore the servants."

Mrs. Palmer started to speak, stopped, and took a few paces. ''Very well. But you are wasting your time."

" I hope so, " Nancy said, " because I don't want to find that one of your people is involved. But I must learn the truth."

Mrs. Palmer nodded. " I think I'll sit down for this, " she said, and took the chair that Nancy quickly brought to her.

" Now, what about the butler? " the young detective asked.

" Errol has been with me for thirty-three years. He is immaculate and impeccable in his duties. I have never known him to be rude.''

''Has he ever been arrested? "

''Why on earth did you ask that? " Mrs. Palmer huffed.

" Because if he has been arrested or has a prison record it might..."

" It might cause the police to believe that he was a thief. Oh, really, Miss Drew! " The woman's tone was now icy.

" No, no, Mrs. Palmer, listen. If he had been arrested or has been in jail it doesn't mean that he's guilty. But perhaps someone knows about it and is now trying to blackmail him or implicate him in some way. Maybe he has even been threatened."

" My heavens, " Mrs. Palmer marveled, her icy tone gone. " How your mind works! Crack, crack, crack! Amazing. But no, I tell you, Errol has never been in jail. "

" Nor arrested? " No.

" Now, what happened when he encountered the burglars? "

" You can ask him, if you wish. I just heard the door and I'm sure that's Errol. Just a minute."

Mrs. Palmer went outside and returned with a man in his fifties, who had a warm smile for the visitors.

After Mrs. Palmer had made the introductions, he said to Nancy, " It's so nice to meet you. I'm sure you'll be able to help us in this most annoying situation."

Nancy nodded, then asked, " I hear you were home during one of the burglaries."

" Only the first one, " the butler replied. " In fact, I'm proud to say that I discovered the rascals but not in time to stop them. They stopped me, however." He pointed to his forehead where Nancy saw a scar.

" Oh, no! " she said. " Did they hit you? "

" I wish it were that heroic. No, I stormed down the stairs, shouting at them, hoping they'd run away since I was unarmed. But I tripped about halfway and did a couple of somersaults. Knocked me out, I'm afraid."

" Did you see what the intruders looked like? "

" No. There were two of them, but they wore stocking masks over their faces. All I know is that they were on the tall side. Anyway, I hope you're successful in putting an end to this nonsense."

" I'll try very hard, Errol, " Nancy said.

The bidder smiled and left the kitchen.

" What about the gardener? " Nancy asked Mrs. Palmer.

" Edward. He has been with me forty-seven years. Longer than the trees, he likes to say. Well, it's true. He planted everything you see around this house. Now don't tell me you suspect Edward. He's a perfect lamb and quiet as can be. He never misses church."

" And he has never been arrested or jailed? "

" Oh, no! He'd die of shame if they ever arrested him."

''And where was he at the time of the burglaries? "

" On vacation. Poor dear had a bad illness, so he went to recuperate at his sister's for a couple of weeks. But he's due to come home today."

" That leaves the maid, " Nancy went on.

" Right, " Mrs. Palmer said. " That's Odette. She's twenty-eight years old. Her mother worked for me for forty years. Oh, my. Impossible, Nancy. Forget about the servants."

" She's never been arrested? " Nancy pressed on.

" Yes, as a matter of fact, she has. It was a dreadful mistake, though. Many years ago, a salesman came to the door. Very persistent. He pushed past her and came right into my kitchen, trying to sell me aluminum ware. Well,

Odette is part French and has a very hot temper when angered. When the man refused to go, she attacked him with his own pots and pans. Beat him rather severely and almost destroyed his samples. He ran out of here with lumps all over him. But he came back with a policeman and said Odette had tried to murder him, which was a terrible exaggeration. We then charged the man with unlawful entry and trespassing, and everyone had to go to the police station."

" You, too? '' Bess squeaked.

" Of course, me, too, " said Mrs. Palmer. " I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Anyway, my lawyer had Odette free in no time."

" What happened to the salesman? " George asked, curious.

" Oh, we dropped the charges. Poor thing, he was so bruised and his pots were a mess. He'd been punished enough."

" May I talk to Odette? " Nancy asked.

" She has the day off."

Nancy nodded. " Can you tell me something about your servants' habits, Mrs. Palmer? "

" Habits? "

" Yes, or I should say, have there been any recent changes in their habits? "

" Oh, really, Nancy. I don't pry into my servants' lives."

" Of course not, " the young detective said soothingly. ''But did you notice any change in any of them in the last few months? "

Mrs. Palmer furrowed her brow and stared out the window. 'Tm trying to think, " she said. There was silence for a few moments, then she spoke again. " Odette has started an exercise class. And Errol has taken up boating. You know, motorboating. He does that a lot lately. Anything suspicious there? "

Nancy smiled but did not comment. " Mrs. Palmer, you've been very helpful. I think that's about all I need to ask right now. But as I come up with other questions, may I call you? "

" Why, of course, " the woman replied. " If you like, I'll find out everyone's hat size and favorite color. My goodness. Detectives. Such a nosy group."

Susan McAfee winked at Nancy over Mrs. Palmer's shoulder, then came forward and escorted the girls out. As they passed through the parlor, Bess and George questioned Susan about the furnishings. Suddenly, Nancy heard a noise and was startled to see the mauve drapes move slightly. She glanced at the floor and noticed a pair of men's shoes beneath them! As she started toward them, the feet pulled out of sight!

 






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